In a revision of the ant subfamily Formicinae published in 2016 the subgenus C. (Colobopsis) found to be phylogenetically distinct from the other subgenera for Camponotus.

It is lacking erect setae under its head, and its body is slightly raised on the tibiae, or fourth joint of each leg.

All of these ants use some method to create a sealed pocket of air to protect from any water gathering inside the nest.

[7] These retreats have limited air volumes, and they are therefore subject to extreme changes in the oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations.

They studied Colobopsis anderseni in a series of experiments to determine varying carbon dioxide and oxygen levels in nests.

During inundation, a soldier sacrifices herself to block the entrance hole with her head which effectively prevents flooding inside the nest.

Once this occurs, the area can be very crowded, with the ants and coccids filling up to half the volume, and the conditions in the nests during a flood become hypercapnic and hypoxic.

[6] The dilemma faced by C. anderseni is to avoid drowning without suffering anoxia or hypercapnia, and they show a remarkable ability to adapt to the extreme conditions in the mangrove and exploit a niche where the density of other ants is insignificant.

[6] A similar study was conducted by Nielsen and other associates with another Australian mangrove ant, Polyrhachis sokolova.

[5] At this point, the ants retreat into their nest in the mud, which creates an air pocket and blocks out the incoming tide.

The question was again raised about the ant's source of air, and the study on carbon dioxide levels in the nests of Polyrhachis sokolova was conducted.

The experiment concluded with results similar to the study of C. anderseni nests with evidence that the ants had achieved anaerobic respiration.

In an additional 400 nests collected from other areas, queens were only found in the soft green shoots at the terminal ends of the branches of Sonneratia and were never together with workers.

Large nest cavities require very long hollowed twigs, which break easily during strong winds, potentially resulting in the ants being washed away.

Larger cavities in thicker branches require the ants to excavate hard wood, which did not seem to be the case for this species.

[3] Colobopsis anderseni are rarely seen foraging which has led scientists to believe that these ants rely on another food source.