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Monomorium vatranum
| Monomorium vatranum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Solenopsidini |
| Genus: | Monomorium |
| Species: | M. vatranum |
| Binomial name | |
| Monomorium vatranum Bolton, 1987
| |
Well collected in the Namib Desert.
Identification
Bolton (1987) - A member of the M. viator complex in the M. salomonis species group. A small darkly coloured species.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -21.21667° to -23.41666667°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Namibia (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
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- vatranum. Monomorium vatranum Bolton, 1987: 362, fig. 55 (w.) NAMIBIA.
- Type-material: holotype worker, 21 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype Namibia: Namib Desert, Swartbank, 23°16’S, 14°50’E, 15.vii.1981, sample S8 (A.C. Marsh); paratypes: 11 worlers with same data, 3 workers Namib Desert, Ganab, 23°08’S, 15°37’E, 16.viii.1981, sample 98, sandy plain (A.C. Marsh), 3 workers with same data as last but 5.v.1981, sample G24, 3 workers with same data but 19.viii.1981, sample 187, 1 worker Namib Desert, Mirabeb, 23°25’S, 15°24’E, 8.iv.1982, sample M13 (A.C. Marsh).
- Type-depositories: BMNH (holotype); BMNH, MCZC, MHNG (paratypes)..
- Status as species: Bolton, 1995b: 268.
- Distribution: Namibia.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
TL 2.8, HL 0.71, HW 0.52, CI 73, SL 0.60, SI 115, PW 0.34, AL 0.80.
Holotype. Median portion of clypeus with its anterior margin shallowly convex. With the head in full-face view the sides in front of the eyes roughly parallel, behind the eyes weakly converging posteriorly. Occipital margin broadly and very shallowly concave. Maximum diameter of eye 0.27 x HW and with 9 ommatidia in the longest row. Scapes long, SI > 110. Alitrunk in profile with promesonotum low and only very shallowly convex, the metanotal groove not or only vestigially impressed. Dorsum of head with 3 pairs of hairs straddling the midline behind the level of the frontal lobes, without hairs close to the occipital corners. Dorsal alitrunk with a single pair of hairs, situated at the pronotal humeri. Petiole and postpetiole each with a single pair of backward directed hairs. First gastral tergite with hairs sparsely but more or less evenly distributed over the selerite in front of the apical transverse row. Cephalic dorsum with superficial reticular patterning, which may appear feebly shagreenate close to the occipital margin. Pronotal dorsum finely and densely reticulate, the sculpture becoming more sharply defined posteriorly on the alitrunk so that the propodeum is shallowly reticulate-punctulate. First gastral tergite smooth and shining, with superficial reticulate patterning only. Colour a uniform very dark brown.
Paratypes. TL 2.7-3.0, HL 0.62-0.74, HW 0.45-0.56, CI 72-76, SL 0.53-0.63, SI 113-120, PW 0.34-0.36, AL 0.76-0.82 (12 measured). Maximum diameter of eye 0.27-0.29 x HW, with 9-10 ommatidia in the longest row. As holotype but colour varying from medium brown to blackish brown, the colour usually uniform but sometimes the alitrunk slightly lighter than the head and gaster.
Type Material
Holotype worker, Namibia: Namib Desert, Swartbank 14°50' E, 23°16' S, sample S8, 15.vii.1981 (A. C. Marsh) (The Natural History Museum). Paratypes, 11 workers with same data as holotype; 3 workers, Namib Desert, Ganab, 15°37' E, 23°08' S, sample 98, sandy plain, 16.viii.1981 (A. C. Marsh); 3 workers with same data as last but sample G24, 5.v.1981; 3 workers with same data but sample 187, 19.viii.1981; 1 worker, Namib Desert, Mirabeb, 15°24' E, 23° 25' S, sample M13, 8.iv.1982 (A. C. Marsh) (BMNH; Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève; Museum of Comparative Zoology).
References
- Bolton, B. 1987. A review of the Solenopsis genus-group and revision of Afrotropical Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology. 54:263-452.. (page 362, fig. 55 worker described)
- Gomez, K., Hawkes, P.G., Fisher, B.L. 2023. Ant endemicity in the highlands and escarpments of Angola and Namibia (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Monograph on Endemism in the Highlands and Escarpments of Angola and Namibia. Namibian Journal of Environment 8, 197-203.
- Ruano, F., Tinaut, A., Soler, J.J. 2000. High surface temperatures select for individual foraging in ants. Behavioral Ecology 11, 396-404.
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Bolton B. 1987. A review of the Solenopsis genus-group and revision of Afrotropical Monomorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 54: 263-452.
- IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
- Robertson H. G. 2000. Formicidae (Hymenoptera: Vespoidea). Cimbebasia Memoir 9: 371-382.