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Crematogaster hafahafa
| Crematogaster hafahafa | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Genus: | Crematogaster |
| Species: | C. hafahafa |
| Binomial name | |
| Crematogaster hafahafa Blaimer, 2013
| |
Crematogaster hafahafa is only known from two specimens collected in mid-elevation rainforest in the Montagne d’Ambre massif, where it occurs in sympatry with Crematogaster kelleri. Nothing is known about the natural history of this species since the sole collection was made by beating vegetation.
Identification
A member of the Crematogaster kelleri group. Blaimer and Fisher (2013) - Crematogaster hafahafa can be distinguished easily from Crematogaster kelleri by the shape of the promesonotum, which is rounded in lateral view in C. hafahafa, in contrast to the characteristic shape in C. kelleri. Crematogaster hafahafa is not known to co-occur with any other species besides C. kelleri within the C. kelleri-group.
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -12.5344° to -17.91106°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar (type locality).
Distribution based on AntMaps
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
Known only from the worker caste.
Images from AntWeb
 
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| Holotype of Crematogaster hafahafa. Worker. Specimen code casent0436524. Photographer Estella Ortega, 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.
- hafahafa. Crematogaster hafahafa Blaimer, in Blaimer & Fisher, 2013a: 20, fig. 25 (w.) MADAGASCAR.
- Type-material: holotype worker.
- Type-locality: Madagascar: Prov. Antsiranana, P.N. Montagne d’Ambre, 3.6 km. 235° SW Joffreville, -12.53444, 49.17950, 925 m., 20-26.i.2001, BLF2566 (B.L. Fisher, et al.).
- Type-depository: CASC.
- Distribution: Madagascar.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
(n= 2) [holotype]. HW 0.68–[0.72]; HL 0.63–[0.65]; EL 0.14–[0.15]; SL 0.56; WL 0.73– [0.74]; SPL 0.09; PTH 0.14–[0.15]; PTL [0.17]–0.18; PTW 0.22; PPL 0.13; PPW 0.20; LHT 0.57; CI 1.08–[1.11]; OI 0.22–[0.23]; SI [0.86]–0.89; SPI 0.12; PTHI 0.78– [0.87]; PTWI 1.20–[1.31]; PPI 1.48–[1.49]; LBI 1.29.
Very small species (HW 0.68–0.72, WL 0.73–0.74), with characters of the C. kelleri-group, except for the following refinements.
Masticatory margin of mandibles with four teeth; posterior margin of head in full face view subangularly rounded, sometimes medially slightly depressed; midline of eyes situated slightly above midline of head in full face view; eyes distinctly protruding from lateral head margin.
Promesonotum rounded in lateral view; lateral borders of mesonotum subangulate, posterolateral tubercules or denticles absent; posterior face of mesonotum sloping into metanotal groove at 45°; propodeal spines short (SPI 0.12), spiniform, downcurved, moderately diverging in dorsal view; propodeal spiracle situated slightly off-center and lateral with respect to propodeal spines; petiole in dorsal view short and oval, subpetiolar process undeveloped; median postpetiolar impression usually deep, clearly bisecting postpetiole into two lobes.
Pilosity within range as described for C. kelleri-group, but on the less abundant end. Color pale yellow, abdominal segments four to seven darker.
Type Material
MADAGASCAR: Antsiranana: P.N. Montagne d’Ambre: -12.53444, 49.17950, 925 m, montane rainforest.
Holotype worker: pinned, CASENT0436524, BLF02566(18), beating low vegetation, 20.226.i.2001, B. L. Fisher et al.; original locality label: MADG’R: Prov. Antsiranana: P.N. Montagne Ambre, 3.6 km 235u SW Joffreville, 925 m, 20.226.i.2001, Fisher et al. BLF2566; deposited at California Academy of Sciences.
Etymology
This species is named ‘‘hafahafa’’, meaning peculiar or odd in Malagasy, for its odd appearance and rarity. The name is treated as a noun in apposition.
References
- Blaimer, B.B. & Fisher, B.L. 2013. How much variation can one ant species hold? Species delimitation in the Crematogaster kelleri-group in Madagascar. PLoS ONE 8(7): e68082 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0068082).
- Camacho, G.P., Loss, A.C., Fisher, B.L., Blaimer, B.B. 2021. Spatial phylogenomics of acrobat ants in Madagascar—Mountains function as cradles for recent diversity and endemism. Journal of Biogeography 48, 1706–1719 (doi:10.1111/jbi.14107).
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Blaimer B. B., B. L. Fisher. 2013. How much variation can one ant species hold? Species delimitation in the Crematogaster kelleri-group in Madagascar. PLoS ONE 8(7): e68082. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0068294
- Blaimer B. B., B. L. Fisher. 2013. How much variation can one ant species hold? Species delimitation in the Crematogaster kelleri-group in Madagascar. PLoS ONE 8(7): e68082. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0068296
- Goodman S., Y. Anbdou, Y. Andriamiarantsoa, B. L. Fisher, O. Griffiths, B. Keitt, J. J. Rafanomezantsoa, E. Rajoelison, J. C. Rakotonirina, L. Ranaivoarisoa et al. 2017. Results of a biological inventory of the Nosy Ankao island group, Parc National de Loky-Manambato, northeastern Madagascar. Malagasy Nature, Association Vahatra, 2017, 11, <http://www.vahatra.mg/volume11fr.html>