President Biden: “There’s Not a Single Thing a Man Can Do That a Woman Can’t”, Soldiers of Turtle Ants Show “Reverse Evolution”, Sex-education bill passes in the House of Representatives in Washington State, What you think you know about human evolution is wrong, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Takes U.K. The shape and size of a turtle-ant soldier's head is dictated by the type of tunnel the species in question occupies. Turtle ant soldiers look like real-life creatures straight out of a Japanese anime film. The Turtle ant soldiers either are a perfect one-to-one match for the tunnel width in which case they have “dish” or “disc” shaped heads (which effectively seal off the tunnel from predators), or not. Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. This has nothing to do with molecules-to-man evolution ideas! And the earliest soldiers should have boasted simple square heads. You can also sign up for our free print newsletter (US only). Be sure to join us each Monday at 2 p.m. (ET) for Answers News. 96% Upvoted. What makes this even more remarkable is that the ants don’t burrow their own tunnels but occupy vacant wood-boring beetle tunnels. Across species, soldier morphotype determines entrance specialization and defensive strategy, while head size sets the specific size of defended entrances. But a new study of turtle ant soldiers suggests evolution doesn't only encourage specialization. ", Biden proposes 6.3% boost for NASA in budget proposal. She can produce up to five Ants with one meal. Chimera Ant queens possess an entirely unique method of reproduction known as Phagogenesis (摂(せっ)食(しょく)交(こう)配(はい)()()()()()(), Sesshoku Kōhai), a term meaning reproduction through devouring. giant turtle ants(Cephalotes atratus) encounter a column of red army ants. 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. October 15, 2019. However, many newer species have since reversed course, having evolved more generalized head shapes, allowing them to occupy a variety of tunnels. To take advantage of the genes of a particular species, Chimera Ants have been known to fee… And the researchers were somewhat surprised to learn that this size variation almost perfectly correlates to the width of the tunnels these ants live in. They mostly live in the trees of tropical areas all over the world. A recent news item caught my eye. The researchers analyzed 89 species of turtle ants—including one group that didn’t have any soldiers at all—and found that the oldest common ancestor they could trace “likely had a … Turtle ants make their homes in abandoned tunnels that were carved by wood-boring beetles. Shepherds were tending sheep in Central Asia at least 8,000 years ago. Other ants, with square heads, congregate to form a blockade, like the wall of overlapping shields formed by Spartan armies. But of the species which do have soldiers, there is a wide variety of body and especially head size. Turtle ant soldiers seem like a perfect example of evolutionary specialization. The caste of turtle ants known as soldiers defends the entrances to their nest by using their heads as living barricades. A soldier "turtle" ant, which uses its rounded head to block off the nest entrance. Internet Explorer is no longer supported. 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. It stated that the soldiers of Turtle ants show that evolution can go in reverse. Researchers are able to easily compare traits like head size with the ecological features the ants have evolved to use, such as nest entrance size. This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team. His body is considerably durable, since a punch from a Nen-using Rammotdid not leave him with any permanent or visible injury. Five vampire traits that exist in the real world. Well, the researchers decided to look at the genetics of these ants. April 9 (UPI) -- NASA's plan to fly a helicopter on Mars comes to fruition Sunday with an attempted 40-second climb to just 10 feet, but agency officials say they hope to make bolder efforts in the next few weeks. Copyright © 2021 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Try downloading another browser like Chrome or Firefox. Turtle ant soldiers use their heads. A recent journal paper looked at this variation and how it occurs. ant soldiers look like real-life creatures straight out of a Japanese anime film. As can be seen in Figure 1, different species of turtle ants develop remarkably different armor for their heads which give their soldiers’ heads distinctive shapes. Soldiers have enlarged and heavily thickened head capsules. Some ants have round heads, like a manhole cover, ideal for blocking a small round entrance. As well, turtle ants and their soldiers quickly diversified to adapt to variety of tunnels with unusually shaped heads. Gorillas don't lie: Chest beats provide reliable information about a male's size. This group is strictly limited to the New World and most are found only in the Neotropics. A majority of the species, the "colony robbers", specialize in the offspring of other ants and wasps. Highly specialized shapes should have come only later. Many people around the world believe that turtle ants are fascinating. In the latter case, they have dome- or square-shaped heads which mandate that several soldier ants block the tunnel with their heads, like overlapping shields. "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. Turtle ant soldiers display a range of head shapes and sizes, which dictate the type of tunnel the species calls home. Turtle ants make their homes in abandoned tunnels that were carved by wood-boring beetles. Turtle ant soldiers (genus Cephalotes), an iconic example of caste specialization, defend nest entrances by using their elaborately ar- mored heads as living barricades. Turtle ant soldiers look like real-life creatures straight out of a Japanese anime film. Turtle ant soldiers and their oddly-shaped heads suggest that evolution is not always a one-way street toward increasing specialization. Turtle ant soldiers look like real-life creatures