Holcoponera ammophila

Holcoponera ammophila
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ectatomminae
Tribe:	Ectatommini
Genus:	Holcoponera
Species:	H. ammophila
Binomial name
Holcoponera ammophila Lattke, 1990 Specimen labels

This species is unique within the genus due to its savanna nest sites as opposed to the forest preferences of most species. Its range is apparently restricted to high (>1200m), cool savannas of the Upper Rio Caroni watershed (La Gran Sabana). It has not been found in lower savannas, despite the fact that another ant, Pogonomyrmex naegelii, is widespread in savannas isolated in the midst of great expanses of forest. The extent of savannas in the Guiana Shield was much broader during the last glaciation (75,000-11,000 B.P.), as were generally cooler temperatures and a drier climate (Schubert 1988; Clapperton 1993). Such conditions could conceivably have favored the origin of this species from its apparent sister species Holcoponera striatula during the course of the last glaciation. (Lattke 1995)

Identification

A member of the striatula subgroup (in the striatula species group). Black, finely costulate with brown scapes and mandibles, light brown legs. Subpetiolar process subquadrate, not as projecting anterad as in Holcoponera striatula. Mesosomal dorsum with longitudinal costulae and erect hairs up to 0.30 mm in length. (Lattke 1995)

Keys including this Species

• Key to New World Gnamptogenys workers

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 5.867° to -8.640833333°.

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.

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Paratype of Gnamptogenys ammophila. Worker. Specimen code casent0900552. Photographer Ryan Perry, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by NHMUK, London, UK.

Nomenclature

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

• ammophila. Gnamptogenys ammophila Lattke, 1990b: 6, figs. 6, 9 (w.) VENEZUELA.
  • Type-material: holotype worker, 20 paratype workers.
  • Type-locality: holotype Venezuela: Estado Bolívar, via El Dorado-Santa Elena, km. 141, Rio Apanwao, 5°52’N, 61°27’W, 1500 m., 13.viii.1986 (J. Lattke & P. Ward); paratypes: 19 workers with same data, 1 worker Estado Bolívar, San Ignacio de Yuruani, 5°00’N, 61°08’W, 850 m., vii.1984 (K. Jaffé).
  • Type-depositories: MIZA (holotype); BMNH, FSCG, LACM, MCZC, MIZA, MZSP (paratypes).
  • Combination in Holcoponera: Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 11.
  • Status as species: Brandão, 1991: 344; Bolton, 1995b: 208; Lattke, 1995: 155; Lattke, et al. 2007: 258 (in key); Camacho, et al. 2020: 454 (in key); Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 11.
  • Distribution: Brazil, Guyana, Venezuela.

References

• Albuquerque, E., Prado, L., Andrade-Silva, J., Siqueira, E., Sampaio, K., Alves, D., Brandão, C., Andrade, P., Feitosa, R., Koch, E., Delabie, J., Fernandes, I., Baccaro, F., Souza, J., Almeida, R., Silva, R. 2021. Ants of the State of Pará, Brazil: a historical and comprehensive dataset of a key biodiversity hotspot in the Amazon Basin. Zootaxa 5001, 1–83 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.5001.1.1).
• Camacho, G.P., Franco, W., Branstetter, M.G., Pie, M.R., Longino, J.T., Schultz, T.R., Feitosa, R.M. 2022. UCE phylogenomics resolves major relationships among Ectaheteromorph ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ectatomminae, Heteroponerinae): A new classification for the subfamilies and the description of a new genus. Insect Systematics and Diversity 6(1): 5; 1–20 (doi:10.1093/isd/ixab026).
• Franco, W., Ladino, N., Delabie, J.H.C., Dejean, A., Orivel, J., Fichaux, M., Groc, S., Leponce, M., Feitosa, R.M. 2019. First checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of French Guiana. Zootaxa 4674, 509–543 (doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4674.5.2).
• Lattke, J. E. 1990b. Revisión del género Gnamptogenys Roger en Venezuela (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Acta Terramaris 2: 1-47 (page 6, figs. 6, 9 worker described)
• 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

• Alonso L. E., J. Persaud, and A. Williams. 2016. Biodiversity assessment survey of the south Rupununi Savannah, Guyana. BAT Survey Report No.1, 306 pages.
• Fernández, F. and S. Sendoya. 2004. Lista de las hormigas neotropicales. Biota Colombiana Volume 5, Number 1.
• Franco W., N. Ladino, J. H. C. Delabie, A. Dejean, J. Orivel, M. Fichaux, S. Groc, M. Leponce, and R. M. Feitosa. 2019. First checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of French Guiana. Zootaxa 4674(5): 509-543.
• Lattke, J. E. 1990b. Revisión del género Gnamptogenys Roger en Venezuela (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Acta Terramaris 2: 1-47
• Pires de Prado L., R. M. Feitosa, S. Pinzon Triana, J. A. Munoz Gutierrez, G. X. Rousseau, R. Alves Silva, G. M. Siqueira, C. L. Caldas dos Santos, F. Veras Silva, T. Sanches Ranzani da Silva, A. Casadei-Ferreira, R. Rosa da Silva, and J. Andrade-Silva. 2019. An overview of the ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the state of Maranhao, Brazil. Pap. Avulsos Zool. 59: e20195938.