Pheidole taurus

Nothing is known about the biology of taurus.

Identification
See the description in the nomenclature section.

Distribution
Buenos Aires and Santa Fé, Argentina (Kempf 1972b).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Argentina.

Biology
The type series, and only known specimens, of Solenopsis abjectior were collected in association with a nest of P. taurus.

Worker
Minor

Nomenclature

 *  taurus. Pheidole taurus Emery, 1906c: 142, fig. 20 (s.w.q.) ARGENTINA. Combination in P. (Elasmopheidole): Forel, 1913k: 43. See also: Wilson, 2003: 141.

Description
From Wilson (2003): The most distinctive member of the aberrans group and one of the most unusual Pheidole species.

Major: frontal lobes drawn out into sharp, downward- and inward-curving horn-like extensions that reach beyond the clypeus to overhang the bases of the mandibles; laterally the edges of the frontal lobes extend past the margins of the head; bicolorous (see color below); carinulae of head confined to a broad band from the level of the frontal triangle to the transverse carina that delimits the beginning of the occiput.

Minor: promesonotal dorsum covered by semicircular carinae; carinulae on head mostly limited to antennal fossae and clypeus.

MEASUREMENTS (mm) Lectotype major: HW 1.08, HL 1.24, SL 0.42, EL 0.10, PW 0.66. Paralectotype minor: HW 0.48, HL 0.56, SL 0.42, EL 0.08, PW 0.34.

COLOR Major: concolorous reddish yellow, including midclypeus, but “horns” (extended frontal lobes), together with the frontal triangle and vertex, are dark brown, forming a “mask” over anterior dorsal surface of the head.



'''Figure. Upper: lectotype, major. Lower: paralectotype, minor. Scale bars = 1 mm.'''

Type Material
ARGENTINA: Santa Catalina, Buenos Aires. (Wilson 2003)

Etymology
Gr taurus, bull, alluding to the horn-like frontal lobes of the major. (Wilson 2003)