Cephalotes brevispineus

Introduction

Cephalotes brevispineus is an extinct ant species known only from fossil specimens preserved in Dominican amber from the Miocene epoch . Workers measured approximately 5mm in total length and possessed distinctive morphological features including broad vertexal lamellae (flattened edges on the head), pronotal lamellae, and propodeal denticles . The species is characterized by its black coloration with ferrugineous (rusty) markings on the frontal carinae, vertexal angles, pronotal lamellae borders, and gastral lamellae . This species belongs to the basalis clade of Cephalotes and can be distinguished from related species like Cephalotes manni by the shape of its vertexal angles and pronotal lamellae . As a fossil species, no living colonies exist, and this ant cannot be kept in captivity.