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Scientists discover 120 million year-old ant
Reuters ^
| Tue Sep 16, 2008 11:48am EDT
| Reporting by Josie Cox, Editing by Mark Trevelyan
Posted on 09/16/2008 10:05:02 AM PDT by null and void
BERLIN (Reuters) - German biologists have discovered a new species of ant they believe is the oldest on the planet, dating back around 120 million years.
Researchers from Karlsruhe's Natural History Museum found the 3-millimeter-long (0.118 inch) insect in the Amazon rainforest in 2007, and hope it will shed light on the early evolution of ants.
"It's by far the most spectacular find of my 26-year career," said museum biologist Manfred Verhaagh on Tuesday.
A new species of Martialis heureka, a blind, subterranean, predatory ant, in an undated photo. German biologists have discovered a new species of ant they believe is the oldest on the planet, dating back around 120 million years.
REUTERS/Microscopic photo by C. Rabeling & M. Verhaagh/National Academy of Sciences/Handout
Scientists from Karlsruhe originally found an unidentified species of ant of a similar type in the Brazilian rainforest in 2003. However, due to an accident in the laboratory, the insect dried up, making further research impossible, Verhaagh said.
Resembling a miniature wasp, the insect is like no other ant, and probably dates back 120 million years, making it the oldest still inhabiting the earth, Verhaagh said. The scientists used DNA samples from its front leg to establish its likely age.
The last discovery of a new ant species was in 1923, he added.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: crevo; cryptobiology; environment; evolution; godsgravesglyphs
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(to the tune of the Pink Panther theme) Dead ant dead ant dead ant dead ant dead ant dead ant dead ant dead dead dead ant
To: null and void
“Once there was a little ol’ ant, thought he could move a rubbertree plant, but everyone knows that an ant, can’t, mooovvve a rubbertree plant.
But he had hiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh hopes, he had hiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh hopes....”
2
posted on
09/16/2008 10:07:32 AM PDT
by
freeagle
To: null and void
3
posted on
09/16/2008 10:08:13 AM PDT
by
Red Badger
(If you're not part of the solution, then you must be part of the government............)
To: null and void
Scientists discover 120 million year-old antProbably my Ant Gertrude. She fits the bill.
4
posted on
09/16/2008 10:08:13 AM PDT
by
Still Thinking
(Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
To: freeagle
You have a hole in your head...
5
posted on
09/16/2008 10:09:20 AM PDT
by
null and void
(When you bang your forehead on the ground five times a day, you get brain damage.)
To: null and void
Hmm, it doesn’t look a day over 50 million.
6
posted on
09/16/2008 10:09:37 AM PDT
by
Reaganesque
(Vote: mccain/PALIN 2008!!)
To: null and void
After 120 million years, that ant needs a walker.
7
posted on
09/16/2008 10:09:37 AM PDT
by
samtheman
To: Red Badger
OMG! Ant Gertie is a doll compared to that commie skank!
8
posted on
09/16/2008 10:10:07 AM PDT
by
Still Thinking
(Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?)
To: null and void
So, you’re walking around the Amazon jungle, and low and behold, you find an .. ant? I guess in a cave somewhere? How bizarre.
9
posted on
09/16/2008 10:10:51 AM PDT
by
TruthConquers
(Delendae sunt publici scholae)
To: null and void
Scientists discover 120 million year-old antAnd kill it and stick it on a card. ;^)
10
posted on
09/16/2008 10:10:58 AM PDT
by
TigersEye
(This is the age of the death of reason.)
To: Red Badger
Finally Obamarama’s birth certificate!!
11
posted on
09/16/2008 10:14:36 AM PDT
by
mmanager
(What a mess we are in.)
To: Red Badger
I KNEW IT! I knew if I click this post that picture would be here!
12
posted on
09/16/2008 10:15:37 AM PDT
by
Obadiah
(I remember when the climate never changed, then Bush stole the election.)
To: Obadiah
Naturally!............GMTA!..........
13
posted on
09/16/2008 10:17:08 AM PDT
by
Red Badger
(If you're not part of the solution, then you must be part of the government............)
To: null and void
14
posted on
09/16/2008 10:17:35 AM PDT
by
Young Werther
(Julius Caesar (Quae Cum Ita Sunt. Since these things are so.))
To: Young Werther
15
posted on
09/16/2008 10:18:57 AM PDT
by
null and void
(When you bang your forehead on the ground five times a day, you get brain damage.)
To: null and void
And they say McCain’s too old. Hah!
16
posted on
09/16/2008 10:23:36 AM PDT
by
AZ .44 MAG
(Am I foolish to explain things? He had such trouble with my name.)
To: null and void
17
posted on
09/16/2008 10:30:43 AM PDT
by
Petronski
(Please pray for the success of McCain and Palin. Every day, whenever you pray.)
To: Red Badger
Whoever had -3- in the HT over & under, you’re the winner!
18
posted on
09/16/2008 10:37:12 AM PDT
by
mikrofon
To: mikrofon
Ya gotta be fast on the old keyboard thingy!...........
19
posted on
09/16/2008 10:41:07 AM PDT
by
Red Badger
(If you're not part of the solution, then you must be part of the government............)
To: null and void
A new species of Martialis heureka, a blind, subterranean, predatory ant Now just what do you think he said when he discovered it??
20
posted on
09/16/2008 10:41:34 AM PDT
by
mikrofon
(And did it come from Mars?)
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