Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Trap-Jaw Ant

The fastest jaw in the world belongs to the trap-jaw ant, Odontomachus bauri. It is capable of closing its mandibles shut at between 78 mph and 145 mph. Not only is it fast, it is useful too! The ant is able to aim its mandibles at the ground and fling himself away from predators. It is able to go as much as 3.2 inches in the air and travel as far as 15.6 inches. Quite the distance when you are only 1/3 inch long.