Tetramorium cynicum

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Tetramorium cynicum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Crematogastrini
Genus: Tetramorium
Species: T. cynicum
Binomial name
Tetramorium cynicum
Bolton, 1977

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Specimen Labels

Besides a collection record noting a specimen of this species was found in forest, nothing is known about the biology of Tetramorium cynicum.

Identification

Bolton (1977) - T. cynicum appears to be derived from a pacificum-like ancestor but it has certainly developed far enough away from the parent stock to be regarded now as a separate species, endemic in and apparently restricted to the Philippines. In many respects cynicum parallels Tetramorium validiusculum, a New Guinea-based sibling of Tetramorium pacificum which seems to have developed along similar lines. However, in this species the clypeal notch is feeble, the clypeus does not have a very steep anterior half and this position of the clypeus is not or only extremely feebly transversely concave. The petiole node is longer and lower in validiusculum and the posterodorsal angle, though pronounced, does not appreciably overhang the posterior face of the node. All in all, cynicum and validiusculum appear to be two species descended from the same basal stock, but the first has been more profoundly modified than the second, away from the characters shown by modern pacificum.

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 9.316667° to -5.43751°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Indo-Australian Region: New Guinea, Philippines (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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

Worker

Tetramorium-cynicumH5.jpgTetramorium-cynicumL3.2.jpgTetramorium-cynicumD3.2.jpgTetramorium-cynicumLabel.jpg
. Owned by Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Nomenclature

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

  • cynicum. Tetramorium cynicum Bolton, 1977: 97, figs. 19, 20 (w.) PHILIPPINES.

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

Description

Worker

Holotype. TL 4.7, HL 1.10, HW 0.98, CI 89, SL 0.84, SI 95, PW 0.66, AL 1.20.

Mandibles smooth, unsculptured except for scattered pits. Anterior clypeal margin with a strongly developed median notch. Clypeus with three strong carinae on the median section, the anterior half of which slopes very steeply and is transversely concave. Frontal carinae strong, reaching back almost to the occiput and surmounted by a low, vertical flange or ridge which is semi translucent, highest anteriorly, shallowest posteriorly. Eyes prominent, maximum diameter C. 0.22. Occipital margin concave medially in full-face view, the sides feebly convex. Pronotal corners angular in dorsal view; metanotal groove absent, not impressed in profile. Propodeal spines elongate, narrow and acute, feebly upcurved. Metapleural lobes triangular and acute. Petiole in profile with the tergal portion slightly higher than long; anterior and dorsal faces meeting through a curve, not separated by an angle. Dorsum convex and sloping upwards posteriorly so that the posterodorsal angle is higher than the point at which the dorsum meets the anterior face. Posterior face slightly concave so that the posterodorsal angle is prominent and overhangs the posterior face (Fig. 20). Post petiole in profile strongly convex. Dorsum of head with sparse, widely scattered longitudinal rugulae without any cross-meshes but with a few anastomoses close to the occiput. Spaces between rugulae broad and smooth, almost devoid of ground sculpture; what little there is being very inconspicuous so that the head is glossy. Pronotum reticulate-rugose, the meshes breaking down centrally; mesonotum mostly unsculptured, with a few faint longitudinal rugulae; propodeum with widely spaced rugosity. Petiole and postpetiole reticulate-rugose everywhere. Gaster unsculptured. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous long, erect or suberect hairs. Colour yellow-brown.

Paratypes. TL 4.1-4.8, HL 0.92-1.10, HW 0.82-0.98, CI 86-90, SL 0.72-0.86, SI 86-95, PW 0.54-0.66, AL 1.06-1.26 (20 measured including largest and smallest). Maximum diameter of eye c. 0.18-0022 so that the maximum diameter is about 0.22-0.23 x HW. As holotype but in some specimens the propodeal spines are straight and the mesonotum completely smooth. In many specimens the median clypeal carina is absent from the steeply sloping anterior portion of the clypeus.

Type Material

Holotype worker, Philippines: Dumaguete, 29.iv.24 (J. W. Chapman) (Museum of Comparative Zoology). Paratypes. Philippines: 17 workers with same data as holotype; 12 workers, Dumaguete, 1500 ft (J. W. Chapman); 3 workers, Dumaguete, 13.iv.27 (J. W. Chapman) (MCZC; The Natural History Museum; Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel).

More material of this species is present in Museum of Comparative Zoology, (Chapman coll.), but much of it is in rather poor condition. The localities of this material include Dumaguete, Cuernos Mts and Horns of Negros, all collected by Chapman in the Philippines.

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Bolton B. 1977. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Oriental and Indo-Australian regions, and in Australia. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 36:67-151.
  • Bolton, B. "The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicinae. The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Oriental and Indo-Australian regions and in Australia." Bulletin of the British Museum (National History): Entomology series 36, no. 2 (1977): 68-151.
  • Lucky A., E. Sarnat, and L. Alonso. 2011. Ants of the Muller Range, Papua New Guinea, Chapter 10. In Richards, S. J. and Gamui, B. G. (editors). 2013. Rapid Biological Assessments of the Nakanai Mountains and the upper Strickland Basin: surveying the biodiversity of Papua New Guinea’s sublime karst environments. RAP Bulletin of Biological Assessment 60. Conservation International. Arlington, VA.
  • Schlick-Steiner B. C.; F.M. Steiner, and H. Zettel. 2006. Tetramorium pacificum Mayr, 1870, T. scabrum Mayr, 1879 sp.rev., T. manobo (Calilung, 2000) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) – three good species. Myrmecologische Nachrichten 8:181-191.