Certain ants can perform life-saving amputations
Image credit: jessbaileydesigns via Unsplash
A recent study published in the scientific journal Current Biology reported that Florida carpenter ants possess the remarkable ability to perform leg amputations when needed. Researchers observed these ants performing surgeries on each other and assessing when an injury is severe enough to require amputation, which can prevent infections and increase their chances of survival. This fascinating behavior highlights the advanced survival strategies of these ant species, highlighting their complex social behaviors and adaptability in response to environmental challenges.
Source
Frank, E. T., Buffat, D., Liberti, J., Aibekova, L., Economo, E. P., & Keller, L. (2024). Wound-dependent leg amputations to combat infections in an ant society. Current biology : CB, S0960-9822(24)00805-4. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2024.06.021
Additional Reading
https://abcnews.go.com/International/ants-perform-leg-amputations-needed-study/story?id=111638736