Ceratomyrmex

Phillip Barden, Hollister W. Herhold & David A. Grimaldi, 2017, A new genus of hell ants from the Cretaceous (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Haidomyrmecini) with a novel head structure, Systematic Entomology 42, pp. 837-846 : 838

• Ceratomyrmex ellenbergeri Perrichot, et al.

– an exceedingly unusual taxon described from four worker specimens of varying completeness. Retaining the same overall Cretaceous trap-jaw bauplan as other haidomyrmecines, C. ellenbergeri possesses a unique clypeal horn coated ventrally in elongate, tapered setae. The mandibles are correspondingly very long, apparently extended to pin prey between the mandibular points and lengthy clypeal projection. This configuration is a dramatic variant on the trap-jaw syndrome and would appear to confirm vertical mandibular articulation.

Locality: Burmese amber.