Most chromosomes for an ant

The greatest number of chromosomes recorded from any ant is 94 in the diploid condition (i.e., 47 pairs). This figure was recorded from two different species – the so-called dinosaur or dawn ant Nothomyrmecia macrops of western and southern Australia's scrub and Platythyrea tricuspidata, native to the lowland rainforests of Sumatra, Indonesia. Also, the chromosomes of the dinosaur ant are usually dot-like in shape, rather than long and slender like more familiar chromosomes; this species was described in 1934.

Ants belong to the taxonomic insect order Hymenoptera, which also contains bees, wasps, hornets and sawflies. All hymenopteran species so far studied that have a diploid chromosome count above 52 (i.e., above 26 pairs) are ants.

N. macrops earns its common names from its extremely primitive form, which has led some entomologists to look upon it as a living fossil species.