straight out of a Japanese anime film. If evolution moved in just one direction, turtle ants should have started out without specialized soldier. Much of our current work is with the arboreal ant genus Cephalotes, commonly known as the turtle ants. “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. Turtle ant soldiers look like real-life creatures straight out of a Japanese anime film. Cephalotes is a genus of tree-dwelling ant species from the Americas, commonly known as turtle ants. 40th anniversary of first space shuttle orbital mission a bittersweet occasion. Some soldier ants have heads four times larger than others, and their shape varies drastically as well. This means even going from “dish” or “disc” heads, back to “square” heads, and then to “dome” heads as the situation demands. This might seem like a startling announcement until you look closely at what they observed and reported. March 10 (UPI) -- Turtle ant soldiers have evolved a unique defensive strategy. TURTLE ANTS. Being a Squadron Leader, Turtle is physically stronger than any average human or, presumably, Chimera Ant soldier. Tiny Mars helicopter set for first flight Sunday. April 9 (UPI) -- A joint U.S.-Russia crew aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket successfully docked at the International Space Station Friday morning about 261 miles in the skies above northern China, officials said. God created each biblical kind with a vast amount of genetic diversity so that organisms could adapt in a rapidly changing world. They use their heads to block the entrances of their nests—essentially acting as living doors. Scientists found the oldest turtle ant ancestor did have square-headed soldiers. 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. Protesters gather against anti-Asian hate in California. Turtle ant soldiers and their oddly-shaped heads suggest that evolution is not always a one-way street toward increasing specialization. "But turtle ants are an interesting case of a very dynamic evolutionary trajectory, with a lot of back and forth.". 2.0k comments. Archived. Turtle ant soldiers look like real-life creatures straight out of a Japanese anime film. According to his hierarchical position, he has authority over 4-5 Officers and several dozen Peon soldiers. You won’t want to miss this unique news program that gives science and culture news from a distinctly biblical and Christian perspective. Privacy Policy and Not all heads are the same: Some soldiers have heads […] By eating other creatures, a Chimera Ant queen can impart the characteristics of ingested creatures onto the next generation of Chimera Ants it gives birth to. While some species have lost much of their original genetic diversity through speciation, it appears that these Turtle ants haven’t lost as much (at least gene variants for head size and shape) and can adapt rapidly back and forth as needed. And why do several of the species share similar head sizes when living in separate locations? So how do evolutionists explain such variety in a single genus? Not all heads are shaped alike: some turtle ant soldiers have ones that resemble manhole covers and perfectly sealed tunnel entrances. The soldiers in a turtle ant colony are bigger than workers, and have large shields on their heads, “shaped like a dinner plate,” said Powell. 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. April 9 (UPI) -- Scientists have developed a tool that can precisely control gene expression without altering the underlying DNA sequence. The colonies live in … Animals. Close. 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. Different turtle ant species have evolved to occupy and defend different sized tunnels. This thread is archived. /r/ALL. Turtle ant soldiers look like real-life creatures straight out of a Japanese anime film. "The space that evolution has to play with is actually quite a bit larger than previously thought," Kronauer adds. Turtle ants, Cephalotes varians, have distinct minor worker, soldier, and reproductive (gyne/queen) morphologies associated with their behavioral profiles: small-bodied task-generalist minors lack the phragmotic shield-shaped heads of soldiers, which are … Please refresh the page and try again. These gate guards use their comically large heads to block entrances to their nests. Animals. These tree-dwelling insects scuttle to and fro sporting shiny, … The ultimate beekeeper. April 8 (UPI) -- New research, published Thursday in the journal Scientific Reports, suggests chest beating provides accurate information about a male gorilla's size. Animals. The ants don't dig the tunnels themselves, but … Different turtle ant species have evolved to occupy and defend different sized tunnels. April 10 (UPI) -- NASA has delayed the first flight of the Ingenuity Mars helicopter until at least Wednesday. Soldiers. Next, scientist used genetic data to untangle the evolutionary relationship between different species. Veggie-loving monkeyface prickleback may be future sustainable protein, Some fire ant colonies are ruled by multiple queens, Acacia ants' vibrational sensors can differentiate between nibbles and wind. Answers News is our weekly news program held here at the Creation Museum and broadcast on my Facebook page and the Answers in Genesis Facebook page. Even these species do not eat every kind of animal. The many species of the turtle ant genus occupy specific niches. These insects that live in the trees are on fire behind large-scale glossy sporty heads, which they use to block the entrances of their nests – and mainly act as live doors. These tree-dwelling insects scuttle to and fro sporting shiny, … Instead, scientists uncovered evidence that evolution can promote regression toward a more generalist approach. /r/ALL. Your newsletter signup did not work out. Scientists measure ocean currents underneath 'Doomsday Glacier', April 9 (UPI) -- For the first time, climate scientists have measured ocean conditions beneath Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier, sometimes called the "Doomsday Glacier. ORLANDO, Fla., April 