Chelaner petiolatus

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

Chelaner petiolatus is a cryptic forager in rainforest ground litter (Heterick 2001).

Identification

Heterick (2001) - A member of the kilianii group. This species has a remarkably long petiolar peduncle, and this feature, combined with the glossy, shining cuticle, gives the ant the appearance of a glasswork creation when viewed under a microscope. The long peduncle also distinguishes it from other members of the kilianii-group, except for Chelaner shattucki (which, however, has a conspicuous petiolar node).

Keys including this Species

Key to Australian Monomorium Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -16.08333397° to -20.35000038°.


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.

petiolatus. Monomorium petiolatum Heterick, 2001: 388, figs. 29, 80 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Queensland).
- Type-material: holotype worker, 18 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype Australia: Queensland, Mt Tyson, 2 km. SW Tully, 650 m., 17°55’S, 145°54’E, 7.v.1983, QM berlesate no. 588, rainforest (D.K. Yeates); paratypes: 9 workers Queensland, Table Mt, Cape Tribulation, 16°09’S, 145°26’E, 320 m., 24.iv.1983, QM berlesate 542, ANIC ants vial 40.211, rainforest (G.B. Monteith & D. Cook), 6 workers with same data as last but QM berlesate 540, 3 workers Queensland, banks of Daintree River, 8.viii.1975 (B.B. Lowery).
- Type-depositories: ANIC (holotype); ANIC, BMNH, MCZC (paratypes).
- Combination in Chelaner: Sparks, et al. 2019: 233.
- Status as species: Sparks, et al. 2019: 233.
- Distribution: Australia.

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 2.02; HL 0.62; HW 0.51; Cel 81; SL 0.57; SI 114; PW 0.37. Others. HML 2.04-2.29; HL 0.59-0.65; HW 0.50-0.57; CeI 80-88; SL 0.56-0.59; SI 104-111; PW 0.30-0.40 (13 measured).

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

Head. Head square or rectangular; vertex convex. (Viewed laterally) compound eyes set at midline of head capsule. Anteromedial clypeal margin straight or slightly emarginate, median clypeal carinae not produced as teeth or denticles. Posteromedial clypeal margin level with posterior surface of antennal fossae. Anterior tentorial pits equidistant between mandibular insertions and antennal fossae. Palp formula 2,2. Maximum number of mandibular teeth and denticles: four; mandibles (viewed from front) triangular and smooth, with piliferous punctures.

Alitrunk. Promesonotal setulae appressed. Mesonotal suture absent. Metanotal groove present as feebly impressed furrow between promesonotum and propodeum. Dorsal propodeal face gently convex, or sloping posteriad with wedge-shaped flattening or shallow depression that is widest between propodeal angles. Propodeal setulae absent.

Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar spiracle lateral and positioned in pedicel well anteriad of petiolar node. Petiolar node conical, dorsally rounded. Ratio of greatest node breadth (viewed from front) to greatest node width (viewed in profile) near 1:1. Height ratio of petiole to postpetiole near 1:1 to near 4:3; height-length ratio of postpetiole near 3:4 to near 1:2.

Gaster. Pilosity of first gastral tergite consisting entirely of well-spaced erect and suberect setae.

General characters. Colour shining orange: head gaster, and legs often lighter in colour. Worker caste monomorphic.

Type Material

Holotype. Worker, Queensland, Mt Tyson 2 km SW Tully l7°55'S, 145°54'E, 7.v.1983, D. K. Yeates, QM berlesate no. 588, rainforest, 650m, sieved litter (Australian National Insect Collection). Paratypes. Queensland: 3x3 workers, Table Mtn., Cape Tribulation 16°09'S, 145°26'E, 24.iv.1983, G. B. Monteith & D. Cook, QM berlesate no. 542, rainforest, 320m, sieved litter, ANIC ants vial no. 40.211 (ANIC, The Natural History Museum, Museum of Comparative Zoology); 3x2 workers, same collection data as preceding paratypes, QM berlesate no. 540 (ANIC, BMNH, MCZ); 3 workers, Queensland, banks of Daintree R., 8.viii.1975, B. B. Lowery, RF., in rotten wood, Chelaner (ANIC).

Holotype, worker, Mt. Tyson, 2km W Tully, Queensland, Australia, Yeates,D.K., ANIC32-015679, Australian National Insect Collection.
Paratype, 3 workers, banks of Daintree R., Queensland, Australia, Australian National Insect Collection.
Paratype, 5 workers, Table Mtn., Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia, Australian National Insect Collection.
Paratype, 5 workers, Table Mtn., Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia, The Natural History Museum.
Paratype, 5 workers, Table Mtn., Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Etymology

Latin: “little stalk” (referring to the petiolar peduncle).

References