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Tiny Ant Fossil Discovered in Dominican Amber Revolutionizes Evolutionary Insights

4/16/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Paleontologists have unearthed a groundbreaking discovery: the first fossil of the dirt ant genus Basiceros, dubbed Basiceros enana, preserved in Miocene Dominican amber. At just 5.13 mm, it stands as the tiniest known species of its kind, shedding light on the Caribbean's rich evolutionary past and the critical role fossils play in unraveling the mysteries of biodiversity.

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Story summary

Paleontologists have unearthed a groundbreaking discovery: the first fossil of the dirt ant genus Basiceros, dubbed Basiceros enana, preserved in Miocene Dominican amber. At just 5.13 mm, it stands as the tiniest known species of its kind, shedding light on the Caribbean's rich evolutionary past and the critical role fossils play in unraveling the mysteries of biodiversity.