Polyrhachis levior

Polyrhachis levior
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Formicinae
Tribe:	Camponotini
Genus:	Polyrhachis
Subgenus:	Cyrtomyrma
Species:	P. levior
Binomial name
	Polyrhachis levior; Roger, 1863 Specimen Labels
Synonyms
	Polyrhachis laevissimus Smith, F., 1859;

Polyrhachis levior is known only by the unique holotype (missing its head) from Aru Island, Indonesia (Kohout 2006). Nothing is known about this species' biology.

Identification

Its distinctly bilobed pronotal humeri resemble those of Polyrhachis albertisi. The mesosoma features a rather steeply raised pronotum and weakly convex mesonotum and propodeum. The promesonotal suture is distinct but the metanotal groove lacking, its position indicated only by a slight depression in the mesosomal outline. The propodeal spines are relatively long, somewhat dorso-ventrally compressed, directly dorso-laterally and posteriorly, with their bases set well apart. The dorsum of the petiole is furnished with four sharp teeth of equal length. (Kohout 2006)

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia.
Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia (type locality), New Guinea.
Palaearctic Region: China.

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.

Abundance

Known only from the single type specimen.

Biology

Castes

Known only from the (type) worker.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

laevissimus. Polyrhachis laevissimus Smith, F. 1859a: 141 (w.) INDONESIA (Aru I.). [Junior primary homonym of laevissima Smith, above.] Replacement name: levior Roger, 1863b: 8.
levior. Polyrhachis levior Roger, 1863b: 8. Replacement name for laevissimus Smith, F. 1859a: 141. [Junior primary homonym of laevissima Smith, 1858b: 64.] Combination in P. (Cyrtomyrma): Forel, 1915b: 110. Subspecies of rastellata: Forel, 1902h: 527. Revived status as species: Donisthorpe, 1938c: 248; Taylor & Brown, D.R. 1985: 137. See also: Kohout, 2006b: 130.

The following notes on F. Smith type specimens have been provided by Barry Bolton (details):

Polyrhachis laevissimus

Holotype worker in Oxford University Museum of Natural History. Labelled “Aroo 25” (= Aru I., New Guinea) and with a Donisthorpe type-label, and also with a Donisthorpe det. label “levior Roger.” Head of holotype is missing.

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Type Material

Polyrhachis laevissima Smith, 1859: Syntype, worker(s), Aru, Indonesia, The Natural History Museum.

Description

Worker

Length 2 3/4 lines. Black, very smooth and shining; the legs ferruginous, with the coxae, articulations, and the tarsi black. The thorax: not flattened above, or margined at the sides; the division between the pro- and mesothorax distinct, that between the meso and metatborax not discernible, the latter with two erect acute spines; the scale of the petiole with four short acute spines. Abdomen globose.

Type Material

Holotype worker. Oxford University Museum of Natural History; Junior homonym of P. laevissima Fr. Smith, 1858:64 – as reported in Kohout (2006).

Type Locality Information

INDONESIA, Aru Island, col. A.R. Wallace.

References

Donisthorpe, H. 1938c. The subgenus Cyrtomyrma Forel of Polyrhachis Smith, and descriptions of new species, etc. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. 11(1): 246-267 (page 248, Revived status as species)
Forel, A. 1902j. Fourmis nouvelles d'Australie. Rev. Suisse Zool. 10: 405-548 (page 527, Race of rastellata)
Forel, A. 1915b. Results of Dr. E. Mjöbergs Swedish Scientific Expeditions to Australia 1910-13. 2. Ameisen. Ark. Zool. 9(1 16: 1-119 (page 110, Combination in P. (Cyrtomyrma))
Kohout, R. J. 2006. Review of Polyrhachis (Cyrtomyrma) Forel (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) of Australia, Borneo, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands with descriptions of new species. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 52:87-146.
Roger, J. 1863b. Verzeichniss der Formiciden-Gattungen und Arten. Berl. Entomol. Z. 7(B Beilage: 1-65 (page 8, Replacement name for laevissimus)
Smith, F. 1859a. Catalogue of hymenopterous insects collected by Mr. A. R. Wallace at the islands of Aru and Key. [part]. J. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. Zool. 3: 132-158 (page 141, [Junior primary homonym of laevissima Smith, 1858b: 64.])
Taylor, R. W.; Brown, D. R. 1985. Formicoidea. Zool. Cat. Aust. 2:1- 149: 1-149, 30 (page 137, Revived status as species)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Forel A. 1915. Results of Dr. E. Mjöbergs Swedish Scientific Expeditions to Australia 1910-13. 2. Ameisen. Ark. Zool. 9(16): 1-119
Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
Hua Li-zhong. 2006. List of Chinese insects Vol. IV. Pages 262-273. Sun Yat-sen university Press, Guangzhou. 539 pages.
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.
Li Z.h. 2006. List of Chinese Insects. Volume 4. Sun Yat-sen University Press
Taylor R. W. 1987. A checklist of the ants of Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) Division of Entomology Report 41: 1-92.
Taylor R. W., and D. R. Brown. 1985. Formicoidea. Zoological Catalogue of Australia 2: 1-149.
Viehmeyer H. 1912. Ameisen aus Deutsch Neuguinea gesammelt von Dr. O. Schlaginhaufen. Nebst einem Verzeichnisse der papuanischen Arten. Abhandlungen und Berichte des Königlichen Zoologischen und Anthropologische-Ethnographischen Museums zu Dresden 14: 1-26.
Viehmeyer H. 1913. Ameisen aus dem Kopal von Celebes. Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 74: 141-155.