9 (UPI) -- Monday's 40th anniversary of the first orbital flight of a space shuttle -- Columbia -- evokes the accomplishments of the program, but also a grim reminder of tragedies. hide. This item was discussed on Monday on Answers News with Ken Ham, and guest hosts Roger Patterson and Tim Chaffey. In most species, this is done by soldiers specialized for the job. Venues to Court Over Canceled Events. Ten of these species have no soldier ants (basically the defenders of the queen and colony), just workers, drones, and the queen. share. Please follow the instructions we emailed you in order to finish subscribing. Turtle ant soldiers (genus Cephalotes), an iconic example of caste specialization, defend nest entrances by using their elaborately armored heads as living barricades. There are over 100 species of Turtle ants of the genus Cephalotes. Rather than showcasing evolution (whether forward or reverse), these ants show the handiwork of Divine design. Terms of Service apply. The soldiers of army ants are larger than the workers, ... turtle eggs, or oily seeds. save. April 8 (UPI) -- Neolithic herders were tending flocks of sheep and goats as early as 8,000 years ago on the slopes of Central Asia's mountains. Turtle ant soldiers seem like a perfect example of evolutionary specialization. Turtle ant soldiers look like real-life creatures straight out of a Japanese anime film. NASA's Mark Vande Hei, 2 cosmonauts dock at Int'l Space Station. Animals. Turtle ant soldiers look like real-life creatures straight out of a Japanese anime film. The appendix, a safe house for good bacteria, is not a useless evolutionary leftover, but shows God’s careful design in humans. Crustal mineralogy drives microbe diversity beneath Earth's surface. A Tale of Turtle Ants and Soldier Evolution This is a turtle: Many people around the world believe that turtles are boring. So, what these scientists have ultimately observed is that Turtle ants remain turtle ants and have a lot of built-in genetic diversity! We also covered the following topics: Watch the entire episode of Answers News for March 16, 2020. But God cares for all his creatures and even points us to his created ants to study his ways (Proverbs 6:6-8, Proverbs 30:24-25). "To help people picture this, I often say that the smallest species is able to sit comfortably on the head of the largest species.". – popular memes on the site ifunny.co Our culture has slipped so far that a sitting US president has blurred distinctions between men and women rejecting God’s declared design for people. For a creature whose very life depends upon the burrowing size of another insect, waiting around for “evolution” would be a death sentence. Turtle ant soldiers scuttle around sporting shiny, adorably oversized heads. Scientists can now silence genes without altering underlying DNA sequence. Popular. 101k. Turtle ant soldiers have evolved a variety of head shapes to block the entrance to their tunneled tree nests. Turtle ants soldiers appear as real-life animals directly from a Japanese anime movie. April 8 (UPI) -- Thanks a first-of-its-kind study conducted in an abandoned mine shaft, scientists have a better idea of how hidden microbial communities are distributed beneath the planet's surface. The new research, published this week in the journal PNAS, suggests evolution is a two-way street. Turtle ant soldiers look like real-life creatures straight out of a Japanese anime film. Only a few species seem to have the very broad spectrum of prey seen in the raiding species. Based on (arbitrary) evolutionary assumptions, they determined that square-headed ants were the original “head shape”—but that these ants’ head shape varied over time to the other shapes and then could revert back to square-shaped. April 9 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden is seeking $24.7 billion for NASA in his 2022 budget released Friday, boosting funding for the agency's Artemis program as well as weather and climate efforts. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google To better understand how turtle ants diversify to fill the various niches of uniquely sized tree tunnels, scientists classified different turtle ant species by the shapes of their soldiers' heads: square, dome, disc or dish-shaped. A soldier "turtle" ant, which uses its rounded head to block off the nest entrance. A soldier "turtle" ant, which uses its rounded head to block off the nest entrance. Across species, soldier morpho- type determines entrance specialization and defensive strategy, while head size sets the specific size of defended entrances. 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. 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. Basically, they found that the shape of Turtle ant heads adapted to the context of the environment they occupy. Posted by 7 months ago. Photo by Scott Powell/George Washington University, Mars Ingenuity flight delayed after rotor test fails. Honeybee ID is a gut feeling. Image of the Day: Turtle Ant Soldiers Big heads come in handy when the social insects are tasked with defending their nest. "Usually, you would think that once a species is specialized, it's stuck in that very narrow niche," Daniel Kronauer, head of the Laboratory of Social Evolution and Behavior at Rockefeller University, said in a news release. This is a turtle ant: Photo: Alex Wild. Turtle ants occupy tunnels in trees that were originally dug by beetles. Thank you for signing up to receive email newsletters from Answers in Genesis. Turtle ant soldiers (Cephalotes) are tree-dwelling insects with strangely oversized heads, which they use to block the entrances of their nests, essentially acting as living doors. Shot with 100mm macro f2.8 The Turtle ant soldiers either are a perfect one-to-one match for the tunnel width in which case they have “dish” or “disc” shaped heads (which effectively seal off the tunnel from predators), or not. You're almost done! Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,Ken. report. 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.