Titanomyrma

Titanomyrma
Temporal range: 48.6–46.2 Ma
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Dorsal view of T. gigantea holotype, specimen SMFMEI00998
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: †Formiciinae
Genus: †Titanomyrma
Archibald et al., 2011
Species
  • Titanomyrma lubei Archibald et al., 2011
  • Titanomyrma gigantea (Lutz, 1986)
  • Titanomyrma simillima (Lutz, 1986)

Titanomyrma is a genus of extinct giant ants which lived during the Eocene. The type species Titanomyrma gigantea and the smaller Titanomyrma simillima are known from the Eocene of Germany, while the third species Titanomyrma lubei, is known from Wyoming, United States. The presence of Titanomyrma in North America was considered to indicate "the first reported cross-Arctic dispersal by a thermophilic insect group".[1] However a queen reported from Upland temperate shales in British Columbia raised questions on the exact thermophilic nature of the genus. The type species of this genus, T. gigantea, is the largest-known fossil or extant species of ant in the world.

  1. ^ Susan Milius (May 4, 2011). "Giant ants once roamed Wyoming". Science News. Retrieved May 6, 2011.