Emplastus macrops

Introduction

Emplastus macrops is an extinct ant species from the Late Eocene period, approximately 44-49 million years ago. The species was discovered in fossilized amber from the Bol'shaya Svetlovodnaya site in the Sikhote-Alin region of the Russian Far East. What makes this species distinctive is its remarkably large eyes - so prominent that the species name 'macrops' literally means 'with large eyes' in Latin. The males measured around 5mm in total body length, with eyes so large they occupied most of the head's sides. This is a true fossil species that no longer exists on Earth - there are no living colonies, and it cannot be kept as a pet.