Pheidole ranohirensis, 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/C2BF9E41-D942-455E-8C54-CF97CC35F5BA |
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taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:C2BF9E41-D942-455E-8C54-CF97CC35F5BA |
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scientific name |
Pheidole ranohirensis |
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sp. nov. |
Pheidole ranohirensis sp. nov. Figs 16A-F View Figure 16 , 85T View Figure 85 , 87D View Figure 87
Type material.
Holotype. Madagascar. •1 major worker; Fianarantsoa; Parc National d’Isalo, Sahanafa River, 29.2 km 351°N Ranohira; -22.31333, 45.29167; alt. 500 m; 10 Feb 2003; B.L. Fisher et al. leg.; BLF07681, CASENT0490851, top specimen (CASC). Paratypes. Madagascar. •6w., 5s.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0490850, CASENT0490852-CASENT0490854, CASENT0490856, CASENT0872083, CASENT0872206-CASENT0872214 (CASC).
Other material. Madagascar. - Antsiranana: •1s.; Ampasindava, Forêt d’Ambilanivy, 3.9 km 181°S Ambaliha; -13.79861, 48.16167; alt. 600 m; 4 Mar 2001; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0464406 (CASC). - Fianarantsoa: •9w., 8s., 2q.; Parc National d’Isalo, Sahanafa River, 29.2 km 351°N Ranohira; -22.31333, 45.29167; alt. 500 m; 10 Feb 2003; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0031826, CASENT0490740, CASENT0490756, CASENT0490757, CASENT0490761, CASENT0490763, CASENT0490768, CASENT0490772, CASENT0490864, CASENT0490865 (CASC). - Mahajanga: •2s.; Forêt de Tsimembo, 11.0 km 346°NNW Soatana; -18.99528, 44.4435; alt. 50 m; 21 Nov 2001; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0483413, CASENT0483517 (CASC). •1s.; Parc National d’Ankarafantsika, Forêt de Tsimaloto, 18.3 km 46°NE de Tsaramandroso; -16.22806, 47.14361; alt. 135 m; 2 Apr 2001; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0432165 (CASC). •3w., 3s.; Parc National de Namoroka, 16.9 km 317°NW Vilanandro; -16.40667, 45.31; alt. 100 m; 12-Nov-2002; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0038806, CASENT0038833, CASENT0038875, CASENT0023575, CASENT0023577, CASENT0023583 (CASC). •1w., 1s.; Parc National Tsingy de Bemaraha, 10.6 km ESE 123° Antsalova; -18.70944, 44.71817; alt. 150 m; 16 Nov 2001; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0078424, CASENT0078429 (CASC). •1s.; Parc National Tsingy de Bemaraha, 3.4 km 93°E Bekopaka, Tombeau Vazimba; -19.14194, 44.828; alt. 50 m; 6 Nov 2001; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0477494 (CASC). •4w., 1s.; Réserve Spéciale de Bemarivo, 23.8 km 223°SW Besalampy; -16.925, 44.36833; alt. 30 m; 19 Nov 2002; Fisher et al. leg.; CASENT0022564, CASENT0022764, CASENT0022772, CASENT0022775, CASENT0022787 (CASC).
Diagnosis.
Major workers. Head in full-face view oval, with anterior and posterior sides slightly convex; sides of the head with dense, long, erect pilosity; occipital lobes and genae shiny, with thick, sparse, irregular rugae, interspaces with fine but distinct foveolae, sculpture weakening posteriorly; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and narrow base; outer hypostomal approximately smaller and thinner than inner hypostomal teeth, with moderately wide base, dentate; mesosoma shiny, foveolate with additional sparse and thick rugae on promesonotal dorsum and propodeum, sculpture slightly weakening on dorsum; anepisternum and mesosoma with indistinct sculpture or smooth; body reddish brown. Minor workers. Frons, genae, and malar area smooth and shiny; vertex smooth and shiny with few arcuate, interrupted rugae; promesonotum low, short, slightly convex, with relatively steep posterior declivity; propodeal spines very small, indistinct, triangular; mesosoma smooth and shiny, only dorsum with few transverse, thick rugulae.
Description.
