(IMAGE)

Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University

Caption

This rare species of Pheidole, discovered in 2008, is only found on two small Pacific Islands. The function of the exaggerated spines is unknown, but has evolved independently several times during the evolution of Pheidole. Professor Economo and colleagues are investigating how these changes are related to shifts in ecological strategy.

Credit

Eli M. Sarnat, AntWeb

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