Rhytidoponera mayri

Identification
Large ants that, like Rhytidoponera taurus, have workers that are easily distinguished from other Rhytidoponera workers in the SWBP by their occipital cornicles.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Biology
An inhabitant of semi-arid areas.

Polygynous colonies with several gamergates (Peeters 1987). Studies of reproductive biology have been published under the name "sp. 12". Nest sites are long lasting, making it a good model to study changes in colony kin structure using molecular markers (several papers by Wee Tek Tai)



Nomenclature

 *  mayri. Ectatomma mayri Emery, 1883: 150 (footnote) (w.) AUSTRALIA. Clark, 1936: 36 (m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1964b: 448 (l.); Imai, Crozier & Taylor, 1977: 347 (k.). Combination in Rhytidoponera: Emery, 1911d: 38. Senior synonym of dixoni, glabrius, occidentalis, petiolata Clark, quadriceps, stridulator: Brown, 1958g: 203.
 * glabrius. Ectatomma (Rhytidoponera) mayri subsp. glabrius Forel, 1907h: 268 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Forel, 1913g: 174 (m.). Combination in Rhytidoponera: Emery, 1911d: 38 (name misspelled as glabrior). Raised to species: Clark, 1936: 34. Junior synonym of mayri: Brown, 1958g: 203.
 * dixoni. Rhytidoponera dixoni Clark, 1936: 46, pl. 4, figs. 22, 23 (w.m.) AUSTRALIA. Junior synonym of mayri: Brown, 1958g: 203.
 * occidentalis. Rhytidoponera occidentalis Clark, 1936: 39, fig. 2 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Junior synonym of mayri: Brown, 1958g: 203.
 * petiolata. Rhytidoponera petiolata Clark, 1936: 41, pl. 4, fig. 18 (w.) AUSTRALIA. [Unresolved junior primary homonym of petiolata Viehmeyer, above.] Junior synonym of mayri: Brown, 1958g: 203.
 * quadriceps. Rhytidoponera quadriceps Clark, 1936: 30, pl. 3, fig. 8 (w.) AUSTRALIA. Junior synonym of mayri: Brown, 1958g: 203.
 * stridulator. Rhytidoponera stridulator Clark, 1936: 37, fig. 1 (w.m.) AUSTRALIA. Junior synonym of mayri: Brown, 1958g: 203.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Brown W. L., Jr. 1958. Contributions toward a reclassification of the Formicidae. II. Tribe Ectatommini (Hymenoptera). Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. 118: 173-362.
 * Clark J. 1936. A revision of Australian species of Rhytidoponera Mayr (Formicidae). Memoirs of the National Museum of Victoria 9: 14-89
 * Heterick B. E. 2009. A guide to the ants of south-western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement 76: 1-206.
 * Taylor R. W. 1987. A checklist of the ants of Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization) Division of Entomology Report 41: 1-92.
 * Taylor R. W., and D. R. Brown. 1985. Formicoidea. Zoological Catalogue of Australia 2: 1-149.