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Polyrhachis kyawthani
| Polyrhachis kyawthani | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Formicinae |
| Tribe: | Camponotini |
| Genus: | Polyrhachis |
| Subgenus: | Cyrtomyrma |
| Species: | P. kyawthani |
| Binomial name | |
| Polyrhachis kyawthani Kohout, 2006
| |
The specimens of the type series were collected from a silk nest attached to the underside of a leaf on a low tree in rainforest. (Kohout 2006)
Identification
Polyrhachis kyawthani is very similar to Polyrhachis aporema. They share a similar mesosomal profile with a widely rounded propodeum and very steep declivity. However, Polyrhachis aporema differs in the distinctly convex eyes that clearly break the lateral cephalic outline in full face view. The eyes in Polyrhachis kyawthani are rather flat and situated well inside the cephalic outline. Although similar, the propodeal declivity in Polyrhachis aporema is distinctly lower and weakly concave at the base, while in Polyrhachis kyawthani the declivity is higher and virtually vertical. The petiole in Polyrhachis aporema features a straight anterior face and convex posterior face, while the petiole in Polyrhachis kyawthani is lower and distinctly biconvex. (Kohout 2006)
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Known only from the New Ireland, PAPUA NEW GUINEA.
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: New Guinea (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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Abundance
Has only been collected a few times.
Biology
Castes
Males unknown, immature stages (eggs, larvae and pupae) present in Australian National Insect Collection spirit collection. (Kohout 2006)
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- kyawthani. Polyrhachis kyawthani Kohout, 2006b: 129, figs. 10C-D (w.q.) NEW GUINEA.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Dimensions (holotype cited first): TL c. 7.06, 6.35-7.56; HL 1.65, 1.56-1.75; HW 1.56, 1.43-1.62; CI 94, 92-96; SL 2.15, 2.03-2.25; SI 138, 135-144; PW 1.25, 1.15-1.31; MTL 2.59, 1.59-2.71 (12 measured).
Clypeus in profile very weakly convex, narrowly rounding into weakly impressed basal margin. Frontal triangle weakly indicated. Frontal carinae sinuate with weakly raised margins; central area rather flat with frontal furrow clearly indicated for most of its length. Sides of head in front of eyes very weakly convex, converging towards mandibular bases; behind eyes sides rounding into broadly convex occipital margin. Eyes weakly convex, in full face view not reaching lateral cephalic outline. Ocelli lacking, relative positions indicated by shallow punctures in sculpture. Pronotum in dorsal view widely rounded, humeri in some specimens subangular; greatest pronotal width at mid-length of segment. Mesosoma in lateral view with pronotum weakly convex, almost flat, narrowly rounding into weakly impressed promesonotal suture; mesonotal dorsum convex; metanotal groove indicated by shallow depression in outline and faint line in some specimens; propodeum unarmed, dorsum widely rounding into virtually vertical declivity. Petiole in profile biconvex; dorsum armed with rather small, acute, subequal teeth; tips of dorsal pair distinctly bent backwards. Subpetiolar process acute anteriorly, widely rounded posteriorly. First gastral segment with anterior face lower than apices of petiolar spines, widely rounding onto dorsum of segment.
Mandibles very finely rugose with piliferous pits, density reducing towards bases. Head, mesosoma and gaster finely shagreened dorsally; intensity of sculpturation increasing laterally with meso- and metapleaurae reticulate-rugose. Petiole very finely, mostly transversely reticulate, distinctly reticulate-rugose around base. Rather shallow piliferous pits scattered over most body surfaces, but almost completely absent from rather polished dorsum of mesosoma.
Mandibles with numerous, medium length, curved hairs along masticatory borders. Anterior clypeal margin usually with 2 long, anteriorly directed setae medially and several rather short setae laterally. Mostly paired, medium length, erect hairs near anterior and basal clypeal margins and along frontal carinae; pair of long, somewhat forward-curved hairs on vertex. Pair of long, erect hairs on anterior faces of fore coxae, several shorter, somewhat isolated, erect hairs ventrally on trochanters and femora. Numerous, medium length, erect hairs along posterior margins of gastral segments, more abundant on ventral surfaces.
Colour. Black; mandibular teeth, condylae, tips of apical funicular segments and legs medium reddish-brown. Coxae and tarsi black. Apex of gaster diffusely reddish-brown.
Queen
Queen. Dimensions: TL c. 9.32; HL 2.09; HW 1.87; CI 89; SL 2.43; SI 130; PW 1.93; MTL 3.21 (1 measured). Apart from sexual characters, similar to worker except: pronotal humeri evenly and widely rounded; mesoscutum marginally wider than long, lateral margins distinctly converging anteriorly, forming distinctly narrowly rounded anterior margin; median line short, weakly indicated; parapsides rather flat, slightly raised posteriorly; mesoscutum in profile with widely rounded anterior face and very weakly convex dorsum. Mesoscutellum weakly convex, marginally elevated above dorsal plane of mesosoma; metanotal groove distinct. Propodeal dorsum weakly convex, rounding abruptly into virtually vertical declivity. Very fine body sculpturation, rather sporadic pilosity and polished appearance as in worker.
Type Material
HOLOTYPE: PAPUA NEW GUINEA, New Ireland Prov., East Coast, 3km S of Konos, 03°09’S, 151°43’E, <50m, 22.vii.1984, R.J. Kohout acc. 84.105 (worker). PARATYPES: data (and nest) as for holotype (58 workers, dealate queen). Type deposition: Holotype, most paratype workers and paratype queen in Australian National Insect Collection; 2 paratype workers each in American Museum of Natural History, The Natural History Museum, Bernice P. Bishop Museum, California Academy of Sciences, Museum of Comparative Zoology, National Museum of Natural History and Queensland Museum.
References
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Janda M., G. D. Alpert, M. L. Borowiec, E. P. Economo, P. Klimes, E. Sarnat, and S. O. Shattuck. 2011. Cheklist of ants described and recorded from New Guinea and associated islands. Available on http://www.newguineants.org/. Accessed on 24th Feb. 2011.
- Kohout R.J. 2006. Review of Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) Forel of Australia, Borneo, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands with descriptions of new species. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 52: 87-146.