Neivamyrmex ectopus

†Neivamyrmex ectopus Temporal range: Burdigalian, Early Miocene K Pa Eo Ol Mi Pl Dominican amber, Dominican Republic
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Dorylinae
Genus:	Neivamyrmex
Species:	†N. ectopus
Binomial name
†Neivamyrmex ectopus Wilson, 1985

This is one of only a handful of species within the subfamily Dorylinae known from fossils. It is also the only known species of Neivamyrmex found within the Greater Antilles, although the genus does occur in the Lesser Antilles. This would suggest that the genus was once more widely spread. Neivamyrmex ectopus appears to be overall more similarity to contemporary Mexican and United States species rather than South American species, suggesting a closer relationship to these northern taxa.

Photo Gallery

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  The paratype of Neivamyrmex ectopus.
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  The paratype, in amber, has been slide-mounted.
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  Neivamyrmex ectopus, Dominican amber. Photo by Phil Barden.

Distribution

This taxon was described from Dominican amber, Dominican Republic (Burdigalian, Early Miocene).

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• †ectopus. †Neivamyrmex ectopus Wilson, 1985b: 11, figs. 1, 2 (w.) DOMINICAN AMBER (Dominican Republic, Miocene).
  • Status as species: Brandão, 1991: 359; Bolton, 1995b: 288.

Holotype: Museum of Comparative Zoology, without number.

References

• Sosiak, C. E., Borowiec, M. L., Barden, P. 2022. An Eocene army ant. Biology Letters 18: 20220398 (doi:10.1098/rsbl.2022.0398).
• Wilson, E. O. 1985b. Ants of the Dominican amber (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). 2. The first fossil army ants. Psyche (Camb.) 92: 11-16. (page 11, figs, 1, 2 worker described)