Temnothorax praecreolus

紹介

Temnothorax praecreolus is an extinct ant species known only from a single worker fossil in Dominican Amber, dated to the Miocene epoch (15-20 million years ago) . The fossil shows ‘Macromischa syndrome’ features: an elongated petiole, broad bell-shaped post-petiole, and enlarged middle and hind femora . The specimen is somewhat flattened from top to bottom . Phylogenetic analysis places it as a close relative of modern Caribbean and Meso-American species in the salvini clade, giving clues about how this ant group evolved over time .