Anochetus princeps

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Anochetus princeps
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Ponerinae
Tribe: Ponerini
Genus: Anochetus
Species group: rugosus
Species: A. princeps
Binomial name
Anochetus princeps
Emery, 1884

Anochetus princeps casent0217511 p 1 high.jpg

Anochetus princeps casent0217511 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Synonyms

Collected from moist forests, nests have been found in a clay bank and a rotting log. Heterick & Kitching (2022) collected this species in a pitfall trap within a lowland dipterocarp forest in Brunei.

Identification

A member of the rugosa group. Brown (1978) defined the group: Large to medium-sized forms with single, serially dentate inner margins; mesonotal disc with a raised anterior rim; petiole bluntly pointed or narrowly rounded at apex. Male (of princeps) without pygidial spine.

Satria et al. (2017) – The species of the rugosus group differ by the following characters: Anochetus mixtus - Dorsum of head in full-face view largely smooth and shiny, but frons distinctly striate obliquely and longitudinally; mesopleuron smooth and shiny; petiolar node with its basal half weakly striate. Anochetus muzziolii - Pronotal disc smooth and shiny; mandible short (MdI < 60). Anochetus princeps - Pronotal disc smooth and shiny; mesosoma relatively slender; petiole in lateral view with a relatively long anterior peduncle. Anochetus rugosus - Head in full-face view largely striated; lateral face of head partly striated; ventral face of head smooth and shiny; mesosoma relatively short and stout; petiolar node in lateral view with anterior face sinuate and posterior face weakly convex; anterior third of mesopleuron finely sculptured; propodeum coarsely rugose; petiolar node largely coarsely rugose.

Zettel (2012). Figure 1-7.

Zettel (2012) - Philippines: Anochetus princeps is unique among all Philippine Anochetus species by the structure of the mandible as described in the key and illustrated in Figure 1. It belongs to the A. rugosus group (Brown 1978).

Anochetus princeps was described from Java, as well as its synonyms A. jacobsoni and A. serratus. Other synonyms, A. princeps var. laeta, and A. jacobsoni var. taipingensis are from Sumatra and West Malaysia, respectively. Brown (1978) presented the first record of A. princeps from the Philippines: Mount Makiling, Laguna Province, Luzon Island. I have examined one worker from the same mountain. As already noted by Brown (1964), some allopatric populations of A. princeps may turn out to be biological species. Compared to specimens from West Malaysia (CZW, NHMW), the Luzon worker has a more strongly elevated anterior rim of the mesonotum, but otherwise it agrees very well, despite its isolated record. In contrast, specimens from Myanmar and Thailand (CZW, NHMW) may belong to an undescribed species, because they differ considerably in pronotum sculpture and head shape.

Satria et al. (2017) – Species discrimination based on male genitalia and associated sclerites (no males known for A. muzziolii). Anochetus mixtus is easily distinguished from the other species in the Anochetus rugosus group by the following characters: abdominal sternum IX much longer than broad with obtuse posterolateral corners (in A. princeps much longer than broad, without posterolateral corners; in A. rugosus slightly longer than broad, without posterolateral corners); dorsal outline of paramere weakly convex (in A. rugosus straight, gradually sloping downward to angulate distidorsal part); distiventral part of valviceps produced but shorter than broad, truncate distally (in A. princeps forming an acute, pointed and slightly downcurved projection which is much longer than broad; in A. rugosus forming a subrectangular lobe which is longer than broad); valviceps with 23−24 denticles on the ventral margin (in A. princeps with 13−14 denticles on the ventral margin, and with ca. 10 denticles on the dorsodistal margin; in A. rugosus strongly concave with 19 denticles on the ventral margin, and 9 denticles on the distal margin of the lobe). See figures in male caste section below.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 6.733167° to -6.468919°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia (type locality), Malaysia, Philippines.
Oriental Region: Thailand, Vietnam.

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
pChart

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.
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Biology

