The shape and size of a turtle-ant soldier’s head is dictated by the type of tunnel the species in question occupies. The defense tactic of turtle ants relies on burrows with an entrance diameter that precisely matches the size of the soldier ant caste’s head. Basically, they found that the shape of Turtle ant heads adapted to the context of the environment they occupy. So, Turtle ant soldiers are uniquely adapted to their environment, and when conditions (like tunnel size) change (presumably due to different wood-boring beetles making the tunnels), these ants can rapidly adapt. The shape and size of a turtle-ant soldier's head is dictated by the type of tunnel the species in question occupies. Like a finger squishing into it when you meant to just grab a harmless tree branch. Scott Powell, Shauna L. Price, Daniel J. C. Kronauer. The shape and size of a turtle-ant soldier's head is dictated by the type of tunnel the species in question occupies. Turtle ants make their homes in abandoned tunnels that were carved by wood-boring beetles. “There’s a whopping four-fold difference between the smallest and largest turtle ant soldier heads,” said Scott Powell, a biologist at George Washington University. A soldier 'turtle' ant, which uses its rounded head to block off the nest entrance. Content on this website is for information only. Intruders don't stand a chance against a soldier Turtle Ant. This means that “species with similar queen phenotypes can evolve [i.e., “adapt”] substantially different soldier head sizes, and thus fill differentiated nesting niches.” 5 Thus, we see that over time the variable trait for head size facilitates diverse populations of turtle ants fit … Across species, soldier morphotype determines entrance specialization and defensive strategy, while head size sets the specific size of defended entrances. Army ant syndrome. The shape and size of a turtle-ant soldier’s head is dictated by the type of tunnel the species in question occupies. ScienceDaily. Instead, the oldest common ancestor the researchers could trace likely had a square head. I'm wondering if it can ever get out... isn't its head bigger than the hole? Could Mario Kart Teach Us How to Reduce World Poverty and Improve Sustainability? A sharp ridge around the edge of the head plate allows the soldier to twist and mechanically screw his head plate into the wood, making it almost impossible for aggressive ants or other predators to invade the colony’s home. Worker and soldier (right) of the turtle ant Cephalotes rohweri. All appear to be gliding ants, with the ability to "parachute" and steer their fall so as to land back on the tree trunk rather than fall to the ground, which is often flooded. Dec 9, 2018 - is a diverse genus of heavily-armored, tree-dwelling myrmicine ants found in forested regions of the new world tropics and subtropics. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the head of a soldier turtle ant (Cephalotes sp.) Rockefeller University. The finding nicely shows just how surprisingly flexible nature can be in fitting the shape of an organism to the context of the environment they occupy, Powell says. As Kronauer says, "It's a 1:1 match on the exact same scale.". The shape and size of a turtle-ant soldier’s head is dictated by the type of tunnel the species in question occupies. These tree-dwelling insects scuttle to and fro sporting shiny, adorably oversized heads, which they use to block the entrances of their nests -- essentially acting as living doors. The evolution of more specialized soldier types was associated with substantial shifts in nest-entrance specialization, while in species with the most special-ized soldier type, there was also a match between head sizes and entrance sizes … Rockefeller University. Others have square heads, which they assemble into multi-member blockades reminiscent of a Spartan army's overlapping shields. The shape and size of a turtle-ant soldier's head is dictated by the type of tunnel the species in question occupies. Cephalotes is a genus of tree-dwelling ant species from the Americas, commonly known as turtle ants. A soldier "turtle" ant, which uses its rounded head to block off the nest entrance. Yet how castes evolve at the species level has remained largely unaddressed. For the soldiers, this process has resulted in large heads that come in a variety of shapes. Rockefeller University. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily, its staff, its contributors, or its partners. Different turtle ant species have evolved to occupy and defend different sized tunnels. One of its compound eyes (green) is at left. Not all heads are shaped alike: some soldiers have ones that resemble manhole covers and perfectly seal tunnel entrances. Note: Content may be edited for style and length. "But turtle ants are an interesting case of a very dynamic evolutionary trajectory, with a lot of back and forth.". The shape and size of a turtle-ant soldier's head is dictated by the type of tunnel the species in question occupies. The ants don’t dig the tunnels themselves, but move into those excavated by wood-boring beetles. Turtle ant soldiers (genus Cephalotes), an iconic example of caste specialization, defend nest entrances by using their elaborately armored heads as living barricades. Across species, soldier morphotype determines entrance specialization and defensive strategy, while head size sets the specific size of defended … Can Corals Withstand Climate Change? Across species, soldier morpho-type determines entrance specialization and defensive strategy, while head size sets the specific size of defended entrances. "To help people picture this, I often say that the smallest species is able to sit comfortably on the head of the largest species.". It is not intended to provide medical or other professional advice. They also included a group of turtle-ant species that don't have soldiers. A bit drunk x, New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the interestingasfuck community, Press J to jump to the feed.
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