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Aenictus mvuvii
| Aenictus mvuvii | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Dorylinae |
| Genus: | Aenictus |
| Species group: | eugenii |
| Species: | A. mvuvii |
| Binomial name | |
| Aenictus mvuvii Gomez, 2022
| |
Collection records show this species has been collected in forest habitats (rainforest, primary forest, cocoa).
Identification
Gomez (2022) - A member of the Aenictus eugenii species group. The combination of mandibular shape and reclinated pilosity make this species unmistakable. Other useful characters to differentiate it from Aenictus eugenii are its small size, smaller than A. eugenii minima (0.44<HW<0.59 vs. 0.59<HW<0.89, 0.72<WL<0.91 vs. 1.02<WL<1.40) and relatively shorter antennae (52<SIL<63 vs. A. eugenii: 69<SIL<83).
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 7° to -2°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: Gomez, 2022
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Central African Republic, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Uganda (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. |
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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 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.
- mvuvii. Aenictus mvuvii Gómez, 2022: 33, figs. 1D, 18A-E, 19 (w.) UGANDA.
- Type-material: holotype worker, 2 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype Uganda: Semuliki Nat. Park, Bundibugyo, 680 m., 0.84483, 30.15052, 2.viii.2012, soil at base of tree (B.L. Fisher, et al.); paratypes with same data.
- Type-depository: CASC.
- Distribution: Central African Republic, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Uganda.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
HL: 0.54 [0.49-0.62]; HW: 0.50 [0.44-0.59]; SL: 0.31 [0.26-0.40]; WL: 0.80 [0.72-0.91]; PL: 0.19 [0.16-0.24]; PH: 0.16 [0.14-0.18]; PPL: 0.15 [0.13-0.17]; PPH: 0.14 [0.12-0.16]; CS: 0.52 [0.46-0.61]; CI: 93 [89-98]; SIL: 58 [52-63]; SIW: 62 [57-67]; WL/HW: 157 [151-163]; PI: 117 [106-133]; PPI: 109 [100-123]; CSR: 130; (n=12).
Scapes short, hardly surpassing the middle of the head when laid back (SIL~60). All funicular segments shorter than wide except apical, twice longer than wide. Head slightly elongate (CI~93), widest at its middle, subrectangular with convex sides and straight occiput with rounded corners.
Mandibles armed with one long sharp apical tooth, followed by 2–5 denticles. These can become seriously eroded in some individuals, seeming edentate
Petiole subsessile with anterolateral, anterodorsal and posterodorsal carinae present, dorsolateral carinae absent; propodeal dome rounded, elliptical and low with a posterior vertical face in lateral view; postpetiole subrectangular with almost vertical anterior and vertical posterior faces, the dorsal straight and horizontal, both angles rounded square. Subpetiolar process always very developed, elliptical, rounded and with a big rounded triangular lamella facing downwards, longer posteriorly, its whole size clearly larger than the petiolar dome. Head, pronotum, mesonotum, gaster and legs glassy smooth. Mandibles strongly rugulose; meso and metapleurae, propodeum, petiole and postpetiole strongly reticulated, sometimes alutaceus on postpetiole.
Body reddish brown, darker at mandibles and sutures; legs and gaster lighter, yellowish in some individuals.
Whole body with relatively short, reclinated white fine setae, those on petiole and postpetiole longer; semierect in funiculus, shorter than funiculus width; legs with decumbent to adpressed setae, shorter than femora. No pubescence noted.
Type Material
- Holotype worker, UGANDA: • Bundibugyo, Semuliki National Park 680 m, 0.84483, 30.15052 02/08/2012 (B.L. Fisher et al.). rainforest (1w), ex soil at base of tree [CASENT0350555] California Academy of Sciences.
- Paratype workers: • same series (2 pins, 1w each) [CASENT0350556, CASENT0350557].
Etymology
The species name mvuvii is Latinized noun in the genitive case, dedicated to Dr. Brian Fisher (“mvuvi” in Swahili), who encouraged me to revise the genus and provided exceptionally valuable material.