Simopone rex

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Simopone rex
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Dorylinae
Genus: Simopone
Species group: emeryi
Species: S. rex
Binomial name
Simopone rex
Bolton & Fisher, 2012

Simopone rex casent0410462 p 1 high.jpg

Simopone rex casent0410462 d 1 high.jpg

Specimen Labels

Collected from low vegetation, a tree stump, foraging on the ground and from a dead twig above the ground in various forest habitats.

Identification

A member of the emeryi species group. S. rex is one of a complex of five large, stocky, size-variable Madagascan species that are quickly distinguished from all others in the region by their abundant pilosity. In particular, the tergites of AII to AIV have numerous curved setae that arise over the entire surface of each sclerite. These setae, while not particularly long, are dense, curved posteriorly, suberect to subdecumbent and very conspicuous. In addition, the sternites of AII and AIV have similar setae which, while not usually as numerous as on the tergites, are also very distinct. Of the five, Simopone victrix alone has very dense, small punctures all over the tergites of AV and AVI; the other species have sparse, scattered punctures on these tergites. S. rex and Simopone silens have a conspicuous longitudinal carina on the side of AII tergite. Also in these two the posterior corners of AII are rounded, not extended into sharp angles or posterolaterally projecting teeth, and the frontal carinae are relatively short. In Simopone dux, Simopone sicaria and victrix there is no carina along the side of AII, or at most there may be a minute vestige of it close to the anterior margin. In dux the dorsal outline of the pronotum in profile is distinctly humped or swollen, while in the other species it is shallowly convex along its length. (Bolton and Fisher 2012)

Keys including this Species

Distribution

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: -12.26666667° to -12.26666667°.

 
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

Explore-icon.png Explore Overview of Simopone biology 
Little is known about the biology of most species of Simopone. Specimens are rarely collected, and the number of species known only from workers is telling in regards to a lack of nest samples. Species are almost entirely arboreal but on occasion foraging workers are found on the ground or in rotten logs. Prey records are extremely sparse. They consist only of Crematogaster brood by Simopone vepres, and the brood of Terataner by Simopone sicaria. Nevertheless, these two records support the general supposition by Brown (1975) that most or all members of tribe Cerapachyini prey on other ants, or more probably the brood of other ants, but actual records are extremely rare. (Bolton and Fisher 2012)

Castes

Worker

Images from AntWeb

Simopone rex casent0410467 h 1 high.jpgSimopone rex casent0410467 p 1 high.jpgSimopone rex casent0410467 d 1 high.jpgSimopone rex casent0410467 l 1 high.jpg
Worker. Specimen code casent0410467. Photographer Erin Prado, 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.

  • rex. Simopone rex Bolton & Fisher, 2012: 60, figs. 64-66 (w.m.) MADAGASCAR.
    • Type-material: holotype worker, 3 paratype workers.
    • Type-locality: holotype Madagascar: Prov. Antsiranana, Forêt Orangea, 3.6 km. 128° SE Remena, 90 m., 12°16’S, 49°22’E, 22-28.ii.2001, BLF3196, CASENT0410642, on low vegetation, tropical dry forest (B.L. Fisher); paratypes: 2 workers with same data but CASENT0410463, 1 worker with same data but CASENT0410465.
    • Type-depository: CASC.
    • Distribution: Madagascar.

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

Description

Worker

(holotype in parentheses). HL 2.10–2.36 (2.24), HW 1.88–2.18 (2.01), SL 0.84–0.94 (0.94), EL 0.58–0.64 (0.64), PW 1.40–1.58 (1.54), AIIW 1.28–1.45 (1.36), AIIL 1.12–1.32 (1.18), AIIIW 1.58–1.84 (1.66), AIIIL 1.36–1.60 (1.44), WL 2.56–2.88 (2.64), MFL 1.76–2.08 (1.92), CI 85–92 (90), SI 43–47 (47), EL/HW 0.30–0.33 (0.32), EP 1.15–1.31 (1.25), AIIW/AIIL 1.10–1.16 (1.15), AIIIW/AIIIL 1.06–1.17 (1.15) (9 measured).

In full-face view anteriormost points of frontal lobes are slightly posterior to the level of the midpoint of the shallowly convex anterior clypeal margin. With head tilted slightly back from full-face view the clypeal margin in front of the antennal socket extends into a blunt triangular prominence that projects farther forward than the midpoint of the anterior clypeal margin. Frontal carinae relatively short; in full-face view terminating in front of the level of the anterior margins of the eyes. Eyes located behind the cephalic midlength (EP 1.15–1.31). Leading edge of scape with conspicuous projecting setae. In full-face view entire side of head with setae that are curved anteriorly. In profile entire dorsum of head, and ventral surface, with curved standing setae. Cephalic dorsum between eyes with sparse foveolate punctures. Anterior and dorsal surfaces of pronotum separated by an angle or weak margination, but without a strongly defined carina. Propodeal dorsum meets declivity through a blunt angle, without a transverse carina. Propodeal declivity without longitudinal striolae that radiate upwards from the foramen in which AII (petiole) is inserted. Promesonotal suture weakly impressed and distinguished by a series of minute ribs or aligned punctures; metanotal groove very faint but median pit conspicuous. Mesosoma in dorsal view broadest across pronotum, narrower across mesonotum and propodeum (in holotype PW 1.54, width across mesonotum at its midlength 1.25, maximum width across propodeum 1.35). Dorsum of mesosoma with scattered punctures. Entire mesosoma dorsally with numerous standing setae. Dorsal (outer) surfaces of mesotibiae and metatibiae with standing setae present that are curved or inclined toward the apex. Dorsal surface of AII (petiole) meets anterior surface in an angle, without a transverse carina. Posteriorly the dorsum of AII lacks a carina but a weak transverse impression is usually present above the foramen. In dorsal view the posterior corners of AII are rounded to obtusely angulate, not extended into projecting sharp angles or stout triangular teeth that project posterolaterally. Lateral surface of AII, below the dorsolateral margin and above the level of the spiracle, usually with a conspicuous longitudinal ridge or carina that extends the length of the sclerite; rarely the carina reduced so that it is only visible to the level of the spiracle. In dorsal view AII, AIII and AIV all distinctly broader than long. Abdominal tergites AII to AIV with numerous setae that are directed posteriorly and are mostly suberect to subdecumbent. Curved setae distinct on sternites of AIII and AIV. Abdominal tergites AII to AVI sculptured only with sparse punctures. Full adult colour black, appendages blackish brown to black; clypeus usually dull reddish; sides of pronotum and sides of abdominal tergites AIII and AIV sometimes with a dull reddish spot, but this is variably developed within series and may be inconspicuous or absent on any sclerite.

Holotype Specimen Labels

Type Material

Holotype worker, Madagascar: Prov. Antsiranana, Forêt Orangea, 3.6 km 128° SE Remena, 90 m, 12°16’S, 49°22’E, 22-28.ii.2001, BLF3196, CASENT0410462, on low veg., trop. dry forest (B.L. Fisher) (California Academy of Sciences). Paratypes. 2 workers with same data but CASENT0410463; 1 worker with same data but CASENT0410465 (CASC). (Bolton and Fisher 2012)

References

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

  • Bolton B., and B. L. Fisher. 2012. Taxonomy of the cerapachyine ant genera Simopone Forel, Vicinopone gen. n. and Tanipone gen. n. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 3283: 1-101.