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Echinopla
| Echinopla | |
|---|---|
| |
| Echinopla melanarctos | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Formicinae |
| Tribe: | Camponotini |
| Genus: | Echinopla Smith, F., 1857 |
| Type species | |
| Echinopla melanarctos | |
| Diversity | |
| 39 species (Species Checklist, Species by Country)
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| Synonyms | |
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Zettel and Laciny (2015) - The species of Echinopla typically inhabit the canopy of tropical forests. For this reason records are scarce and often based on single or few individuals caught by chance. Recently, some material was successfully obtained by tree fogging. Echinopla is among the small genera of camponotine ants. Described species are distinguished by bizarre body structures and distributed from eastern India to Australia. Half of them (twelve species) live exclusively east of Weber’s Line (Moluccas, New Guinea, Australia) and eleven species are restricted to the area west of Weber’s Line (south-eastern Asia including north-eastern India and southern China, Nicobar Islands, Greater Sunda Islands, Philippines, and Sulawesi). A single polymorphic species, Echinopla striata is recorded from both sides in several subspecies, but it is possibly an assemblage of several similar species. Most species were described in the 19th and the first half of the 20th century by short verbal notes. One species was recently described by Bharti and Gul (2012) and eight described by Zettel and Laciny (2015).
Photo Gallery
Identification
Many structural characteristics are very variable among species of Echinopla, making identification simple compared to the related genera Camponotus and Polyrhachis, each containing many sibling or cryptic species. Echinopla species have been organized into five species groups, which are based on morphological characteristics (Echinopla species groups).
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Keys including this Genus
Keys to Species in this Genus
Distribution
Distribution and Richness based on AntMaps
Species by Region
Number of species within biogeographic regions, along with the total number of species for each region.
| Afrotropical Region | Australasian Region | Indo-Australian Region | Malagasy Region | Nearctic Region | Neotropical Region | Oriental Region | Palaearctic Region | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Species | 0 | 2 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 2 |
| Total Species | 2841 | 1736 | 3045 | 932 | 835 | 4379 | 1741 | 2862 |
Biology
Association with Other Organisms
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Species Uncertain
- An unknown species is a host for the fungus Ophiocordyceps unilateralis (a parasitoid) (Quevillon, 2018) (encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest).
All Associate Records for Genus
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| Taxon | Relationship | Associate Type | Associate Taxon | Associate Relationship | Locality | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echinopla | host | fungus | Ophiocordyceps unilateralis | parasitoid | Quevillon, 2018 | encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest | |
| Echinopla lineata | host | fungus | Ophiocordyceps formicarum | parasitoid | Quevillon, 2018 | encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest | |
| Echinopla melanarctos | host | fungus | Ophiocordyceps unilateralis | parasitoid | Quevillon, 2018 | encounter mode primary; direct transmission; transmission outside nest | |
| Echinopla melanarctos | host | fungus | Ophiocordyceps unilateralis | pathogen | Shrestha et al., 2017 |
Life History Traits
- Mean colony size: ~100 (Greer et al., 2021)
- Compound colony type: not parasitic (Greer et al., 2021)
- Nest site: arboreal (Greer et al., 2021)
- Diet class: herbivore; omnivore (Greer et al., 2021)
- Foraging stratum: arboreal (Greer et al., 2021)
- Foraging behaviour: cooperative (Greer et al., 2021)
Castes
Morphology
Worker Morphology
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• Antennal segment count: 12 • Antennal club: absent-gradual • Palp formula: 6,4 • Spur formula: 1 simple-pectinate, 1 simple-pectinate • Eyes: >100 ommatidia • Scrobes: absent • Pronotal Spines: absent • Mesonotal Spines: absent • Propodeal Spines: absent • Petiolar Spines: absent • Caste: none or weak • Sting: absent • Metaplural Gland: present • Cocoon: present
Karyotype
Species Uncertain
- Echinopla sp.1: n = 12, 2n = 24 (Malaysia) (Imai et al., 1983).
All Karyotype Records for Genus
- See additional details at the Ant Chromosome Database.
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| Taxon | Haploid | Diploid | Karyotype | Locality | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echinopla | 12 | 24 | Malaysia | Imai et al., 1983 |
Phylogeny
| Formicinae |
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See Phylogeny of Formicinae for details.
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- ECHINOPLA [Formicinae: Camponotini]
- Echinopla Smith, F. 1857a: 79. Type-species: Echinopla melanarctos, by subsequent designation of Wheeler, W.M. 1911f: 162.
- Echinopla senior synonym of Mesoxena: Bolton, 1994: 50.
- MESOXENA [junior synonym of Echinopla]
- Mesoxena Smith, F. 1860b: 106. Type-species: Mesoxena mistura, by monotypy.
- Mesoxena junior synonym of Echinopla: Bolton, 1994: 50.
References
- Agosti, D. 1991. Revision of the oriental ant genus Cladomyrma, with an outline of the higher classification of the Formicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Syst. Entomol. 16: 293-310. (page 295, Echiniopla in Formicinae, Formica genus group)
- Ashmead, W. H. 1905c. A skeleton of a new arrangement of the families, subfamilies, tribes and genera of the ants, or the superfamily Formicoidea. Can. Entomol. 37: 381-384 (page 384, Echinopla in Camponotinae, Polyrhachidini)
- Bolton, B. 1994. Identification guide to the ant genera of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 222 pp. (page 50, Echinopla senior synonym of Mesoxena)
- Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 121, Echinopla in Formicinae, Camponotini)
- Cantone S. 2018. Winged Ants, The queen. Dichotomous key to genera of winged female ants in the World. The Wings of Ants: morphological and systematic relationships (self-published).
