Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Kuan KC
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7289866 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Kuan Kuan-Chih KC Chiu Chun-I CI Shih Ming-Chih MC Chi Kai-Jung KJ Li Hou-Feng HF
Scientific reports 20200611 1
The asymmetric mandibles of termites are hypothetically more efficient, rapid, and powerful than the symmetric mandibles of snap-jaw ants or termites. We investigated the velocity, force, precision, and defensive performance of the asymmetric mandibular snaps of a termite species, Pericapritermes nitobei. Ultrahigh-speed recordings of termites revealed a new record in biological movement, with a peak linear velocity of 89.7-132.4 m/s within 8.68 μs after snapping, which caused an impact force of ...[more]