Fossil ants of the genus Gesomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from the Eocene of Europe and remarks on the evolution of arboreal ant communities
Author
Dlussky, Gennady M.
Author
Wappler, Torsten
Author
Wedmann, Sonja
text
Zootaxa
2009
2031
1
20
journal article
10.5281/zenodo.186261
f4bc44d8-5688-4500-839e-2449308f744c
1175-5326
186261
0919CF2B-DBC2-4504-B48A-8AD0D01695DB
Gesomyrmex curiosus
sp. nov.
(
Fig. 4
C and
Fig. 6
H)
Derivation of the name.
Curiosus
is Latin for funny.
Holotype
.
SMF MeI 11953 (head of Ƥ).
Type
locality and horizon.
Grube Messel, Hesse,
Germany
. Messel formation, middle Eocene, ca. 47 Ma (
Mertz & Renne 2005
).
Description.
Gyne. Head subtrapezoid, broader in the front than in the back, with gradually rounded posterior margin, without posterolateral corners. Anterior clypeal margin weakly projected, forms a small rounded lobe. Eyes comparatively small: head 4.4 times longer than maximum eye diameter. Frontal carinae short, divergent, reach the anterior margin of eye. Scape does not reach posterior margin of eye; head 3.5 times longer than scape. Mandible triangular, with 5 massive blunt teeth. Most part of the head brownish yellow, anterior part of head and spot near ocelli more dark, mandibles dark brown.
Measurements (in mm).
Holotype
MeI 11953: HL 2.3, HW 1.6, SL 0.65, ED 0.52.
Comments.
Only the head of the unique
holotype
specimen is well preserved. However it is very different from all fossil and living species.