Taxon: Ant  |  Genus: Odontomachus

This amazing ant one of the largest of its kind in the New World! Its spring-loaded mandible opens 180 degrees and snaps shut at some of the fastest speeds ever recorded for animal movement. The trap-jaw can act as a catapult to fling the ant through the air when danger is near. But this acrobatic power isn’t enough to escape the danger of deforestation in Ecuador, so protecting its habitat remains vital.