Syllophopsis elgonensis

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Syllophopsis elgonensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Syllophopsis
Species: S. elgonensis
Binomial name
Syllophopsis elgonensis
Santschi, 1935

Monomorium elgonense casent0915413 p 1 high.jpg

Monomorium elgonense casent0915413 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Nothing is known about the biology of Syllophopsis elgonensis.

Identification

Bolton (1987) - M. elgonense is separated from Syllophopsis jonesi and Syllophopsis thrascolepta by its shorter scapes, from the Rwandan Syllophopsis sersalata and the west African Syllophopsis malamixta by its smooth mesopleuron, from Syllophopsis modesta by its deeply impressed metanotal groove, and from Syllophopsis cryptobia by being larger and having the propodeum produced into an acute peak behind the metanotal groove. At present elgonense is known only from Kenya.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 0.24° to -0.317°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Kenya (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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.
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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

Nomenclature

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

  • elgonensis. Syllophopsis elgonensis Santschi, 1935b: 267, fig. 4 (w.) KENYA.
    • Type-material: holotype worker.
    • Type-locality: Kenya: Mt Elgon, east slope, camp 1, st. 13, 2100 m., 1932-33 (R. Jeannel & P.A. Chappuis).
    • Type-depository: MNHN.
    • Combination in Monomorium: Bolton, 1987: 422;
    • combination in Syllophopsis: Ward, et al. 2015: 73.
    • Status as species: Ettershank, 1966: 101; Bolton, 1987: 422 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 261; Hita Garcia, et al. 2013: 212; Sharaf & Aldawood, 2013a: 82 (in key).
    • Distribution: Kenya.

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

Description

Worker

Bolton (1987) - TL 1.9-2.0, HL 0.48-0.51, HW 0.40-0.43, CI 80-84, SL 0.36-0.39, SI 90-95, PW 0.29-0.30, AL 0.56-0.60 ( 8 measured).

Eyes of a single ommatidium, maximum diameter 0.05-0.07 x HW. Antennal scapes relatively short, SI < 100. Promesonotal dorsal outline evenly rounded in profile, the metanotal groove conspicuously impressed. In profile the propodeal dorsum immediately behind the groove with a small peak, which appears as a weak transverse crest in dorsal view. Propodeal dorsum behind this peak sloping posteriorly to the pair of short broad denticles or prominent triangular angles which mark the junction of dorsum and declivity. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous short hairs and very sparse pubescence. Propodeum with only 1-2 pairs of hairs. Pubescence on sides of head behind eyes decumbent to appressed, that on the antennal scapes more elevated but not erect. Unsculptured everywhere except for scattered minute hair-pits, and some faint striation on the bullae of the metapleural glands; lower halves of mesopleuron smooth and shining. Colour uniform yellow.

Type Material

Bolton (1987) - Holotype worker, Kenya: Mt Elgon, camp 1, st. 13, 2100 m, 1932-33 (Jeannel & Chappuis) (Musee National d'Histoire Naturelle) [examined].

The holotype is much abraded and densely coated with old glue which obscures the pilosity and some of the surface detail.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Bolton B. 1987. A review of the Solenopsis genus-group and revision of Afrotropical Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 54: 263-452.
  • Ettershank G. 1966. A generic revision of the world Myrmicinae related to Solenopsis and Pheidologeton (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Aust. J. Zool. 14: 73-171.
  • Garcia F.H., Wiesel E. and Fischer G. 2013.The Ants of Kenya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)—Faunal Overview, First Species Checklist, Bibliography, Accounts for All Genera, and Discussion on Taxonomy and Zoogeography. Journal of East African Natural History, 101(2): 127-222
  • Santschi F. 1935. Hymenoptera. I. Formicidae. Mission Scientifique de l'Omo 2: 255-277.
  • Sharaf M.R., Aldawood, A.S. 2013. First occurrence of the Monomorium hildebrandti-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in the Arabian Peninsula, with description of a new species M. kondratieffi n. sp. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 115: 75-84 (doi:10.4289/0013-8797.115.1.75).