abc.net.au— Australian scientists have discovered a new type of ant, believed to be the only species that can live, swim and navigate under water.
Mar 11, 2006View in Crawl 4
I'm really trying to figure out what was so unique about this discovery. The waxy cuticle of all insects makes them water repellent. Often ants will be able to move small distances on the water. However, ants are not adequately adapted to thrive in an aquatic habitat, so more often than not they drown. But even so, the fact that ants are exploiting an aquatic habitat really shouldn't come as a surprise. Ants are one of the most ubiquitous life forms. Using the environment around them in any way possible is what they do best!And given that spiders - another fully terrestrial creature - have also adapted behaviours to allow them to use an aquatic habitat (something they've likely been doing long before the evolution of the 'modern' ant)... then why wouldn't ants?just my 2 centsJack (BSc-Zoology; MSc-Entomology/Arachnology/Animal Behaviour)Spiders have been doing it for far longer.
smartalecksMar 12, 2006
I thought red ants were cool, haha.
drbroccoliMar 13, 2006
No, definitly 50.
gtojackMar 14, 2006
I'm really trying to figure out what was so unique about this discovery. The waxy cuticle of all insects makes them water repellent. Often ants will be able to move small distances on the water. However, ants are not adequately adapted to thrive in an aquatic habitat, so more often than not they drown. But even so, the fact that ants are exploiting an aquatic habitat really shouldn't come as a surprise. Ants are one of the most ubiquitous life forms. Using the environment around them in any way possible is what they do best!And given that spiders - another fully terrestrial creature - have also adapted behaviours to allow them to use an aquatic habitat (something they've likely been doing long before the evolution of the 'modern' ant)... then why wouldn't ants?just my 2 centsJack (BSc-Zoology; MSc-Entomology/Arachnology/Animal Behaviour)Spiders have been doing it for far longer.
teoparsonsMar 17, 2006
this is a very old news! the authors pretend it's newSee:<a class="user" href="http://www.springerlink.com/(yy3foe55lec11cbbrpw3t0mh)/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer=parent&backto=issue,3,7;journal,37,203;linkingpublicationresults,1:101198,1">http://www.springerlink.com/(yy3foe55lec11cbbrpw3t0mh)/app/home/contribution.asp?referrer=parent&backto=issue,3,7;journal,37,203;linkingpublicationresults,1:101198,1</a>
punisher18Mar 31, 2006
thats what uve been trying to say *sigh* no one listens . i even posted the link to the original discover of that ant way back when .