Tetraponera connectens

Tetraponera connectens
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Pseudomyrmecinae
Genus:	Tetraponera
Species:	T. connectens
Binomial name
Tetraponera connectens Ward, 2001 Specimen Labels

Only known from the type locality, the types were collected from canopy fogging of semi-primary dipterocarp hilltop forest.

Identification

A member of the Tetraponera allaborans species-group.

Ward (2001) - This species bears some similarity to Tetraponera bita, especially with respect to the short scapes, elongate head, laterally rounded pronotum, broad profemur, and small size, but it lacks the distinct metanotal plate and broadly convex median clypeal lobe of that species. T. connectens workers differ from those of both T. bita and other small black species (Tetraponera extenuata, Tetraponera microcarpa) by their smaller eyes (REL 0.32-0.34, v. 0.35-0.41 in the other three species). In addition, workers of T. microcarpa have much sharper lateral pronotal margins and those of T. extenuata have longer scapes (SI2 0.4 7-0.54), a more slender profemur (FI 0.38--0.43), and more elevated propodeum (PDI 1.12-1.24) compared with those of T. connectens. The smallest workers of Tetraponera allaborans approach the known size range of T. connectens (for T. allaborans HW 0.62-0.93 and LHT 0.54-0.80) but have larger eyes (EL 0.30-0.42 compared with 0.26-0.27 in T. connectens), longer scapes (SI2 0.46-0.57 v. 0.42-0.45) and a more slender profemur (FI 0.36-0.45 v. 0.47-0.48; FLIHL 0.58-0.67 v. 0.52-0.56 in T. connectens), in addition to better developed pronotal margins.

Keys including this Species

• Key to Tetraponera of the Oriental and Australian regions

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 8.666666667° to 8.666666667°.

North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

• Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Oriental Region: Thailand (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.

Nomenclature

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

• connectens. Tetraponera connectens Ward, 2001: 611, figs. 13, 24, 49 (w.) THAILAND.

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

Description

Worker

HW 0.58--0.63, HL 0.77-0.84, LHT 0.50-0.52, CI 0.73-0.78, FCI 0.12-0.13, REL 0.32-0.34, REL2 0.44-0.45, SI 0.57--0.58, SI3 1.29-1.33, FI 0.47-0.48, PLI 0.56-0.61, PWI 0.43--0.46, PDI 0.97-1.04, LHT/HW 0.83-0.87, CSC 2, MSC4.

Median clypeal lobe narrow, protruding beyond the reach of the anterolateral clypeal margins, and furnished with three blunt teeth; eyes rather small (REL <0.35); profemur short and broad (FI >0.46); pronotal dorsum rounding into the sides, sharp lateral margins lacking; mesopropodeal impression with a very weak transverse ridge (obsolete in three of the workers) which interrupts the longitudinally rugulate sculpture but does not form a distinct metanotal plate; propodeum low and broad, as wide as high (see PDI values), in profile its dorsal face convex and rounding rather gradually into the declivitous face; petiole relatively short and broad (see indices). Integument smooth and shining, with scattered fine punctures (<0.01 mm diameter) and faint irregular lineations; lower malar area longitudinally carinate, only immediately above the mandibular insertions. Standing pilosity (>0.06 mm in length) sparse, scattered on gaster and apex of head, and as follows: one supraocular pair, two pairs on the pronotum, and one pair each on the petiole and postpetiole; sparse, inconspicuous appressed hairs scattered over the body, becoming suberect to erect on venter of the petiole and postpetiole. Black to dark brownish-black; antennae, mandibles, tarsi and (to a lesser extent) tibiae lighter brown.

Type Material

Holotype. Worker, Khao Lak Natl Pk, Thone Chong Fa Fall, Thailand, 300m, 8°40'N 98°18'E, 15-16.i.1998 (A. Schulz & K. Vock) (The Natural History Museum). Paratypes. 5 workers, same data as ho1otype (KUBC, Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Vienna, Philip S. Ward Collection).

References

• Ward, P. S. 2001. Taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of the ant genus Tetraponera (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Oriental and Australian regions. Invertebrate Taxonomy. 15:589-665. (page 611, figs. 13, 24, 49 worker described)
• Ward, P. S. 2006. The ant genus Tetraponera in the Afrotropical region: synopsis of species groups and revision of the T. ambigua-group. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Myrmecologische Nachrichten. 8:119-130.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Ward P. S. 2001. Taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of the ant genus Tetraponera (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Oriental and Australian regions. Invertebrate Taxonomy 15: 589-665.
• Ward, P.S. 2001. Taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of the ant genus Tetraponera (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) in the Oriental and Australian regions. Invertebrate Systematics 15:589-665.