Dolichoderus jonasi

Introduction

Dolichoderus jonasi is an extinct ant species known only from Late Eocene European amber, approximately 33-38 million years old. Workers measured approximately 7mm in total length, making them a moderately large ant species. The species is characterized by distinctive forward-directed spines on the pronotum and a unique propodeum structure with a chitinous ridge along the posterior edge of the main surface. The head shows pronounced dimpled sculpture with rows of long setae, and the abdomen is smooth and shiny. Males were smaller at approximately 6mm. This species cannot be assigned to any existing species group within the genus and appears to represent a lineage that went extinct millions of years ago .