Rhytidoponera mayri

Rhytidoponera mayri
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ectatomminae
Tribe:	Ectatommini
Genus:	Rhytidoponera
Species:	R. mayri
Binomial name
Rhytidoponera mayri (Emery, 1883) Specimen Labels
Synonyms
Ectatomma mayri glabrius Forel, 1907 Rhytidoponera dixoni Clark, 1936 Rhytidoponera occidentalis Clark, 1936 Rhytidoponera petiolata Clark, 1936 Rhytidoponera stridulator Clark, 1936

At a Glance

• Gamergate  • Limited invasive

Identification

Large ants that, like Rhytidoponera taurus, have workers that are easily distinguished from other Rhytidoponera workers in the SWBP by their occipital cornicles.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Rhytidoponera of the southwestern Australian Botanical Province

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -15° to -35.38333333°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (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

An inhabitant of semi-arid areas.

Polygynous colonies with several gamergates (Peeters 1987). Studies of reproductive biology have been published under the name "sp. 12". Nest sites are long lasting, making it a good model to study changes in colony kin structure using molecular markers (several papers by Wee Tek Tai)

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Syntype of Ectatomma mayri glabrius. Worker. Specimen code casent0907149. Photographer Z. Lieberman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.

Worker. Specimen code casent0217493. Photographer Shannon Hartman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Holotype of Rhytidoponera mayri. Worker. Specimen code casent0903814. Photographer Z. Lieberman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by MSNG, Genoa, Italy.

Nomenclature

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

• mayri. Ectatomma mayri Emery, 1883: 150 (footnote) (w.) AUSTRALIA (no state data).
  • Type-material: 3 syntype workers.
  • Type-locality: Australia: Eastern Australia (no further data).
  • [Note: Emery states that the specimens were in his collection labelled “New Zealand”.]
  • Type-depository: MSNG.
  • Clark, 1936: 36 (m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1964b: 448 (l.); Imai, Crozier & Taylor, 1977: 347 (k.).
  • Combination in Ectatomma (Rhytidoponera): Forel, 1892c: 334;
  • combination in Rhytidoponera: Emery, 1911d: 38.
  • Status as species: Forel, 1892c: 334; Dalla Torre, 1893: 24; Emery, 1911d: 38; Clark, 1936: 36 (redescription); Brown, 1958g: 203, 273; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 379; Heterick, 2009: 137.
  • Senior synonym of dixoni: Brown, 1958g: 203, 273; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 379.
  • Senior synonym of glabrius: Brown, 1958g: 203, 273; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 379.
  • Senior synonym of occidentalis: Brown, 1958g: 203, 273; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 379.
  • Senior synonym of petiolata Clark: Brown, 1958g: 203; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 379.
  • Senior synonym of stridulator: Brown, 1958g: 203, 274; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 379.
  • Distribution: Australia.
• dixoni. Rhytidoponera dixoni Clark, 1936: 46, pl. 4, figs. 22, 23 (w.m.) AUSTRALIA (Victoria).
  • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated, “numerous specimens”).
  • Type-localities: Australia: Victoria, Lake Hattah (J. Dixon), Wyperfeld Nat. Park (J. Clark), Pomona (J. Hill).
  • Type-depository: MVMA.
  • Junior synonym of mayri: Brown, 1958g: 203, 273; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 379.
• glabrius. Ectatomma (Rhytidoponera) mayri subsp. glabrius Forel, 1907h: 268 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Western Australia).
  • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
  • Type-localities: Australia: Western Australia, stat. 76 Day Dawn, stat. 77 Yalgoo, 1905 (Michaelsen & Hartmeyer).
  • Type-depository: MHNG.
  • [Misspelled as glabrior by Emery, 1911d: 38, Forel, 1913g: 174, Clark, 1936: 34.]
  • Forel, 1913g: 174 (m.).
  • Combination in Rhytidoponera: Emery, 1911d: 38.
  • Subspecies of mayri: Stitz, 1911a: 352; Emery, 1911d: 38; Forel, 1913g: 174.
  • Status as species: Clark, 1936: 34 (redescription).
  • Junior synonym of mayri: Brown, 1958g: 203, 273; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 379.
• hilli. Chalcoponera hilli Clark, 1941: 85, pl. 13, fig. 15 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Queensland).
  • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
  • Type-locality: Australia: N Queensland, Palm I. (G.F. Hill).
  • Type-depositories: MCZC, MVMA.
  • [Junior secondary homonym of Rhytidoponera (Rhytidoponera) hilli Crawley, 1915a: 131.]
  • Replacement name: Rhytidoponera (Chalcoponera) clarki Donisthorpe, 1943e: 115.
• occidentalis. Rhytidoponera occidentalis Clark, 1936: 39, fig. 2 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Western Australia).
  • Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
  • Type-locality: Australia: Western Australia, Wadgingarra, N Yalgoo (L. Glauert).
  • Type-depositories: MVMA, WAMP.
  • Junior synonym of mayri: Brown, 1958g: 203, 273; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 380.
• petiolata. Rhytidoponera petiolata Clark, 1936: 41, pl. 4, fig. 18 (w.) AUSTRALIA (South Australia).
  • Type-material: 4 syntype workers.
  • Type-locality: Australia: South Australia, Lake Killalpaninna, 1903 (J.W. Gregory).
  • Type-depository: MVMA.
  • [Unresolved junior primary homonym of Rhytidoponera laciniosa subsp. petiolata Viehmeyer, 1912: 5 (Bolton, 1995b: 380).]
  • Junior synonym of mayri: Brown, 1958g: 203, 274; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 380.
• stridulator. Rhytidoponera stridulator Clark, 1936: 37, fig. 1 (w.m.) AUSTRALIA (New South Wales).
  • Type-material: 17 syntype workers.
  • Type-locality: Australia: New South Wales, 20 mi. N Bourke, 1935 (A.H. Wetherly).
  • Type-depositories: ANIC, MVMA.
  • [Note: Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45, comment that the ANIC type-material is missing.]
  • Junior synonym of mayri: Brown, 1958g: 203, 274; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 45; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 381.

