Pheidole moramanaensis, Salata & Fisher, 2020
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publication ID |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.905.39592 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:F4C766E4-633A-4103-9FFD-E952718F41FB |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/B9BFD481-97AC-43D0-BABA-9C3BD42C67E6 |
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taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:B9BFD481-97AC-43D0-BABA-9C3BD42C67E6 |
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scientific name |
Pheidole moramanaensis |
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sp. nov. |
Pheidole moramanaensis sp. nov. Figs 53A-F View Figure 53 , 85L View Figure 85 , 87P View Figure 87
Type material.
Holotype. Madagascar. •1 major worker; Toamasina; Forêt Ambatovy, 14.3 km 57° Moramanga; -18.85083, 48.32; alt. 1075 m; 23 Mar 2004; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF10624, CASENT0050486 (CASC). Paratypes. Madagascar. •2w., 2s.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0923172, CASENT0051295, CASENT0051296, CASENT0872186 (CASC).
Other material.
Madagascar. - Fianarantsoa: •2w., 1s.; 9.0 km NE Ivohibe; -22.42667, 46.93833; alt. 900 m; 12 Nov 1997; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0198400, CASENT0198899 (CASC). - Mahajanga: •2w., 1s., 1q.; Réserve Spéciale Marotandrano, Marotandrano 48.3 km S Mandritsara; -16.28322, 48.81443; alt. 865 m; 7 Dec 2007; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0134236, CASENT0134237 (CASC). - Toamasina: •1w., 1q.; Bevolota 17.1 km N Andasibe; -18.77071, 48.43164; alt. 995 m; 12 Dec 2007; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0135181 (CASC). •3w., 2s., 1q.; Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Ambatoharanana; -18.80388, 48.40506; alt. 1013 m; 12 Dec 2012; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0300854, CASENT0300855, CASENT0301765 (CASC). •1w., 1s.; Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Ambatoharanana; -18.80424, 48.40081; alt. 968 m; 12 Dec 2012; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0301827 (CASC). •1w., 1s.; Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Tsaravoniana; -18.76124, 48.42134; alt. 939 m; 2 Dec 2012; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0297007 (CASC). •2w., 1s., 1q.; Forêt Ambatovy, 14.3 km 57° Moramanga; -18.85083, 48.32; alt. 1075 m; 18 Dec 2004; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0110600, CASENT0110601 (CASC).
Diagnosis.
Major workers. Head in full face view rectangular, slightly widening posteriorly; sides of the head with moderately dense, long, erect pilosity; frons with thin, moderately dense, longitudinal rugae, interspaces smooth or with indistinct but dense rugulae; low, thick and triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth higher than inner hypostomal teeth, thick, with rounded tips, triangular inner and outer teeth closely spaced and connected by indistinct concavity; propodeal spines moderately long, with base slightly wider than top; first gastral tergite finely shagreened. Minor workers. Whole head foveolate, fading on frons and genae; thin, sparse, longitudinal to irregular rugae overlie foveolate sculpture; promesonotum low, short, flat, or slightly convex, with steep posterior declivity; mesosoma foveolate, katepisternum and mesonotum smooth.
Description.
Major workers. Measurements (N = 9): HL: 1.61-1.79 (1.69); HW: 1.49-1.68 (1.57); SL: 0.62-0. 7 (0.67); EL: 0.17-0.2 (0.19); WL: 1.15-1.26 (1.2); PSL: 0.23-0.27 (0.26); MTL: 0.62-0.74 (0.68); PNW: 0.71-0.8 (0.75); PTW: 0.2-0.25 (0.22); PPW: 0.58-0.77 (0.7); CI: 91.5-95.2 (93.5); SI: 40.1-45.6 (42.7); PSLI: 14.0-16.2 (15.4); PPI: 28.4-34.0 (31.0); PNI: 45.7-49.5 (47.9); MTI: 41.7-45.1 (43.4). Head. In full-face view rectangular, slightly widening posteriorly, anterior of eyes relatively straight, posterior of eyes convex (Fig. 53B View Figure 53 ). In lateral view sub-rectangular; ventral and dorsal faces finely convex; dorsal face finely depressed posteriorly, forming shallow transverse depression between frons and occipital lobes; inner hypostomal teeth invisible. Sides of head with moderately dense, long, erect pilosity; whole head with moderately long, dense, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae. Occipital lobes shiny, with thick, sparse, irregular rugae, interspaces smooth to finely rugulose; frons with thin, moderately dense, longitudinal rugae, interspaces smooth or with indistinct but dense rugulae; lateral sides of head with thin, dense, longitudinal rugulae, area between rugulae with sparse foveolae; malar area with dense and thin longitudinal rugulae; genae with fine, thin, dense rugulae. Clypeus shiny and smooth, with