Adaptations

Ants as Arthropods
Ants have an external skeleton that is made of chitin. The exoskeleton is a muscle attachment site for the organism, provides structural support and protection. You can learn more about how ants work and their internal systems by clicking here!

How does it fit into its niche?
Eciton hamatum has adapted by reducing its compound eyes to a single facet. To compensate they have developed a series complex pheromones to communicate with each other.

Eciton
soldiers also have large mandibles that are hook shaped that are specific to the genus Eciton. The waist has two segments in it and the stinger development is very developed. Look at the interesting adaptations of the poisonous flower Plumeria rubra (Frangipani).

E. hamatum are also a very specialized type of ant attacking specific types of prey unlike other species that are generalized predators. The Eciton also forage and emigrate above ground and form nests called bivouacs in which the ants surrounds the brood and queen. To learn more about migrating cycles click here!

Since the ant species Eciton hamatum is a nomadic ant colony, they must make homes that they can travel with. To accomplish this these ants have adaptations that enable them to make a home out of their bodies! These ants have tarsal hooks at the ends of their legs that allow them to hook onto each other to enable them to make long chains of ants. This enables them to hang from logs and make a hanging wall of ants that protects the brood and queen. These ball shaped masses of ants are called bivouacs and serve as their temporary home.


Another interesting adaptation that E. hamatum has evolved to have is venom gland and stinging apparatus. You can check out this cool adaptation by clicking here. Another organism that lives in a colony and is poisonous is the bacteria Shigella sonnei click to learn more.




Back to Home
Continue on to
Venom