Interiors & Decorations

Jewellery & Precious Stones

Watches, Pens & Lighters

Fashion

Coins & Stamps

Comics & Animation

Classic Cars, Motorcycles & Automobilia

Wine, Whisky & Spirits

Asian & Tribal Art

Trading Cards

Toys & Models

Archaeology & Natural History

Sports

Music, Movies & Cameras

Books & Historical Memorabilia

The finest objects brought to you by {name}

Manuel Quiring

Weight: 3.076 grams
Preservation: Clear, stable Burmese amber (Cretaceous, ca. 99 million years old – Hukawng Valley, Kachin State)
Transparency: High, with excellent visibility of multiple inclusions
Number of inclusions with significant detail: 4 (possibly more)
Rarity: Very rare

Inclusions 

1:  Basal ant (Formicidae: cf. Gerontoformica) – ~3 mm
Distinctly curved antennae, rounded head with well-preserved mandibles and eyes.
Likely belongs to one of the early eusocial ant lineages.

The ant appears to be feeding on substrate (possibly a insect nest, or organic mass). Its body is curved backward, incidentally resting against the larger second insect inclusion , but not interacting with it directly.

2. Worm like insect or possible Neuroptera larva– 7 mm (curved)

Elongated, segmented, and covered in fine setae.
Clearly identifiable mandibles and short antennae.
Abdomen shows ruptured tissue with granular textures, possibly exposed soft tissue (see picture after head picture)
No evidence of predatory interaction with the ant, although the two are in physical proximity.

3. Spider (probably Gnaphosidae species) – ~4 mm

Compact, oval abdomen; robust legs; sprawled posture.
No visible spinnerets or webbing behavior.

The spider's ocular region is surrounded by dense bristles, consistent with ground-dwelling hunting spiders such as Gnaphosidae. This morphological trait may indicate a nocturnal lifestyle.

Moderately preserved, with some compression but clear segmentation and setae.

4.  Flying insect (probably parastic wasp) – 2 mm

Slender body with two well-preserved wings showing distinct venation.
Enlarged hind coxae and narrow petiole suggest a parasitoid lifestyle.

Excellent morphological preservation.

This amber piece preserves probable feeding behavior in an early ant species — an exceptionally rare occurrence in the fossil record. The ant appears to be feeding on or manipulating a small item directly in front of its head, while being physically touching a larger worm like insect (or neuropteran larva). This may represent scavenging, feeding, or foraging behavior.





Cretaceous (145 - 66 million years)

A Cretaceous Snapshot of Ant Behavior and Forest Floor Ecology - Multiple rare inclusions - Amber

Fossils

Reserve price

No reserve price

Buy now

Closing date

Saturday

Sunday

Friday

today

tomorrow

Budget

From

Location

France

Italy

The Netherlands

Spain

Germany

Taiwan

Lithuania

United States

Hong Kong

Belgium

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Austria

Türkiye

Sweden

Singapore

Bulgaria

Greece

Luxembourg

Dimensions

Height

Width

Depth

Object

Fossilised animal

Fossil tooth

Fossil teeth

Amber

Fossil matrix

Fossil skeleton

Fossil cabochon

Raw mineral

Fossil plate matrix

Metaphysical stones

Fossilised plant

Carved mineral

Fossil fragment

Fossilised shell

Fossilised egg

Fossil bone

Fossilised jaw

Earrings

Fossil mortality plate

Fossil skull

Fossil carapace

Necklace

Fossil vertebra bone

Fossilised claw

Necklace with pendant

Country of origin

Morocco

Madagascar

Indonesia

Asia

Lebanon

China

Brazil

North America

Africa

Myanmar

Netherlands

Canada

Peru

Baltic states

India

U.S.

United Kingdom

Argentina

Material

Silver

Gold-plated

Gender

Women

Unisex

Condition

Natural

Restored

Enhanced

As new - unused

Reassembled

Manipulated

Good condition

Excellent condition - barely used with minimal signs of wear

Reconstructed

Composed

Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes

Fair condition

Period

Cretaceous, Upper (100.5 - 66 million years)

Neogene, Miocene (23.03 - 5.33 million years)

Devonian (419.2 - 358.9 million years)

Paleogene, Eocene (56 - 33.9 million years)

Cretaceous, Lower (145 - 100.5 million years)

Quaternary, Pleistocene (2.58 - 0.0117 million years)

Triassic (251.9 - 201.3 million years)

Jurassic, Lower (201.3 - 174.1 million years)

Jurassic (201.3 - 145 million years)

Neogene (23.03 - 2.58 million years)

Jurassic, Upper (163.5 - 145 million years)

Ordovician (485.4 - 443.8 million years)

Triassic, Upper (237 - 201.3 million years)

Jurassic, Middle (174.1 - 163.5 million years)

Carboniferous (358.9 - 298.9 million years)

Devonian, Middle (393.3 - 382.7 million years)

Triassic, Lower (251.9 - 247.2 million years)

Triassic, Middle (247.2 - 237 million years)

Cenozoic (66 - 0 million years)

Cambrian (541 - 485.4 million years)

Quaternary, Holocene (0.0117 - 0 million years)

Paleogene, Paleocene (66 - 56 million years)

Devonian, Upper (382.7 - 358.9 million years)

Ordovician, Upper (458.4 - 443.8 million years)

Stone

Coral

Natural Pearl

Pearl

Blood Coral

Carnelian

Certification

No laboratory report

Baroque

Old European cut

Oval

Exact colour

White

Mineral

Labradorite

Amethyst

Malachite

Quartz

Mineral form

Freeform

Obelisk

Pyramid

Sphere

Pearl surface quality

Clean

Lightly spotted

Pearl luster

Good

Size on item

Adjustable

Extra large (19.5 - 20 cm)

Medium (17 - 18 cm)

After 2000

Before 1400

1900-2000

Treatment

Conserved

Polished

Composite

Specimen

Dinosaur

Megalodon

Trilobite

Ammonite

Mosasaur

Marine reptile

Fish

Fossil

Burmese amber

Woolly Mammoth

Pterosaur

Spinosaur

Spiny Trilobite

Shark

Ammolite

Fossils

This object is no longer available, but there’s still lots to explore

A Cretaceous Snapshot of Ant Behavior and Forest Floor Ecology - Multiple rare inclusions - Amber

Popular in Fossils

795 objects

Related collections

Cookies

Fossils

This object is no longer available, but there’s still lots to explore

A Cretaceous Snapshot of Ant Behavior and Forest Floor Ecology - Multiple rare inclusions - Amber

Popular in Fossils

795 objects

Related collections