Syllophopsis kondratieffi

Syllophopsis kondratieffi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Solenopsidini
Genus:	Syllophopsis
Species:	S. kondratieffi
Binomial name
	Syllophopsis kondratieffi; (Sharaf & Aldawood, 2013) Specimen Labels

The type locality is one of the largest grassland valleys present in the southwestern Saudi Arabia, extending about 180 km in the north of Qunfudah Province and is characterized by its abundant fresh water resources having fish and wild turtles which is not common phenomenon in areas of similar habitats, and a high diversity of agricultural crops such as wheat, millet, date palm, and sesame. The type locality is one of the poorly surveyed valleys in Saudi Arabia, therefore, very little is known about its fauna and flora. The specimens of S. kondratieffi were collected from loose sandy soil with a high moisture content and among roots of small Portulaca oleracea L. plants (Fig. 13) beneath a date palm tree, Phoenix dactylifera L. Syllophopsis kondratieffi was coexisting with a common yellow species of the Monomorium monomorium group (prope exiguum Forel). Other ant species occurring in the area included: Trichomyrmex destructor, Trichomyrmex mayri, Tetramorium caldarium, Tetramorium sericeiventre, Paratrechina longicornis, Nylanderia jaegerskioeldi, Cardiocondyla sp., Pheidole sp., and Lepisiota sp. (Sharaf & Aldawood 2013)

Identification

Sharaf & Aldawood (2013) - Syllophopsis kondratieffi seems closest to Syllophopsis modesta. The two species are similar in color and share several characters. Both are yellow; have eyes composed of single ommatidium; funicular segments 2–8 are distinctly broader than long; and, the metanotal groove no more than simple indentation. Syllophopsis kondratieffi can be readily separated by the following characters: small species TL 1.46–1.49, anterior clypeal margin broad, short and not projecting forward, mesosoma short, ML 0.42–0.44, propodeal profile obtuse and distinctly angled (ca 130°), metanotal groove in form of simple indentation.

Aldawood (2016) - The only other Syllophopsis that occurs in Saudi Arabia is Syllophopsis saudiensis. These two ants can be distinguished using the following couplet:

Small species, TL 1.46–1.49, ML 0.44; scapes shorter (SI 88–100), when laid back from their insertions distinctly fail to reach posterior margin of head; body pilosity sparse and fine; colour uniformly clear pale yellow . . . . . Syllophopsis kondratieffi

Larger species, TL 2.09–2.1, ML 0.53; scapes longer (SI 107), when laid back from their insertions distinctly reach posterior margin of head; body pilosity abundant and stiff; colour dirty yellow with brownish tint . . . . . Syllophopsis saudiensis

Keys including this Species

Key to Afrotropical Syllophopsis hildebrandti group species

Distribution

Based on the known collections, S. kondratieffi seems widely distributed in southwestern Saudi Arabia, and perhaps future studies may reveal much broader geographical distribution of the region and including other countries of the Arabian Peninsula.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 24.61945° to 17.01347°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia (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.

Habitat

Microhabitat
Type Locality

Biology

Castes

Images from AntWeb


Paralectotype of Syllophopsis kondratieffi. Worker. Specimen code casent0249587. Photographer Ryan Perry, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by KSMA; KSU, King Saud University Museum of Arthropods.

Nomenclature

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

kondratieffi. Monomorium kondratieffi Sharaf & Aldawood, 2013a: 79, figs. 1-12 (w.) SAUDI ARABIA.
- Type-material: holotype worker, 1 paratype worker.
- Type-locality: holotype Saudi Arabia: Al Bahah Prov., Al Urdiya Governorate, Wadi Qonouna, 19.42936°N, 41.60503°E, 353 m., 12.v.2011 (M.R. Sharaf); paratype with same data.
- [Note: Aldawood, 2016: 139, points out that the type-locality is in Makkah Prov., not Al Bahah Prov.]
- Type-depositories: KSMA (holotype); WMLC (paratype).
- Combination in Syllophopsis: Ward, et al. 2015: 73.
- Status as species: Borowiec, L. 2014: 120; Aldawood, 2016: 139 (redescription).
- Distribution: Saudi Arabia.

