Tetramorium alii

Tetramorium alii
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Tetramorium
Species group:	tortuosum
Species:	T. alii
Binomial name
	Tetramorium alii; Akbar, Schifani, Bharti & Wachkoo, 2023

Workers of this species were collected while foraging on the ground near tea plantations in Manalar, part of Periyar Tiger Reserve, a green hilly site at 1630 m, bordering the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The climate in the region is subtropical with mean average daytime temperatures of about 28 °C.

Photo Gallery

Akbar et al. (2023), Fig. 2. Tetramorium alii worker. A, head in full-face view; B, body in lateral view; C, body in dorsal view.

Identification

Akbar et al. (2023) - Tetramorium alii resembles Tetramorium hitagarciai which, however, is larger, with apex of propodeal spines weakly down-curved apically in lateral view and convergent in dorsal view, and petiolar node with bluntly angled anterodorsal corner in lateral view; while in T. alii, the propodeal spines are weakly up-curved apically in lateral view and divergent in dorsal view, and petiolar node with rounded anterodorsal corner in lateral view. In T. hitagarciai, the dorsum of mesosoma and the mandible are strongly sculptured, the clypeus is characterized by a median notch, the postpetiole larger and has a distinct subpetiolar process, the pilosity on mesosoma and gaster more pronounced; while in T. alii, the dorsum of mesosoma and mandible are weakly sculptured, the clypeus does not have a median notch, the smaller postpetiole does not have a distinct subpetiolar process and pilosity on mesosoma and gaster is comparatively less.

Keys including this Species

Key to the Indian and Sri Lankan Tetramorium tortuosum group species

Distribution

Only known from the type locality in Kerala, India.

Akbar et al. (2023), Fig. 1. Distribution of the Tetramorium tortuosum group species in India and Sri Lanka. A: T. alii; B: T. belgaense; C: T. binghami; D: T. hitagarciai; E: T. keralense; F: T. pilosum; G: T. tortuosum; H: T. urbanii; I: T. yerburyi.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 9.4° to 9.4°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: Akbar et al., 2023

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: India (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.

Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

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

alii. Tetramorium alii Akbar et al., 2023: 112, fig. 2 (w.) INDIA (Kerala).
- Type-material: holotype worker, 6 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype India: Kerala, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Manalar, 9°35´N, 77°18´E, 1630 m a.s.l., 24.x.2011, hand collected (Shahid A. Akbar); paratypes with same data.
- Type-depository: PUAC (holotype + paratypes)

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

Description

Worker

Measurements (mm) and indices (n=7): HL = 0.77-0.82, HW = 0.66-0.70, SL = 0.55-0.59, EL = 0.17- 0.20, PH = 0.35-0.37, WL = 0.82-0.84, PW = 0.49-0.52, PTH = 0.29-0.31, PTL = 0.23-0.25, PTW = 0.21-0.23, PPH = 0.32-0.35, PPL = 0.18-0.20, PPW = 0.31-0.33, PSL = 0.25- 0.26, CI = 83-86, OI = 25-30, SI = 80-86, PSLI = 30-33, LMI = 42-45, DMI = 58-63, PeNI = 40-46, LPeI = 77-86, DPeI = 84-96, PpNI = 61-66, LPpI = 53-58, DPpI = 163- 174, PPI = 141-152.

Head longer than broad (CI = 83-86), sides straight, posterolateral corners rounded; posterior head margin straight. Anterior clypeal margin straight, without a distinct median notch. Mandible triangular, masticatory margin with 6 teeth; large apical and preapi- cal teeth followed by 4 smaller teeth. Frontal lobes developed and elevated laterally, frontal area distinct, frontal carinae strongly developed; antennal scrobes well defined fading posteriorly. Eye large (OI = 25-30) located laterally and at mid-length of the head, composed of ca. 35-36 ommatidia. Antenna slender, 11-segmented, scape just surpassing the posterior margin of head (SI = 80-86). Mesosoma broader anteriorly; dorsum strongly convex forming continuous sloping downward arch posteriorly; pro-mesonotal suture and metanotal groove inconspicuous. Propodeal spines well developed (PSLI = 30-33), long acute and pointed, and slightly up-curved apically. Propodeal lobes reduced, triangular; dorsum of propodeum slightly convex with declivity almost straight. Peduncle of petiole long, petiolar node in profile nodiform, anterodorsal angle low and rounded, posterodorsal angle high and bluntly angled (LPeI = 77-86), anterior and posterior faces almost parallel, posterodorsal margin higher than anterodorsal margin, anterodorsal and posterodorsal angles relatively rounded, petiolar dorsum convex; node in dorsal view longer than wide (DPeI = 84-96). In profile view, the postpetiole globular, higher than long (LPpI = 53-58); in dorsal view, wider than long (DPpI = 163-174). Postpetiole globular in profile appears approximately as voluminous as the petiolar node and in dorsal view wider than the petiolar node (PPI = 141-152); the base of first gastral tergite straight behind the postpetiole; anterolateral corners rounded; gaster oval shaped. Head with longitudinal rugae forming a loose network; spaces between rugae having smooth to granulate appearance at places; antennal scrobes smooth and shining; lateral sides of head rugulose; frontal carinae well developed reaching posterior margin of head; mandible mostly smooth; clypeus with three prominent longitudinal rugae; surfaces in between rugae smooth and shining; dorsum of the mesosoma with loose rugae; surfaces in between smooth and shining; lateral margins of mesosoma with rugulose sculpture; petiole rugulose, postpetiole smooth and shining; propodeum and gaster smooth. Pilosity consists of long, erect hairs distributed sparsely throughout the body surface; appendages with subdecumbent pubescence. Body blackish with appendages lighter brown.

Type Material

Holotype worker: India, Kerala, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Manalar, 24 October 2011 (S. A. Akbar) (deposited in PUAC).
Paratypes: 6 paratype workers with same data as holotype (deposited in PUAC).

Etymology

The species epithet honours late Dr. Mushtaq Ali, pioneer and renowned ant taxonomist of India.

References

Akbar, S. A.; Schifani, E.; Bharti, H.; Wachkoo, A. A. 2023. Taxonomic overview of the Tetramorium tortuosum group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) in India and Sri Lanka, with descriptions of three new species from the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot. Annales Zoologici Fennici 60:109-126. (doi:10.5735/086.060.0112).