Camponotus cervicalis

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Camponotus cervicalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Tribe: Camponotini
Genus: Camponotus
Subgenus: Myrmosaga
Species: C. cervicalis
Binomial name
Camponotus cervicalis
Roger, 1863

Camponotus cervicalis casent0101178 profile 1.jpg

Camponotus cervicalis casent0101178 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

Synonyms

Camponotus cervicalis is only known to occur in littoral forests and lower elevations of the rainforests in the east of Madagascar between the Ambanitaza forest in the north and the RNI Betampona in the south (Fig. 50D). Workers of the species have been found foraging on the ground and through leaf litter, but nest sites range from rotten logs, rotting tree stumps, rot pockets above the ground, live trees, under tree bark, and in moss and leaf litter. (Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022)

Identification

With head in full-face view, lateral cephalic margin converging posteriorly towards eye level, covered with erect hairs from anterior to posterior of eye level; anteromedian margin of clypeus broadly convex; two apical teeth of mandible normally spaced.

Camponotus cervicalis and Camponotus niavo look similar, but in the latter, the level of the posterior ocular margin is located at posterior 1/4 of length of head and its antennal scape lacks appressed hairs. (Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022)

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -19.006727° to -16.833333°.

 
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate
  • Source: Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Malagasy Region: Madagascar (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

Images from AntWeb

Camponotus cervicalis casent0101551 head 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis casent0101551 profile 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis casent0101551 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis casent0101551 label 1.jpg
Paralectotype of Camponotus cervicalis. Worker. Specimen code casent0101551. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Camponotus cervicalis casent0101552 head 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis casent0101552 profile 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis casent0101552 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis casent0101552 label 1.jpg
Paralectotype of Camponotus cervicalis. Worker. Specimen code casent0101552. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Camponotus cervicalis casent0101704 head 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis casent0101704 profile 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis casent0101704 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis casent0101704 label 1.jpg
Paralectotype of Camponotus cervicalis. Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0101704. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Camponotus cervicalis casent0101779 head 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis casent0101779 profile 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis casent0101779 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis casent0101779 label 1.jpg
Paralectotype of Camponotus cervicalis. Worker. Specimen code casent0101779. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Camponotus cervicalis casent0104634 head 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis casent0104634 profile 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis casent0104634 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis casent0104634 label 1.jpg
Paralectotype of Camponotus cervicalis. Worker. Specimen code casent0104634. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by ZMHB, Berlin, Germany.
Camponotus cervicalis gaullei casent0101179 head 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis gaullei casent0101179 profile 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis gaullei casent0101179 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis gaullei casent0101179 label 1.jpg
Lectotype of Camponotus gaullei. Worker. Specimen code casent0101179. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMB, Basel, Switzerland.
Camponotus cervicalis gaullei casent0004096 profile 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis gaullei casent0004096 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis gaullei casent0004096 label 1.jpg
Specimen code casent0004096. .
Camponotus cervicalis gaullei casent0101180 head 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis gaullei casent0101180 profile 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis gaullei casent0101180 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis gaullei casent0101180 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0101180. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMB, Basel, Switzerland.
Camponotus cervicalis gaullei casent0101181 head 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis gaullei casent0101181 profile 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis gaullei casent0101181 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus cervicalis gaullei casent0101181 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0101181. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMB, Basel, Switzerland.
Camponotus perroti casent0101350 head 1.jpgCamponotus perroti casent0101350 profile 1.jpgCamponotus perroti casent0101350 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus perroti casent0101350 label 1.jpgCamponotus perroti casent0101350 profile 1.jpgCamponotus perroti casent0101350 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus perroti casent0101350 label 1.jpg
Lectotype of Camponotus perroti. Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0101350. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Camponotus perroti casent0101351 head 1.jpgCamponotus perroti casent0101351 profile 1.jpgCamponotus perroti casent0101351 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus perroti casent0101351 label 1.jpg
Paralectotype of Camponotus perroti. Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0101351. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Camponotus perroti aeschylus casent0101561 head 1.jpgCamponotus perroti aeschylus casent0101561 profile 1.jpgCamponotus perroti aeschylus casent0101561 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus perroti aeschylus casent0101561 label 1.jpg
Holotype of Camponotus cervicalis. Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0101561. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland.
Camponotus gerberti casent0102309 head 1.jpgCamponotus gerberti casent0102309 profile 1.jpgCamponotus gerberti casent0102309 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus gerberti casent0102309 label 1.jpg
Paralectotype of Camponotus gerberti. Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0102309. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMUK, London, UK.
Camponotus gerberti casent0102310 head 1.jpgCamponotus gerberti casent0102310 profile 1.jpgCamponotus gerberti casent0102310 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus gerberti casent0102310 label 1.jpg
Lectotype of Camponotus gerberti. Worker. Specimen code casent0102310. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMUK, London, UK.
Camponotus gerberti casent0102311 head 1.jpgCamponotus gerberti casent0102311 profile 1.jpgCamponotus gerberti casent0102311 dorsal 1.jpgCamponotus gerberti casent0102311 label 1.jpg
Paralectotype of Camponotus gerberti. Worker (major/soldier). Specimen code casent0102311. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMUK, London, UK.

