Cardiocondyla tenuifrons

Cardiocondyla tenuifrons
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Cardiocondyla
Species group:	batesii
Species:	C. tenuifrons
Binomial name
Cardiocondyla tenuifrons Seifert, 2003 Specimen Labels

This species is known only from the type locality in Jordan and nothing is known about its biology.

Identification

Seifert (2003) - Big eye size and low postocular index allocate this species to the Cardiocondyla batesii group. Cardiocondyla tenuifrons can be separated from any species by its frontal carinae strongly converging caudad. The ratio FL/FR (measured as in Myrmica, see Seifert 1988) is lower than 1.12 in any sympatric species known but is 1.15 - 1.19 in C. tenuifrons. The most similar species in overall character combination is Cardiocondyla nigra but the latter has less converging frontal carinae, a smaller postocular index, and lower PEH/CS and PPH/CS.

Seifert (2023) - Rather small, CS 509 µm. Head rather long, CL/CW 1.205. Postocular index larger than in any member of the batesii group, PoOc/CL 0.413. Median third of hind margin of head straight. Scape moderately long, SL/CS 0.804. Eye large, EYE/CS 0.267. Frons narrow (FRS/CS 0.238), frontal carinae strongly converging immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.149). Dorsal profile of promesonotum moderately convex, metanotal depression shallow (Mgr/CS 2.00%), dorsal profile of propodeum moderately convex. Propodeal spines short (SP/CS 0.093), acute, and very steep, their angle differing by 50° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma; their bases more approached (SPBA/CS 0.237). Petiole distinctly higher than wide (PeW/CS 0.272, PeH/CS 0.325), in profile with a short but rather thin peduncle, a straight to weakly convex anterior face and the anterior and posterior slopes of the node equally inclined—as result the node profile is symmetric. Petiole node wedge-shaped in dorsocaudal view. Postpetiole moderately wide and rather high (PpW/CS 0.516, PpW /PeW 1.90, PpH/CS 0.288), in dorsal view with a straight anterior margin and roughly trapezoidal—when tilted caudad as in Fig. 76, anterior margin concave; postpetiolar sternite completely flat. Clypeus on whole surface rather smooth and shiny but very finely longitudinally carinulate. Frontal lobes and area posterior of the frontal lobes longitudinally rugulose-carinulate. Foveolae on vertex shallow, of 13–15 µm diameter, with an inner corona, foveolar margins not ideally circular, often kinked or breached by short microrugulae running partially or entirely through the foveolae; foveolar interspaces wider than foveolar diameter, shiny and with fine cross-branched to semireticulate microstructures (Fig. 77). Dorsal mesosoma shiny, with shallow foveolae and fine cross-branched microstructures. ventrolateral mesosoma with well-developed microreticulum, metapleuron with few longitudinal carinulae. Petiole and postpetiole smooth and shiny but delicately microreticulate. Pubescence on gaster tergites short and dilute, PLg/CS 5.37 %, sqPDg 5.57. Head and gaster dark brown. Mesosoma and waist medium brown, with yellowish-red component.

As a combination of very high FL/FR and very high PoOc/CL, Cardiocondyla tenuifrons can be separated from any closely related species.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Holartic Cardiocondyla
• Key to Palaearctic Cardiocondyla

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Palaearctic Region: Jordan (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.

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.

Biology

Explore Overview of Cardiocondyla biology  Little is known about Cardiocondyla tenuifrons. Until further studies reveal more about this species we can infer that its natural history and biology is likely similar to other members of the genus. Seifert revised the holarctic species of Cardiocondyla in 2003 and the following synopsis is based on his excellent treatment of the genus. References to other publications and more details about what is reported here can be found in Seifert (2003). Many Cardiocondyla species inhabit areas that experience frequent disturbance and/or are quite open. These may be human altered areas, where a number of Cardiocondyla tramp species thrive, but also natural areas such as semi deserts and steppes, immature soils at rivers, lakes, and sea shores and to a lesser extent forest margins or burned-down woodland patches. In contrast to this open-land group, the natural habitat affinities of many tropical species are primary rain forests. Nests are typically in soil and sometimes under stones. Two species are known to nest in vegetation but this is unusual for the genus. The single nest entrances is small (1-1.5 mm) and inconspicuous. In the desert nests can be relatively deep (> 1m) and have many chambers but in areas where conditions are less extreme there is generally a single chamber (15-20 mm diameter and 3-4 mm height) that is not far below the ground surface (2-15 cm). Cardiocondyla tramp species (Cardiocondyla wroughtonii, Cardiocondyla obscurior, Cardiocondyla mauritanica, Cardiocondyla emeryi and Cardiocondyla minutior) are known to be polygynous, as are some less widespread species, while other species are known to be monogynous. Cardiocondyla ants are omnivorous. Zoophagy (zoo necrophagy and killing of small weakly sclerotised arthropods), granivory, and nectarivory have also been noted. Tandem running has been observed as a method of recruitment to food sources in a few species. Intranidal mating appears to be the norm for most species in the genus. Mating strategies are species dependent and may take various forms. Winged males may mate within their nest or fly to and enter other colonies to mate. Queen mate intranidally and fly from their nest to begin a new colony, become integrated into their natal colony, or may walk away from their nest and establish a new colony nearby. Cardiocondyla are unusual in having peculiar male forms. Male polymorphism is found in some species with typical males and an ergatoid form. These latter males are wingless and worker like in appearance. Ergatoid males fight with other males within their natal nest. By killing potential rival males, a dominant male can monopolize matings with the virgin queens in their colony. Morphological modifications that enhance the fighting abilities of ergatoid males have been documented, e.g., modified mandibles well suited to fighting and increased mesosomal size for better protection against attacks from rivals. Another unusual characteristic of ergatoid males is the continuation of spermatogenesis throughout their adult life. Males of most aculeate hymenoptera stop producing sperm once they are fully mature. Some species are known to produce different queen morphs. This presumably facilitates there being a longer range dispersal queen form and a shorter or non-dispersing form. Gyne polymorphism appears to be an adaptation for species inhabiting continental desert or semi-desert habitats. The cosmopolitan tramp species, on the other hand, do not exhibit this gyne polymorphism. ‎

