Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes02:40

The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes

32.9K
The “tree of life” describes the evolution of life and the evolutionary relationships between organisms. The root of the tree is the common ancestor to all life on Earth. All other species radiate from this point, much like the branches of a tree. The numerous tips of these branches on the tree of life represent every living, or extant, species. Extinct species, which are species that no longer exist, can be found towards the center of the tree. Currently, these organisms, both...
32.9K
The Fossil Record02:56

The Fossil Record

25.4K
The fossil record documents only a small fraction of all organisms that have ever inhabited Earth. Fossilization is a rare process, and most organisms never become fossils. Moreover, the fossil record only exhibits fossils that have been discovered. Nevertheless, sedimentary rock fossils of long-lived, abundant, hard-bodied organisms dominate the fossil record. These fossils offer valuable information, such as an organism's physical form, behavior, and age. Studying the fossil record helps...
25.4K
Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores02:40

Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores

13.1K
Plants often form mutualistic relationships with soil-dwelling fungi or bacteria to enhance their roots’ nutrient uptake ability. Root-colonizing fungi (e.g., mycorrhizae) increase a plant’s root surface area, which promotes nutrient absorption. While root-colonizing, nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., rhizobia) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into ammonia (NH3), making nitrogen available to plants for various biological functions. For example, nitrogen is essential for the...
13.1K
Migration00:53

Migration

8.0K
Migration is long-range, seasonal movement from one region or habitat to another. This common strategy, carried out by many different organisms around the world, is an adaptive response that typically corresponds to changes in an organism’s environment, like resource availability or climate. Migrations can involve huge groups of thousands of animals as well as single individuals traveling alone and can range from thousands of kilometers to just a few hundred meters.
8.0K
Diversity of Archaea II01:24

Diversity of Archaea II

57
Archaea, one of the three domains of life, exhibit remarkable diversity and adaptability, thriving in both extreme and moderate environments. Historically, most identified archaea have been classified into two major phyla: Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. However, recent molecular studies have expanded this classification to include three additional phyla: Thaumarchaeota, Nanoarchaeota, and Korarchaeota, each exhibiting unique characteristics and ecological roles.Thaumarchaeota: Mesophiles...
57

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Soaring Systematics: an evaluation of biogeography and flight behavior in dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) using phylogenomics.

Systematic biology·2026
Same author

A genus-level classification of the ant subfamily Ponerinae (Hymenoptera, Formicidae).

ZooKeys·2025
Same author

Evolutionary history of ponerine ants highlights how the timing of dispersal events shapes modern biodiversity.

Nature communications·2025
Same author

Post K-Pg rise in ant and termite prevalence underlies convergent dietary specialization in mammals.

Evolution; international journal of organic evolution·2025
Same author

A fossil-informed pattern of body size increase and local extinction in <i>Basiceros</i> dirt ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Proceedings. Biological sciences·2025
Same author

Evaluating UCE Data Adequacy and Integrating Uncertainty in a Comprehensive Phylogeny of Ants.

Systematic biology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 20, 2025

Collection and Long-Term Maintenance of Leaf-Cutting Ants Atta in Laboratory Conditions
10:11

Collection and Long-Term Maintenance of Leaf-Cutting Ants Atta in Laboratory Conditions

Published on: August 30, 2022

2.7K

An Eocene army ant.

Christine E Sosiak1, Marek L Borowiec2, Phillip Barden1,3

  • 1Federated Department of Biological Sciences, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.

Biology Letters
|November 23, 2022
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The oldest army ant fossil, Dissimulodorylus perseus, discovered in Eocene Baltic amber reveals unexpected ancient diversity. This finding suggests extinct army ant lineages existed in Europe during the Cenozoic era.

Keywords:
Baltic amberCenozoicarmy antpalaeontologysystematics

More Related Videos

A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants
08:10

A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants

Published on: October 12, 2018

11.4K
Techniques for Investigating the Anatomy of the Ant Visual System
08:56

Techniques for Investigating the Anatomy of the Ant Visual System

Published on: November 27, 2017

13.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Aug 20, 2025

Collection and Long-Term Maintenance of Leaf-Cutting Ants Atta in Laboratory Conditions
10:11

Collection and Long-Term Maintenance of Leaf-Cutting Ants Atta in Laboratory Conditions

Published on: August 30, 2022

2.7K
A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants
08:10

A Visual Guide for Studying Behavioral Defenses to Pathogen Attacks in Leaf-Cutting Ants

Published on: October 12, 2018

11.4K
Techniques for Investigating the Anatomy of the Ant Visual System
08:56

Techniques for Investigating the Anatomy of the Ant Visual System

Published on: November 27, 2017

13.5K

Area of Science:

  • Paleontology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Entomology and Social Insect Evolution

Background:

  • Army ants exhibit unique traits like coordinated predation and nomadic behavior, collectively termed the army ant syndrome.
  • Molecular data suggests the army ant syndrome evolved independently twice in the Neotropics and Afrotropics during the mid-Cenozoic.
  • Fossil evidence of army ants is extremely rare, with only one previously known species from 16 million years ago.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report the discovery of the oldest known army ant fossil.
  • To investigate the evolutionary history and diversity of extinct army ant lineages.
  • To determine the phylogenetic placement of the new fossil within extant army ant groups.

Main Methods:

  • Morphological analysis of the fossilized army ant, Dissimulodorylus perseus.
  • Molecular phylogenetic analysis using ultra conserved elements (UCE) data.
  • Comparison of the fossil's characteristics with extant doryline lineages.

Main Results:

  • The oldest army ant fossil, D. perseus, was identified in Eocene Baltic amber, dating back to the Eocene epoch.
  • This fossil represents the first army ant discovered in the Eastern Hemisphere.
  • Phylogenetic analysis places D. perseus among extant Eastern Hemisphere army ants, closely related to the genus Dorylus.

Conclusions:

  • The discovery of D. perseus indicates a greater diversity of extinct army ant lineages during the Cenozoic than previously understood.
  • This finding suggests the presence of now-extinct army ant groups in Continental Europe.
  • The fossil record challenges the notion of limited army ant diversification throughout much of the Cenozoic.