Thaumatomyrmex manni

Thaumatomyrmex manni
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Ponerinae
Tribe:	Ponerini
Genus:	Thaumatomyrmex
Species:	T. manni
Binomial name
Thaumatomyrmex manni Weber, 1939

Identification

Keys including this Species

• Key to Thaumatomyrmex

Distribution

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Neotropical Region: Bolivia (type locality), Colombia.

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.

Nomenclature

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

• manni. Thaumatomyrmex manni Weber, 1939a: 99 (w.) BOLIVIA.
  • Type-material: holotype worker.
  • Type-locality: Bolivia: Rio Beni, Huachi, ix.1921 (W.M. Mann).
  • Type-depository: USNM.
  • Junior synonym of atrox: Longino, 1988: 38; Brandão, 1991: 382; Bolton, 1995b: 420.
  • Status as species: Weber, 1942b: 67; Smith, M.R. 1944b: 98 (in key); Kempf, 1972a: 250; Kempf, 1975b: 123 (redescription); Fernández, 2008: 212 (in key); Jahyny, et al. 2008: 336 (in key).
  • Distribution: Bolivia.

Description

Kempf (1975): holotype - TL 5.0 mm; HL 1.03 mm; HW 1.33 mm; CI 130; ML 1.43 mm: MI 139; IfW 0.81 mm; IfI 61; SL 0.97 mm; SI 95; WL 1.56 mm; PnW 0.68 mm; HfL 1.14 mm; HfI 86; PW 0.78 mm. Resembling very closely Thaumatomyrmex ferox and Thaumatomyrmex atrox, but exhibiting the following differences from both species:

Of larger size (cf. absolute measurements). Head (Fig. 18) enormously expanded in front and strongly receding behind; greatest head width across the outermost point of genae (mandibular acetabula), which clearly surpasses the head width across the eyes (the latter included). Antennal scape longer, i. e. nearly as long as head length (SI). Petiolar node (Fig. 28) much thicker in side-view, cuboid, with the apex very broadly rounded; in dorsal view the posterior surface of node appears flat yet not excavate.

Additional differences from ferox are as follows: Base of proximal mandibular spine with a small tooth; eyes slightly smaller, their maximum diameter distinctly less than one third of head length.

Additional differences from atrox: head length as measured between anteriormost point of stalked mandibular acetabula and occipital carina exceeding head length as measured between anteriormost point of frontal lobes and occipital carina; significantly greater cephalic and mandibular indices; semicircular rugulae between posterior end of frontal carinae and inner border of eyes at best vertigial.

Type Material

Kempf (1975) - BOLIVIA: Huachi, Beni, September 1921, W. M. Mann leg. 1 female (holotype, National Museum of Natural History type no. 56821); another worker in the USNM collection bears the same locality, date and collector indications but no type label, this being probably a nidotype inasmuch as Weber had seen only the holotype which I have examined.

References

• Kempf, W. W. 1975b. A revision of the Neotropical ponerine ant genus Thaumatomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Stud. Entomol. 18: 95-126 (page 123, see also)
• Longino, J. T. 1988. Notes on the taxonomy of the neotropical ant genus Thaumatomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Pp. 35-42 in: Trager, J. C. (ed.) Advances in myrmecology. Leiden: E. J. Brill, xxvii + 551 pp. (page 38, Junior synonym of atrox)
• Weber, N. A. 1939a. New ants of rare genera and a new genus of ponerine ants. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 32: 91-104 (page 99, worker described)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

• Kusnezov N. 1953. La fauna mirmecológica de Bolivia. Folia Universitaria. Cochabamba 6: 211-229.
• Smith M. R. 1944. Ants of the genus Thaumatomyrmex Mayr with the description of a new Panamanian species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington 46: 97-99.
• Weber N. A. 1939. New ants of rare genera and a new genus of ponerine ants. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 32: 91-104.