trap-jaw ant

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From trap +‎ jaw +‎ ant, because the mandibles (jaws) snap shut forcefully like a trap.

Noun

trap-jaw ant (plural trap-jaw ants)

  1. (entomology, informal) Any of a group of carnivorous ants, of the genus Odontomachus, that have mandibles that can snap shut on prey
    Synonym: odontomach (formal)
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