Chelaner bifidus

Chelaner bifidus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Solenopsidini
Genus:	Chelaner
Species group:	longinodis
Species:	C. bifidus
Binomial name
	Chelaner bifidus; (Heterick, 2001) Specimen Labels

The teeth of the mandibles (see identification section), together with the stoutly produced clypeal denticles, suggests that the ant may be a graminivore, but little is known of its biology. A label with the Jabiru specimens states that they were found foraging on the ground in Eucalyptus forest. (Heterick 2001)

Identification

Heterick (2001) - A member of the longinodis group. Chelaner bifidus is the only known Chelaner with two mandibular teeth. The bottom tooth is larger than the top tooth, and both are broad and flattened with a scissor-like edge.

This species varies little across its range, but the Dimbulah specimens have reddish gasters, while workers from Western Australia and most of those from the Northern Territory have black gasters. The Jabiru specimens, however, fall between these two extremes. (Similar variation in the colour of the worker gaster has already been described for Chelaner bicornis.)

Keys including this Species

Key to Australian Monomorium Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -12.5° to -17.06666756°.


North Temperate	North Subtropical	Tropical	South Subtropical	South Temperate

Source: AntMaps

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Australasian Region: Australia (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.

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.

Biology

Castes

Nomenclature

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

bifidus. Monomorium bifidum Heterick, 2001: 390, figs. 30, 63, 70 (w.) AUSTRALIA.
- Combination in Chelaner: Sparks et al., 2019: 232.

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

Description

Worker

Holotype. HML 3.43; HL 1.40; HW 1.31; Cel 93; SL 0.83; SI 63; PW 0.68. Others. HML 3.39-3.85; HL 1.38-1.57; HW 1.35-1.48; Cel 90-96; SL 0.75-0.90; SI 60-63; PW 0.61--0.69 (7 measured).

As for the worker of Chelaner longinodis, but with the following apomorphies.

Head. Frons of head capsule longitudinally striate with combination of appressed setulae and erect and suberect setae. (Viewed from front) compound eyes set in anterior half of head capsule. Antennal club gradually tapering and barely discernible. Anteromedial clypeal margin emarginate, median clypeal carinae produced apically as pair of pronounced teeth. Posteromedial clypeal margin situated between anterior and posterior surfaces of antennal fossae. Frontal lobes parallel straight. Maximum number of mandibular teeth and denticles: two.

Alitrunk. Dorsal promesonotal face evenly convex; erect and suberect promesonotal setae 5-l0. Mesonotal suture visible externally as faint ridge. Dorsal propodeal face gently convex; processes present on posterior propodeal angles in form of minute lamellae. Erect and suberect propodeal setae absent or very sparse; propodeal setulae appressed.

Petiole and postpetiole. Petiolar node cuboidal; sculpture present in form of microreticulation. Ratio of greatest node breadth (viewed from front) to greatest node width (viewed in profile) near 1 : 1. Height ratio of petiole to postpetiole near 3:4 to near 1: 1; height-length ratio of postpetiole near 4:3 to near l: l. Sculpture present in form of microreticulation.

General characters. Colour a uniform russet, or reddish with a black gaster. Worker caste monomorphic.

Type Material

Holotype, worker, 30km SW Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia, Greenslade,P.J.M., ANIC32-015716, Australian National Insect Collection.
Paratype, 7 workers, 22km SE Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia, Australian National Insect Collection.
Paratype, 1 worker, 27km SE Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia, Australian National Insect Collection.
Paratype, 2 workers, Manbulloo, SW Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia, The Natural History Museum.
Paratype, 1 worker, 24km SE Katherine, Northern Territory, Australia, Museum of Comparative Zoology.

Etymology

Latin: “cleft”, with reference to the mandibles.

References