2006/08/21 by S. N. Patek, Joe E. Baio, Brian L. Fisher +1 · 1 citation
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Neuroscience · #Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior #Animal Behavior and Reproduction #Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
paper · doi:10.1073/pnas.0604290103
openalex publication_date 2006/08/21 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Extreme animal movements are usually associated with a single, high-performance behavior. However, the remarkably rapid mandible strikes of the trap-jaw ant, Odontomachus bauri, can yield multiple functional outcomes. Here we investigate the biomechanics of mandible strikes in O. bauri and find that the extreme mandible movements serve two distinct functions: predation and propulsion. During predatory strikes, O. bauri mandibles close at speeds ranging from 35 to 64 m.s-1 within an average duration of 0.13 ms, far surpassing the speeds of other documented ballistic predatory appendages in the animal kingdom. The high speeds of the mandibles assist in capturing prey, while the extreme accelerations result in instantaneous mandible strike forces that can exceed 300 times the ant's body weight. Consequently, an O. bauri mandible strike directed against the substrate produces sufficient propulsive power to launch the ant into the air. Changing head orientation and strike surfaces allow O. bauri to use the trap-jaw mechanism to capture prey, eject intruders, or jump to safety. This use of a single, simple mechanical system to generate a suite of profoundly different behavioral functions offers insights into the morphological origins of novelties in feeding and locomotion.