Type Material

• Ectatomma (Rhytidoponera) mayri glabrius: Syntype, worker(s), Day Dawn and Yalgoo, Western Australia, Australia, Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève.
• Ectatomma mayri: Syntype, 1 worker, eastern Australia, Australia, Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Genoa.
• Rhytidoponera dixoni: Syntype, 2 workers, Lake Hattah, Victoria, Australia, Dixon,J.E., ANIC32-011926, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Rhytidoponera dixoni: Syntype, worker(s), male(s), Lake Hattah, Wyperfeld National Park and Pomonal, Victoria, Australia, Museum Victoria, Melbourne.
• Rhytidoponera occidentalis: Syntype, 1 worker (possibly a holotype), Wadgingarra, N Yalgoo, Western Australia, Australia, Western Australian Museum.
• Rhytidoponera petiolata: Syntype, worker(s), Lake Killalpaninna, South Australia, Australia, Museum Victoria, Melbourne.
• Rhytidoponera stridulator: Syntype, 2 worker, 20mi. N Bourke, New South Wales, Australia, Wetherly,A.H., ANIC32-011927, Australian National Insect Collection.
• Rhytidoponera stridulator: Syntype, 3 workers, Bourke, New South Wales, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Description

Karyotype

• n = 25, 2n = 50, karyotype = 20M + 30A (Australia) (Imai et al., 1977; Mariano et al., 2015).

