Medicine & TechnologyScientists observed an insect whose scheme is to fake its death for as long as 61 minutes to stay away from its predators and be eaten.
The mighty mandibles of the trap-jaw ants are legendary in the animal kingdom. Members of the genus Odontomachus have specialized spring-loaded jaws that can snap shut at speeds of 60 meters per second, with forces that exceed 300 times their body weight. But in four species, those powerful jaws are not only great at catching prey, they can also aid in the ant's escape.