Pheidole tampony, Salata & Fisher, 2020
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publication ID |
https://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.949.51269 |
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publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:93BFA448-BB73-43CD-BC4E-A86090DA63D5 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/05966990-3AEA-4921-888E-941D151DFCC1 |
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taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:05966990-3AEA-4921-888E-941D151DFCC1 |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Pheidole tampony |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Pheidole tampony sp. nov. Figs 56A-F View Figure 56 , 64N View Figure 64 , 67F View Figure 67
Type material.
Holotype. Madagascar. • 1 major worker; Antsiranana; Sava Region: Parc National de Marojejy, near summit, 25.4 km 20.1°NE Andapa; -14.44918, 49.73243; alt. 2100 m; 10 Feb 2018; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane shrubland, under rootmat, on stone; BLF40950; CASENT0809550 (CASC). Paratype. • 1w.; same data as for holotype, CASENT0923285 (CASC).
Diagnosis.
Moderately large species. Major workers. Head in full-face view sub-oval and not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides slightly convex, in lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; sides of the head with thick, interrupted, dense, and longitudinal rugae with smooth to indistinctly rugulate interspaces; occipital lobes predominantly smooth, only anterior part with indistinct longitudinal rugae; denser and thinner longitudinal rugae with rugulate interspaces; area posterolateral from eyes with reduced sculpture and predominantly smooth; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by approximately two-fifths of its length; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, distinct, moderately large, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, narrower than and approximately as high as inner teeth, apex directed outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity; mesosoma rugofoveolate; pronotum with sparse foveolae, its dorsum with smooth notch; katepisternum with large, smooth notch; body brown. Minor workers. Head foveolate; median frons with short and indistinct longitudinal rugulae; vertex with fading sculpture; area posterolateral from eyes smooth; scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by one-third of its length; promesonotum low and moderately long; promesonotal groove present; propodeal spines small and triangular; mesosoma foveolate; body bright brown.
Description.
Major workers. Measurements (N = 1): HL: 1.36; HW: 1.36; SL: 0.87; EL: 0.19; WL: 1.34; PSL: 0.23; MTL: 0.89; PNW: 0.5; PTW: 0.18; PPW: 0.34; CI: 100.1; SI: 64.0; PSLI: 17.0; PPI: 52.1; PNI: 36.6; MTI: 65.4.
Head. In full-face view sub-oval, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides slightly convex (Fig. 56B View Figure 56 ). In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with dense, long, erect pilosity; whole head with dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Medial part of frons with thick, interrupted, dense, and longitudinal rugae with smooth to indistinctly rugulate interspaces; lateral sides of frons with dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae, interspaces with dense rugulae. Occipital lobes predominantly smooth, only anterior part with indistinct longitudinal rugae. Area posterolateral from eyes with denser and thinner longitudinal rugae with rugulate interspaces, posteriormost parts with reduced sculpture and predominantly smooth. Gena with relatively sparse, thick, and longitudinal rugae with distinctly rugulate interspaces. Centre of clypeus indistinctly foveolate and having shiny, lateral sides with indistinct rugulae; median notch present, moderately wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina present; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by two-fifths of its length; pilosity subdecumbent to erect (Fig. 56B, D View Figure 56 ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately large, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, narrower than and approximately as high as inner teeth, apex directed outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity (Fig. 64N View Figure 64 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and moderately low, posterior mesonotum moderately steep, mesonotal process indistinct, tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines moderately long, with narrow base and acute apex; humeral area produced (Fig. 56D View Figure 56 ). Surface shiny and rugofoveolate; pronotum with sparse foveolae, its dorsum with smooth notch; katepisternum with large, smooth notch. Pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect (Fig. 56D, F View Figure 56 ). Petiole. Shiny with dense foveolae; node finely foveolate, triangular, with rounded and thick apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally slightly convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect (Fig. 56D, F View Figure 56 ). Postpetiole. Shiny and foveolate; dorsum with reduced sculpture and smooth notch; in dorsal view oval, lateral margins medially with two dentate projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse, and erect (Fig. 56D, F View Figure 56 ). Gaster. Shiny and smooth; pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect (Fig. 56D, F View Figure 56 ). Colour. Brown, gaster slightly darker (Fig. 56D, F View Figure 56 ).
Minor workers. Measurements (N = 1): HL: 0.68; HW: 0.57; SL: 0.81; EL: 0.13; WL: 0.93; PSL: 0.12; MTL: 0.65; PNW: 0.4; PTW: 0.09; PPW: 0.16; CI: 119.5; SI: 141.6; PSLI: 17.0; PPI: 54.7; PNI: 69.6; MTI: 114.2.
Head. Cephalic margin slightly convex (Fig. 56A View Figure 56 ). Pilosity relatively sparse, moderately long, subdecumbent to erect. Sculpture shiny and foveolate; median frons with short and indistinct longitudinal rugulae; vertex with fading sculpture; area posterolateral from eyes smooth; antennal sockets with few indistinct, curved outward rugae and foveolate interspaces. Clypeus with median longitudinal carina absent; two lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by one-third of its length; pilosity dense, subdecumbent to erect (Fig. 56A, C View Figure 56 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low and moderately long, arched; promesonotal groove indistinct; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines small and triangular (Fig. 56C View Figure 56 ). Sculpture shiny and foveolate. Pilosity very sparse, moderately long, and erect (Fig. 56C, E View Figure 56 ). Gaster. With sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 56C, E View Figure 56 ). Colour. Bright brown (Fig. 56C, E View Figure 56 ).
Etymology.
Malagasy for summit in reference to the type locality located close to the mountain peak.
Biology.
The species was collected at 2100 m in elevation, in montane shrubland. Nest was located under rootmat on stone.
Comments.
Pheidole tampony sp. nov. is a member of a group of species characterised by distinctly reduced head sculpture in major workers with occipital lobes entirely or predominantly smooth, area posterolateral from eyes partially or entirely smooth and shiny or with reduced sculpture and smooth notches. The group consists of four species: P. litigiosa , P. masoandro sp. nov., P. gracilis sp. nov., and P. tampony sp. nov. Pheidole tampony sp. nov. is known only from Parc National de Marojejy in Antsiranana and its distribution does not overlap with other members of this group. Both minor and major workers of this species can be easily separated from other members of this group based on darker, bright brown to brown body colouration. However, major workers of P. tampony sp. nov. can be confused with majors of sympatric P. manantenina sp. nov. Pheidole tampony sp. nov. can be separated based on presence of distinct smooth notch on posteriormost part of area posterolateral from eyes and partially smooth occipital lobes ( P. manantenina sp. nov. has posteriormost part of area posterolateral from eyes and occipital lobes with sparse and reduced sculpture that are never smooth), lower promesonotum with more distinctly developed mesonotal process ( P. manantenina sp. nov. has promesonotum higher and lacking mesonotal process), and smooth notch on katepisternum ( P. manantenina sp. nov. has katepisternum entirely sculptured). Both taxa distinctly differ in minor workers: P. tampony sp. nov. has minors with predominantly foveolate head and mesosoma and long and low promesonotum, while minors of P. manantenina sp. nov. have head and mesosoma predominantly smooth and shorter and higher promesonotum.
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