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Zatania gloriosa
| Zatania gloriosa | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | Formicinae |
| Tribe: | Lasiini |
| Genus: | Zatania |
| Species: | Z. gloriosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Zatania gloriosa LaPolla, Kallal & Brady, 2012
| |
The type series nest was collected from a rainforest in sifted leaf litter, as were the two workers collected from Honduras.
Identification
The coloration pattern of Zatania gloriosa workers and queens is particularly striking, and is unlike any other species in the genus. The worker has a distinctly narrow, oval-shaped head, also unlike any other extant species in the genus (it is similar to the fossil species Zatania electra).
Keys including this Species
Distribution
Latitudinal Distribution Pattern
Latitudinal Range: 16.1386° to 15.5123738°.
| North Temperate |
North Subtropical |
Tropical | South Subtropical |
South Temperate |
- Source: AntMaps
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico (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. |
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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
Castes
Queen
Images from AntWeb
   
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| Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0604270. Photographer Estella Ortega, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by JTLC. |
Male
Images from AntWeb
     
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| Male (alate). Specimen code casent0604271. Photographer Estella Ortega, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by JTLC. |
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| Queen (alate/dealate). Specimen code casent0604270. Photographer Estella Ortega, uploaded by California Academy of Sciences. | Owned by JTLC. |
Nomenclature
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.
- gloriosa. Zatania gloriosa LaPolla, Kallal & Brady, 2012: 210, figs. 16-19, 32-39 (w.q.m.) MEXICO.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Description
Worker
A slender species, with a distinctly narrow head; overall coloration brown with areas of brownish yellow on head (mandibles and antennae, particularly around torulae and proximal end of scapes and funiculus), mesosoma along segmental margins, legs at joints (mesoleg and metaleg almost entirely brownish yellow), and gaster venter and along segmental margins; propodeum with low, gently rounded dorsal face.
Measurements (n = 5): TL 2.49–2.69 mm; HW 0.57–0.64 mm; HL 0.74–0.78 mm; EL 0.22–0.25 mm; SL 1.22–1.47 mm; PW 0.44–0.50 mm; WL 1.27–1.44 mm; PrFL 0.98–1.10 mm; PrFW 0.16–0.19 mm; GL 1.31–1.44 mm.
Indices: CI 76–78; REL 29–32; SI 212–235.
Overall coloration brown, with areas of brownish yellow across body; cuticle smooth and shining. Head distinctly longer than wide (CI 76–78) and strongly oval in shape; mandibles brownish yellow, typically with six teeth (although in some specimens fifth tooth between basal tooth and fourth tooth small and sometimes abraded away or otherwise missing); posterolateral corners of head indistinct and rounded; posterior margin short; erect macrosetae concentrated medially, where they are roughly paired and along head margins; head with layer of pubescence. Scapes surpass posterior margin by length of first five funicular segments; scapes lacking erect setae, but layer of pubescence present; antennae lighter than head, becoming brownish yellow to yellow around torulae and proximal end of scapes and funiculus. Eyes large and convex taking up about one-third of lateral margin of head. Pronotum with scattered erect setae; notum with sparse pubescence; metanotal area distinct, but short; dorsal face of propodeum not higher than remainder of notum, gently rounded; legs lighter than body; procoxae brown, with mesocoxae and metacoxae yellowish brown; prolegs yellowish brown, with mesoleg femur brownish becoming brownish yellow to white; metaleg entirely brownish yellow to white; gaster with scattered erect setae and layer of pubescence; dorsally gaster brown except along segmental margins, which are brownish yellow to white; ventrally gaster brownish yellow to white.
Queen
Generally matches worker description, with modifications expected for caste. Coloration pattern generally similar to workers, but darker brown and more white found on funiculus, mesosoma, legs and gaster than in workers.
Male
Overall coloration with yellowish brown head, yellow antennae and remainder of body golden brown. Head longer than broad, dominated by large, convex compound eyes that take up most of lateral margin of head; mandibles yellow, with prominent, pointed apical tooth; remainder of masticatory margin smooth, with indistinct, rounded basal angle that seamlessly blends into inner mandibular margin; erect macrosetae concentrated medially, where they are roughly paired, and along head margins; head with layer of pubescence. Scapes surpass posterior margin by length of first three funicular segments; scapes lacking erect setae, but layer of pubescence present. Mesosoma modified for presence of wing; erect setae scattered across mesonotum and metanotum; propodeum indistinct, with very short dorsal face and long declivitous face. Gaster with scattered erect setae and layer of pubescence; whitish in colour in area immediately preceding genitalia.
Measurements (n = 2): TL 2.68–2.86 mm; HW 0.64–0.65 mm; HL 0.56–0.59 mm; EL 0.29–0.31 mm; SL 1.02–1.03 mm; PW 0.57–0.58 mm; WL 1.05–1.16 mm; PrFL 0.94–0.99 mm; PrFW 0.15–0.16 mm; GL 1.04–1.14 mm.
Indices: CI 110–116; REL 52–53; SI 145.
Type Material
Holotype worker, MEXICO: Chiapas: 2 km south of Playon de la Gloria, 16.1385◦N, 90.90147◦W, 22 July 2007 (R.S. Anderson) (National Museum of Natural History). Six paratype workers from the same locality as the holotype (USNM, Museum of Comparative Zoology).
Etymology
The species epithet is in reference to the type locality and also the interesting coloration pattern of the workers of this species.
References
References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics
- Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.