Nomenclature

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

  • cervicalis. Camponotus cervicalis Roger, 1863a: 134 (w.) MADAGASCAR.
    • Forel, 1891b: 19 (s.q.m.).
    • Combination in C. (Dinomyrmex): Forel, 1914a: 268;
    • combination in C. (Tanaemyrmex): Emery, 1925b: 84.
    • Status as species: Roger, 1863b: 2; Mayr, 1863: 458; Forel, 1891b: 19 (redescription); Dalla Torre, 1893: 224; Emery, 1896d: 370 (in list); Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1042; Emery, 1925b: 84; Bolton, 1995b: 91.
    • Status as species: Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022: 71 (redescription).
    • Senior synonym of gaullei: Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022: 71.
    • Senior synonym of gerberti: Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022: 71.
    • Senior synonym of perroti: Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022: 71.
    • Senior synonym of perroti aeschylus: Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022: 71.
  • gaullei. Camponotus gaullei Santschi, 1911e: 128 (w.) MADAGASCAR.
    • Combination in C. (Dinomyrmex): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1043;
    • combination in C. (Tanaemyrmex): Emery, 1925b: 84.
    • Status as species: Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1043.
    • Subspecies of cervicalis: Emery, 1925b: 84; Bolton, 1995b: 101.
    • Junior synonym of cervicalis: Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022: 71.
  • gerberti. Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) gerberti Donisthorpe, 1949e: 271 (s.w.) MADAGASCAR.
    • Status as species: Bolton, 1995b: 101.
    • Junior synonym of cervicalis: Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022: 71.
  • perroti. Camponotus perroti Forel, 1897c: 202 (s.) MADAGASCAR.
    • [Camponotus perroti Wasmann, 1897: 250. Nomen nudum (attributed to Forel).]
    • Combination in C. (Dinomyrmex): Forel, 1913j: 224;
    • combination in C. (Myrmoturba): Forel, 1914a: 267;
    • combination in C. (Tanaemyrmex): Emery, 1925b: 89.
    • Status as species: Emery, 1898a: 225; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1042; Emery, 1925b: 89; Bolton, 1995b: 117.
    • Current subspecies: nominal plus aeschylus.
    • Junior synonym of cervicalis: Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022: 71.
  • aeschylus. Camponotus (Dinomyrmex) perroti var. aeschylus Forel, 1913j: 224 (q.) MADAGASCAR.
    • Combination in C. (Tanaemyrmex): Emery, 1925b: 89.
    • Subspecies of perroti: Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1042; Emery, 1925b: 89; Bolton, 1995b: 84.
    • Junior synonym of cervicalis: Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022: 71.

Type Material

Camponotus cervicalis

  • Syntype workers, Madagascar (Humboldt) (NHMB); 1 syntype minor worker designated as lectotype, by present designation, AntWeb CASENT0101178 (NHMB) [Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022].
  • Paralectotypes: 3 minor workers and 2 major workers of same data as lectotype but respectively specimen coded as: CASENT0101551, CASENT0101552 (MHNG), CASENT0104634 (ZMHB); CASENT0101704 and CASENT0101779 (MHNG) [Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022].

Camponotus gaullei

  • Syntype workers, Madagascar, S. de la Baie d’Antongil, (NHMB); 1 syntype minor worker designated as lectotype, by present designation, AntWeb CASENT0101179 (NHMB) [Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022].

Camponotus gerberti

  • Syntype workers, Madagascar, Sainte Marie (R. Géberti 1917) (NHMUK); 1 syntype minor worker designated as lectotype, by present designation, AntWeb CASENT0102310 (NHMUK) [Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022].
  • Paralectotypes: 2 major workers of the same data as lectotype but with the following specimen codes: CASENT0102309, CASENT0102311 (NHMUK) [Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022].