Castes

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• 

  Seifert (2023), Figs. 74–77. Cardiocondyla tenuifrons, holotype; Fig. 74: head in dorsal view; Fig. 75: lateral view (flipped horizontally); Fig. 76: dorsal view; Fig. 77: head surface between inner eye margin and paramedian vertex (flipped horizontally). Jordan: Abdallah, 1996.03.30

Nomenclature

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

• tenuifrons. Cardiocondyla tenuifrons Seifert, 2003a: 243, fig. 24 (w.) JORDAN.
  • Type-material: holotype worker, 2 paratype workers.
  • Type-locality: holotype Jordan: Abdallah, between Shobek and Wadi Musa, 30.iii.1996, no. 1 (C.O. Dietrich); paratypes with same data.
  • Type-depository: SMNG.
  • Status as species: Borowiec, L. 2014: 49; Borowiec, L. & Salata, 2020: 5; Seifert, 2023a: 45 (diagnosis).
  • Distribution: Jordan.

Type Material

• Holotype worker and 2 worker paratypes labelled “JORDANIA: Abdallah zw. Shobek und Wadi Musa, 1996.03.30, No 1, leg. Chr. Dietrich”, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Görlitz.

Description

Worker

Head elongated, CL/CW 1.205. Postocular distance larger than in related species, PoOc/CL 0.413. Occipital margin straight. Eyes large, EYE 0.267. Foveolae on vertex shallow, simple, of 13 - 15 mm diameter; interspaces shining, wider than foveolar diameter, with fine cross-branched to semireticulate microstructures. Frontal lobes, area posterior of frontal carinae, and clypeus finely longitudinally carinulate. Frontal lobes strongly converging immediately caudal of FRS level, FL/FR 1.177 ± 0.023 [1.151, 1.192]. Dorsal mesosoma shining, with shallow foveolae and fine cross-branched microstructures. Ventrolateral area of mesosoma with well-developed microreticulum, metapleuron with clearly visible longitudinal sculpture. Metanotal groove very shallow. Spines steep, very short and acute. Petiole node wedge-shaped in caudal view, in lateral aspect similar to Cardiocondyla nigra. Postpetiole in dorsal view with straight anterior margin, roughly trapezoidal Postpetiolar sternite without any flat bulge. Head and gaster blackish brown. Mesosoma and waist medium to dark brown, with yellowish-red component.

References

• Seifert, B. 2003. The ant genus Cardiocondyla (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) - a taxonomic revision of the C. elegans, C. bulgarica, C. batesii, C. nuda, C. shuckardi, C. stambuloffii, C. wroughtonii, C. emeryi, and C. minutior species groups. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien Serie B Botanik und Zoologie. 104:203-338. (page 243, fig. 24 worker described)
• Borowiec, L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
• Borowiec, L., Salata, S. 2020. Review of ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Jordan. Annals of the Upper Silesian Museum in Bytom, Entomology 29 (online 2): 1-26 (doi:10.5281/zenodo.3733156).
• Seifert, B. 2022. The ant genus Cardiocondyla (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): The species groups with Oriental and Australasian origin. Diversity 15, 25 (doi:10.3390/d15010025).
• Seifert, B. 2023. A revision of the Palaearctic species of the ant genus Cardiocondyla Emery 1869 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 5274(1), 1–64 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5274.1.1).
• Sharaf, M.R., Al Dhafer, H.M., Abdel-Dayem, M.S., Aldawood, A.S. 2024. Cardiocondyla hashemi sp. n., a new species of the C. batesii species-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Saudi Arabia, with a key to the Saudi species. Zoology in the Middle East]] (doi:10.1080/09397140.2024.2321640).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
• Seifert, B.. "The ant genus Cardiocondyla (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) - a taxonomic revision of the C. elegans, C. bulgarica. C. batesii, C. nuda, C. shuckardi, C. stambuloffii, C. wroughtonii, C. emeryi, and C. minutior species groups." Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 104B (2003): 203-338.