- Dalla Torre, K. W. von. 1893. Catalogus Hymenopterorum hucusque descriptorum systematicus et synonymicus. Vol. 7. Formicidae (Heterogyna). Leipzig: W. Engelmann, 289 pp. (page 272, Echinopla in Camponotinae)
- Emery, C. 1895l. Die Gattung Dorylus Fab. und die systematische Eintheilung der Formiciden. Zool. Jahrb. Abt. Syst. Geogr. Biol. Tiere 8: 685-778 (page 772, Echinopla in Camponotinae, Camponotini)
- Emery, C. 1925d. Hymenoptera. Fam. Formicidae. Subfam. Formicinae. Genera Insectorum 183: 1-302 (page 210, Echinopla in Formicinae, Camponotini)
- Forel, A. 1878c. Études myrmécologiques en 1878 (première partie) avec l'anatomie du gésier des fourmis. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 15: 337-392 (page 367, Echinopla in Camponotinae [Camponotidae])
- Forel, A. 1886h. Études myrmécologiques en 1886. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 30: 131-215 (page 199, Echinopla in Camponotinae, Camponotini)
- Forel, A. 1893b. Sur la classification de la famille des Formicides, avec remarques synonymiques. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 37: 161-167 (page 165, Echinopla in Camponotinae, Camponotini)
- Forel, A. 1912j. Formicides néotropiques. Part VI. 5me sous-famille Camponotinae Forel. Mém. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 20: 59-92 (page 89, Echinopla in Camponotinae, Camponotini)
- Forel, A. 1917. Cadre synoptique actuel de la faune universelle des fourmis. Bull. Soc. Vaudoise Sci. Nat. 51: 229-253 (page 251, Echinopla in Camponotinae, Camponotini)
- Hashimoto, Y. 1990. Unique features of sensilla on the antennae of Formicidae (Hymenoptera). Applied Entomology and Zoology 25: 491-501.
- Klimeš, P., Drescher, J., Buchori, D., Hidayat, P., Nazarreta, R., Potocký, P., Rimandai, M., Scheu, S., Matos-Maraví, P. 2022. Uncovering cryptic diversity in the enigmatic ant genus Overbeckia and insights into the phylogeny of Camponotini (Hymenoptera:Formicidae:Formicinae). Invertebrate Systematics, 36(6), 557-579 (doi:10.1071/is21067).
- Mayr, G. 1862. Myrmecologische Studien. Verh. K-K. Zool.-Bot. Ges. Wien 12: 649-776 (page 652, Echinopla in Formicinae (in key) [Formicidae])
- Mayr, G. 1865. Formicidae. In: Reise der Österreichischen Fregatte "Novara" um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859. Zoologischer Theil. Bd. II. Abt. 1. Wien: K. Gerold's Sohn, 119 pp. (page 7, Echinopla in Formicinae [Formicidae])
- Mottl, O., Fibich, P., Klimes, P., Volf, M., Tropek, R., Anderson‐Teixeira, K., Auga, J., Blair, T., Butterill, P., Carscallen, G., Gonzalez‐Akre, E., Goodman, A., Kaman, O., Lamarre, G.P.A., Libra, M., Losada, M.E., Manumbor, M., Miller, S.E., Molem, K., Nichols, G., Plowman, N.S., Redmond, C., Seifert, C.L., Vrana, J., Weiblen, G.D., Novotny, V. 2020. Spatial covariance of herbivorous and predatory guilds of forest canopy arthropods along a latitudinal gradient. Ecology Letters 23, 1499–1510 (doi:10.1111/ele.13579).
- Smith, F. 1857a. Catalogue of the hymenopterous insects collected at Sarawak, Borneo; Mount Ophir, Malacca; and at Singapore, by A. R. Wallace. [part]. J. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. Zool. 2: 42-88 (page 79, Echinopla in Formicidae, Cryptoceridae)
- Smith, F. 1858b. Catalogue of hymenopterous insects in the collection of the British Museum. Part VI. Formicidae. London: British Museum, 216 pp. (page 197, Echinopla in Poneridae, Cryptoceridae)
- Smith, F. 1862a. Catalogue of hymenopterous insects collected by Mr. A. R. Wallace in the islands of Ceram, Celebes, Ternate, and Gilolo. [concl.]. J. Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. Zool. 6: 49-66 (page 50, Echinopla in Cryptoceridae)
- Smith, F. 1862d. A list of the genera and species belonging to the family Cryptoceridae, with descriptions of new species; also a list of the species of the genus Echinopla. Trans. Entomol. Soc. Lond. (3) 1: 407-416 (page 415, Echinopla in Formicidae)
- Wheeler, W. M. 1910b. Ants: their structure, development and behavior. New York: Columbia University Press, xxv + 663 pp. (page 144, Echinopla in Camponotinae, Camponotini)
- Wheeler, W. M. 1911g. A list of the type species of the genera and subgenera of Formicidae. Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. 21: 157-175 (page 162, Type-species: Echinopla melanarctos; by subsequent designation)
- Wheeler, W. M. 1922i. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VII. Keys to the genera and subgenera of ants. Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 45: 631-710 (page 701, Echinopla in Formicinae, Camponotini)
- Xu, Z.-H. & Zhou, X. 2015. Species grouping and key to known species of the ant genus Echinopla Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with reports of Chinese species. Asian Myrmecology, 7, 19-36.
- Zettel, H. & Laciny, A. 2015. Contributions to the taxonomy of the ant genus Echinopla Smith, 1857 (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Deutsche entomologische Zeitschrift, 62, 101–121 (DOI 10.3897/dez.62.5093).
- Zettel, H. & Laciny, A. 2017. Further additions to the taxonomy and distribution of the ant genus Echinopla. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien, B. 119