''Cephalotes multispinosus'' is a species of
arboreal ant of the genus ''
Cephalotes'', characterized by an odd shaped head and the ability to "parachute" by steering their fall if they drop off of the tree they're on. Giving their name also as
gliding ant
Gliding ants are arboreal ants of several different genera that are able to control the direction of their descent when falling from a tree. Living in the rainforest canopy like many other gliders, gliding ants use their gliding to return to the ...
s. The species is native of most of
Central America, from the
Mexican
Mexican may refer to:
Mexico and its culture
*Being related to, from, or connected to the country of Mexico, in North America
** People
*** Mexicans, inhabitants of the country Mexico and their descendants
*** Mexica, ancient indigenous people ...
state of
Nayarit in the north to
Panama in the south. Dubious reports have also been made of the presence of the species in the American states of
Texas and
Illinois Their larger and flatter legs, a trait common with other members of the genus ''Cephalotes'', gives them their gliding abilities.
The species was first given a description and a classification in 1868 by an
entomologist
Entomology () is the scientific study of insects, a branch of zoology. In the past the term "insect" was less specific, and historically the definition of entomology would also include the study of animals in other arthropod groups, such as arach ...
named Norton.
References
multispinosus
Insects described in 1868
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