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Odontomachus yamanei
| Odontomachus yamanei | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Ponerinae |
| Tribe: | Ponerini |
| Genus: | Odontomachus |
| Species group: | saevissimus |
| Species: | O. yamanei |
| Binomial name | |
| Odontomachus yamanei Zettel & Sorger, 2023 | |
This trap-jaw ant species was described from Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands. It belongs to the O. saevissimus species group and has been previously misidentified as Odontomachus saevissimus.
Photo Gallery
Identification
Zettel & Sorger (2023) - Odontomachus yamanei is a member of the Odontomachus saevissimus species group sensu Brown (1976). The pedunculate shape of the petiole is characteristic for this group. This species was previously confused with Odontomachus saevissimus, a species described from the Moluccas, Indonesia. We compared the new species with O. saevissimus specimens from Ambon Island deposited in the Natural History Museum Vienna, which agree with the holotype illustrated in Antweb (2023), but differ from the Guadalcanal specimens by the following characteristics:
- Median furrow of head narrower and sharper
- Area between apophyseal lines slightly broader
- Mesosoma with uneven, partly much coarser striation; anterior part of pronotum with a few very rough rugae (comp. Fig. 4); posterior part laterally with finer transverse rugae (but still coarser than in O. yamanei); posterolateral part of pronotum with large shiny area; interstices between rugae and on mesonotum and propodeum larger, distinctly shiny; propodeum posteriorly with a few rough rugae (comp. Fig. 4)
- Dorsum of petiolar peduncle not striate (comp. Fig. 4); spine of petiole slightly stouter; ventral process without short setae.
Zettel & Sorger (2023), Figs 4–7. Comparison of types of Odontomachus saevissimus and presently synonymized taxa, dorsal view of mesosoma and petiole. (4) Holotype of O. saevissimus (CASENT0900658) from Seram (from Antweb, photographer Ryan Perry). (5) Syntype of O. saevissimus var. linae (CASENT0900615) from New Guinea (from Antweb, photographer Ryan Perry). (6) Syntype of O. saevissimus var. tauerni (FOCOL 1067) from Seram (from Antweb, photographer Christiana Klingenberg). (7) Holotype of O. transversostriatus (CASENT0900616) from Yapen (from Antweb, photographer Ryan Perry).
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -9.2° to -9.9°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: Zettel & Sorger, 2023
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Solomon Islands (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.
- yamanei. Odontomachus yamanei Zettel & Sorger, 2023: 84, figs. 1-3 (w.) SOLOMON ISLANDS.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
holotype: TL 16.2, HW 2.46, HL 3.75, CI 66, MdL 2.24, MdI 60, SL 3.80, SI 154, MsL 5.25, PnW 1.46, PtH 1.61, PtL 1.72, PtW 0.55. Paratypes (n = 10): TL ca. 15.3–16.5, HW 2.32–2.58, HL 3.53–3,88, CI 63–67, MdL 2.27–2.55, MdI 60–66, SL 3.66–3.85, SI 149–158, MsL 4.97–5.55, PnW 1.36–1.54.
Structures. Large and slender species with long antennae and legs. Head long, comparatively slender, with distinct temporal prominences. Ocular ridge distinct. Median furrow deeply engraved. Longitudinal striation between frontal lobes fine, between posterior end of frontal lobes and ocular ridge forming a radiating, fan-like pattern. Head posterior of ocular ridge smooth and shiny, at most with a few dispersed (but rather large) punctures. Area between apophyseal lines narrow-lanceolate. Mandibles long, with long and sharp apical and subapical teeth, and a short intercalary tooth between them; on basal part ca. 7–9 denticles. Four maxillary and four labial palp segments. Entire mesosoma dorsally and pronotum posterolaterally with a rather uniform, fine, very dense, transverse striation; anterior part of pronotum and posterior part of propodeum with a barely coarser striation. Mesopleuron completely finely striate. Petiole anteriorly pedunculate, with very long apical spine; peduncle and base of spine dorsally with distinct transverse striation; ventral process longer than its basal width, its apex narrowly rounded and often with a few very short setae; petiolar spine long, weakly curved.
Pilosity. Head almost bald. Labrum and sides of clypeus with short pilosity. Mandible with the usual trigger hairs. Mesosoma appearing bald but with very disperse, appressed minute hairs. Petiole with some short posteriorly directed setae on ventral process. Gaster with several long setae at apex; sterna with a few dispersed short hairs.
Colour. Body reddish brown to medium brown. Gaster from about middle of first segment to apex infuscated, vaguely iridescent. Mandibles and scape dark brown to blackish. Legs yellowish brown, paler than body, but tarsi dark brown.
Type Material
- Holotype (worker, coll. Seiki Yamane, Japan), Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal Island, Honiara Reg., Barana village environment, 100–300 m a.s.l., XI.–XII.
- Paratypes (workers, coll. Herbert Zettel, Vienna): 2 workers, same locality data; 5 workers, Guadalcanal Island, Honiara Region, 10–15 km S Barana village, 50–200 m a.s.l., 21.XI.–17.XII.; 2 workers, Guadalcanal Island, Koso village, 15–18 km SSE Honiara, 500–650 m a.s.l., 1.–18.XII.; 1 worker, Guadalcanal Island (West part), Ciri environment, 400–600 m, 7.–13.XII.
Etymology
This species is dedicated to the eminent myrmecologist, Professor Seiki Yamane. The first author is grateful for the outstanding support that he received from him for his studies on Camponotini and other ants.
Determination Clarifications
While this isolated taxon from Guadalcanal Island has never been given a name before, some synonyms of O. saevissimus (see Wilson 1959, Brown 1976), especially those from New Guinea and Yapen, deserve future attention and may be distinct species, as well. However, their sculpture more closely resembles the “true” O. saevissimus from the Moluccas than O. yamanei (comp. Figs 3–7 above).