Cataulacus planiceps

Introduction

Cataulacus planiceps is an extinct ant species known only from Sicilian Amber dating to the Oligocene epoch, approximately 23-34 million years ago. Workers measured 4-4.2mm in length with a black body color and reddish-purple tinted hairs. The species had a depressed, subrectangular head with spined posterior angles, a nearly straight dorsal thorax with minutely denticulate sides, and a bispinose metanotum. The abdomen featured distinctive longer brush-like hairs. This is a fossil species that cannot be kept in captivity - it has been extinct for millions of years.