A new study found that Florida carpenter ants can amputate each other’s legs if needed.
The ants, known as Camponotus floridanus, amputate limbs to treat injuries from fights with other colonies. The process takes about 40 minutes, with one ant chewing off the wounded leg. Researchers noticed that the ants only amputate if it might save the life of the injured ant.
Humans have been doing amputations for over 30,000 years. This discovery is the first time scientists have seen a non-human species perform surgery.
Luis Apolo Staff Reporter kids/1722490215/1613368218
A new study found that Florida carpenter ants can amputate each other’s legs if needed.