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 ...
I’d guess: “I have found it!”
The ants grew eyes and then became “a-i-n’ts” and now there ain’t no ants like that.
The bugologist being a liberal flicked the ant from the rock it was found crawling across as the ant yelled, "drill baby drill!"
They are coming out of the earth for McCain/Palin :-D.
actually they are german. so he would have said, “ich hab es gefunden.”
Subterranean predatory ant ping. Fortunately they are tiny.
*shrug* It’s all Greek to me...
lol! I immediately thought of the same person after reading the headline. Thank God I’m not the only one that thinks this way :)
That’s not a very nice thing to say.
To explain my post.... those are a couple lines of a kids’ song. It goes on to explain how a perseverant little ol’ ant can move a rubber tree plant. The fact that an ant has been around 120 million years reminded me of it.
I guess you don’t have any kids or I’m missing your joke.
You’ve never heard that song? It was very, very popular about 120 million years ago.
The movie that song was featured in was “Hole in the Head”...
Really?
I have a vague memory of it, now that you mention it.
Really.
Why I would have that as a piece of trivia that pops instantly to mind? That, I don’t know.
You’d think that I’d save the quick crucial data space for something more significant...
Very sorry. My error and you are far wittier and faster than I am!
I’ll have to look up that movie!
Thank you for your grace in explaining.
No problem. I should have capitalized it or at least put it in quotes.
I saw it when it was still in theaters..
Strange ‘Ant From Mars’ Discovered in Amazon Rainforest
foxnews | September 16, 2008
Posted on 09/16/2008 9:12:42 PM PDT by Justice Department
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2084048/posts
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Gods |
Thanks BBell. Adding, no ping, thanks again. |
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