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Pheidole ambigua
| Pheidole ambigua | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Attini |
| Genus: | Pheidole |
| Species: | P. ambigua |
| Binomial name | |
| Pheidole ambigua Wilson, 2003 | |
Nothing is known about the biology of ambigua.
Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Only known from the type locality.
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -23.62172° to -24.566667°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil (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.
- ambigua. Pheidole ambigua Wilson, 2003: 652, figs. (s.w.) BRAZIL.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
DIAGNOSIS A medium-sized member of the tristis group, similar to Pheidole amata, Pheidole celaena, Pheidole fera, Pheidole germaini, Pheidole peruviana, Pheidole rutilana, Pheidole schwarzmaieri, Pheidole vomer, and possibly the same as Pheidole bruchi of Argentina, on the basis of resemblance of the minor (major syntypes of bruchi could not be located in the Forel collection at the time of study). The paratype minor of ambigua differs from a syntype minor of bruchi in its more abundant pilosity, lighter color, and foveolate promesonotal dorsum. Otherwise, ambigua is distinguished within the tristis group by the following combination of traits.
Major: anterior two-thirds of dorsum of head carinulate, remainder smooth and shiny; carinulae on rest of body limited to anterior strip of pro notal dorsum; humerus in dorsal-oblique view moderately prominent and lobose; postpetiole from above diamond-shaped.
Minor: pilosity sparse; propodeal spines reduced to dentic1es; promesonotal profile in dorsal-oblique view smoothly convex; occiput narrowed, with a nuchal collar.
MEASUREMENTS (mm) Holotype major: HW 1.54, HL 1.74, SL 0.78, EL 0.18, PW 0.72. Paratype minor: HW 0.56, HL 0.62, SL 0.74, EL 0.40, PW 0.36.
COLOR Major: light reddish yellow. Minor: body light yellowish brown, appendages yellow.
Figure. Upper: holotype, major. Lower: paratype, minor. Scale bars = 1 mm.
Type Material
BRAZIL: Caraguatatuba Reserva Florestal, Sao Paulo, col. William L. and Doris E. Brown. Museum of Comparative Zoology
Etymology
L ambigua, uncertain, doubtful.
References
- Wilson, E. O. 2003. Pheidole in the New World: A dominant, hyperdiverse ant genus. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA. (page 652, fig. major, minor described)