Acanthostichus truncatus

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Acanthostichus truncatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Dorylinae
Genus: Acanthostichus
Species: A. truncatus
Binomial name
Acanthostichus truncatus
Mackay, W.P., 1996

Acanthostichus truncatus casent0903670 p 1 high.jpg

Acanthostichus truncatus casent0903670 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels\

The type series was collected raiding an arboreal termite nest.

Identification

A member of the serratulus species complex. Mackay (1996) - This species is most closely related to Acanthostichus kirbyi, but shows some affinities to Acanthostichus serratulus. It is easily separated from both by the shape of the subpetiolar process. It further differs from A. kirbyi in that the dorsum of the petiole has well developed longitudinal troughs, and from A. serratulus in that the lateral clypeal teeth are well developed.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 1.149327° to 1.149327°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Colombia (type locality).

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

Known only from the worker caste.

Images from AntWeb

Acanthostichus truncatus casent0903670 h 2 high.jpg
Paratype of Acanthostichus truncatusWorker. Specimen code casent0903670. Photographer Z. Lieberman, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. Owned by NHMUK, London, UK.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • truncatus. Acanthostichus truncatus Mackay, 1996: 170, fig. 26 (w.) COLOMBIA.
    • Type-material: holotype worker, 14 paratype workers.
    • Type-locality: holotype Colombia: Putumayo, Mocoa, Guzman, 26.iv.1977 (D.A. Jackson); paratypes with same data.
    • Type-depositories: MCZC (holotype); BMNH, ICNB, IMLT, INPA, LACM, MACN, MCZC, MIZA, MZSP, NHMB, USNM, WEMC (paratypes).
    • Status as species: Palacio, 2019: 586.
    • Distribution: Colombia.

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

Description

Worker

HL 1.23-1.54, HW 1.05-1.30, SL 0.60-0.70, SW 0.24-0.29, EL 0.04-0.08, WL l.64-l.96, PW 0.45-0.58, PL 0.64-0.76, SI 45-49, CI 84-85, PI 133-142, SL/SW 2.43-2.53.

Mandibles without teeth or denticles; anterior border of clypeus concave. with two well developed processes; sides of head nearly parallel, slightly narrower posteriorly; vertex slightly concave; eyes small; scape with anterior margin concave. angulate near apex; mesosoma as in other species; posterior face of propodeum concave; petiole elongate, slightly wider posteriorly, subpetiolar process well developed, truncated ventrally (Fig. 26), ventral border slightly concave in some specimens of series; gaster as in other species. Erect hairs on all surfaces, up to 0.25 mm in length; decumbent pubescence present on gaster, but very sparse.

Sculpture mostly smooth and shining. sides of mesosoma and petiole striolate. almost punctate, top of petiole lightly punctate with longitudinal, shallow depressions or troughs.

Color reddish brown.

Type Material

Holotype worker (Museum of Comparative Zoology) and 14 paratype workers (The Natural History Museum, William and Emma Mackay Collection, Fundacion e Instituto Miguel Lillo , Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia, Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, MCZC, Museo de Historia Natural, Bogata, Instituto de Zoologia Agricola, Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel, National Museum of Natural History) [all seen], COLOMBIA. Putumayo, Mocoa, Guzman, 26-iv-1977, D. Jackson.

Etymology

From Latin, truncates, referring to the shape of the ventral process of the petiole.

References

  • Mackay, W. P. 1996. A revision of the ant genus Acanthostichus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sociobiology 27: 129-179 (page 170, fig. 26 worker described)