Question 1

Can I keep Paraneuretus tornquisti ants?

Accepted Answer

No, Paraneuretus tornquisti is an extinct species that lived approximately 35 million years ago during the Eocene period. No living specimens exist anywhere in the world. The species is only known from fossil specimens preserved in Baltic and Rovno amber from Eastern Europe.

Question 2

Where does Paraneuretus tornquisti live?

Accepted Answer

This species lived during the late Eocene (approximately 37.8-33.9 million years ago) in what is now Central and Eastern Europe. Fossil specimens have been found in Baltic amber (primarily from the Bitterfeldian region) and Rovno amber from Ukraine.

Question 3

How big is Paraneuretus tornquisti?

Accepted Answer

Workers measured approximately 8.6mm in total body length, making them relatively large ants. The head was 1.85mm long, the scape (antennal segment) was 2.13mm, and the mesosoma (middle body section) was 3.07mm [1].

Question 4

What does Paraneuretus tornquisti look like?

Accepted Answer

This ant had an inflated, rounded propodeum (rear mesosoma) without teeth, an antennal scape longer than its head, and a smooth body. It had sparse hairs on the head and mesosoma but abundant long hairs on the gaster starting from the third segment. A sting was present and visible in some fossil specimens [1].

Question 5

Are there any living relatives of Paraneuretus tornquisti?

Accepted Answer

Yes, the only living member of the subfamily Aneuretinae is Aneuretus simoni, found exclusively in Sri Lanka. This species is a living fossil and represents the last remaining member of what was once a diverse and widespread ant subfamily during the Eocene [3].

Question 6

Can I buy Paraneuretus tornquisti amber specimens?

Accepted Answer

While authentic Baltic amber with ant inclusions can be purchased from specialized fossil dealers, keeping fossil specimens is fundamentally different from keeping living ant colonies. Fossil specimens are valuable scientific specimens, not pets, and should be preserved for study and education rather than treated as alternatives to living ant colonies.

Question 7

What is the closest living ant to Paraneuretus tornquisti?

Accepted Answer

Aneuretus simoni from Sri Lanka is the closest living relative. It is the only surviving species in the subfamily Aneuretinae, making it a living fossil. However, this species is extremely rare in the hobby and may be protected in its native range.

Question 8

Why did Paraneuretus tornquisti go extinct?

Accepted Answer

The exact reasons for extinction are unknown, but the entire subfamily Aneuretinae nearly went extinct at the end of the Eocene, possibly due to climate change, competition from more modern ant subfamilies, or other ecological factors. Only Aneuretus simoni in Sri Lanka survived to the present day.

Question 9

How was Paraneuretus tornquisti discovered?

Accepted Answer

The species was originally described in 1915 by William Morton Wheeler based on 22 workers and two males preserved in Baltic amber. Later, Dlussky and Rasnitsyn found six more workers in Baltic amber, and the first specimens from Bitterfeldian amber and Rovno amber were also discovered [1].

Question 10

What can I keep instead of Paraneuretus tornquisti?

Accepted Answer

Since P. tornquisti is extinct, you cannot keep it. If you are interested in primitive ant species, consider starting with more commonly available ants like Camponotus (carpenter ants), Lasius, or Tetramorium species. These are easier to obtain and maintain. The truly interested enthusiast might research Aneuretus simoni, though it is extremely rare in the hobby.

Question 11

Where is Paraneuretus tornquisti found?

Accepted Answer

Paraneuretus tornquisti is found in 1 countries, including Russian Federation.

Question 12

What is the colony form of Paraneuretus tornquisti?

Accepted Answer

The colony form of Paraneuretus tornquisti is not specified.

Question 13

How do I cite AntScout data?

Accepted Answer

To cite this documentation, use: AntScout. (2026). Paraneuretus tornquisti Species Profile. Retrieved from https://antscout.com/species/paraneuretus-tornquisti

Paraneuretus tornquisti

Paraneuretus tornquisti Overview

No caresheet needed

No specimens available

Literature

Not applicable