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Two newly found ant species are real-life replica of Game of Thrones' dragons-Watch!

The dragon ants are natives of Papua New Guinea and the research shows that they arrived at their place of origination some 12 billion years ago. 

Two newly found ant species are real-life replica of Game of Thrones' dragons-Watch! Image credit: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology

New Delhi: No, they are not any fire-breathing animal nor do they fly. But the unique curved, hooked and vertical spikes of the two new species of ants strongly resembles the dragons from the TV-series 'Games of Thrones'.

And that is why scientists named them Pheidole drogon and Pheidole viserion, after the famous Daenerys Targaryen's dragons.

The dragon ants are natives of Papua New Guinea and the research shows that they arrived at their place of origination some 12 billion years ago.

At first, scientist thought that the barbed spiked-structure was evolved as a defense against predators. But the study published in PLOS ONE revealed the presence of uncovered muscles in the spikes that may also help the insects hold up their over-sized heads.

Watch the 3D model of the dragon ants to know more about their internal structure: 

(Video credit: Vocativ)