Tetraponera manangotra

Tetraponera manangotra
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Pseudomyrmecinae
Genus:	Tetraponera
Species group:	grandidieri
Species:	T. manangotra
Binomial name
	Tetraponera manangotra; Ward, 2009 Specimen Labels

The nest was in a dead twig above the ground, and comprised 5 dealate queens, 47 workers, larvae, prepupae, worker pupae, male pupae and queen pupae. Although the dealate queens were not dissected to evaluate their reproductive state, it seems likely that this species is functionally polygynous. The queens (HW 1.50-1.56, n = 5) are about the same size as the workers, whereas in other species in the T. grandidieri group (and in most other Tetraponera) the queens are notably larger than the workers. (Ward 2009)

Identification

Ward (2009) - A member of the Tetraponera grandidieri group. T. manangotra departs somewhat from the general habitus of the Tetraponera grandidieri group. The protruding median clypeal lobe, strong crest on the posterior margin of the head, and robust petiole are quite distinctive. In dorsal view the petiole is subtriangular in shape and its maximum width is half the head width. In other species in the T. grandidieri group the petiole is more slender, not exceeding two-fifths of the head width (DPW /HW 0.30-0.40) and the posterolateral corners of the petiole are broadly rounded. Large size (HW > 1.46, LHT > 1.62) alone separates T. manangotra from all other species in the T. grandidieri group except Tetraponera merita. From the latter it can be distinguished by the features mentioned above, as well as the absence of a tooth on the basal margin of the mandible and the more elongate head (CI 0.79-0.83 in T. manangotra versus 0.90-0.94 in T. merita).

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -24.75194444° to -24.76444444°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Malagasy Region: Madagascar (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

Queen

Images from AntWeb


Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0138371. Photographer Dimby Raharinjanahary, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences.	Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Nomenclature

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

manangotra. Tetraponera manangotra Ward, 2009: 298, figs. 19, 20, 24 (w.q.) MADAGASCAR.

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

Description

Worker

n = 4. HW 1.48-1.58, HL 1.77-2.01, LHT 1.64-1.76, CI 0.79-0.83, FCI 0.14-0.16, REL 0.28-0.31, REL2 0.36-0.37, SI 0.77-0.78, FI 0.32-0.33, PLI 0.49-0.55, PWI 0.61-0.65.

Worker diagnosis. Matching the diagnosis of the T. grandidieri group (q.v.). Basal margin of mandible lacking tooth; anterior clypeal margin convex, directed forward, and protruding medially; posterior margin of head with low, sharp transverse crest, about 0.30 mm long; metanotal spiracle visible in lateral view of mesosoma; mesopropodeal impression sharply incised; dorsal face of propodeum somewhat flattened, propodeum subquadrate in posterior view; petiole broad and robust, appearing subtriangular in lateral and dorsal views; maximum petiole width about half of head width (DPW /HW 0.50-0.53); anterior peduncle of petiole short and broad; standing pilosity and appressed pubescence similar to that of T. grandidieri but with greater number of standing hairs (4-8) on petiole and postpetiole; integument mostly sublucid, with fine coriarious/puncticulate sculpture, coarser transverse rugulae on side of mesosoma; body reddish-brown, appendages (except mesofemur and meta femur) paler; distal half of flagellum infuscated.

Type Material

Holotype worker. MADAGASCAR Toliara: PN Andohahela, Manangotry, 33.8 km NW Tolagnaro, 575 m, 24°45.07'S 46°51.47'E, 24.xi.2006, ex dead twig above ground, rainforest, B. L. Fisher#15267 (CASENT0120025) (California Academy of Sciences). Paratypes. Series of workers and dealate queens, same data as holotype (The Natural History Museum, CASC, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Philip S. Ward Collection, South African Museum, University of California, Davis); 1 worker, MADAGASCAR Toliara: PN Andohahela, Col de Tanatana, 33.3 km NW Tolagnaro, 275 m, 24°45.52'S 46°51.22'E, 23.xi.2006, beating low vegetation, rainforest, B. L. Fisher #l5166 (CASENT0121948) (CASC).

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

Ward P. S. 2009. The Ant Genus Tetraponera in the Afrotropical region: the T. grandidieri group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Hymenoptera Research: Festschrift Honoring Roy Snelling, 18: 385-304