Biodiversity
Brain
EntomOLogy
Genetics
Marine BiOLogy
MicrobiOLogy
PaleontOLogy
ZoOLogy
AnthropOLogy
ArchaeOLogy
Astronomy
Climate Change
Earth
Physics
Digging Up Tasty Termites
Over a million years ago, an apelike creature known today as Australopithecus
robustus lived on Earth. Many scientists used to think that this distant cousin of humans was a vegetarian. But recent evidence shows that Australopithecus robustus sometimes ate termites. How did the scientists make this discovery? They studied fossilized tools that were found near the ape-man's skeleton. The tools were actually long, sharp animal bones, roughly the size of a pencil. Using high-tech microscopic methods and computer programs, scientists found tiny scratches on these million-year-old bones. These markings provide strong evidence that the ape-man used these bones as tools to break open termite mounds.
OLOGY CARD 158
Series: Animal
termites
A rotting log is a mighty tasty meal—if you're a termite. Termites not only eat wood, some kinds live in it, too. Termites are social insects. This doesn't mean that they like to talk a lot—it means that each member of the colony has an important job. Workers gather food, soldiers protect the nest and attack intruders, and the king and queen produce thousands of new termites each year.
Image credits: main image, courtesy of Scott Bauer, Agricultural Research Service.