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Anochetus princeps casent0903980 h 1 high.jpgAnochetus princeps casent0903980 p 1 high.jpgAnochetus princeps casent0903980 d 1 high.jpgAnochetus princeps casent0903980 l 1 high.jpg
Syntype of Anochetus princepsWorker. Specimen code casent0903980. Photographer Z. Lieberman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MSNG, Genoa, Italy.
Anochetus princeps casent0907403 h 1 high.jpgAnochetus princeps casent0907403 p 1 high.jpgAnochetus princeps casent0907403 d 1 high.jpgAnochetus princeps casent0907403 l 1 high.jpg
Syntype of Anochetus jacobsoni taipingensisWorker. Specimen code casent0907403. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Anochetus princeps casent0907408 h 1 high.jpgAnochetus princeps casent0907408 p 1 high.jpgAnochetus princeps casent0907408 d 1 high.jpgAnochetus princeps casent0907408 l 1 high.jpg
Syntype of Anochetus princeps laetaWorker. Specimen code casent0907408. Photographer Z. Lieberman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Anochetus princeps casent0907402 h 1 high.jpgAnochetus princeps casent0907402 h 2 high.jpgAnochetus princeps casent0907402 p 1 high.jpgAnochetus princeps casent0907402 d 1 high.jpgAnochetus princeps casent0907402 l 1 high.jpg
Syntype of Anochetus jacobsoniWorker. Specimen code casent0907402. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.

Male

Anochetus F6 m.jpgAnochetus F7 m.jpg
.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • princeps. Anochetus princeps Emery, 1884a: 379 (diagnosis in key) (w.) INDONESIA (Java).
    • Type-material: holotype(?) worker.
    • [Note: no indication of number of specimens is given.]
    • Type-locality: Indonesia: Java (no further data).
    • [Note: Emery, 1887b: 427 gives type-locality on Java as Tjibodas.]
    • Type-depository: MSNG.
    • Brown, 1978c: 577 (m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1976a: 61 (l.).
    • Status as species: Emery, 1887b: 427; Emery, 1889b: 499; Dalla Torre, 1893: 48; Emery, 1895k: 463; Forel, 1900c: 60; Emery, 1900d: 671; Bingham, 1903: 45; Emery, 1911d: 109; Forel, 1915a: 22; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 41; Brown, 1964d: 213; Brown, 1978c: 558, 577; Bolton, 1995b: 65; Jaitrong & Nabhitabhata, 2005: 13; Pfeiffer, et al. 2011: 55; Zettel, 2012: 164; Satria, Bui & Eguchi, 2017: 11.
    • Senior synonym of jacobsoni Forel: Brown, 1964d: 213; Brown, 1978c: 558; Bolton, 1995b: 65.
    • Senior synonym of laeta: Brown, 1964d: 213; Brown, 1978c: 558; Bolton, 1995b: 65.
    • Senior synonym of serratus: Brown, 1964d: 213; Brown, 1978c: 558; Bolton, 1995b: 65.
    • Senior synonym of taipingensis: Brown, 1964d: 213; Brown, 1978c: 558; Bolton, 1995b: 65.
    • Distribution: India (Andaman Is), Indonesia (Java, Sulawesi, Sumatra), Malaysia (Peninsula, Sabah, Sarawak), Philippines (Luzon), Thailand, Vietnam.
  • jacobsoni. Anochetus jacobsoni Forel, 1911b: 193 (w.) INDONESIA (Java).
    • Type-material: holotype worker.
    • Type-locality: Indonesia: Java, Goenoeng Oengaran (E. Jacobson).
    • Type-depository: MHNG.
    • Forel, 1913k: 18 (q.).
    • Status as species: Forel, 1913k: 18; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 40.
    • Junior synonym of princeps: Brown, 1964d: 213; Brown, 1978c: 558; Bolton, 1995b: 64.
  • serratus. Anochetus serratus Stitz, 1925: 113 (w.) INDONESIA (Java).
    • Type-material: holotype worker.
    • Type-locality: Indonesia: Java, Tjibodas (Fleischer).
    • Type-depository: MNHU.
    • Status as species: Chapman & Capco, 1951: 42.
    • Junior synonym of princeps: Brown, 1964d: 213; Brown, 1978c: 558; Bolton, 1995b: 65.
  • taipingensis. Anochetus jacobsoni var. taipingensis Forel, 1913k: 18 (w.m.) WEST MALAYSIA.
    • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated), 1 syntype male.
    • Type-locality: Malaysia: Malacca, Taiping, Fraser’s Hill, 3500 ft (von Buttel-Reepen).
    • Type-depository: MHNG.
    • Subspecies of jacobsoni: Chapman & Capco, 1951: 40.
    • Junior synonym of princeps: Brown, 1964d: 213; Brown, 1978c: 558; Bolton, 1995b: 66.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Male

