Paratopula andamanensis
Paratopula andamanensis | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Hymenoptera |
Family: | Formicidae |
Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
Genus: | Paratopula |
Species: | P. andamanensis |
Binomial name | |
Paratopula andamanensis (Forel, 1903) |
This species is only known from the male caste and is limited to the Andaman Islands, India.
Identification
Identification Keys including this Taxon
Distribution
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India (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
Castes
Images from AntWeb
Syntype of Paratopula andamanensis. Male (alate). Specimen code casent0907447. Photographer Will Ericson, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by MHNG, Geneva, Switzerland. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- andamanensis. Sima andamanensis Forel, 1903d: 403 (m.) INDIA (Andaman Is).
- Type-material: holotype male.
- Type-locality: India: Andaman Is., Petite Andaman, Bumila Creek (Bingham?).
- Type-depository: MHNG.
- Combination in Sima (Sima): Emery, 1921f: 23;
- combination in Tetraponera (Tetraponera): Chapman & Capco, 1951: 78;
- combination in Paratopula: Bolton, 1988b: 134.
- Status as species: Emery, 1921f: 23; Bolton, 1988b: 134 (redescription); Bolton, 1995b: 312; Mohanraj, et al. 2010: 7; Bharti, Guénard, et al. 2016: 41.
- Distribution: India (Andaman Is)
Description
Male
Bolton (1998) - P. andamanensis is closely related to oculata, the two sharing the same form of depressed rectangular head capsule (fig. 8), characteristic overall shape of petiole and postpetiole (figs 16, 17), and alitrunk structure. The two differ in the following respects. In andamanensis the middle and hind tibiae lack projecting hairs, whereas in oculata long fine tapering projecting hairs are conspicuous. In andamanensis the fifth gastral tergite is broadly triangular, enlarged and shield-like, and conceals the elongate genital parameres from dorsal view. Conversely, in oculata the fifth gastral tergite is a narrow transverse sclerite and the elongate parameres project freely from the gastral apex. The propodeal declivity is more nearly vertical in andamanensis and the dorsum and declivity round together through a narrower curve than in oculata, where the declivity is not so steeply sloped (figs 16, 17). With the alitrunk in profile the propodeal spiracle is closer to the margin of the declivity in oculata than in andamanensis, and comparison of figs 16 and 17 will show the differences in shape and relative dimensions of the petiole and postpetiole.
Worker & Queen
Unknown
References
- Bolton, B. 1988b. A review of Paratopula Wheeler, a forgotten genus of myrmicine ants (Hym., Formicidae). Entomol. Mon. Mag. 124: 125-143.
- Forel, A. 1903f. Les fourmis des îles Andamans et Nicobares. Rapports de cette faune avec ses voisines. Rev. Suisse Zool. 11: 399-411 (page 403, male described)
- Luo, Y.Y., Guénard, B. 2016. Descriptions of a new species and the gyne in the rarely collected arboreal genera Paratopula and Rotastruma (Hymenopytera: Formicidae) from Hong Kong, with a discussion on their ecology. Asian Myrmecology 8: 1-16 (DOI:10.20362/am.008016).
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Bolton B. 1988. A review of Paratopula Wheeler, a forgotten genus of myrmicine ants (Hym., Formicidae). Entomologist's Monthly Magazine 124: 125-143
- Chapman, J. W., and Capco, S. R. 1951. Check list of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Asia. Monogr. Inst. Sci. Technol. Manila 1: 1-327
- Forel A. 1903. Les fourmis des îles Andamans et Nicobares. Rapports de cette faune avec ses voisines. Rev. Suisse Zool. 11: 399-411.
- Mohanraj P., M. Ali, and K. Veerakumari. 2010. Formicidae of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Indian Ocean: Bay of Bengal). Journal of Insect Science 10: Article 172
- Mohanraj, P., M. Ali and K. Veenakumari. 2010. Formicidae of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Indian Ocean: Bay Of Bengal). Journal of Insect Science 10:172.