Prionomyrmex macrops
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| Prionomyrmex macrops | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Prionomyrmex macrops Clark, 1951 |
Prionomyrmex macrops, sometimes called Dinosaur ants, and formerly known also under the name Nothomyrmecia macrops is the only extant species of the genus found in the cool regions of the mallee of southern South Australia and Western Australia. These "living fossils" have long been of special interest to entomologists since they offer a chance to observe and study "primitive" ant social organization. However, Prionomyrmex macrops are known to possess some behavioral habits of more advanced ant species. Two more fossil species of this genus are known from Baltic amber.
Nothomyrmecia was originally discovered in 1931 near Balladonia in Western Australia. At the time it was thought to be living proof that ants had evolved from wasps. However the amateur naturalists who discovered the species had failed to record collection sites, so no other specimens could be found in the area. In 1977 a solitary worker ant from the species was found by Dr. Bob Taylor and his party of entymologists from Canberra at Poochera, 1300 km (800 mi) from the site of the 1931 discovery. A further colony was found at Penong, 180 km (110 mi) to the west of Poochera, but the fate of the colony discovered in 1931 is not known.[1]
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