This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: University of Cape Town (UCT) researchers recently named a series of approximately 400,000-year-old fossilized underground nests of an extinct termite species after Calitzdorp, the Little Karoo town near which they were found. In October 2026, the research team returned to the town to donate a poster documenting their discovery to the Calitzdorp Museum, helping to connect local communities with the region's fossil heritage.
The study, published in the Journal of Quaternary Science, was led by Dr. Miengah Abrahams, a senior lecturer in UCT's Department of Geological Sciences. The research involved colleagues from UCT and other institutions in South Africa, Argentina and Australia.
Columnanidus calitzdorpensis is a new ichnogenus and ichnospecies of termite, identified through the unique cylindrical, meter-deep structures formed by burrows and chambers. Eight remarkably preserved examples of these structures have been found at a single site in Calitzdorp. "Ichnology is a branch of paleontology that studies trace fossils.
These offer a unique window into past ecosystems, capturing the behaviors and interactions of ancient life as well as environmental conditions. "The words 'ichnogenus' and 'ichnospecies' refer to the scientific name ichnologists give to the specific type of hardened trace fossil, evidence or remains preserved of a particular organism, such as its burrow, nest or footprint, rather than the body fossil of the organism itself," explained Abrahams, co-convener of the Ichnology Symposium at the ongoing 7th International Palaeontology Conference (IPC7), taking place at UCT from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3, 2026. Abrahams, who leads the Continental Trace Studies group (CONTRAST) at UCT, combines her expertise in geology and ichnology to describe the structure and shape of trace fossils, such as hardened burrows, nests and footprints, and to understand how these have been preserved over geological time.
She said it was an honor to present a poster about the discovery to the Calitzdorp Museum and its enthusiastic volunteers. "Engaging with locals about the fossil heritage on their doorsteps is a rewarding aspect of science. We hope visitors to the museum, especially children, will gain a deeper appreciation for the natural world around them," she added.
A local artist discovered the unusual pipe-like features in the early 2000s. At first, the structures were thought to be remnants of ovens used by early human inhabitants of the Little Karoo. One of the structures is housed at the Calitzdorp Museum.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
