Protalaridris leponcei

This species was found at 1970 m in the leaf litter of an evergreen lower montane forest in nearly pristine condition (Homeier et al., 2008). At the type locality, P. leponcei seems to be frequently encountered although at low density. Interestingly, a worker of Protalaridris loxanensis was found together with this species in a Winkler sample at this site, being only the second case of sympatry recorded for the genus. It is possible that P. leponcei is very restricted in distribution as intense sampling carried out in the same continuous forest but 1.1 km away and at an elevation of 2070 m did not result in the collection of additional specimens. As this second site was closer to the mountain ridge, it is possible that some undetermined variables (e.g. soil properties, sun exposition, vegetation height) were perhaps sufficiently different to prohibit the occurrence of P. leponcei in that part of the forest.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Ecuador.

Nomenclature

 *  leponcei. Protalaridris leponcei Delsinne & Lattke, in Lattke et al., 2018: 282, figs. 6a-d (w.) ECUADOR.