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Chelaner draculai
| Chelaner draculai | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Solenopsidini |
| Genus: | Chelaner |
| Species group: | rubriceps |
| Species: | C. draculai |
| Binomial name | |
| Chelaner draculai (Heterick, 2001)
| |
Chelaner draculai is known only from a few workers taken on Mt Lewis in northern Queensland. Label data suggests this may be an arboreal species. (Heterick 2001)
Identification
Heterick (2001) - A member of the rubriceps group. The morphology of the postpetiole, the thickened femora, and the shape of the metapleural lobes enable C. draculai to be placed in the C. rubriceps species-complex, despite its singular appearance.
This spectacular species is remarkable for its smooth and elongate clypeal teeth produced as sharp spines. Among Australian Chelaner this feature is shared only with Chelaner parantarcticus.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -16.46666908° to -16.98333333°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia (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
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- draculai. Monomorium draculai Heterick, 2001: 423, figs. 47, 86, 88 (w.) AUSTRALIA.
- Combination in Chelaner: Sparks et al., 2019: 232.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Holotype. HML 2.40; HL 0.80; HW 0.68; Cel 83; SL 0.62; SI 92; PW 0.46. Others. HML 2.34-2.88; HL 0.79-0.93; HW 0.66-0.85; CeI 83-101; SL 0.59-0.69; SI 76-90; PW 0.41-0.48 (8 measured).
As for the worker of Chelaner rubriceps, but with the following apomorphies.
Head. Head square or rectangular; vertex convex; frons smooth and shining with combination of appressed setulae and erect and suberect setae. (Viewed laterally) compound eyes set posterior of midline of head capsule; eye moderate, eye width 0.5-1.5x greatest width of antennal scape to large, eye width greater than 1.5 x greatest width of antennal scape. Anteromedial clypeal margin emarginate, clypeal carinae produced as two elongate, parallel spines. Mandibles (viewed from front) triangular and smooth, with piliferous punctures.
Alitrunk. Metanotal groove present as feebly impressed furrow between promesonotum and propodeum. Dorsal propodeal face gently convex; processes absent (propodeum smoothly rounded in profile or with slight hump at propodeal angle). Propodeal angle absent; declivitous face of propodeum flat. Erect and suberect propodeal setae 5-10; propodeal setulae appressed.
Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar spiracle lateral and slightly anteriad of petiolar node. Petiolar node tumular and inclined posteriad; sculpture absent, petiolar node smooth and shining. Ratio of greatest node breadth (viewed from front) to greatest node width (viewed in profile) near 3:4. Height-length ratio of postpetiole near 4:3 to near 1:1.
General characters. Colour of head, gaster and appendages shining orange, petiole and postpetiole darker orange, alitrunk shining maroon. Worker caste monomorphic.
Type Material
Holotype. Worker (top point), Queensland, 2.5 km N Mt Lewis via Julatten, 3.xi.1983, D. K. Yeates & G. I. Thompson, 1040 m, pyrethrum knockdown, R. F., ANIC ants vial 40-213 (Australian National Insect Collection). Paratypes. Queensland: 2x2 workers, same data as the holotype (ANIC, The Natural History Museum); 3 workers, Mt Lewis, 6.viii.1975, B. B. Lowery, 2000 ft, on tree (Museum of Comparative Zoology).
- Holotype, worker, 2.5km N Mt. Lewis via Julatten, Queensland, Australia, Yeates,D.K. & Thompson,G.I., ANIC32-015730, Australian National Insect Collection.
- Paratype, 2 workers, 2.5km N Mt. Lewis via Julatten, Queensland, Australia, Australian National Insect Collection.
- Paratype, 2 workers, 2.5km N Mt. Lewis via Julatten, Queensland, Australia, The Natural History Museum.
- Paratype, 3 workers, Mt Lewis, Queensland, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.
Etymology
Proper name, inspired by the spinose clypeal teeth.
References
- Sparks, K. 2015. Australian Monomorium: Systematics and species delimitation with a focus of the M. rothsteini complex. Ph.D. thesis, University of Adelaide.
- Heterick, B. E. 2001. Revision of the Australian ants of the genus Monomorium (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Invertebrate Taxonomy. 15:353-459. (page 423, figs. 47, 86, 88 worker described)
- Sparks, K.S., Andersen, A.N., Austin, A.D. 2019. A multi-gene phylogeny of Australian Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) results in reinterpretation of the genus and resurrection of Chelaner Emery. Invertebrate Systematics 33: 225–236 (doi:10.1071/IS16080).
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- CSIRO Collection
- Van Ingen L. T., R. Campos, and A. N. Andersen. 2008. Ant community structure along an extended rain forest-savanna gradient in tropical Australia. Journal of Tropical Ecology 24: 445-455.