Chelaner ravenshoensis

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

A species represented by a few type workers, nothing is known about the biology of Chelaner ravenshoensis.

Identification

Heterick (2001) - The combination of a large eye and a strongly flattened promesonotum is distinctive among members of the rubriceps group and is diagnostic for the species.

Keys including this Species

Key to Australian Monomorium Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -17.60000038° to -19.00261368°.


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.

ravenshoensis. Monomorium ravenshoense Heterick, 2001: 435, figs. 42, 114 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Queensland).
- Type-material: holotype worker, 2 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype Australia: Queensland, nr Ravenshoe, 3.vii.1960 (C.N. Smithers); paratypes with same data.
- Type-depositories: ANIC (holotype); AMSC, 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 3.28; HL 1.13; HW 0.99; CeI 88; SL 0.90; SI 91; PW 0.63. Others. HML 3.47; HL 1.20; HW 1.09; CeI 91; SL 0.92; SI 84; PW 0.68 (1 measured).

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 appressed setulae and erect and suberect setae. Compound eyes circular or subcircular; eye large, eye width greater than l.5x greatest width of antennal scape. Antennal club gradually tapering and barely discernible. Anteromedial clypeal margin convex, straight or slightly emarginate, median clypeal carinae indistinct. Mandibles (viewed from front) triangular and striate, with piliferous punctures.

Alitrunk. Dorsal promesonotal face evenly flattened; setulae decumbent and subdecumbent. Mesonotal suture absent. Metanotal groove present as feebly impressed furrow between promesonotum and propodeum. Dorsal propodeal face gently convex; processes present on posterior propodeal angles as small denticles or sharp flanges. Propodeal angle present; length ratio of dorsal face to declivitous face near 2:1 to near 4:3; declivitous face of propodeum flat. Erect and suberect propodeal setae >5. Propodeal spiracle lateral and nearer declivitous face of propodeum than metanotal groove.

Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar node cuneate, dorsally rounded; sculpture absent, petiolar node smooth and shining. Anteroventral process absent or vestigial in specimens seen. Height ratio of petiole to postpetiole near 1:1 to near 4:3; height-length ratio of postpetiole near 2:1. Ventral process absent or vestigial.

General characters. Colour russet with darker areas of infuscation, gaster dark brown, tending to black apically. Worker caste monomorphic.

Type Material

Holotype, worker, near Ravenshoe, Queensland, Australia, Smithers,C.N., ANIC32-015681, Australian National Insect Collection.
Paratype, 1 worker, near Ravenshoe, Queensland, Australia, Australian Museum.
Paratype, 1 worker, near Ravenshoe, Queensland, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Etymology

Named after the NE Queensland town of Ravenshoe.

References