''Proceratium google'', also known as the Google ant, was discovered in

Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...

by Brian L. Fisher, Associate Curator of

Entomology Entomology () is the science, scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such ...

at the

California Academy of Sciences The California Academy of Sciences is a research institute and natural history museum in San Francisco, California, that is among the largest museums of natural history in the world, housing over 46 million specimens. The Academy began in 1853 ...

. The ant has an oddly shaped abdomen, adapted for hunting its exclusive meal of spider eggs. Fisher named the ant after the search engine company

Google Inc. Google LLC () is an American multinational technology company focusing on search engine technology, online advertising, cloud computing, computer software, quantum computing, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and consumer electronics. I ...

, as a tribute to the usefulness of

Google Earth Google Earth is a computer program that renders a 3D computer graphics, 3D representation of Earth based primarily on satellite imagery. The program maps the Earth by superimposition, superimposing satellite images, aerial photography, and geog ...

in his research.Fisher, B. L. 2005. A new species of ''Discothyrea'' Roger from Mauritius and a new species of ''Proceratium'' Roger from Madagascar (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). ''Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences'' (4)56:657-667. [2005-12-30
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131285 He wrote:

References

* Antweb (2005)
Species: Proceratium google
Retrieved September 30, 2005. * California Academy of Sciences (2005)

Retrieved September 30, 2005. Proceratiinae Insects described in 2005 Hymenoptera of Africa Insects of Madagascar Google {{Ant-stub