Heteroponera pendergrasti

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Heteroponera pendergrasti
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Ectatomminae
Tribe: Heteroponerini
Genus: Heteroponera
Species group: relicta
Species complex: ecarinata
Species: H. pendergrasti
Binomial name
Heteroponera pendergrasti
Taylor, 2015

Known only from Lamb Range, the northern rampart of the Atherton Tableland. H. pendergrasti is possibly endemic there.

Identification

Taylor (2015) - Characterized in the H. ecarinata species complex by heavy sculpturation, dark blackish color, with dark brown legs and antennae, and distinguished from the similar Heteroponera ecarinata by differences in sculpturation (particularly of the frons and second gastral tergite), coloration and structure of the petiolar node. Fore-coxae and posterior surface of node superficially microsculptured; propodeal declivity shining, with weak, superficial dorsally-directed radial striae; its sides distinctly sculpturally bordered, the posterolateral edge in profile micro-serrate as a result of minutely extended cuticular points along the sculptural border. Sculpturation of second gastral tergite more distinctly longitudinally deployed than in H. ecarinata (refer Figs).

Identification Keys including this Taxon

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -17.03° to -17.09°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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

Nomenclature

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

  • pendergrasti. Heteroponera pendergrasti Taylor, 2015b: 176, figs. 50-53 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Queensland).
    • Type-material: holotype worker, 10 paratype workers.
    • Type-locality: holotype Australia: Queensland, NE Lamb Range (11 km. SE Mareeba), -17 06, 145 34, 1200 m., 11.xi.1988, QMBA berlesates 804, 822, rainforest moss (G.B. Monteith & G.I. Thompson); paratypes: 4 workers with same data, 1 worker Lamb Range, Mt Tiptree, -17 03, 145 37, 13.vi.1984 (B. Halliday), 1 worker as last but 900 m., 29.vi.1971 (R.W. Taylor & J.D. Feehan), 1 worker as last but -17 03, 145 38, 730 m., 29.vi.1971 (R.W. Taylor & J.D. Feehan), 2 workers Lamb Range, Mt Edith, -17 06, 145 37, 1140 m., 11.x.1982, QMBA berlesate 465 (G.B. Monteith, D.K Yeates & G.I. Thompson), 1 worker Upper Isley Creek, -17 03, 145 41, 750 m., 29.xi.1993 (G.B. Monteith & Janetzski).
    • [Note: the holotype is mentioned in the text for two localities, (1) Mt Edith, 11.x.1982, and (2) NE Lamb Range, 11.xi.1988; as the latter is cited as the type-locality this specimen is assumed to be the holotype.]
    • Type-depositories: ANIC (holotype); ANIC, QMBA (paratypes).
    • 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; smallest available specimen, largest available specimen (both Mt): TL (ca): 5.1, 4.8, 5.1; HW: 1.23, 1.18, 1.23; HL: 1.19, 1.17, 1.18; CI: 103, 100, 104; EL: 0.16, 0.16, 1.18; SL: 0.71, 0.69, 0.70; SI: 57, 58, 57; PW: 0.86, 0.86, 0.90;WL: 1.54, 1.49, 1.58; petH: 0.85, 0.79, 0.90; petW: 0.46, 0.47, 0.47; GW 0.99, 0.96, 1.03.

Type Material

Australia: Queensland: NE Lamb Range (11 km SE Mareeba), -17 06, 145 34. Holotype Australian National Insect Collection. Paratypes in ANIC, Queensland Museum.

Etymology

Named for Professor J.G. (Jim) Pendergrast of Auckland, New Zealand, my first teacher in Zoology at both High School and (in a later position) at The University of Auckland, where he supervised my M.Sc. degree.

References

  • Taylor, R.W. 2015. Australasian ants of the subfamily Heteroponerinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): (2) the species-group of Heteroponera relicta (Wheeler) with descriptions of nine new species and observations on morphology, biogeography and phylogeny of the genus. Zootaxa. 3947:151-180. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3947.2.1