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Genus of ants From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Paraponera is a genus of ants and the only genus in the subfamily Paraponerinae.[2] The name means "near-Ponera".[3]
Paraponera | |
---|---|
P. clavata, or bullet ant, the sole extant member of the subfamily | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Formicidae |
Subfamily: | Paraponerinae Emery, 1901 |
Tribe: | Paraponerini Emery, 1901 |
Genus: | Paraponera F. Smith, 1858 |
Type species | |
Formica clavata | |
Diversity[1] | |
2 species |
It consists of two species: the extant Paraponera clavata, also known as a bullet ant, found in the Neotropics, and the very small[4] fossil species Paraponera dieteri known from Dominican amber (Early Miocene; 16-19 million years ago).[5] Bullet ants are so named for the pain caused by their venomous stings. The intensely painful sting is toxic to invertebrates as well as vertebrates and a major component is the neurotoxic peptide poneratoxin.[6]
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