The Hidden World of Atta Cephalotes: The Amazon’s Largest Superorganism

Jul 31, 2023 | Wildlife and Nature

In the category of Wildlife and Nature:

The Amazon rainforest is home to the world’s largest single organism, a colony of ants known as Atta cephalotes. These leaf-cutter ants construct intricate underground tunnels and chambers spanning over 700 meters long and house millions of individual ants. The colony operates like a superorganism, with each ant performing specialized roles. The leaf-cutter ants are highly efficient farmers, carrying and cutting leaves to grow fungus, which serves as their main food source. This intricate ecosystem created by the Atta cephalotes ants plays a crucial role in nutrient cycling and soil fertility in the Amazon rainforest.

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