References

• Brown, W. L., Jr. 1958g. Contributions toward a reclassification of the Formicidae. II. Tribe Ectatommini (Hymenoptera). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 118: 173-362 (page 203, Senior synonym of dixoni, glabrius, occidentalis, petiolata, quadriceps and stridulator:)
• Buxton, J.T., Robert, K.A., Marshall, A.T., Dutka, T.L., Gibb, H. 2021. A cross-species test of the function of cuticular traits in ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 31: 31-46 (doi:10.25849/MYRMECOL.NEWS_031:031).
• Clark, J. 1936. A revision of Australian species of Rhytidoponera Mayr (Formicidae). Mem. Natl. Mus. Vic. 9: 14-89 (page 36, male described)
• Emery, C. 1883. Alcune formiche della Nuova Caledonia. Bull. Soc. Entomol. Ital. 15: 145-151 (page 150, (footnote) worker described)
• Emery, C. 1911e. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Ponerinae. Genera Insectorum 118: 1-125 (page 38, Combination in Rhytidoponera)
• Heterick, B. E. 2009. A guide to the ants of South-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 76:1-206.
• Heterick, B.E. 2021. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part I: Systematics. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 86, 1-245 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2021.001-245).
• Heterick, B.E. 2022. A guide to the ants of Western Australia. Part II: Distribution and biology. Records of the Western Australian Museum, supplement 86: 247-510 (doi:10.18195/issn.0313-122x.86.2022.247-510).
• Imai, H. T.; Crozier, R. H.; Taylor, R. W. 1977. Karyotype evolution in Australian ants. Chromosoma (Berl.) 59: 341-393 (page 347, karyotype described)
• Mariano, C.S.F., Santos, I.S., Silva, J.G., Costa, M.A., Pompolo, S.G. 2015. Citogenética e evolução do cariótipo em formigas poneromorfas. In: Delabie, J.H.C., Feitosa, R.M., Serrao, J.E., Mariano, C.S.F., Majer, J.D. (eds) As formigas poneromorfas do Brasil, 1st edn. Ilhéus, Brasil, pp 102–125 (doi:10.7476/9788574554419.0010).
• Peeters, C. 1987. The reproductive division of labour in the queenless ponerine ant Rhytidoponera sp. 12. Insectes Sociaux 34 (2): 75–86 (doi:10.1007/BF02223826).
• Peeters, C. 1988. Nestmate discrimination in a ponerine ant (Rhytidoponera sp. 12) without a queen caste and with low intra-nest relatedness. Insectes Sociaux 35: 34-46.
• Tai, W.T., Seppä P. & Pamilo P. 2011. Colony kin structure, reproductive dominance and colony founding strategies in the ant Rhytidoponera sp. 12 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecological News 15: 67-76.
• TAY, W.T. & CROZIER, R.H. 2000a: Microsatellite analysis of gamergate relatedness of the queenless ponerine ant Rhytidoponera sp 12. Insectes Sociaux 47: 188-192.
• TAY, W.T. & CROZIER, R.H. 2000b: Nestmate interactions and egg-laying behaviour in the queenless ponerine ant Rhytidoponera sp 12. Insectes Sociaux 47: 133-140.
• TAY, W.T. & CROZIER, R.H. 2001: Mating behaviour of Rhytidoponera sp 12 ants inferred from microsatellite analysis. Molecular Ecology 10: 167-173.
• TAY, W.T., COOK, J.M., ROWE, D.J. & CROZIER, R.H. 1997: Migration between nests in the Australian arid-zone ant Rhytidoponera sp. 12 revealed by DGGE analyses of mitochondrial DNA. Molecular Ecology 6: 403-411.
• Wheeler, G. C.; Wheeler, J. 1964b. The ant larvae of the subfamily Ponerinae: supplement. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 57: 443-462 (page 448, larva described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Brown W. L., Jr. 1958. Contributions toward a reclassification of the Formicidae. II. Tribe Ectatommini (Hymenoptera). Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 118: 173-362.
• Clark J. 1936. A revision of Australian species of Rhytidoponera Mayr (Formicidae). Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria 9: 14-89
• Heterick B. E. 2009. A guide to the ants of south-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 76: 1-206. 
• Taylor R. W. 1987. A checklist of the ants of Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) Division of Entomology Report 41: 1-92.
• Taylor R. W., and D. R. Brown. 1985. Formicoidea. Zoological Catalogue of Australia 2: 1-149.