[1] This mechanism permits the ants to accumulate energy before striking or releasing the mandibles rapidly.

It has been discovered from southern Costa Rica throughout tropical South America, the West Indies (except Cuba and Bahamas), and on the Galapagos Islands.

There is pubescence or hair on the first gastral tergum and is partially found standing straight up and relatively uniform.

[3] The larvae of this species are ornamented with spines and adhesive pads, like others in the genus,[4] however present a few unique features regarding minute sensilla and the relative size of structures.

[5] O. bauri is found from southern Costa Rica throughout tropical South America, the West Indies (except Cuba and the Bahamas), on the Galapagos Islands, and the north of Mexico.

[2] Additionally, there were many times which observers saw trap jaw ants sharing food amongst their neighbors.

[8] A few of O. bauri’s common prey include worms, spiders, termites, ants, butterflies, flies, and beetles.

[2] The most common prey O. bauri enjoys are soft bodied, for example, termites and wood lice.

[2] This was determined after a researcher found remnants of Nasuitermes a type of termite that as a defense will discharge material that irritates and can block the predator's sensory organs.

[2] Finding parts of this type of termite prove that the mandibles of O. bauri are able to combat prey which is chemically protected.

[2] O. bauri have the second-fastest moving predatory appendages within the animal kingdom,[9] after the dracula ant (Mystrium camillae).

The ants were also observed using their jaws as catapults to eject intruders or fling themselves backwards to escape a threat.

[9] The biology behind this amazing ability is that when one trigger hair is stimulated, it actually causes all four large motor neurons to become active.

A “bouncer-defense jump” [12] is when O. bauri throws itself backwards away from the potential prey due to the mandibles striking an upright object.

An “escape jump”[12] involves O. bauri positioning its jaws towards the ground before firing and is launched vertically into the air.

[9] “Bouncer-defense jumps” are looked upon as mere accidents rather than purposeful acts performed by the trap-jaw ant.

The reason behind this maneuver is to be able to grab onto vegetation usually located around their nests in order to provide a form of escape.

There were patches of red, itchy, swollen areas on her hands, arms, thorax and foot.

[14] Additionally, the recognition signal is not a sound or a particular behavior since O. bauri is able to recognize dead nestmates.

[14] The recognition signal must be a type of smell, since ants which were freeze dried or in a plastic wire mesh capsule were never attacked.

[15] There are other ants with trap-jaws such as the extant Strumigenys, Mystrium, Myrmoteras and Anochetus along with the extinct Cretaceous age tribe Haidomyrmecini.

[15][16] One commonly accepted theory suggests that the trap-jaw actually evolved independently at least four different times in ants’ history.