Found in Kahramana... An extinct ant from 40 million years ago reveals secrets
Researchers have successfully studied an exceptional amber sample dating back approximately 40 million years, containing an extinct ant remarkably well-preserved, displaying the finest anatomical details rarely found in fossils. The sample also included a fungus gnat and a black fly, containing the best-known example of the extinct species Ctenobethylus goepperti. Scientists confirmed, according to The Sun newspaper, that the perfect state of preservation of this ant allowed them to examine the internal structures of its head and body, an unprecedented step in the study of fossil ants. Using modern 3D imaging techniques, very detailed images have been produced showing what has never been documented before in any fossilized ant from the Cenozoic Era, which spans from 66 million years ago to the present day.
Goethe and Amber
Rather than the amazing scientific discovery, what distinguishes this discovery is the source of the sample, as it was part of the personal collection of the German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, who collected about 40 pieces of amber during his lifetime. Despite Goethe's interest in natural science, he apparently did not realize the hidden scientific value of these pieces, as he did not refer to them in his writings. The collection is now housed in the Goethe National Museum in Weimar, and scientists have been able to examine it and discover the biological treasures that time has hidden inside the amber, combining cultural heritage with modern scientific research.
What did the ant reveal about its environment?
The study explained that the discovered ant belongs to the "worker" category, and closely resembles the modern ant species Liometopum. The researchers suggest that this ant was likely widespread in warm, temperate pine forests, and may have formed large colonies in trees. Its powerful mandibles also suggest its ability to burrow or peck into wood.
The scientists summarized the importance of the discovery by saying that it shows how "amber can preserve biological
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