Fishhook Ants Are Capable of Cutting Through Skin and Getting Lodged Into the Throat of Would-Be Predators

They are also known to link together in huge swarms creating a spiked floor to ward off attackers.

Photo: © Павлик Лисицын
If you ever encounter a large ant with three sets of sharp hooks coming out from its back, you might want to stay away from it. The creature in question is the fishhook ant (Polyrhachis bihamata), a species that can pierce skin and get lodged into the throat of would-be predators. These ants are not only formidable defenders, but also fascinating builders and social insects.

Fishhook ants are native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia, where they construct their nests in soil, rotting wood or trees. Their most striking feature is their spiny postpetiole, the segment between the abdomen and the thorax. The spines point outwards and bend backwards, forming hooks that can easily slice through skin and tend to hold on for a while. If a predator is careless enough to bite that ant, the ant will jerk around and cut up the inside of the predators mouth. The hooks are not only used for defense, but also for anchoring themselves to the substrate or to each other.