Aptinoma antongil

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Aptinoma antongil
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Dolichoderinae
Tribe: Tapinomini
Genus: Aptinoma
Species: A. antongil
Binomial name
Aptinoma antongil
Fisher, 2009

Aptinoma antongil casent0489161 dorsal 1.jpg

Specimen labels

Specimens have been collected from canopy habitat on the Masoala Peninsula and on low vegetation near the summit of Montagne d'Anjanaharibe (1100 m) just north of Maroansetra. Like Aptinoma mangabe, this species is arboreal. However, it may not nest in dead twigs as does A. mangabe. Collections suggest that the species nests under canopy litter and moss. The collections in Masoala were made by exploring the canopy using ropes. A. antongil workers were found foraging under moss and litter at the junction of branches. (Fisher 2009)

Identification

  • In profile, metanotal groove distinct and set in shallow V-shaped impression. Propodeal dorsum more or less convex, meeting steeply sloped declivity in blunt, narrowly rounded curve. In dorsal view, lateral margin of pronotum evenly convex, without blunt angle at widest point. Body light to dark brown . . . . Aptinoma antongil
  • In profile, metanotal groove not set in a V-shaped impression. Propodeum in absolute profile without differentiated dorsal and declivitous surfaces, forming single evenly rounded surface. In dorsal view, lateral margin of pronotum with blunt angle at widest point. Body yellow to orange . . . . . Aptinoma mangabe

A. antongil can be separated from A. mangabe by color and shape of propodeum and metanotal groove as outlined in the key above. Minor workers of A. antongil are easily distinguished from minor workers of A. mangabe by length of scape. The scape surpasses the posterior margin of the head in minor workers in A. mangabe while in A. antongil it does not reach the margin. (Fisher 2009)

Distribution

The distribution is limited to forests around Antongil Bay, Madagascar.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -15.17833° to -15.71°.

 
North
Temperate
North
Subtropical
Tropical South
Subtropical
South
Temperate

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Malagasy Region: Madagascar (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.

Major workers are variable in size and are distinguished from the minor workers by shorter scapes relative to head width (SI 63–73). Since only two minor workers were collected, further samples are needed to evaluate if there is a continuum of worker sizes from minors to the larger majors. (Fisher 2009)

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Aptinoma antongil casent0489161 head 2.jpgAptinoma antongil casent0489161 profile 2.jpgAptinoma antongil casent0489161 profile 3.jpgAptinoma antongil casent0489161 profile 4.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0489161. 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.

  • antongil. Aptinoma antongil Fisher, 2009: 40, figs. 1, 2 (w.) MADAGASCAR.

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

Description

Worker

Major measurements: maximum and minimum based on all specimens, n=10: HL 0.47–0.63 , HW 0.48–0.63, CI 93–102, ED 0.10–0.13, SL 0.34–0.40, SI 63–73, WL 0.50–0.70, FL 0.39–0.49, PW 0.29–0.39.

Minor measurements: maximum and minimum based on all specimens, n=2: HL 0.40–0.42 , HW 0.39, CI 94–98, ED 0.09, SL 0.30–0.32 , SI 77–80, WL 0.46, FL 0.34, PW 0.22–0.26.

With characters described in the genus diagnosis for major and minor workers: Anterior clypeal margin without a distinct shallow impression; medial clypeal margin with two or more pairs of setae directed anteriorly; additional pair of setae, slightly anterior of clypeal margin, directed anterodorsally. Scape not surpassing posterior margin of the head in full-face view in both major and minor. In dorsal view, lateral margin of pronotum evenly convex, without blunt angle at widest point. Metanotal groove in profile distinct and impressed. Dorsum of propodeum more or less convex, meeting the steeply sloped declivity in a blunt, narrowly rounded curve. In profile, propodeal spiracle along margin of declivitous face. Body light to dark brown.

Type Material

Holotype: major worker, Madagascar, Province Toamasina, Parc National de Masoala, 39.4 km 150° SSE Maroantsetra, 15.71°S, 49.97°E, 200m, 1 December 2001, under canopy moss and leaf litter, rainforest (coll. B.L.Fisher & H.J.Ratsirarson) collection code: BLF04719, pin code: CASENT0418269 (California Academy of Sciences). Paratypes: 5 workers with same data as holotype but pins coded CASENT0418267, CASENT0418268, CASENT0418270 (The Natural History Museum, CASC, MBCC, Museum of Comparative Zoology).

References

  • Fisher, B.L. 2009. Two new dolichoderine ant genera from Madagascar: Aptinoma gen. n. and Ravavy gen. n. Zootaxa 2118: 37-52. PDF

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Blaimer B. B., S. G. Brady, T. R. Schultz, and B. L. Fisher. 2015. Fucntional and phylogenetic approaches reveal the evolution of diversity in a hyper diverse biota. Ecography 38: 001-012.
  • Fisher B. L. 2009. Two new dolichoderine ant genera from Madagascar: Aptinoma gen. n. and Ravavy gen. n. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 2118: 37-52.