Leptothorax tibeticum, Seifert, 2023
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publication ID |
https://doi.org/ 10.25674/so95iss2id315 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03FAE936-FFCB-FA7B-375E-F940FDA9EB29 |
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treatment provided by |
Felipe |
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scientific name |
Leptothorax tibeticum |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Leptothorax tibeticum n.sp.
Etymology: belonging to Tibet since all known findings were from there.
Type material: Holotype and plus 4 paratype workers on the same pin, labelled ‘CHI: 36.6911°N, 99.7968°E, Heimahe- 4 km SSE, 3288 m, Viehweide, 2011.07.26 -KoZ2-Bleg’; one paratype worker labelled ‘CHI: 36.6959°N, 99.8119°E, Heimahe- 4.7 km SE, 3262 m, Viehweide, Seifert 2011.07.23 -KoA-BPs’; two paratype workers on the same pin, labelled ‘CHI: 37.1796°N, 102.7775°E, Tianzhu, 3039 m, Rand Weide / Buschland, Seifert 2011.08.04 - 82’; five paratype workers on two pins, labelled ‘CHI: 37.1770°N, 102.7731°E, Tianshu, 3146 m, Gipfel, Weide mit Büschen, Seifert 2011.08.04 ’; four paratype workers, labelled ‘CHI: 38.0370°N, 101.5896°E, Xinchengzizhen, 3114 m, Weide an Waldrand, Seifert 2001.07.31 -74’; all five samples were collected by the author and are deposited in SMN Görlitz.
Geographic range. So far only found during collections of the PADEMOS project in the three NE Tibetan sites reported above. This ant was not found during collections of the same project performed in similar habitats farther south and southwest.
Diagnosis: --Worker ( Figs 31–33 View Figures 31–33 , key). Numeric data given are arithmetic means based on measurement of 13 specimens (for standard deviation, minimum and maximum values see Tab. 1). Rather small, CS 618 µm. Head less elongated than in muscorum, CL /CW 1.115. Anterior margin of clypeus in dorsal view convex. Paramedian clypeus with 2-3 curved carinulae on each side; median clypeal surface smooth and shiny, its contour in dorsocaudal view plane. Genae and postocular head sides in dorsal view slightly convex, posterior margin of head straight and feebly concave in median third. Frons broader than in muscorum (FRS/CS 0.411); frontal carinae, as difference to any other Palaearctic Leptothorax species, strongly diverging frontad (FL/FR 1.090). Scape moderately long, SL/CS 0.689. Eye relatively large, EYE/ CS 0.220, with notable microsetae. Mesosoma shorter than in other species (ML/CS 1.266). Dorsal profile of mesosoma in overall impression feebly but rather evenly convex, with a shallow metanotal depression (MGr/CS 1.48 %). Spines rather long and acute (SP/CS 0.213), their axis in lateral view directed caudad, their bases more distant than in muscorum (SPBA/CS 0.301). Petiole in lateral view without peduncle, deviating from the situation in muscorum (compare Figs. 29 View Figures 28–30 and 32 View Figures 31–33 ) by a steep and rather straight frontal face, a rather straight caudal slope of the node and the narrow dorsal crest of the node. Petiole relatively higher than in muscorum (PEH/ PEL 0.870). Sculpture on nearly all surfaces stronger than in muscorum ; frontal laminae and large parts of vertex more strongly longitudinally carinulate-rugulose, ▼Figure 34. Principal component analysis of the six morphometric characters CL/CW, FRS/CS, EYE/CS, SP/CS, MW/CS and PEL/CS in workers of Formicoxenus nitidulus (white rhombs), F. sibiricus (black rhombs), F. gebaueri n.sp. (red rhombs), Leptothorax acervorum (black crosses), L. muscorum (white dots), L. gredleri (grey triangles), L. scamni (white squares) and L. tibeticum n.sp. (black dots).
mesosoma more strongly rugulose. Head, mesosoma, waist and gaster with rather long setae which do not taper from base to apex (PnHL/CS 0.146). Head and gaster dark to blackish brown. Mesosoma, waist, all appendages and mandibles light yellowish brown.
Taxonomic comments. As a combination of bulging frontal carinae, characteristic petiole profile and several morphometric differences not to confuse with any known Palaearctic species. Following the available descriptions, the East Siberian L. oceanicus s hould be well separable by the almost linear anterior and posterior slopes of petiole node, forming in lateral view an acute angle, by the broader subpetiolar process and by the sparser setae on all body parts.
Biology. Unknown. The five samples were collected on short-grassy high-altitude pastures or in ecotones between pasture and woodland.
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.