last updated 30.Nov.2007
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Cephalotes (turtle ants, gliding ants)
Cephalotes are attractive, heavily-armored arboreal ants found in the Neotropics. A number of canopy-dwelling species such as C. atratus show the unusual habit of controlled gliding flight when they are knocked from tree branches. Most species are polymorphic, having a "soldier" caster with an enlarged head used for blocking the nest entrances.
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