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Tetraponera apiculata
| Tetraponera apiculata | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Pseudomyrmecinae |
| Genus: | Tetraponera |
| Species: | T. apiculata |
| Binomial name | |
| Tetraponera apiculata Ward, 2001
| |
The type specimens were collected at a forested site in the Danum Valley, Sabah.
Identification
A member of the Tetraponera allaborans species-group
Ward (2001) - Tetraponera apiculata is at once recognised by the distinctive shape of the median clypeal lobe. It belongs to a group of species in which the pronotum is broadly rounded (not marginate) laterally, the mesosoma dorsum has a metanotal welt, and the pro femur is short and broad. It differs from the other species with these characteristics (Tetraponera avia, Tetraponera bita, Tetraponera brevis) by the protruding pointed clypeus, narrower petiole, and perhaps by the slightly smaller eyes (EL/LHT 0.51-0.53, compared with 0.56-0.58 in the other three species; n = 3 and 7 workers, respectively).
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 4.966666667° to 4.966666667°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo (type locality), Indonesia, Malaysia.
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. |
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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.
- apiculata. Tetraponera apiculata Ward, 2001: 608, figs. 9, 20, 46 (w.) BORNEO.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
HW 0.80-0.82, HL 0.95-1.01, LHT 0.68-0.71, CI 0.82-0.84, FCI 0.10-0.11, REL 0.36-0.37, REL2 0.44-0.45, SI 0.60-0.61, SI3 1.34-1.37, FI 0.46-0.47, PLI 0.51-0.53, PWI 0.40-0.43, PDI 0.97-1.02, LHT/HW 0.84-0.88, CSC 2, MSC 3--4.
Median clypeal lobe narrow and triangular, the slightly crenulate sides converging to a blunt point, the apex of which exceeds the reach of the anterolateral margins of the clypeus, when head is in full-face, dorsal view; eyes of modest size (see indices); profemur short and broad (FI >0.45); pronotal dorsum rounding broadly into the sides; mesopropodeal impression with irregular longitudinal rugulation, interrupted in the middle by a small, raised, transverse welt (apparent metanotum); propodeum relatively low and broad (see PDI values), in profile its dorsal face rounding gradually into the declivitous face; in posterior view outline of propodeum approximating an equilateral triangle, with rounded apex; petiole relatively long and narrow (PWI 0.40-0.43; DPW/MTW 0.61-0.64). Integument smooth and shining, with scattered punctulae and fine, irregular lineations; lower malar area longitudinally carinate; metapleuron with a few weak, longitudinal carinulae. Standing pilosity (>0.07 mm in length) sparse, scattered on gaster and apex of head, also one supraocular pair, two pairs on the pronotum, and one pair on the postpetiole; a much shorter ( <0.05 mm), less conspicuous, subdecumbent pilosity scattered over the body, becoming suberect to erect in places, especially on the petiole and postpetiole; these shorter hairs usually separated by their lengths or more, and not obscuring the sheen of the integument. Black, with the scapes, frontoclypeal complex, mandibles and legs dark brown to medium brown.
Type Material
Holotype. Worker, Danum Valley, Sabah, Malaysia, xi.l986 (P. Eggleton) (The Natural History Museum). Paratypes. 2 workers, same data as holotype (Philip S. Ward Collection, Universiti Malaysia Sabah).
References
- Ward, P. S. 2001. Taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of the ant genus Tetraponera (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Oriental and Australian regions. Invertebrate Taxonomy. 15:589-665. (page 608, figs. 9, 20, 46 worker described)
- Ward, P. S. 2006. The ant genus Tetraponera in the Afrotropical region: synopsis of species groups and revision of the T. ambigua-group. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8:119-130.
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- 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
- Ward P. S. 2001. Taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of the ant genus Tetraponera (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Oriental and Australian regions. Invertebrate Taxonomy 15: 589-665.
- Ward, P. S. 2001. Taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of the ant genus Tetraponera (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Oriental and Australian regions. Invertebrate Taxonomy 15:589-665.