Nature has a unexampled competition for the most badass creature : a unexampled species of prehistoric “ perdition pismire ” with a metal - infuse horn used to deflate and suck the lineage of its enemies .
Scientists have recently account this new species ( Linguamyrmexvlad)in the journalSystematic Entomology . The “ vlad ” part of the ant ’s name is a nod to the 15th - one C prince Vlad III , better known as Vlad Dracula , or Vlad the Impaler , due to the ant ’s gory dietetical habits .
The genus roamed Earth during the Late Cretaceous around 98.8 million year ago . It measure out just a few millimeters long and was most likely a doer emmet . Just like most ant species from the Cretaceous , these pit ants belong to an other coinage that are distinct from the modern linage of emmet .
This ferocious little specimen was found engraft in amber at a mine in Myanmar ’s Hukawng Valley , a position famous for its amber sediment . Researchers from New Jersey Institute of Technology and the American Museum of Natural story usedX - rays , weak microscopy , CT CAT scan , and other imaging techniques to scrutinize the hell ant ’s telling head weapons system .
Its paddle - mold horn was potential reinforced with metallic element subatomic particle – yes , metal . This , the researchers say , would have helped it cope with the emphasis and tense it nourish when being used to “ pin and potentially puncture delicate - bodied prey . ”
Although not seen quite like this , other insect are recognize to sequester metals to reinforce physical structure parts , namely using Ca , manganese , atomic number 30 , and iron . It ’s most potential " Vlad the hell emmet " used these basic metals too . The horn is also lined with trigger hairs , like to the ones used by trap - jaw emmet to shut their jaws fold at lightning swiftness . However , these pismire were very different to the modern - day ants you see in your garden .
The hell pismire also had subway system - comparable channels between its jaws , most likely because it was used to suck liquids like hemolymph , a fluid equivalent to blood in most insects . The remains of this ant were discover near to a great beetle larva , also trap in amber , which the researchers believe could have been its dinner ( until it was so rudely fitful ) .
Vlad the snake pit ant now populate on in the American Museum of Natural History . The species join six other species of ancient haidomyrmecinehell ant , four of which were discovered in Myanmar , and the other two being from current - day France and Canada .
