A 113-million-year-old fossil discovered in a Brazilian museum has revealed the oldest known ant species, Vulcanidris cratensis, which lived among dinosaurs and had unusual predatory features. This hell ant, preserved in limestone, had scythe-like jaws used to impale prey, a trait distinct from modern ants whose jaws move laterally. The fossil, part of a collection from the Crato Formation, shows that ants were widely distributed globally at an early evolutionary stage. This discovery extends the ant fossil record by ten million years and provides insight into the evolution of ants during the early Cretaceous period. The ant's unique anatomical features and wasp-like characteristics highlight its divergence from modern ant species and suggest sophisticated early predatory strategies.

The fossil of a hell ant, Vulcanidris cratensis, was found in a Brazilian museum's collection, dating back 113 million years, making it the oldest ant specimen known to science.

The specimen was preserved in limestone from the Crato Formation, a geological deposit known for its exceptional fossil preservation, and was discovered by researcher Anderson Lepeco.

Vulcanidris cratensis had scythe-like jaws that projected forward, a feature used to impale prey, distinguishing it from modern ants whose jaws move side to side.

This discovery extends the known fossil record of ants by ten million years, indicating that ants were already widely distributed across the planet during the early stages of their evolution.

The ant's wings showed more veins than those of modern ants, suggesting a common ancestry with wasps and highlighting its unique evolutionary path.

The fossil's discovery offers insights into the early Cretaceous period when ants evolved sophisticated predatory strategies, different from their current counterparts.

The find confirms that ants became the most common insects in the fossil record after the mass extinction event that ended the dinosaur era approximately 66 million years ago.