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Tetramorium jordani
| Tetramorium jordani | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Myrmicinae |
| Tribe: | Crematogastrini |
| Genus: | Tetramorium |
| Species group: | solidum |
| Species: | T. jordani |
| Binomial name | |
| Tetramorium jordani Santschi, 1937
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| Synonyms | |
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Tetramorium jordani nests in sandy soils, with nests located either at the base of plants or with the entrance in the open, away from plants. The nest usually has a crater of soil around the entrance. In sand dunes of the Namib Desert, the tunnels inside the nest have crust-like walls to stop sand from falling in, and the entrance of one nest observed was funnel shaped due to the crust-like lining and the fact that the loose sand around the entrance was blown away by the wind. The species has been collected using yellow pan traps, pitfall traps and hand collecting. Tetramorium jordani feeds on seeds. (Mbanyana et al. 2018)
Identification
Mbanyana et al (2018) - Tetramorium jordani is the only species in the T. solidum species group with the combination of no propodeal spines (the propodeum is only angulated with PSLI 1–3) and a hairless body. The only other species without propodeal spines is Tetramorium brigitteae, which has erect hairs covering the entire body.
Keys including this Species
- Key to Afrotropical Tetramorium solidum species group
- Key to Afrotropical Tetramorium solidum species group (Outdated)
Distribution
Arid regions of South Africa (Western Cape and Northern Cape) and Namibia
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: -23.55° to -32.97407°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Namibia (type locality), South Africa.
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. |
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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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Habitat
An arid habitat species that has been collected in Succulent Karoo, Namib Desert, Lowland Fynbos and Renosterveld, Montane Fynbos and Renosterveld and Nama Karoo.
Biology
Castes
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- jordani. Tetramorium jordani Santschi, 1937a: 62 (w.) NAMIBIA. Senior synonym of aspinatum: Bolton, 1980: 248.
- aspinatum. Tetramorium aspinatum Prins, 1973: 12, figs. 10-13, 29 (w.q.) SOUTH AFRICA. Junior synonym of jordani: Bolton, 1980: 248.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
Bolton (1980) - TL 5.3—5.8, HL 1.32-1.34, HW 1.24-1.28, CI 94-96, SL 0.92-0.96, SI 73-76, PW 0.78-0.82, AL 1.28-1.34 (5 measured).
Mandibles longitudinally rugose. Anterior clypeal margin with a median impression. Frontal carinae very feeble and short, the frontal lobes rapidly narrowing posteriorly, extended back to the level of the anterior margin of the eye by a very weak ridge which is no more strongly developed than the remaining cephalic sculpture. Maximum diameter of eye 0.33-0.35, about 0.26-0.27 x HW. Propodeal spines absent, their place taken by a prominent angle or a pair of minute tubercles which are only a fraction of the width of the low, rounded metapleural lobes. Petiole in profile strongly nodiform, in dorsal view distinctly broader than long with a convex anterior face which rounds into the sides. Postpetiole in dorsal view broader than long and broader than the petiole. Dorsum of head finely and densely longitudinally costulate, the costulae becoming weaker occipitally but running to the margin at least medially. Small spaces between the costulae very finely punctulate, more conspicuously so occipitally where the costulae are weaker. Dorsal alitrunk finely and densely reticulate-punctulate with fairly frequent vestigial longitudinal costulae or weak rugulae. Dorsal surfaces of petiole and postpetiole very finely and densely punctulate, appearing granular. Base of first gastral tergite finely shagreened. Erect hairs absent from dorsal surfaces of alitrunk, pedicel segments and first gastral tergite. Hairs present on the clypeus, dorsum of head (2 pairs in unabraded specimens), first sternite and gastral segments following the first. Ventral surface of head with a psammophore. Hind tibiae with appressed pubescence. Colour black or blackish brown.
Mbanyana et al (2018) - (N = 13) HL 0.974–1.135 (1.071); HW 0.915–1.121 (1.064); SL 0.777–0.846 (0.795); EL 0.256–0.295 (0.266); PH 0.364–0.492 (0.453); PW 0.593–0.734 (0.673); WL 1.072–1.170 (1.158); PSL 0.010–0.030 (0.017); PTH 0.305–0.364 (0.340); PTL 0.285–0.334 (0.306); PTW 0.305–0.388 (0.342); PPH 0.452–0.555 (0.490); PPL 0.256–0.319 (0.289); PPW 0.416–0.492 (0.460); OI 23–28 (25); CI 94–109 (99); SI 69–85 (75); DMI 47–65 (58); LMI 32–44 (39); PSLI 1–3 (2); PeNI 48–56 (51); LPeI 85–94 (90); DPeI 104– 123 (112); PpNI 62–75 (68); LPpI 55–63 (59); DPpI 136–177 (159); PPI 122–150 (135).
Type Material
Mbanyana et al (2018):
2 syntypes of Tetramorium jordan Santschi, 1937: Namibia: W of Maltahohe, 1500 m a.s.l., 12 Dec. 1933, K. Jordan leg. (The Natural History Museum: CASENT0901180; Naturhistorisches Museum, Basel: CASENT0915021).
syntypes of Tetramorium aspinatum Prins, 1973, 8 pinned workers, South Africa. Northern Cape, Port Nolloth, 20 Apr. 1963, J.J. Cillie leg. (SAM-ENT0011753).
References
- Bolton, B. 1980. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology. 40(3):193-384.
- Mbanyana, N., Hita Garcia, F., Robertson, H.G., Le Roux, J.J. 2018. A taxonomic revision of seed harvester ants of the Tetramorium solidum group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in southern Africa. European Journal of Taxonomy 454: 1–59 (DOI 10.5852/ejt.2018.454).
- Santschi, F. 1937a. Glanure de fourmis éthiopiennes. Bull. Ann. Soc. Entomol. Belg. 77: 47-66 (page 62, worker described)
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Bolton B. 1980. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 40: 193-384.
- IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection
- Marsh A. C. 1986. Checklist, biological notes and distribution of ants in the central Namib Desert. Madoqua 14: 333-344.
- Mbanyana N. 2013. Taxonomy, phylogeny and biogeography of seed-harvesting ants in the Tetramorium solidum-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Masters of Science in the Department of Botany and Zoology at Stellenbosch University 115 pages.
- Mbanyana N., F. Hita Garcia, H. G. Robertson, and J. J. Le Roux. 2018. A taxonomic revision of seed harvester ants of the Tetramorium solidum group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in southern Africa. European Journal of Taxonomy 454: 1-59.
- Prins A. J. 1973. African Formicidae (Hymenoptera) in the South African Museum. Description of four new species and notes on Tetramorium Mayr. Annals of the South African Museum 62: 1-40.