Scientific illustration of Gesomyrmex breviceps ant - showing key identification features including head, thorax, and gaster.

Fossil Gesomyrmex breviceps

Non-Parasitic Queen No Gamergate
Sci. Name
Gesomyrmex breviceps
Tribe
Gesomyrmecini
Subfamily
Formicinae
Author
Dlussky <i>et al.</i>, 2009
Fossil
Yes (fossil species)
Distribution
Found in 0 countries

Introduction

Gesomyrmex breviceps is an extinct ant species known only from fossil specimens dating to the Middle Eocene, approximately 47 million years ago. The single known queen specimen was discovered in the Messel Formation in Germany . This species belongs to the genus Gesomyrmex, a group of arboreal ants that lived during the Eocene when Europe's climate was much warmer than today . The fossil record for this species is extremely limited - the specimen is poorly preserved, and researchers have classified it as 'species inquirenda, ' meaning its taxonomic status remains uncertain due to the incomplete nature of the available material . This is an extinct species known only from fossils. There are no living Gesomyrmex breviceps ants in existence - they cannot be collected, kept, or observed in captivity. This caresheet exists for informational purposes only.

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Status by country, from Kass et al. 2022 & Wong et al. 2023

Native Invasive Introduced (indoor) Intercepted Unknown
Data Sources
Year Range 2000 - 2026
Fossil

No caresheet needed

Gesomyrmex breviceps is a fossil species and does not require a caresheet.