Brachymyrmex feitosai

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Brachymyrmex feitosai
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Myrmelachistini
Genus: Brachymyrmex
Species: B. feitosai
Binomial name
Brachymyrmex feitosai
Ortiz & Fernández, 2014

Ortiz, CBrachymyrmex-feitosai1.jpg

Ortiz,Brachymyrmex-feitosai2.jpg

The specimen from São Paulo at Sete Barras [ANTWEB CASENT 0217326] was collected in a pristine region of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. It was obtained in an underground trap, possibly indicating this species has hypogaeic habits (R.M. Feitosa, pers. comm.). Habitat information is lacking for the other specimens.

Identification

This species differs from most other Brachymyrmex species by the presence of tumuliform metathoracic spiracles (see key for image of this character), and clypeus with five long, erect hairs arranged as follows: one central hair near to the anterior margin, usually conspicuous; one pair of lateral hairs at clypeus midlength and one pair of hairs near the toruli. Like Brachymyrmex delabiei it differs from Brachymyrmex brasiliensis by its entirely smooth and shiny body. B. feitosai can be diagnosed from B. delabiei by the dense pubescence on the first gastral segment and by the presence of many suberect hairs on the pronotum and mesonotum. (Ortiz & Fernández, 2014)

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Brazil: states of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and, São Paulo.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -21.16666667° to -24.20833°.

   
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Brazil (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

Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

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

  • feitosai. Brachymyrmex feitosai Ortiz, C.M. & Fernández, 2014: 27, figs. 25-28 (w.) BRAZIL (Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, São Paulo).
    • Status as species: Ortiz-Sepúlveda, et al. 2019: 495.

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

Description

Worker

Holotype measurements (mm). HL1 0.40; HL20.28; HL3 0.09; HW 0.36; SL 0.31; EL 0.10; WL 0.45; PnL 0.18; PnW 0.28; ML 0.09; MW 0.18; Indices CI 88.8; SI1 87.5; SI2 88.6; OI 27.5. Paratypes measurements (mm) (n=2) HL1 0.33 – 0.43; HL2 0.27 – 0.29; HL3 0.07 – 0.10; HW 0.29 – 0.39; SL 0.26 – 0.34; EL 0.06 – 0.10; WL 0.33 – 0.45; PnL 0.08 – 0.15; PnW 0.20 – 0.24; ML 0.05 – 0.11; MW 0.13 – 0.17; Indices CI 82 – 90; SI1 88 – 103; SI2105 – 113; OI 22 – 29. Additional material examined (mm) (n=3) HL1 0.40 – 0.43; HL20.27 – 0.29; HL3 0.09; HW 0.35 – 0.39; SL 0.31; EL 0.10; WL 0.42 – 0.45; PnL 0.09 – 0.18; PnW 0.25 – 0.28; ML 0.08 – 0.12; MW 0.17 – 0.19; Indices CI 88 – 89; SI1 81 – 88; SI288 – 94; OI 25 – 28.

Head slightly longer than wide. Posterior cephalic border slightly concave in the middle, and sides slightly convex. Clypeus with rounded anterior margin. Toruli surpassing the posterior clypeal margin (best observed in anterodorsal oblique view). Scapes reaching posterior margin of the head, but not surpassing it. Ocelli present. Eyes located below cephalic midline and well developed with 7–8 ommatidia at their maximum diameter.

Promesonotum convex in profile, mesonotum strongly convex and separated from pronotum. Metanotal groove present. Metathoracic spiracles dorsal, strongly protruding, fully dorsal, tumuliform, bulging out of the metanotal groove in lateral view, equidistant from the metanotal groove and the propodeal fold. Propodeum strongly convex with short dorsum. Propodeal spiracle round, elevated from integument on the propodeal border.

Body smooth and shiny. Petiole short, apex rounded and inclined forward. Scapes with suberect hairs. Clypeus with five long, erect hairs arranged as follows: one central hair near to the anterior margin, usually conspicuous; one pair of lateral hairs at clypeus midlength and one pair of hairs near to toruli. Dorsum of head, promesonotum and propodeum with conspicuous semi-erect hairs lighter than body color. Gaster with several scattered long erect hairs and with dense pubescence on the first gastral segment that is lighter in color. Body brown.

Type Material

Holotype and paratypes. 2 workers (Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo) [USNM ENT 00757694]: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Floresta de Tijuca, D. Federal. 16 Dec 1959, C.A: Campos Seabra. Additional material examined. 3 workers Brazil, Minas Gerais, Lavras, Ijaci e Perdões, 21°00'–21°19'S; 44°00'–45°07'W, Fragmento, 06 à 12/ 2002, cols. M.S. Santos & N.S. Dias (Laboratório de Mirmecologia CEPEC / CPDC) [USNM ENT 00757836]; 1 worker, Brazil, São Paulo, Sete Barras, PE Carlos Botelho, 600 m, 24°12'02"S, 47°58'43"W. 11–15 May 2009, armadilha subterrânea #18, F. Esteves et al. cols. (Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo) [ANTWEB CASENT 0217326].

Etymology

We are pleased to name this ant in honor of our friend and colleague, Dr Rodrigo Feitosa (Universidade Federal do Paraná) for his great contributions to ant taxonomy and his unconditional support for taxonomists, young and old.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Ortiz C. M., and F. Fernández. 2014. Brachymyrmex species with tumuliform metathoracic spiracles: description of three new species and discussion of dimorphism in the genus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 371: 13-33.
  • Ortiz-Sepuvelda C. M., B. Van Bocxlaer, A. D. Meneses, and F. Fernandez. 2019. Molecular and morphological recognition of species boundaries in the neglected ant genus Brachymyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): toward a taxonomic revision. Organisms Diversity & Evolution https://doi.org/10.1007/s13127-019-00406-2
  • Suguituru S. S., M. Santina de Castro Morini, R. M. Feitosa, and R. Rosa da Silva. 2015. Formigas do Alto Tiete. Canal 6 Editora 458 pages