Protazteca eocenica

Introduction

Protazteca eocenica is an extinct ant species from the Middle Eocene Kishenehn Formation in Montana, USA, dating back approximately 44-49 million years ago. Only a single queen fossil has been discovered, measuring 9.21 mm in total length, making it the smallest known species in its genus . The fossil shows a dark brown body with lighter antennae, mandibles, and legs, and key features include a rectangular head longer than wide, small eyes near the clypeus, and short antenna scapes that do not reach the head's posterior margin . This species extends the known temporal range of the genus Protazteca into the mid-Eocene period .