Gnamptogenys siapensis

Gnamptogenys siapensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ectatomminae
Tribe:	Ectatommini
Genus:	Gnamptogenys
Species:	G. siapensis
Binomial name
Gnamptogenys siapensis Lattke, 1995

Nothing is known about the biology of Gnamptogenys siapensis.

Identification

A member of the lucaris complex (in the ericae subgroup of the sulcata species group). This species is quite near to Poneracantha lucaris and the differences between the two species may be infraspecific: in lucaris the petiolar node dorsum is evenly convex, the metacoxal tooth is broadly triangular and the subpetiolar process has acutely pointed angles. (Lattke 1995)

Keys including this Species

• Key to New World Gnamptogenys workers

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 1.666666667° to 1.666666667°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Venezuela (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

Explore Overview of Gnamptogenys biology  Not much is known about the the biology of Gnamptogenys siapensis. We can speculate that the biology of this species is similar to other species of the genus. Gnamptogenys are predatory ponerine ants that inhabit tropical and subtropical mesic forests. Nesting is typically at ground level in rotten wood or leaf litter. Some exceptions include species that are arboreal, a dry forest species and species that nests in sandy savannahs. Colony size tends to be, at most, in the hundreds. Queens are the reproductives in most species. Worker reproduction is known from a few species in Southeastern Asia. Generalist predation is the primary foraging/dietary strategy. Specialization on specific groups (millipedes, beetles, other ants) has developed in a few species. ‎

Nomenclature

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

• siapensis. Gnamptogenys siapensis Lattke, 1995: 183, figs. 62, 63 (w.) VENEZUELA.
  • Type-material: holotype worker.
  • Type-locality: Venezuela: Amazonas, Alto Río Siapa, 1°40’N, 64°35’W, 600 m., 4.ii.1989 (J. Lattke).
  • Type-depository: MIZA.
  • Status as species: Lattke, et al. 2007: 262 (in key); Camacho, et al. 2020: 460 (in key); Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 11.
  • Distribution: Venezuela.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker

HL 1.13; ML 0.44; HW 1.00; ED 0.25; SL 0.97; WL 1.60 mm; CI 0.89; SI 0.97; OI 0.25.

Cephalic dorsum with fine longitudinal costulae; eyes placed behind mid length; clypeal lamella anteriorly straight and laterally bluntly angulose; mandibles smooth and shining, subtriangular with apical and basal margins joined through broad convexity; scapes smooth and shining, surpassing vertexal margin, antennal bullae partially visible beneath frontal lobes; costulae longitudinal throughout mesosomal dorsum, propodeal declivity and petiolar node; promesonotal and mesometanotal sutures weakly impressed; mesometapleural suture well impressed; petiolar node more or less as long as wide, in lateral view subquadrate; subpetiolar process subquadrate, with angulate ventral corners; postpetiolar sternum medially smooth and shining and with lateral longitudinal costulae; tibiae and femora smooth and shining; metacoxae with basal triangular lobe, dorsally transversely costulate and laterally mostly smooth and shining; abundant long suberect and subdecumbent hairs on body. Color ferruginous.

Type Material

Holotype worker. Venezuela, Amazonas: Alto Rio Siapa, l°40'N 64°35'W, 600 m, 4-II-89, J. Lattke, leg. Sifted leaf litter sample. The specimen was caught in an area occasionally flooded during the rainy season. Deposited in Instituto de Zoologia Agricola.

Etymology

The species name alludes to the type locality.

References

• Lattke, J. E. 1995. Revision of the ant genus Gnamptogenys in the New World (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research. 4:137-193.
• Lattke, J.E., Fernández, F. & Palacio, E.E. 2007. Identification of the species of Gnamptogenys Roger in the Americas (pp. 254-270). In Snelling, R.R., Fisher, B.L. & Ward, P.S. (eds). Advances in ant systematics: homage to E.O. Wilson – 50 years of contributions. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute 80: 690 pp.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Fernández F., and T. M. Arias-Penna. 2008. Las hormigas cazadoras en la región Neotropical. Pp. 3-39 in: Jiménez, E.; Fernández, F.; Arias, T.M.; Lozano-Zambrano, F. H. (eds.) 2008. Sistemática, biogeografía y conservación de las hormigas cazadoras de Colombia. Bogotá: Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, xiv + 609 pp.
• Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.