Manica andrannae is a fossil species of the ants tribe Myrmicini from the subfamily Myrmicinae (Formicidae). It was discovered in Europe. Eocene amber has been dated at 33.9–37.8 million years ago (specifically Russian Baltic amber). This is the first finding of this genus in a fossil state, having a plesiomorphic state with features such as the propodeum having a weakly convex dorsum and short, blunt tubercles, and by a more angular petiolar node.[2][1]

Manica andrannae
Palaeontological reconstruction of†Manica andrannae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Genus: Manica
Species:
M. andrannae
Binomial name
Manica andrannae
Zharkov et Dubovikoff, 2023[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Zharkov, Dmitry; Dubovikoff, Dmitry; Abakumov, Evgeny (January 2023). "The First Fossil Record of the Genus Manica Jurine, 1807 from Late Eocene Baltic Amber and Discussion of the Early Evolution of Myrmicini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae)". Insects. 14 (1): 21. doi:10.3390/insects14010021. ISSN 2075-4450. PMC 9864347. PMID 36661949.
  2. ^ "Biologists discover the first fossil species of mountain ants in Baltic amber". phys.org. St Petersburg state univ. Retrieved 30 June 2023.