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Camponotus nossibeensis
| Camponotus nossibeensis | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Formicinae |
| Tribe: | Camponotini |
| Genus: | Camponotus |
| Subgenus: | Mayria |
| Species group: | darwinii |
| Species: | C. nossibeensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Camponotus nossibeensis André, 1887
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Camponotus nossibeensis is an endemic species mostly known from the northern part of Madagascar, from Nosy Faly to Ambanja. This species seems very adaple because it has been collected from both humid and tropical dry forest, at altitudes 7–780 m (Fig. 58C). The data indicate that individual workers forage on the ground and on lower vegetation, while nests are mostly found in dead twigs above ground, rotten logs, dead tree stumps, and underground.
Identification
Rasoamanana and Fisher (2022) - A member of the Camponotus darwinii species group. Integument matte black; body a rust brown color, relatively dense on entire dorsum; anterior margin of clypeus with short rectangular lobe; dorsal outline of mesosoma weakly arcuate; declivitous face of propodeum longer than its dorsum.
The combination of large size, big eyes, vertical declivitous face of propodeum, dense pilosity on mesosoma and gaster, and alveolate sculpture make C. nossibeensis a very distinctive species.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar (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
Images from AntWeb
      
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| Worker. Specimen code casent0101373. Photographer Nick Olgeirson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland. |
   
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| Worker. Specimen code casent0102441. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland. |
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| Worker. Specimen code casent0101425. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by MNHN, Paris, France. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- nossibeensis. Camponotus nossibeensis André, 1887: 281 (s.) MADAGASCAR.
- Type-material: holotype major worker.
- [Note: lectotype + 1 paralectotype designation by Rasoamanana & Fisher, 2022. 190 (MNHN, MHNG), is redundant because André states that he had only “a single example”.]
- Type-locality: Madagascar: Nossi-Bé (no collector’s name).
- Type-depository: MNHN.
- Combination in C. (Myrmobrachys): Forel, 1912i: 91;
- combination in C. (Myrmepomis): Emery, 1920b: 258;
- combination in C. (Myrmopiromis): Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1052;
- combination in C. (Mayria): Rasoamanana & Fisher, 2022. 147.
- Status as species: Forel, 1891b: 48 (redescription); Dalla Torre, 1893: 245; Emery, 1896d: 376 (in list); Forel, 1907g: 91; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 1052; Emery, 1925b: 129; Bolton, 1995b: 114; Rasoamanana & Fisher, 2022. 190 (redescription).
- Distribution: Madagascar.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Rasoamanana and Fisher (2022):
Morphological measurements: see Appendix 1 and Ratios of morphometric data for majors and minors
Minor
Large-sized species. Absolute cephalic size (CS: 2.24 0.46; 1.92–2.70). In full-face view, head slightly longer than broad, narrower in front than behind, with nearly straight posterior and lateral margins. (CWb/CL: 0.37±0.03; 0.35–0.42). Eyes more elongate, elliptical, not breaking outlines of head (PoOC/CL: 0.08±0.02; 0.06–0.09). Mandibles triangular withsix teeth. Clypeus carinate, anterior clypeal margin entire, projecting into a rectangular lobe with an obtuse anterolateral angle (ClyL/GPD: 0.28±0.05, 0.24–0.32). Antennal scape long, surpassing the occiput by the length of one funiculus (SL/CS: 0.39±0.05; 0.33–0.41). In lateral view, mesosoma short, robust, and depressed; its dorsal outline arcuate; promesonotal suture large, distinctly shiny, and glabrous; humeral angle distinctly rounded; metanotal suture obsolete; propodeal dorsum slightly convex in profile and distinctly shorter than the declivitous face into which it passes via a rounded obtuse angle (MW/ML: 0.22±0.03; 0.20–0.24; MPH/ML: 0.21±0.05; 0.18–0.24). In lateral view, petiolar node squamiform, anterior face confused with its dorsal face, node summit truncate, rounded triangle in dorsal view. Head, mesosoma, and gastral tergite finely and densely punctate. Mandible finely and longitudinally striate with sparse punctuation. Hairs golden yellow, erect to suberect, abundant, bending forward at its midlength on occipital region and mesosomal dorsum, but more abundant on mesonotum and propodeum dorsum; sparse, stiff, pointed, and a different length on gastral tergites. Petiole along its border with a fringe of golden, yellowish hairs not the same length. Body entirely black and a little shiny; masticatory margin reddish to dark brown.
Major
With characteristics of minor worker, except: head much wider posteriorly (CS: 3.05±0.41, 2.35–3.67; CWb/CL: 1.02±0.04, 0.96–1.08), lateral margin almost straight and tapering anteriorly to the mandibular insertion. Eyes elliptical, moderately sized compared to the head (EL/CS: 0.20±0.01, 0.1––0.23), placed dorsally next to the vertex (PoOC/CL: 0.23± 0.02, 0.18–0.27). Clypeus more rectangular (ClyL/GPD: 0.84±0.05; 0.73–0.91). Antennal scape just surpassing the occipital margin (SL/CS: 0.77±0.08; 0.68–0.91). Mandible strongly built with five large teeth, apical tooth sharp and long, and remainder decreasing in size to the basal margin. Mesosoma, pilosity, and pubescence same as minor worker. Head shiny black; anterior portion of head, including frontal area, finely alveolate punctate.
Type Material
Rasoamanana and Fisher (2022) - Lectotype major worker, present designation, Madagascar, Province Antsiranana, Nossi-be, –13.291667, 48.258335, 146 m (Forel), AntWeb CASENT0101425 (MNHN). Paralectotype minor worker, same data as lectotype but specimen coded as CASENT0101373 (MHNG).
References
- André, E. 1887. Description de quelques fourmis nouvelles ou imparfaitement connues. Rev. Entomol. (Caen) 6: 280-298 (page 281, worker described)
- Emery, C. 1920b. Le genre Camponotus Mayr. Nouvel essai de la subdivision en sous-genres. Rev. Zool. Afr. (Bruss.) 8: 229-260 (page 258, Combination in C. (Myrmepomis))
- Forel, A. 1912j. Formicides néotropiques. Part VI. 5me sous-famille Camponotinae Forel. Mém. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 20: 59-92 (page 91, Combination in C. (Myrmobrachys))
- Rasoamanana, N., Fisher, B.L. 2022. A taxonomic revision of the Malagasy endemic subgenus Mayria of the genus Camponotus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) based on qualitative morphology and quantitative morphometric analyses. ZooKeys 1081: 137–231 (doi:10.3897/zookeys.1081.71872).
- Wheeler, W. M. 1922k. 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. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 4 45: 1005-1055 (page 1052, Combination in C. (Myrmopiromis))
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- André E. 1887. Description de quelques fourmis nouvelles ou imparfaitement connues. Rev. Entomol. (Caen) 6: 280-298.
- 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.
- Forel A. 1907. Ameisen von Madagaskar, den Comoren und Ostafrika. Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse. Reise in Ostafrika 2: 75-92.
- 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