Emplastus elongatus

Introduction

Emplastus elongatus is an extinct ant species known only from fossilized male specimens found in Late Eocene deposits at Bol'shaya Svetlovodnaya in Sikhote-Alin, Russian Far East, dating to approximately 34 million years ago. Males measured approximately 6.3mm in total body length with notably large eyes and an elongated mesosoma. The species name 'elongatus' means 'elongated' in Latin, referring to the distinctive body proportions. This is a paleontological species - no living colonies exist and it cannot be kept in captivity.