Type Material

Holotype, worker, Al Urdiyah gov. Wadi Gonouna, Makkah Province, 353m, Saudi Arabia, 19°25′46″N 41°36′18″E / 19.42936°N 41.60503°E / 19.42936; 41.60503, 12 May 2011, M.R. Sharaf, CASENT0249587, King Saud Museum of Arthropods.
Paratype, 1 worker, Al Urdiyah gov. Wadi Gonouna, Makkah Province, 353m, Saudi Arabia, 19°25′46″N 41°36′18″E / 19.42936°N 41.60503°E / 19.42936; 41.60503, 12 May 2011, M.R. Sharaf, World Museum, Liverpool.

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

Description

Worker

Measurements of holotype worker [paratype in brackets].—EL 0.01 [0.01]; HL 0.44 [0.42]; HW0.35 [0.32]; ML0.44 [0.42]; PL 0.12 [0.12]; PPL 0.08 [0.05]; PPW 0.09 [0.08]; PRW 0.22 [0.21]; PW 0.09 [0.07]; SL 0.35 [0.28]; TL 1.49 [1.46]; CI 80 [76]; SI 100 [88].

Color uniform yellow, smooth shining and slightly hairy (Fig. 1). Head distinctly longer than broad, with abundant, minute and scattered hair pits on dorsum (Fig. 2); sides of head with abundant and relatively long yellow hairs. Posterior margin of head feebly concave in full face view (Fig. 2). Masticatory margin of mandibles armed with four reddish yellow teeth decreasing in size from apex to base, third and fourth teeth set apart from each other (Fig. 3). Frontal carinae very short (Fig. 2, 3). Anterior margin of median portion of clypeus broad, short, feebly convex and not projecting forward (Fig. 3). Eyes minute and point-like, single ommatidium present and situated at midlength of sides of head (Fig. 5). Antennae with 12 segments terminating in well-defined 3-segmented club, with apical segment about 1.5 times longer than two proceeding segments combined; funicular segments 2–8 distinctly wider than long; entire antennae with dense pubescence (Fig. 4). Promesonotum in profile with flat dorsal outline; metanotal groove in form of simple indentation; in lateral view, propodeal dorsum meeting declivity in very weak but distinct obtuse angle; pronotum and mesonotum with many pairs of long hairs (Fig. 6). Impression between mesopleuron and metapleuron/ propodeum finely cross-ribbed (Fig. 7). Anterior part of propodeal dorsum with two pairs of short suberect hairs; lower part of propodeal declivity with two pairs of short hairs; propodeal spiracles relatively large and circular (Fig. 7). Petiole with long anterior peduncle and high rounded node equipped with two pairs of long hairs and several shorter hairs on dorsum of petiolar node (Fig. 8). Postpetiole node more or less dull, broader than long in dorsal view and distinctly lower than petiolar node. Gaster with abundant and relatively long hairs.

Etymology

The specific epithet kondratieffi has been selected in honor of Prof. Boris Kondratieff, Director of the C. P. Gillette Museum of Arthropod Diversity, Colorado State University, USA.

References

Aldawood, A.S. 2016. Ants of the genus Syllophopsis Santschi, 1915 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Saudi Arabia with description of a new species, Zoology in the Middle East, 62:2, 137-143, DOI: 10.1080/09397140.2016.1173898.
Sharaf, M.R. & Aldawood, A.S. 2013. First occurrence of the Monomorium hildebrandti-Group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in the Arabian Peninsula, with Description of a new species M. kondratieffi n. sp. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 115(1):75-84. doi:10.4289/0013-8797.115.1.75
Ward, P.S., Brady, S.G., Fisher, B.L. & Schultz, T.R. 2014. The evolution of myrmicine ants: phylogeny and biogeography of a hyperdiverse ant clade (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Systematic Entomology. doi:10.1111/syen.12090

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Sharaf M. R., H. M. Al Dhafer, and S. A. Aldawood. 2014. First record of the myrmicine ant genus Meranoplus Smith, 1853 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Arabian Peninsula with description of a new species and notes on the zoogeography of Southwestern Kingdom Saudi Arabia. PLoS ONE 9(11): e111298 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111298).
Sharaf M.R., Aldawood, A.S. 2013. First occurrence of the Monomorium hildebrandti-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in the Arabian Peninsula, with description of a new species M. kondratieffi n. sp. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 115: 75-84 (doi:10.4289/0013-8797.115.1.75).