thin, longitudinal rugulae on the lateral sides; median notch present, wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, reaching the midlength of head; pilosity decumbent to erect (Fig. 53B, D View Figure 53 ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, low, thick and triangular, with rounded apex; outer hypostomal teeth higher than inner hypostomal teeth, thick, with rounded tips, triangular; inner and outer teeth closely spaced and connected by indistinct concavity (Fig. 85L View Figure 85 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and relatively low, posterior mesonotum steep, with small, tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines moderately long, thin, with base slightly wider than top, apex rounded; humeral area with small and flat tubercles (Fig. 53D View Figure 53 ). Surface shiny, with fine and sparse foveolae; mesonotum and katepisternum smooth, lateral sides of propodeum with few thick, longitudinal rugae; surface with additional indistinct and sparse rugulae on promesonotum. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 53D, F View Figure 53 ). Petiole. Shiny, finely shagreened; peduncle short, with small, rounded, horizontal lobes on its basal part; node moderately high and narrow, with convex apex, in rear view node straight; pilosity moderately sparse and erect (Fig. 53D, F View Figure 53 ). Postpetiole. Shiny and finely shagreened; short and rounded; in dorsal view sides with relatively long, acute, horn-like projections; pilosity long, moderately dense, and erect (Fig. 53D, F View Figure 53 ). Petiole. First gastral tergite shiny and finely shagreened; pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect (Fig. 53D, F View Figure 53 ). Colour. Unicolourous, brown to dark brown; legs yellow (Fig. 53D, F View Figure 53 ).
Minor workers. Measurements (N = 10): HL: 0.55-0.63 (0.59); HW: 0.51-0.57 (0.53); SL: 0.57-0.62 (0.59); EL: 0.1-0.13 (0.11); WL: 0.67-0.79 (0.74); PSL: 0.1-0.15 (0.11); MTL: 0.43-0.49 (0.46); PNW: 0.36-0.4 (0.38); PTW: 0.06-0.1 (0.08); PPW: 0.11-0.17 (0.08); CI: 87.2-93.8 (90.2); SI: 107.8-114.0 (111.4); PSLI: 16.2-23.5 (19.3); PPI: 52.1-61.8 (56.1); PNI: 68.8-71.8 (70.6); MTI: 83.0-93.3 (87.4). Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina indistinct, weakly developed (Fig. 53A View Figure 53 ). Pilosity moderately dense, long, erect. Whole head foveolate, fading on frons and genae; thin, sparse, longitudinal to irregular rugae overlie foveolate sculpture. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina present; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by two-fifths of its length; pilosity erect (Fig. 53A, C View Figure 53 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, short, flat or slightly convex, with steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent or indistinct; propodeal spines very short, triangular, apex acute (Fig. 53C View Figure 53 ). Sculpture foveolate; katepisternum and mesosoma smooth. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 53C, E View Figure 53 ). Petiole. Peduncle moderately short and thin; node low, triangular, and small; with few long, erect setae (Fig. 53C, E View Figure 53 ). Postpetiole. Short, low, and slightly convex; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 53C, E View Figure 53 ). Petiole. With sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 53C, E View Figure 53 ). Colour. Unicolourous, yellow to yellowish brown (Fig. 53C, E View Figure 53 ).
Etymology.
From the type locality.
Biology.
The species was collected between 865-1075 m in elevation, in transition humid forest, rainforest, and montane rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs, rotted twigs on the ground, and dead bamboo above the ground.
Comments.
Pheidole moramanaensis sp. nov. is most similar to P. curvistriata sp. nov. and P. mantadia sp. nov. Major workers. Pheidole moramanaensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from P. curvistriata sp. nov. by presence of fine foveolate sculpture on frons and mesosoma, low and thick inner hypostomal teeth which are wider than high, and thick outer hypostomal teeth; form P. mantadia sp. nov. by denser and longer pilosity on head sides, and higher and narrower outer hypostomal teeth. Minor workers. Pheidole moramanaensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from P. curvistriata sp. nov. by frons and malar area with thin, longitudinal to irregular rugae, and vertex with thin irregular and never arcuate rugae, absence of irregular rugae on mesosoma, and smooth mesonotum; from P. mantadia sp. nov. by frons and malar area with thin but distinct, irregular rugae and smooth clypeus.
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
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