Myrmoteras

Myrmoteras is a genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae and the sole member of the tribe Myrmoteratini. They have enormous eyes, a character found in other ancient genera, and extremely elongated mandibles with eight to 16 teeth. These work as trap-jaws and can open up to 270°.

Description
While the elongated mandibles look superficially similar to those of the basal Myrmecia, the mechanism is, as a whole, totally dissimilar and is rather convergent to that of the ponerine genera Anochetus and Odontomachus, and the myrmicine Strumigenys. The trigger mechanism of the trap-jaw-like mandibles of Myrmoteras consists of two hairs. Other trap-jawed genera are Daceton, Acanthognathus, Orectognathus, Microdaceton, and Epitritus.

Distribution
Myrmoteras occurs in the Indo-Malayan region.

Species

 * Myrmoteras arcoelinae Agosti, 1992
 * Myrmoteras bakeri Wheeler, 1919 — Borneo
 * Myrmoteras barbouri Creighton, 1930 — Java
 * Myrmoteras baslerorum Agosti, 1992
 * Myrmoteras binghamii Forel, 1893 — Burma
 * Myrmoteras brachygnathum Moffett, 1985
 * Myrmoteras brigitteae Agosti, 1992
 * Myrmoteras ceylonicum Gregg, 1957 — Sri Lanka
 * Myrmoteras chondrogastrum Moffett, 1985
 * Myrmoteras concolor Bui, Eguchi & Yamane, 2013
 * Myrmoteras cuneonodum Xu, 1998
 * Myrmoteras danieli Agosti, 1992
 * Myrmoteras diastematum Moffett, 1985
 * Myrmoteras donisthorpei Wheeler, 1916 — Borneo
 * Myrmoteras elfeorum Agosti, 1992
 * Myrmoteras estrudae Agosti, 1992
 * Myrmoteras glabrum Zettel & Sorger, 2011
 * Myrmoteras indicum Moffett, 1985
 * Myrmoteras insulcatum Moffett, 1985
 * Myrmoteras iriodum Moffett, 1985
 * Myrmoteras ivani Agosti, 1992
 * Myrmoteras jacquelinae Agosti, 1992
 * Myrmoteras jaitrongi Bui, Eguchi & Yamane, 2013
 * Myrmoteras karnyi Gregg, 1954
 * Myrmoteras marianneae Agosti, 1992
 * Myrmoteras maudeae Agosti, 1992
 * Myrmoteras mcarthuri Zettel & Sorger, 2011
 * Myrmoteras mjoebergi Creighton, 1930 — Borneo
 * Myrmoteras morowali Moffett, 1985
 * Myrmoteras namphuong Bui, Eguchi & Yamane, 2013
 * Myrmoteras nicoletteae Agosti, 1992
 * Myrmoteras opalinum Bui, Eguchi & Yamane, 2013
 * Myrmoteras scabrum Moffett, 1985
 * Myrmoteras susanneae Agosti, 1992
 * Myrmoteras tomimasai Bui, Eguchi & Yamane, 2013
 * Myrmoteras tonboli Agosti, 1992
 * Myrmoteras toro Moffett, 1985
 * Myrmoteras williamsi Wheeler, 1919 — Philippines
 * Myrmoteras wolasi Moffett, 1985