Anochetus brevidentatus

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Anochetus brevidentatus
Temporal range: Burdigalian, Early Miocene Dominican amber, Dominican Republic
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Ponerinae
Tribe: Ponerini
Genus: Anochetus
Species: A. brevidentatus
Binomial name
Anochetus brevidentatus
Mackay, W.P., 1991

Identification

Diagnosis. This species is closely related to A. kempfi. It differs in that the man­dibular teeth are smaller, the teeth on the petiolar node are much smaller (Figs. 3 and 4), the mandibles are enlarged in the middle (as in A. haytianus­ Fig. 7) and it is smaller than A. kempfi. It can be easily distinguished from A. haytianus and A. longispina as the teeth on the node of the petiole are much smaller (Figs. 3 and 5) and it has teeth on the propodeum, which are absent on the latter species.

Distribution

This taxon was described from Dominican amber, Dominican Republic (Burdigalian, Early Miocene).

Castes

Nomenclature

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

  • brevidentatus. †Anochetus brevidentatus Mackay, 1991: 138, figs. 1-3, 8 (w.) DOMINICAN AMBER (Dominican Republic, Miocene).
    • Status as species: De Andrade, 1994: 19; Bolton, 1995b: 63.

Holotype: Museum of Comparative Zoology, without number.

Description

Description of worker: HL 1.34, HW 1.20, SL 1.40, ML 0.90, EL 0.2, WL 2.08 (abbreviations as in Brown, 1978, measurements in mm). Mandibles with three apical teeth (Fig. 8) in addition to six smaller teeth along mesial border (Fig. 2), mandible slightly thickened at one half length of mandible; eye appears to be relatively small (not easily seen in specimen); mesosoma similar to that of A. kempfi, anterior edge of mesonotum higher than level of pronotum; propodeum with pair of well developed spines, directed vertically (Fig. l); anterior face of petiole almost flat (in profile), posterior face convex, node bidentate, teeth relatively small (Fig. 3). Erect hairs sparse, present on mandibles, dorsum of head, pronotum and gaster. Sculpture fine, parallel striae on most of mesosoma; gaster smooth and shining. Female and male: Unknown.

Etymology.

From Latin, referring to the short teeth on the petiolar node, a character which separates it from all others in the superspecies haytianus.

References