German scientists discover 120 million year-old ant


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.
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Researchers from Karlsruhe's Natural History Museum found the 3-millimetre-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.

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.

Last year a separate team from the museum's research body was in the forest investigating fungus when they stumbled upon the tiny insect, and named it "Martialis heureka".

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.



Palin has a problem with dinosaurs. Might she have a problem with these ants?

naw

she might have a problem with the fuzzy math that dated this bug's genesis, though.

and the fact that the scientist says it's age is "PROBABLY" very old as a species.

parading conjecture as fact, just like parading nobama as a savior.


wishful thinking is what the left does best, though.


I believe in the liberal dream for liberals

Wow...

Did you know they discovered a new grain of sand on the seventh ocean from the left.

It was Palins fault cause you can tie her to anything now days.

he he he.

When you find something usefull to do with your life let me know.

I think it's cool that such an old species was found. It is amazing that it was preserved so long.

When they find a fossil of the same species that can be verified to have existed during a past age I will believe it.

After all the person that discovered it admits that they had no real glory up to this point.

To take a story like this and link it to politics is kinda...

weak.

It cracks me up with the way that Palin views dinosaurs and scientific facts.

Well something had to take care of the dinosaur poo back then =D

how do scientists think they can fkn just date things like that...they just guess...science is full of shirt

Hmmmm

As I already pointed out, the statements about dinosaurs, which were attributed to Sarah Palin were a hoax. She didn't really make those statements.