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16-Million-Year-Old Ant Fossil Reshapes Evolutionary Insights

4/19/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A remarkable discovery in the Dominican Republic reveals a 16-million-year-old ant fossil, Basiceros enana, encased in amber. Measuring just 5.13 mm, this ancient ant boasted advanced camouflage, indicating its survival in the Caribbean before extinction. This finding not only reshapes our understanding of ant evolution but also underscores the critical need to study extinction patterns for preserving biodiversity.

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Story summary

A remarkable discovery in the Dominican Republic reveals a 16-million-year-old ant fossil, Basiceros enana, encased in amber. Measuring just 5.13 mm, this ancient ant boasted advanced camouflage, indicating its survival in the Caribbean before extinction. This finding not only reshapes our understanding of ant evolution but also underscores the critical need to study extinction patterns for preserving biodiversity.