Major workers. Measurements (N = 10): HL: 0.92-1.08 (0.97); HW: 0.83-0.99 (0.87); SL: 0.46-0.57 (0.49); EL: 0.08-0.11 (0.1); WL: 0.76-0.93 (0.8); PSL: 0.09-0.12 (0.11); MTL: 0.42-0.53 (0.45); PNW: 0.46-0.51 (0.49); PTW: 0.12-0.15 (0.13); PPW: 0.33-0.37 (0.35); CI: 89.1-92.7 (90.9); SI: 51.9-59.0 (55.6); PSLI: 9.4-13.2 (11.3); PPI: 35.9-44.1 (39.8); PNI: 51.4-59.4 (55.9); MTI: 49.5-53.5 (51.6). Head. In full-face view oval, with anterior and posterior sides slightly convex (Fig. 16B View Figure 16 ). In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; dorsal face not depressed posteriorly; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with dense, long, erect pilosity; whole head with dense, short, suberect to erect pilosity. Antennal scrobes indistinct and not delimited by carinulae; scrobe surface shiny, with sparse, thick, longitudinal rugae, interspaces with fine but distinct foveolae. Occipital lobes and genae shiny, with thick, sparse, irregular rugae, interspaces with fine but distinct foveolae, sculpture weakening posteriorly; frons with dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces with fine but distinct foveolae; malar area with dense, thick, longitudinal rugulae, interspaces smooth. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with longitudinal rugae; median notch present, wide, and indistinct; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, slightly exceeding the midlength of head; pilosity suberect to erect (Fig. 16B, D View Figure 16 ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately high, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and narrow base; outer hypostomal teeth approximately smaller and thinner than inner hypostomal teeth, with moderately wide base, dentate (Fig. 85T View Figure 85 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and relatively high, posterior mesonotum relatively steep, with small tubercle-like projections; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines minute, triangular, with acute apex; humeral area laterally weakly produced (Fig. 16D View Figure 16 ). Surface shiny, foveolate with additional sparse and thick rugae on promesonotal dorsum and propodeum, sculpture slightly weakening on dorsum; anepisternum and mesosoma with indistinct sculpture or smooth. Pilosity sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 16D, F View Figure 16 ). Petiole. Shiny with fine and sparse foveolae; peduncle moderately long, with indistinct horizontal lobes on its basal part; node smooth, relatively low, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally concave; pilosity moderately sparse and erect (Fig. 16D, F View Figure 16 ). Postpetiole. Shiny, with fine and sparse foveolae; in dorsal view postpetiole very wide, almost semi-oval; pilosity long, moderately sparse and erect (Fig. 16D, F View Figure 16 ). Gaster. Shiny and finely shagreened; pilosity dense, moderately long and erect (Fig. 16D, F View Figure 16 ). Colour. Unicolourous, reddish brown; legs dark yellow; gaster brown (Fig. 16D, F View Figure 16 ).
Minor workers. Measurements (N = 10): HL: 0.43-0.47 (0.45); HW: 0.39-0.42 (0.41); SL: 0.41-0.44 (0.42); EL: 0.07-0.09 (0.08); WL: 0.5-0.56 (0.53); PSL: 0.05-0.07 (0.06); MTL: 0.3-0.35 (0.32); PNW: 0.26-0.28 (0.27); PTW: 0.05-0.07 (0.06); PPW: 0.1-0.14 (0.12); CI: 86.1-95.8 (89.9); SI: 101.7-112.2 (104.8); PSLI: 11.9-15.2 (13.4); PPI: 47.3-59.8 (52.2); PNI: 65.4-72.7 (67.5); MTI: 74.3 -85.7 (79.0). Head. Occipital margin straight or indistinctly concave; occipital carina absent (Fig. 16A View Figure 16 ). Pilosity moderately dense, long, erect. Frons, genae, and malar area smooth and shiny; vertex smooth and shiny with few arcuate, interrupted rugae; antennal sockets with few thick, curved outward rugae. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; pilosity suberect (Fig. 16A, C View Figure 16 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low, short, slightly convex, with relatively steep posterior declivity; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines very small, indistinct, triangular, apex acute (Fig. 16C View Figure 16 ). Sculpture smooth and shiny, only dorsum with few transverse, thick rugulae. Pilosity sparse, moderately short, and erect (Fig. 16C, E View Figure 16 ). Petiole. Peduncle short and thin with ventral face slightly convex; node low, triangular, and small; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 16C, E View Figure 16 ). Postpetiole. Short, low, and slightly convex; with few short, erect setae (Fig. 16C, E View Figure 16 ). Gaster. With sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 16C, E View Figure 16 ). Colour. Unicolourous, yellow (Fig. 16C, E View Figure 16 ).
Etymology.
From the type locality.
Biology.
The species was collected at elevation between 30-600 m, in gallery forest, in tropical dry forest, in rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs and in dead twigs above ground.
Comments.
Pheidole ranohirensis sp. nov. is most similar to P. lutea sp. nov. and P. voasara sp. nov. Major workers. Pheidole ranohirensis sp. nov. differs from P. lutea sp. nov. by surface of genae and antennal scrobes foveolate, dentate outer hypostomal teeth, which are smaller and thinner than inner hypostomal teeth and is never pointed outward, and by anepisternum, katepisternum, and mesosoma never entirely smooth; from P. voasara sp. nov. in indistinct or partially smooth sculpture on anepisternum and mesosoma, foveolate frons, and dentate outer hypostomal teeth, which are smaller and thinner than inner hypostomal teeth. Minor workers. Pheidole ranohirensis sp. nov. differs from P. lutea sp. nov. in promesonotum low, short, slightly convex, and with relatively steep posterior declivity. Minor workers of P. voasara sp. nov. are unknown.
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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