Paraponerinae

One species of the Paraponerinae is extant, Paraponera clavata. This species dwells in rainforests and is known from Honduras through Central America into tropical South America.

Identification
Boudinot (2015) - Male The hatchet-shaped petiole (Fig. 4D) and the morphology of abdominal sternum IX are both globally unique among the Formicidae. The ninth abdominal sternum of Paraponera is strongly produced posteriorly as an apically bidentate linear process. These characters may be supplemented by the following combination: mandibles triangular, unidentate; clypeus well-developed, antennal toruli situated distant from anterior clypeal margin; antenna 13-merous; meso- and metatibiae with two ventroapical spurs each; eight closed cells present on forewing; jugal lobe present; petiolar tergum and sternum distinct; abdominal segment IV pre- and postsclerites separated by cinctus; abdominal tergum IV not vaulted; abdominal tergum VIII not spiniform.

Distribution and Habitats
These ants are only found in the New World, with a range that extends from the northern half of South America through Central America to Honduras.

Genus richness
Genus richness by country based on regional taxon lists (countries with darker colours are more genus-rich).



Species richness
Species richness by country based on regional taxon lists (countries with darker colours are more species-rich).



Nomenclature
PARAPONERINAE [subfamily of Formicidae]
 * Paraponerii Emery, 1901a: 36 [as tribe of Ponerinae]. Type-genus: Paraponera.
 * Paraponerini: Emery, 1911d: 27 [emended spelling of suffix].
 * Junior synonym of Ectatommini: Brown, 1958g: 176.
 * Revived from synonymy: Lattke, 1994: 111 [as tribe of Ectatommini].
 * Paraponerinae: Bolton, 2003: 47 [as subfamily of Formicidae].