Scientists studying an amber collection from the Goethe National Museum in the German town of Weimar have made a remarkable discovery. Held within two pieces of the fossilised tree resin are three exceptionally well-preserved animals: a fungus gnat, a black fly and, most notably, an ant.
Now extinct, the ant species (†Ctenobethylus goepperti) is commonly found in amber. What makes it special, however, is the immaculate condition of the specimen, which allowed researchers from the University of Jena to study the species in “greater detail than ever before.”
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Using modern imaging techniques to create three-dimensional images of the worker ant, the team identified fine hairs on its body. More significantly, they were able to peer inside the head and thorax of the creature, offering new insight into its morphology.
“We have fully processed the specimen and, based on the newly acquired information, created a 3D reconstruction that is available online,” says Daniel Tröger from the University of Jena. “This model helps colleagues worldwide to identify and compare further fossils of this species.”
The amber-encased ant is similar to living species of the genus Liometopum, which are found in North America and parts of Europe. By comparing the two, the researchers say it’s possible to draw conclusions about how the extinct ant lived. One theory is that it built vast nests in tree canopies, which may explain why it is often found in amber.
The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.
Top image: Ant in amber: †Ctenobethylus goepperti in amber (left in the stone) from Goethe's collection.
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