Paraponera clavata is easily identified by its anvil-shaped petiole with a spine on the ventral surface, highly sculptured body and deep antennal scrobes.

Dinoponera, in addition to their size, are distinguishable from Pachycondyla by the presence of two laterally projecting clypeal teeth and rows of spines on the pygidium and hypopygidium.

[6] Dinoponera is one of the roughly 10 ponerine genera in which some species have secondarily lost the typical morphologically specialized queen caste for a reproductive worker known as a gamergate.

[7] After copulation the female bites through the male's gaster to release herself and pulls out the genital capsule, which acts as a temporary sperm plug.

[8] The gamergate maintains dominance with ritualized behaviors such as antennal boxing and biting, "blocking", as well as gaster rubbing and curling.

Fourcassié & Oliviera (2002) found Dinoponera gigantea foraging to be concentrated in the early morning and afternoon but did not sample at night.

[11] Despite their large size and strong venom, Dinoponera are likely preyed on by many vertebrate and invertebrate species across South America.

[13] For subduing large live prey and defense, workers possess a sting that has been known to cause severe pain lasting up to 48 hours.

Lymphadenopathy, edema, tachycardia and fresh blood appearing in human victim feces are common symptoms.

The convoluted gland within the venom system of Dinoponera australis has been found to possess close similarities to those of vespine wasps.

Due to the high diversity of compounds and systemic effects, venom of Dinoponera could be of use to the pharmaceutical industry.

[7] This new alpha female then leaves the nest with a cohort of workers to found an incipient colony, sometimes employing tandem running.