Myrmoteras ceylonicum

Myrmoteras ceylonicum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Myrmoteratini
Genus:	Myrmoteras
Species:	M. ceylonicum
Binomial name
	Myrmoteras ceylonicum; Gregg, 1957 Specimen Labels

Known only from the type series.

Identification

Moffett (1985) - Head and trunk conspicuously sculptured. Distinguished from Myrmoteras scabrum by its smaller size; evenly granulate head sculpture; relatively feeble mandibular bend; dorsally flattened pronotum; node of petiole taller than wide in side view; and lighter color.

Keys including this Species

Key to Myrmoteras

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 7.290572° to 7.290572°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: Sri Lanka (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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.

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.

Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

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

ceylonicum. Myrmoteras ceylonica Gregg, 1957: 41, fig. 1 (w.) SRI LANKA. See also: Moffett, 1985b: 27.

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

Moffett (1985):

Description

Worker

Holotype: Length excluding missing gaster 3.1 mm (est. original TL 4.0 mm), HW 0.94, HL 0.83 mm (not 0.90 mm, as Gregg [1956] reported) (CI 113), ML 0.83 (MI 100), SL 0.85 (SI 90), EL 0.56, HFL 0.95 (TWI 28), WL 1.17 mm. Size small. Frontal sulcus very feeble, a narrow smooth line extending from just above clypeus to median ocellus. Frontal area poorly defined. Clypeus strongly convex, as described for Myrmoteras brachygnathum but not as narrow. Scapes relatively short, overreaching posterior border at 62% of their length. Palpal segmentation 6,4. Mandibles with 3 to 4 preapical denticles. Mandible shafts weakly bent downward distally, so that when seen from above with the proximal portions of the shafts in the plane of view both the apical tooth and apical denticles are clearly visible; bend at penultimate tooth only about 35°.

Pronotum and propodeum flattened dorsad. Metanotal groove conspicuously impressed. Petiole with node narrow, much taller than broad in side view, with steep, virtually straight sides and a flat or slightly concave summit with feeble ridges along the apices of the anterior and posterior faces; short and squat when viewed from behind. In holotype curvature of ventral margin of petiole beneath node uncertain because of obscuring glue (illustration of Gregg [1956], which is of doubtful value because it is based on the same specimen, shows ventral margin virtually straight except for a small scooped-out area near the anterior peduncle). Tibia of the single intact middle leg on the holotype strongly dilated (in other species in the subgenus TWI 16 to 22).

Dorsal surface of head evenly granulate, with grains ca. 0.01 to 0.02 mm in diameter; clypeus finely granulo-rugose; back of head smooth. Smooth laterally beneath eyes except for faint longitudinal rugae; ventrum of head smooth. Pronotum more weakly granulate than head, smoother laterally; mesothorax with 2 to 3 widely spaced longitudinal rugae on sides and more numerous and weaker longitudinal rugae above; propodeum almost smooth laterally, dorsally and behind with narrow, relatively straight and evenly spaced transverse rugae ca. 0.03 mm apart. Pilosity long and dense, with 37 hairs breaking dorsal margin of trunk viewed in profile. Hairs rising 0.13 mm on head and 0.20 mm on trunk. Two prominent hairs on or near each metathoracic tubercle; six hairs on node of petiole. Reddish orange but with petiole, legs, gaster and antennae orange yellow and mandibles lighter orange yellow.

Type Material

Sri Lanka: Udawaddatekele Sanctuary, Kandy, 2,000 ft, VII. 13. 1955, #1243, three workers (E. O. Wilson, holotype in Museum of Comparative Zoology [examined]; paratypes in collection of R. E. Gregg).

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Dias R. K. S. 2006. Current taxonomic status of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Sri Lanka. The Fauna of Sri Lanka: 43-52. Bambaradeniya, C.N.B. (Editor), 2006. Fauna of Sri Lanka: Status of Taxonomy, Research and Conservation. The World Conservation Union, Colombo, Sri Lanka & Government of Sri Lanka. viii + 308pp.
Dias R. K. S., K. R. K. A. Kosgamage, and H. A. W. S. Peiris. 2012. The Taxonomy and Conservation Status of Ants (Order: Hymenoptera, Family: Formicidae) in Sri Lanka. In: The National Red List 2012 of Sri Lanka; Conservation Status of the Fauna and Flora. Weerakoon, D.K. & S. Wijesundara Eds., Ministry of Environment, Colombo, Sri Lanka. p11-19.
Field Museum Collection, Chicago, Illinois (C. Moreau)
Moffett M.W. 1985. Revision of the genus Myrmoteras. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 151: 1-53.
Zettel H., and Sorger, D. M. 2011. New Myrmoteras ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the southeastern Philippines. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 59:61-67.
Zettel, H. & D.M. Sorger. 2011. New Myrmoteras ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Southeastern Philippines. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 59(1):61-67