Tetramorium hitagarciai

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

The specimens were collected in the Silent Valley National Park, a primary tropical rainforest in Kerala. The park is one of the last undisturbed tropical moist evergreen forests in India. The species appears rare and with a restricted distribution.

Photo Gallery

Akbar et al. (2023), Fig. 5. Tetramorium hitagarciai worker. A, head in full-face view; B, body in lateral view; C, body in dorsal view.

Identification

Akbar et al. (2023) - Tetramorium hitagarciai is one of the largest species in the group. In terms of its blackish pigmentation, it resembles Tetramorium alii and Tetramorium binghami. It differs from the former by its larger size, as well as much stronger surface sculpturing and more abundant pilosity on the dorsum of the mesosoma and petiole, and can be easily separated from the latter due to its pronounced median clypeal rugula. It has relatively short scape like Tetramorium pilosum, and it bears some morphometric resemblance to Tetramorium keralense, yet it differs from both in its pigmentation, it has much shorter and stouter pilosity than the former, and a distinctively different petiole shape than the latter.

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: 11° to 11°.


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.

hitagarciai. Tetramorium hitagarciai Akbar et al., 2023: 117, fig. 5 (w.) INDIA (Kerala).
- Type-material: holotype worker, 5 paratype workers.
- Type-locality: holotype India: Kerala, Silent Valley National Park, 11°05 ́38 ́ ́N, 76°26 ́46.3 ́ ́E, 900 m a.s.l., 25.ix.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=6): HL = 0.90-0.94, HW = 0.79-0.84, SL = 0.68-0.73, EL = 0.14- 0.16, PH = 0.38-0.40, WL = 1.10-1.18, PW = 0.59-0.62, PTH = 0.33-0.34, PTL = 0.29-0.32, PTW = 0.27-0.29, PPH = 0.34-0.35, PPL = 0.17-0.19, PPW = 0.33-0.34, PSL = 0.34-0.37, CI = 88-92, OI = 17-19, SI = 82-87, PSLI = 38-41, LMI = 33-35, DMI = 50-55, PeNI = 45-49, LpeI = 85-94, DpeI = 90-97, PpNI = 55-56, LppI = 49-54, DppI = 179-194, PPI = 114-122.

Head almost as long as broad (CI = 88-92), sides converging posteriorly; pos- terior margin straight, posterior corners narrowly rounded. Anterior clypeal margin weakly convex but medially slightly notched. Mandible triangular with 6-teeth, apical tooth large followed by five smaller, irregular teeth. Frontal lobes developed and elevated laterally, frontal area distinct; antennal scrobes well defined. Eye large (OI = 17-19), located laterally and at mid-length of the head, composed of ca. 30-35 ommatidia. Antenna slender, 11-segmented, scape reaching and barely surpassing posterior head margin (SI = 82-87). Mesosoma broader anteriorly; dorsum strongly convex; promesonotal suture and metanotal groove conspicuous. Propodeal spines well developed (PSLI = 38-41), long acute. Propodeal lobes reduced, triangular; dorsum of propodeum weakly convex, declivity weakly concave. Petiolar node in profile rectangular nodiform, longer than high (LPeI = 85-94), anterior and posterior faces parallel, posterodorsal margin slightly higher than anterodorsal margin, dorsum weakly convex; node in dorsal view longer than wide (DPeI = 90-97). In profile postpetiole subglobular, higher than long (LPpI = 49-54); in dorsal view wider than long (DPpI = 179-194). Postpetiole in profile lower than petiolar node and generally appearing slightly more voluminous, in dorsal view wider than petiolar node (PPI = 114-122); the base of first gastral tergite with anterolateral corners rounded; gaster oval shaped. Head with longitudinal rugae at places forming loose network; spaces between rugae granulate; antennal scrobes smooth and shining; lateral sides of head rugulose; frontal carinae well developed reaching posterior margin of head; mandible striate; clypeus with two prominent lateral longitudinal rugae, and a medium clypeal carinae; dorsum of mesosoma rugulose; surfaces in between granulate; lateral margins of mesosoma with rugulose sculpture; petiole rugulose, postpetiole smooth and shining; propodeum rugulose and gaster smooth. Pilosity consists of long, erect white hairs distributed throughout the body surface; appendages with subdecumbent pubescence. Body black with appendages reddish-brown.

Type Material

Holotype worker: India, Kerala, Silent Valley National Park, 25 September 2011 (S. A. Akbar) (deposited in PUAC).
Paratypes: 5 paratype workers with same data as holotype (deposited in PUAC).

Etymology

The species is named after myrmecologist and friend Francisco Hita Garcia for his important contribution to the taxonomy of Tetramorium ants.

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).