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Tapinoma sichuense
| Tapinoma sichuense | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Dolichoderinae |
| Genus: | Tapinoma |
| Species: | T. sichuense |
| Binomial name | |
| Tapinoma sichuense Seifert, Kaufmann & Fraysse, 2024 | |
Only known from the two type localities in China, with nothing known concerning its biology.
Photo Gallery
,_A_taxonomic_revision_of_the_Palaearctic_species_of_the_ant_genus_Tapinoma_(10.11646@zootaxa.5435.1.1),_Fig._17.jpg)
,_A_taxonomic_revision_of_the_Palaearctic_species_of_the_ant_genus_Tapinoma_(10.11646@zootaxa.5435.1.1),_Fig._18.jpg)
,_A_taxonomic_revision_of_the_Palaearctic_species_of_the_ant_genus_Tapinoma_(10.11646@zootaxa.5435.1.1),_Fig._19.jpg)
Identification
Worker (Tab. 7 Figs. 17–19): All shape ratios given below are given in the sequence arithmetic mean [minimum, maximum]. Small-sized, CS 695 [665, 720]. Head less elongated than in Tapinoma dabashanica, CL/CW 1.140 [1.126, 1.157]. Postocular rather small, PoOc/CL 0.397 [0.387, 0.404]. Anteromedian clypeal excision wider than deep, ExCly/CS 4.84 [4.69, 5.01]%, ExClyW 7.98 [7.51, 8.75]%. The margin of clypeal excision forms a sharp cuticular edge being at same level as the adjacent clypeal surface. Sum of pubescence hairs and smaller setae protruding at a few micron across margin of clypeal excision low, nExCly 2.0 [2.0, 2.0]. Posterior margin of head in full face view very feebly excavated, ExOcc/CS 0.50 [0.20, 0.77]%. Scape more elongated than in T. dabashanica, SL/CS 1.040 [1.004, 1.065]. Minimum distance of the inner margins of antennal socket rings medium sized, dAN 0.305 [0.296, 0.309]. Eye rather large, EL/CS 0.284 [0.279, 0.289]. Dorsal profiles of mesonotum and of propodeum less convex than in T. dabashanica, metanotal depression rather shallow, MGr/CS 1.84 [1.29, 2.04]%. Mesosoma more slender than in T. dabashanica, MW/CS 0.662 [0.657, 0.665], ML/CS 1.377 [1.356, 1.394]. Second funiculus segment short, Fu2L/CS 12.74 [12.57, 12.97]%, IFu2 1.403 [1.313, 1.437]. Head, mesosoma and gaster covered by a rather dense pubescence. Anterior margin of clypeus with few short standing setae. Remaining surface of head capsule and dorsal mesosoma without standing setae, a few of these are present on mandibles, coxae and gaster sternites. Head, mesosoma, gaster, antennal scape, femora and tibiae dark to blackish brown. Tarsae, metatarsae and funiculus segments paler.
It might be asked if the heterospecificity of Tapinoma dabashanica and T. sichuense appears credible considering the few specimens available. An first answer might be given when pooling the data of the 7 specimens of both species. This results in a coefficient of variation of 3.65% in the character ML/CS. The same coefficient is 2.28 ± 0.27 [1.78, 2.95]% in the 19 remaining Palaearctic species. Hence, considering conspecificity of Tapinoma dabashanica and T. sichuense, the coefficient of variation in ML/CS would be clearly outside the intraspecific variance known in the genus. Another argument for heterospecificity is the differing mesosomal profile which is not caused by allometric effects because the absolute size of all specimens is very similar (compare Figs. 15 and 18). Furthermore, the mountainous type localities of T. dabashanica and T. sichuense are 700 km apart and separated by a wide lowland area.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 30.7° to 29.5°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: Seifert et al., 2024
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China (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.
- sichuense. Tapinoma sichuense Seifert et al., 2024: 65, figs. 17-19 (w.) CHINA (Sichuan).
Type Material
- Holotype plus 2 paratype worker on the same pin labeled “China, Sichuan, NW Jiuxiangzhen N 29.533, E 102.463, 1310 m asl., 2009-07-08, leg. Kabak, Chi 2009 242a”; 1 paratype worker labelled “CHI: 30.667°N, 100.758°E, Sichuan W. Qiaoqi 3 km S. 1950 m. 1997-07-11”, both samples deposited in SMN Görlitz.