Camponotus perroti

  • Syntype workers, Madagascar, Sainte Marie (Perrot) (MHNG); 1 syntype minor worker designated as lectotype, by present designation, AntWeb CASENT0101350 (MHNG) [Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022].
  • Paralectotype major worker of same data as lectotype but with specimen code CASENT0101351 (MHNG) [Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022].

Camponotus perroti aeschylus

  • Holotype (by monotypy) alate queen, Madagascar (C. Keller) AntWeb CASENT0101561 (MHNG) [Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022].

Taxonomic Notes

The following notes are provided by Rakotonirina & Fisher (2022):

In his original description of Camponotus gaullei, Santschi (1911a) discussed the resemblance of the species to C. cervicalis and C. dufouri and no strong separating characters were provided. However, with recent extensive sampling of the Malagasy ant fauna, the observation of the range of worker class sizes in these latter species indicates the closer similarity between C. cervicalis and C. gaullei. Combined with the close distance between the type localities of both species, this information would be enough to synonymize C. gaullei under C. cervicalis.

The description of C. perroti by Forel (1897) was based on a limited number of worker specimens which had a close similarity to C. cervicalis and C. dufouri. Careful examinations of more specimens obtained from the recent ant surveys in Madagascar show that C. perroti and C. cervicalis belong to the same species and that C. perroti merits its placement as a junior synonym of C. cervicalis.

Forel’s description of C. perroti aeschylus was based only on a single alate queen, and the comparison of this specimen with the queen specimens of C. cervicalis collected from its geographical range across Madagascar revealed that this type specimen was a queen of C. cervicalis.

Donisthorpe’s description of Camponotus gerberti did not compare the characters of the taxa to those of other species, although this description morphologically matches the type specimens of C. cervicalis. The data obtained from the recent ant survey in Madagascar and this information are sufficient to reasonably synonymize C. gerberti under C. cervicalis.

Description

References

  • Bolton, B. 1995b. A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 504 pp. (page 91, catalogue)
  • Emery, C. 1925d. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Formicinae. Genera Insectorum 183: 1-302 (page 84, combination in C. (Tanaemyrmex))
  • Forel, A. 1891c. Les Formicides. [part]. In: Grandidier, A. Histoire physique, naturelle, et politique de Madagascar. Volume XX. Histoire naturelle des Hyménoptères. Deuxième partie (28e fascicule). Paris: Hachette et Cie, v + 237 pp. (page 19, soldier, worker, queen, male described)
  • Forel, A. 1914a. Le genre Camponotus Mayr et les genres voisins. Rev. Suisse Zool. 22: 257-276 (page 268, combination in C. (Dinomyrmex))
  • Rakotonirina, J.C., Fisher, B.L. 2022. Revision of the Malagasy Camponotus subgenus Myrmosaga (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) using qualitative and quantitative morphology. ZooKeys 1098: 1–180 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.1098.73223).
  • Roger, J. 1863a. Die neu aufgeführten Gattungen und Arten meines Formiciden-Verzeichnisses nebst Ergänzung einiger früher gegebenen Beschreibungen. Berl. Entomol. Z. 7: 131-214 (page 134, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Emery C. 1886. Saggio di un catalogo sistematico dei generi Camponotus, Polyrhachis e affini. Memorie della Reale Accademia delle Scienze dell'Istituto di Bologna 5: 363-382
  • Fisher B. L. 1997. Biogeography and ecology of the ant fauna of Madagascar (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Natural History 31: 269-302.
  • Fisher B. L. 2003. Formicidae, ants. Pp. 811-819 in: Goodman, S. M.; Benstead, J. P. (eds.) 2003. The natural history of Madagascar. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, xxi + 1709 pp.
  • Forel A. 1897. Ameisen aus Nossi-Bé, Majunga, Juan de Nova (Madagaskar), den Aldabra-Inseln und Sansibar, gesammelt von Herrn Dr. A. Voeltzkow aus Berlin. Mit einem Anhang über die von Herrn Privatdocenten Dr. A. Brauer in Marburg auf den Seychellen und von Herrn Perrot auf Ste. Marie (Madagaskar) gesammelten Ameisen. Abhandlungen der Senckenbergischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft 21: 185-208.
  • Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. IX. A synonymic list of the ants of the Malagasy region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 1005-1055
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