Baracidris sitra

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Baracidris sitra
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Myrmicinae
Tribe: Solenopsidini
Genus: Baracidris
Species: B. sitra
Binomial name
Baracidris sitra
Bolton, 1981

Baracidris sitra casent0406851 profile 1.jpg

Baracidris sitra casent0406851 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen Label

The holotype and only known specimens of sitra seems to come from a leaf-litter sample. (Bolton 1981)

Identification

Similar to the also minute Baracidris meketra but can be separated by the anterior clypeal margin produced into a short truncated simple lobe and the occipital margin of head in full-face view transverse or exceedingly feebly convex, not indented or concave medially. Additionaly, sitra is slightly larger. (Bolton 1981)

Recognized by clypeus produced into a narrow truncated lobe, posterior margin of head not concave medially and body devoid of conspicuous hairs. (Fernández 2003)

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -2.226388889° to -2.283333333°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Central African Republic, Gabon (type locality), Ivory Coast.

Distribution based on AntMaps

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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.
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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.
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Biology

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Baracidris sitra casent0406851 head 1.jpgBaracidris sitra casent0406851 profile 1.jpgBaracidris sitra casent0406851 dorsal 1.jpgBaracidris sitra casent0406851 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0406851. Photographer April Nobile, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by CAS, San Francisco, CA, USA.
Baracidris sitra casent0006829 head 1.jpgBaracidris sitra casent0006829 profile 1.jpgBaracidris sitra casent0006829 dorsal 1.jpgBaracidris sitra casent0006829 label 1.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0006829. Photographer April Nobile, 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.

  • sitra. Baracidris sitra Bolton, 1981b: 256, fig. 14 (w.) GABON.
    • Type-material: holotype worker.
    • Type-locality: Gabon: Plateau d’Ipassa, VM9, IPA7 (J.M. Barra).
    • Type-depository: MCZC.
    • Status as species: Bolton, 1995b: 80; Fernández, 2003b: 36.
    • Distribution: Gabon.

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

Description

Worker

Holotype. TL 2.0, HL 0.51, HW 0.44, CI 86, SL 0.31, SI 70, PW 0.31, AL 0.56.

Answering to the description of Baracidris meketra as regards general shape, sculpture etc., but differing as follows.

Anterior clypeal margin produced into a short truncated simple lobe. Occipital margin of head in full-face view transverse or exceedingly feebly convex, not indented or concave medially. Larger, more stockily built species with relatively broader head and shorter antennal scapes - compare standard measurements. Apart from these the lengths of apical and preapical funicular segments in sitra are 0.26, 0.07 respectively, and the dorsal lengths of promesonotum and propodeum are 0.35, 0.12 respectively. Petiole node in dorsal view slightly broader than long (0.13 by 0.10). Propodeal dorsum more strongly convex and the lamella linking the teeth to the metapleural lobes broader, minimum width of the lamella 0.06 (as opposed to 0.03 in meketra holotype).

Type Material

Holotype worker, Gabon: Plateau d'Ipassa, VM9, IPA 7 (J. A. Barra) (Museum of Comparative Zoology).

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Bolton B. 1981. A revision of six minor genera of Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 43: 245-307.
  • Braet Y., and B. Taylor. 2008. Mission entomologique au Parc National de Pongara (Gabon). Bilan des Formicidae (Hymenoptera) recoltes. Bulletin S. R. B. E./K.B.V.E. 144: 157-169.
  • Fernández, F. 2003. Revision of the myrmicinae ants of the Adelomyrmex genus-group. Zootaxa 361: 1-52.