"P. clavata" is the only living species in its subfamily. Although "P. dieteri" was the first extinct relative of "P. clavata" to be described, another "Paraponera" fossil had been examined earlier in the 1980s. The fossil, which was from the Miocene, was found embedded in Dominican Amber from Hispaniola; at the time of discovery, the ant was the largest fossil of its kind. It showed similar characteristics to "P. clavata", although it was considerably smaller. The fossil also has biogeographic importance. As "P. clavata" is not found in the Greater Antilles, but rather in Central and South America, this suggests that moister tropical forests covered the island during the Tertiary period. This is further supported by the fact that "P. clavata" is a forest ant that forages on the ground and up into bushes and trees.