Pogonomyrmex fossilis

Pogonomyrmex fossilis is an extinct ant species which lived during the Eocene 34 million years ago. The species built nests primarily destined to store seeds and grains as winter stock.[1] The ant has an average length of six millimeter and an average width of 1.2 millimeters.[2]

Pogonomyrmex fossilis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Hymenoptera
Family:
Formicidae
Genus:
Pogonomyrmex
Species:
P. fossilis
Binomial name
Pogonomyrmex fossilis
Carpenter, 1930

The first fossil was found in the American state of Colorado and the species was discovered and described by Carpenter in 1930. In 2003 Pogonomyrmex fossilis was the oldest described species within the genus Pogonomyrmex.[3]

References
  1. W. Tschinkel (2003). "Subterranean ant nests: trace fossils past and future?". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 192 (1–4): 321–333. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.558.1256. doi:10.1016/s0031-0182(02)00690-9.
  2. "Pogonomyrmex fossilis Carpenter 1930 (ant)". Fossilworks.
  3. "Species: Pogonomyrmex fossilis". Antweb.
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