Oldest-known ant fossil discovered in Brazil, dating 113 million years

Scientists have discovered the fossilized remains of the oldest-known ant, a 113-million-year-old species named Vulcanidris cratensis, in limestone from northeastern Brazil. This extinct ant, classified among the 'hell ants' for its fearsome, upward-facing scythe-like jaws, is about 13 million years older than previous ant fossils found in France and Myanmar. The specimen’s unique jaws, which move vertically rather than horizontally as in modern ants, suggest specialized predatory behavior and provide new insights into the evolution and spread of ancient ants. The fossil's exceptional preservation in the Crato Formation offers a rare glimpse into early ant anatomy and their ecological roles during the Cretaceous period. The discovery was made by Anderson Lepeco of the Museum of Zoology at the University of São Paulo and has been published in the journal Current Biology. This finding pushes back the timeline for ant evolution and highlights their early diversification alongside dinosaurs.