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Ecphorella
| Ecphorella | |
|---|---|
| |
| Ecphorella wellmani | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Dolichoderinae |
| Tribe: | Tapinomini |
| Genus: | Ecphorella Forel, 1909 |
| Type species | |
| Tapinoma (Ecphorella) wellmani, now Ecphorella wellmani | |
| Diversity | |
| 1 species (Species Checklist, Species by Country)
| |
A monotypic genus (Ecphorella wellmani) that is only known from the single worker holotype. Nothing is known about the biology of this species.
| At a Glance | • Haiku • Monotypic |
Identification
Shattuck (1992) - Worker: Vertex concave; anterolateral clypeal margin with the corners expanded slightly anterior of the mediolateral region; palp formula reduced; metanotal groove a narrow, distinct notch in the relatively flat dorsal mesosomal surface; propodeal spiracle dorsal and posterior, near the propodeal angle; petiolar scale strongly inclined anteriorly and with the anterior face much shorter than the posterior face.
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See images of species within this genus |
Distribution
Known only from the type locality, Benguela, Angola.
Distribution and Richness based on AntMaps
Species by Region
Number of species within biogeographic regions, along with the total number of species for each region.
| Afrotropical Region | Australasian Region | Indo-Australian Region | Malagasy Region | Nearctic Region | Neotropical Region | Oriental Region | Palaearctic Region | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total Species | 2841 | 1736 | 3045 | 932 | 835 | 4379 | 1741 | 2862 |
Biology
Castes
Known only from the worker caste.
Morphology
Worker Morphology
Explore: Show all Worker Morphology data or Search these data. See also a list of all data tables or learn how data is managed.
- Antennal segment count: 12
- Spur formula: ?, 1 pectinate
- Eyes: present ommatidia
- Scrobes: absent
- Sting: absent
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- ECPHORELLA [Dolichoderinae: Tapinomini]
- Ecphorella Forel, 1909b: 65 [as subgenus of Tapinoma]. Type-species: Tapinoma (Ecphorella) wellmani, by monotypy.
- Ecphorella raised to genus: Shattuck, 1992c: 85.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
n. snbg. Differe de Tapinoma par son epistome entier, sa tete deprimee, ses antennes epaisses, et surtout par le pedicule qui a une ecaille tres inclinee en avant, mais distincte et fort epaisse, arrondie au sommet. Comme il n'y a qu'un individu, je n'ai pu dissequer le gesier. Ce sous-genre se rapproche du S. G. Doleromyrma Forel, par l'existence d'une ecaille, mais celle-ci est tres mince chez Doleromyrma.
Worker
Shattuck (1992) -HEAD. Vertex concave. Compound eyes present, approximately round; relatively anterior on head. Ocelli absent. Antennae 12 segmented. Scape short, surpassing the vertex by less than one-third its length. Anterolateral clypeal margin with the corners expanded slightly anterior of the mediolateral region. Anteromedial clypeal margin entire, without a central notch or concavity of any type. Anterior c1ypeal setae about 10; very short, only slightly surpassing the anterior c1ypeal margin; straight. Posterior c1ypeal margin between the anterior and posterior surfaces of the antennal socket cavities. Anterior tentorial pit nearerthe antennal socket than the mandibular insertion. Frontal carina present. Anterolateral hypostoma reduced to a thin sclerite. Medial hypostoma entire. Psammophore absent. MOUTHPARTS. Palp formula reduced, but exact count not possible with existing material. Third maxillary palp segment subequal in length to segment 4. Fifth maxillary palp segment at the apical extreme of segment 4. Mandible with about 7 teeth and no denticles (although basal regions of mandible obscured). Apical tooth slightly longer than the subapical tooth. Basal angle obscured in existing material. Basal margin obscured in existing material. MESOSOMA. Posteroventral pronotum lateral, rounded. Mesopleural process absent. Oeclivitous face of propodeum flat; dorsal face weakly convex, subequal in length tothe declivitous face. Propodeal angle distinct. Mesosomal spines and tooth absent. Erect pronotal hairs about 25; elongate, slightly longer than the maximum scape width. Dorsal pro-meso notal junction with the pronotum and mesonotum even. Metanotal groove a narrow, distinct notch in the relatively flat dorsal mesosomal surface. Metanotal spiracle lateral and ventral of the dorsal surface when viewed in lateral profile. Propodeal spiracle dorsal and posterior, near the propodeal angle. Hind tibial spur with well developed barbules along entire inner surface (except extreme base). PETIOLE. Scale reduced; ridged and with a distinct angle dorsally; strongly inclined anteriorly and with the anterior face much shorter than the posterior face. Venter with a well developed lobe. GASTER. First tergite vertical and not concealing the petiole in dorsal view and with a groove or indentation for the reception of the basal portion of the petiole. Anterior tergosternal suture of the first segment apparently extending laterally from the helcium in a distinct arch which extends dorsal ofthe dorsal helcial surface (available material damaged). Fifth tergite ventral, gaster with 4 apparent tergites. Gastral compression absent (gaster circular in cross section). GENERAL CHARACTERS. Chromosome number unknown. Integument thin and flexible, weakly sculptured. PROVENTRICULUS. Not examined.
References
- Bolton, B. 1994. Identification guide to the ant genera of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 222 pp. (page 26, Ecphorella in Dolichoderinae, Dolichoderini; Ecphorella as genus)
- Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 87, Ecphorella as genus)
- Brown, W. L., Jr. 1973b. A comparison of the Hylean and Congo-West African rain forest ant faunas. Pp. 161-185 in: Meggers, B. J., Ayensu, E. S., Duckworth, W. D. (eds.) Tropical forest ecosystems in Africa and South America: a comparative review. Wash (page 169, Ecphorella provisionally raised to genus)
- Cantone S. 2018. Winged Ants, The queen. Dichotomous key to genera of winged female ants in the World. The Wings of Ants: morphological and systematic relationships (self-published).
- Emery, C. 1913e. Le origini e le migrazioni della fauna mirmecologica d'Europa. Rend. Sess. R. Accad. Sci. Ist. Bologna Cl. Sci. Fis. (n.s.) 17: 29-46 (page 42, Ecphorella in Dolichoderinae, Tapinomini; Ecphorella as subgenus of Tapinoma)
- Forel, A. 1909b. Fourmis du Musée de Bruxelles. Fourmis de Benguela récoltées par M. Creighton Wellman, et fourmis du Congo récoltées par MM. Luja, Kohl et Laurent. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 53: 51-73 (page 65, Ecphorella as subgenus of Tapinoma)
- Forel, A. 1917. Cadre synoptique actuel de la faune universelle des fourmis. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 51: 229-253 (page 248, Ecphorella in Dolichoderinae, Tapinomini; Ecphorella as subgenus of Tapinoma)
- Shattuck, S. O. 1992c. Generic revision of the ant subfamily Dolichoderinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 21: 1-181 (page 85, Ecphorella in Dolichoderinae, Dolichoderini; Ecphorella raised to genus; review of genus)
- Wheeler, W. M. 1910b. Ants: their structure, development and behavior. New York: Columbia University Press, xxv + 663 pp. (page 142, Ecphorella as subgenus of Tapinoma)
- Wheeler, W. M. 1922i. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VII. Keys to the genera and subgenera of ants. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 45: 631-710 (page 690, Ecphorella as subgenus of Tapinoma)