Carebara atoma

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia. Indo-Australian Region: Fiji, Micronesia (Federated States of), New Guinea, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Wallis and Futuna Islands.

Biology


Myrmecia brevinoda, one of the largest ants, together with one of the smallest, Carebara atoma, photographed using an electron microscope. One of the reasons ants are so successful is because of their great morphological diversity. This diversity also extends to their life history and ecology. These two species differ so greatly that they would likely not even recognise each other when they meet in northern Queensland, Australia, where they both occur. They would pass by without a second thought and certainly wouldn't realise that they are cousins!

Nomenclature

 *  atoma. Oligomyrmex atomus Emery, 1900c: 328, pl. 8, fig. 30 (s.w.) NEW GUINEA. Mann, 1919: 331 (q.). Combination in Carebara: Fernández, 2004a: 235. See also: Taylor, 1991b: 606.