Chelaner parantarcticus

Chelaner parantarcticus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Solenopsidini
Genus:	Chelaner
Species group:	rubriceps
Species:	C. parantarcticus
Binomial name
	Chelaner parantarcticus; (Heterick, 2001)

Chelaner parantarcticus is evidently a very rare or localised ant, known from a single series at the time of this study. More recently, additional specimens have been unearthed among material collected by Professor R. Kitching from fogged canopies in the Werrikimbe and Styx River districts, New South Wales. (Heterick 2001)

Identification

Heterick (2001) - A member of the rubriceps group. Chelaner parantarcticus is remarkably similar to some series of New Zealand's Chelaner antarcticus. Most notably, the elongate, parallel clypeal teeth of the Australian ant closely match those in New Zealand material. However, the colour of C. parantarcticus is not like any of the New Zealand series examined for this work. The latter specimens are a variable dull amber to chocolate. The strongly defined transverse costulae found on the declivitous face of the propodeum of C. parantarcticus are lacking in C. antarcticus, the average scape index is lower, and the petiolar node is rather more cuboidal than in the New Zealand species. Moreover, the shape of the postpetiolar node links C. parantarcticus with the C. rubriceps complex.

Keys including this Species

Key to Australian Monomorium Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -29.71693° to -31.25°.


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.

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

Castes

Nomenclature

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

parantarcticus. Monomorium parantarcticum Heterick, 2001: 434, figs. 47, 96, 103 (w.) AUSTRALIA.
- Combination in Chelaner: Sparks et al., 2019: 233.

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 2.97; HL 1.05; HW 0.87; CeI 84; SL; 0.75; SI 86; PW 0.61. Paratypes. HML 2.66-3.03; HL 0.95-1.05; HW 0.80-0.90; CeI 84-87; SL 0.67-0.74; SI 82-83; PW 0.55-0.60.

As for the worker of Chelaner rubriceps, but with the following apomorphies.

Head. Head square or rectangular; vertex planar; frons smooth and shining with combination of incurved decumbent and subdecumbent setulae and erect and suberect setae. (Viewed laterally) compound eyes set anterior of midline of head capsule. Anteromedial clypeal margin emarginate, median clypeal carinae produced apically as pair of pronounced teeth. Mandibles (viewed from front) triangular and smooth, with piliferous punctures.

Alitrunk. Promesonotal setulae decumbent and subdecumbent. Metanotal groove present as distinct and deeply impressed trough between promesonotum and propodeum. Propodeal sculpture present on lower lateral surfaces only, dorsal surface smooth and shining; strongly defined costulae present on declivitous face of propodeum. Dorsal propodeal face sloping posteriad, with wedge-shaped flattening or shallow depression that is widest between propodeal angles; propodeal processes absent (propodeum smoothly rounded in profile). Propodeal angle absent; declivitous face of propodeum longitudinally concave between its lateral margins. Erect and suberect propodeal setae 5-10.

Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar spiracle lateral and in anterior sector of petiolar node, or lateral and slightly anteriad of petiolar node. Petiolar node cuboidal. Ratio of greatest node breadth (viewed from front) to greatest node width (viewed in profile) near 1:1 to near 3:4. Anteroventral process always present as pronounced spur. Height ratio of petiole to postpetiole near 1:1 to near 4:3; height-length ratio of postpetiole near 2:1.

General characters. Colour brick red, legs tan; gaster with vague, transverse brown band at junction of first and second gastral tergites. Worker caste monomorphic.

Type Material

Holotype, worker, Point Lookout, New England NP, New South Wales, Australia, Naumann,I.D., ANIC32-015677, Australian National Insect Collection.
Paratype, 4 workers, Point Lookout, New England NP, New South Wales, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Etymology

Greek: “close to antarcticus” (NZ species Chelaner antarcticus)

References