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Aenictus brutus
| Aenictus brutus | |
|---|---|
._Belgian_Journal_of_Entomology_148-_1-9,_Fig._2A.png)
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Dorylinae |
| Genus: | Aenictus |
| Species group: | popeyei |
| Species: | A. brutus |
| Binomial name | |
| Aenictus brutus Gómez, Csősz, Jégh & Keller, 2024
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._Belgian_Journal_of_Entomology_148-_1-9,_Fig._2B.png)
._Belgian_Journal_of_Entomology_148-_1-9,_Fig._2D.png)
This species is known only from the type series.
Identification
A member of the Aenictus popeyei species group.
Gómez et al. (2024) - This species is unmistakable due to its extremely developed mandibles. The only other species with similar mandibles is Aenictus popeyei. However, the mandibles differ in the upper half being hemispherical and smooth in A. popeyei, but flat, rugulose, quadrate and with its central part excavated becoming almost translucent in some individuals in A. brutus. Also, A. brutus is bigger (HW 0.98-1.04 vs. HW 0.78-0-90 in A. popeyei).
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 7.5° to 7.5°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: Gómez et al., 2024
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
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
Known only from the worker caste. Table of castes known for all Afrotropical Aenictus species.
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- brutus. Aenictus brutus Gómez et al., 2024: 6, figs. 1A, 2A-D (w.) LIBERIA (Nimba).
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Type Material
- Aenictus brutus: Holotype (designated by Gómez et al., 2024), 1 worker, Nimba, Bt. Zolowee & Gbarpa (Sanniquellie-Mahn), Liberia, 7°27′16″N 8°37′34″W / 7.45446°N 8.6262°W, 30.x.2022, J. Tamas, KGCOL02854, RBINS.
- Aenictus brutus: Paratypes (designated by Gómez et al., 2024), 7 workers, Nimba, Bt. Zolowee & Gbarpa (Sanniquellie-Mahn), Liberia, 7°27′16″N 8°37′34″W / 7.45446°N 8.6262°W, 30.x.2022, J. Tamas, KGCOL02852, KGCOL02853, KGCOL02855 to KGCOL02859., AFRC, BMNH, KGAC, MNHNC, RBINS, SCPC; Gómez et al., 2024: 6, cite 6 paratype workers but cite 7 paratype worker specimen codes. The number of paratype specimen codes is used here.
Description
Worker
SL 0.66 - 0.69; HL 0.77 - 0.84; HW 0.98 - 1.04; ML 1.34 - 1.49; PL 0.31 - 0.35; PPL 0.22 - 0.26; PH 0.25 - 0.29; PPH 0.21 - 0.26; CI 119 - 128; SI 64 - 68; MSI 128 - 146; PI 115 - 136; PPI 91 - 114 (n=8)
With the characters defined for the popeyei group and: funicular segments 1-8 elongated, the apical almost three times longer than wide. Head subrectangular, widest apically, occipital line straight and rounded at the sides; ventrolateral margin reaching ventrally half the distance to the mandibular insertions.
Mandibles massive, their surface similar or even bigger that the cephalic surface, with a long sharp apical tooth followed by a preapical, both teeth pointing 45 degrees ventrally, masticatory margin long straight and edentate. The whole surface flat and rugulose, with certain central zones seeming excavated, thinner and almost translucent in some individuals.
Mesosoma in lateral view with rounded pronotum and flat propodeum, propodeal suture demarcated and concave propodeal declivity. Propodeal carina strongly developed dorsally and laterally.
Petiole with anterolateral and anterodorsal carinae present, dorsolateral carina absent. In lateral view straight anterior face sloping approximately 45 degrees to a flat rounded dome, similar posterior face; postpetiole in lateral view from elliptical to subrectangular and rounded with almost vertical anterior and posterior faces. Subpetiolar process strongly developed as a rectangular lamella.
Head, pronotum, mesonotum, dorsum of postpetiole, gaster and legs glassy smooth. Mesopleura, metathorax, propodeum and petiole strongly alutaceus, becoming rugulose laterally. Overall colour dark brown, with funiculus, legs and gaster brighter, yellowish brown. Metatibial gland yellowish, conspicuous.
Long, yellowish semierect to erect setae present everywhere. Longest setae on head and mesosoma longer than petiole height, shorter on petiole, scapes and legs.
Etymology
The species name brutus is a Latinized noun, dedicated to the fictional character Brutus, Popeye’s, bigger and fiercer looking nemesis.