Satria et al. (2017) - Description of male genitalia and associated sclerites. Abdominal tergum VIII without a median spine. Abdominal sternum IX (subgenital plate) longer than broad, triangular, tapering toward subrectangular apex, without posterolateral corners. Dorsal outline of paramere in lateral view weakly convex. Distiventral part of valviceps forming an acute, pointed and slightly downcurved projection which is much longer than broad; ventral margin to the apex of projection weakly concave, with 13−14 denticles; dorsodistal margin to the apex very weakly sinuate, with ca. 10 denticles.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Brown Jr., W.L. 1978. Contributions toward a reclassification of the Formicidae. Part VI. Ponerinae, Tribe Ponerini, Subtribe Odontomachiti, Section B. Genus Anochetus and Bibliography. Studia Entomologia 20(1-4): 549-XXX
  • Brown W. L. Jr. 1964. Synonymy and variation of some species of the ant genus Anochetus. Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society 37: 212-215.
  • Brown W. L., Jr. 1964. Synonymy and variation of some species of the ant genus Anochetus. J. Kans. Entomol. Soc. 37: 212-215.
  • CSIRO Collection
  • Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
  • Eguchi K., B. T. Viet, and S. Yamane. 2014. Generic Synopsis of the Formicidae of Vietnam (Insecta: Hymenoptera), Part II—Cerapachyinae, Aenictinae, Dorylinae, Leptanillinae, Amblyoponinae, Ponerinae, Ectatomminae and Proceratiinae. Zootaxa 3860: 001-046.
  • Emery C. 1887. Catalogo delle formiche esistenti nelle collezioni del Museo Civico di Genova. Parte terza. Formiche della regione Indo-Malese e dell'Australia (continuazione e fine). [concl.]. Ann. Mus. Civ. Stor. Nat. 25(5): 427-473.
  • Emery C. 1911. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Ponerinae. Genera Insectorum 118: 1-125.
  • Emery C. Formiche raccolte da Elio Modigliani in Sumatra, Engano e Mentawei. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale 40: 661-722.
  • Emery, C. "Catalogo delle formiche esistenti nelle collezioni del Museo Civico di Genova. Parte terza. Formiche della regione Indo-Malese e dell'Australia (continuazione e fine)." Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria (Genova) (2) 5, no. 25 (1887): 427-473.
  • Emery, C. "Formiche raccolte da Elio Modigliani in Sumatra, Engano e Mentawei." Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria (Genova) (2) 20, no. 40 (1900): 661-722.
  • Forel A. 1900. Les Formicides de l'Empire des Indes et de Ceylan. Part VI. J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 13: 52-65.
  • Forel A. 1910. Glanures myrmécologiques. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 54: 6-32.
  • Forel A. 1911. Ameisen aus Java beobachtet und gesammelt von Herrn Edward Jacobson. II. Theil. Notes Leyden Mus. 33: 193-218.
  • Forel A. 1913k. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse einer Forschungsreise nach Ostindien ausgeführt im Auftrage der Kgl. Preuss. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin von H. v. Buttel-Reepen. II. Ameisen aus Sumatra, Java, Malacca und Ceylon. Gesammelt von Herrn Prof. Dr. v. Buttel-Reepen in den Jahren 1911-1912. Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere 36:1-148.
  • Jaitrong W.; Nabhitabhata, J. 2005. A list of known ant species of Thailand. The Thailand Natural History Museum Journal 1(1): 9-54.
  • Menozzi C. 1939. Qualche nuova formica di Sumatra. Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 82: 175-181.
  • Mohamed M. 1995. A preliminary list of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Tawau Hills Park, Sabah. In: Ghazally Ismail et al. (eds.), Tawau Hills Park, Sabah, Pelanduk Pub. Pp. 205-213.
  • Pfeiffer M.; Mezger, D.; Hosoishi, S.; Bakhtiar, E. Y.; Kohout, R. J. 2011. The Formicidae of Borneo (Insecta: Hymenoptera): a preliminary species list. Asian Myrmecology 4:9-58
  • Satria R, B. T. Viet, and K. Eguchi. 2017. New synonymy and redescription of Anochetus mixtus Radchenko, 1993, and distinction from the other members of the Anochetus rugosus group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae). Asian Myrmecology 9: e009006
  • Stitz H. 1925. Ameisen von den Philippinen, den malayischen und ozeanischen Inseln. Sitzungsberichte der Gesellschaft Naturforschender Freunde zu Berlin 1923: 110-136.
  • Yusah K. M., T. M. Fayle, G. Harris, and W. A. Foster. 2012. Optimizing diversity assesment protocols for high canopy ants in tropical rain forest. Biotropica 44(1): 73-81.
  • Zryanin V. A. 2011. An eco-faunistic review of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). In: Structure and functions of soil communities of a monsoon tropical forest (Cat Tien National Park, southern Vietnam) / A.V. Tiunov (Editor). – M.: KMK Scientific Press. 2011. 277 р.101-124.