Aenictus rixator

AntWiki: The Ants --- Online
Aenictus rixator
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Dorylinae
Genus: Aenictus
Species group: rixator
Species: A. rixator
Binomial name
Aenictus rixator
Forel, 1901

Aenictus rixator casent0907030 p 1 high.jpg

Aenictus rixator casent0907030 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

This species is known from only a single specimen collected in South Africa in 1915.

Identification

Its size, short scapes, overall aspect, colour and distribution could suggest the species in the mariae species complex as the closest relatives, but can be separated from them by the absence of a row of triangular teeth at the clypeus, the linear long mandibles (triangular in the mariae complex), with reduced dentition (three teeth against one apical and 4-8 denticles) and the presence of a clearly defined propodeal ridge.

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Identification

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -29° to -29°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate
  • Source: Gomez, 2022

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: South Africa (type locality), South Africa (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.

Nomenclature

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

  • rixator. Aenictus rixator Forel, in Emery, 1901d: 48 (w.) SOUTH AFRICA.
    • Type-material: holotype(?) worker.
    • [Note: no indication of number of specimens is given.]
    • Type-locality: South Africa: Natal (R. Wroughton).
    • Type-depository: MHNG.
    • Status as species: Emery, 1910b: 31; Arnold, 1915: 137; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 754; Bolton, 1995b: 60.
    • Distribution: South Africa.

Type Material

  • Holotype, SOUTH AFRICA: Natal VII-1915 (Wroughton) (1w) MHNG [CASENT0907030, Material seen by Gomez, 2022].

Description

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Borowiec M. L. 2016. Generic revision of the ant subfamily Dorylinae (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). ZooKeys 608: 1–280.
  • Emery C. 1910. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Dorylinae. Genera Insectorum 102: 1-34.