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Crematogaster razana
| Crematogaster razana | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Genus: | Crematogaster |
| Species: | C. razana |
| Binomial name | |
| Crematogaster razana Blaimer, 2012
| |
Crematogaster razana has only been collected at two localities in southern Madagascar. One of these sites is a dry forest (western slopes of P.N. Andohahela), whereas the other collections were made in a montane grassland habitat (R.S. Kalambatritra). Since the few collections of this rare species have been made mostly on the ground (under stone, pitfall trap or on low vegetation), I assume that C. razana is ground-nesting. This species is sympatric with Crematogaster rasoherinae and parapatric or narrowly sympatric with both Crematogaster madecassa and Crematogaster telolafy in the Andohahela massif. (Blaimer 2012)
Identification
Blaimer (2012) - A member of the Crematogaster madecassa group. A combination of protruding eyes and raised sharp lateral carinae on the propodeum separates workers of C. razana from workers of Crematogaster rasoherinae and the C. volamena-group. From other species within the C. madecassa-group it can be identified by the lack of median vertical carinae on the clypeus and the absence of long setae on the posterior end of the lateral mesonotal carinae. Crematogaster razana queens are diagnosed by a combination of the presence of very short propodeal spines, large protruding eyes (OI 0.31), and the presence of a median clypeal notch.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -19.006727° to -24.93°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar (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
Males have yet to be collected.
Worker
Images from AntWeb
 
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| Holotype of Crematogaster razana. Worker. Specimen code casent0149655. Photographer Bonnie Blaimer, uploaded by Curator Bonnie Blaimer. | Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA. |
Queen
Images from AntWeb
     
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| Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0148782. Photographer Bonnie Blaimer, uploaded by Curator Bonnie Blaimer. | Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- razana. Crematogaster razana Blaimer, 2012b: 55, fig. 30 (w.q.) MADAGASCAR.
- Type-material: holotype worker.
- Type-locality: Madagascar: Prov. Toliara, R.S.. Kalambatritra, 23.4185°S, 46.4583°E, 1365 m., 8.ii.2009, BLF21485, grassland (B.L. Fisher, et al.).
- Type-depository: CASC.
- Combination in C. (Orthocrema): Blaimer, 2012b: 32.
- Distribution: Madagascar.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
(n=3). Holotype: HW 0.54; HL 0.50; EL 0.13; SL 0.37; WL 0.53; SPL 0.07; PTH 0.12; PTL 0.18; PTW 0.15; PPL 0.12; PPW 0.16; LHT 0.38; CI 1.08; OI 0.26; SI 0.74; SPI 0.14; PTHI 0.68; PTWI 0.86; PPI 1.31; LBI 1.40.
Other material. HW 0.49–0.56; HL 0.45–0.52; EL 0.12–0.14; SL 0.35–0.40; WL 0.45–0.54; SPL 0.05–0.07; PTH 0.10–0.12; PTL 0.15–0.19; PTW 0.14–0.16; PPL 0.08–0.11; PPW 0.14–0.17; LHT 0.34–0.40; CI 1.07; OI 0.26–0.27; SI 0.76–0.77; SPI 0.11–0.13; PTHI 0.64–0.67; PTWI 0.86–0.92; PPI 1.46–1.70; LBI 1.32–1.37.
Very small species (HW 0.49–0.56, WL 0.45–0.54), with characters of the C. madecassa-group, in addition to the following. Clypeus lacking median vertical carinae; antennal scapes just reaching posterior margin of head.
Metanotal groove constricted to about half the width of pronotum; propodeal spines short (SPI 0.11–0.14), in form of acute triangular points, distinctly directed upwards in lateral view, in dorsal view moderately diverging; subpostpetiolar process absent.
Face with no more than 4 erect, long flexuous setae; promesonotum with 4 erect, long flexuous setae: 2 humeral setae, and 2 setae at anterior end of mesonotal carinae (posterior setae absent). Color yellow to yellowish-brown.
Queen
(n=1). HW 1.10, HL 0.91, EL 0.28, SL 0.65, MSNW 0.94, MSNL 0.98, WL 1.74, SPL 0.04, PTH 0.30, PTL 0.45, PTW 0.41, PPL 0.28, PPW 0.46, LHT 0.83, CI 1.21, OI 0.31, SI 0.71, MSNI 1.77, SPI 0.02, PTHI 0.66, PTWI 0.92, PPI 1.65, LBI 2.09.
Very small (HW 1.10, WL 1.74), with characters of the C. madecassa-group, in addition to the following. Clypeus with a median notch; antennal scapes just reaching posterior margin of head.
Mesosoma more compact (MSNI 1.77, WL 1.74); mesoscutum in dorsal view about as wide as long; propodeal spines reduced to minute dents (SPI 0.02).
Petiole with one pair of long flexuous setae posterior to denticles.
Type Material
MADAGASCAR: Toliara: R.S. Kalambatritra: -23.4185, 46.4583, 1365m, grassland, under stone; 8.ii.2009; B. L. Fisher et al..
Holotype worker: pinned, CASENT0149655, BLF21485; original locality label: MADG’R: Toliara: R.S. Kalambatritra: 23.4185°S, 46.4583°E, 1365m; grassland, 8.ii.2009; B. L. Fisher et al. BLF#; deposited at California Academy of Sciences.
Etymology
The Malagasy word “razana” means ancestor and alludes to the isolated distribution of this species and its phylogenetic position within the C. madecassa-group. This name should be treated as a noun in apposition.
References
- Blaimer, B.B. 2012. Taxonomy and species-groups of the subgenus Crematogaster (Orthocrema) in the Malagasy region (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys, 199, 23-70. doi:10.3897/zookeys.199.2631
- Blaimer, B.B., Fisher, B.L. 2013. Taxonomy of the Crematogaster degeeri-species-assemblage in the Malagasy region (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). European Journal of Taxonomy 51: 1-64 (doi:10.5852/ejt.2013.51).
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Blaimer B. B. 2012. Acrobat ants go global Origin, evolution and systematics of the genus Crematogaster (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 65: 421-436.
- Blaimer B. B. 2012. Taxonomy and species-groups of the subgenus Crematogaster (Orthocrema) in the Malagasy region (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 199: 23-70