Pheidole tsaravoniana, 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/0D3B9BA6-A8F9-4E95-AB88-02FC7F2AC187 |
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taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:0D3B9BA6-A8F9-4E95-AB88-02FC7F2AC187 |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Pheidole tsaravoniana |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Pheidole tsaravoniana sp. nov. Figs 58A-F View Figure 58 , 64P View Figure 64 , 67H View Figure 67
Type material.
Holotype. Madagascar. • 1 major worker; Toamasina; Corridor Forestier Analamay-Mantadia, Tsaravoniana; -18.75641, 48.42195; alt. 1036 m; 7 Dec 2012; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF30162; CASENT0300007 (CASC). Paratype. • 1w.; same data as for holotype, CASENT0923286 (CASC).
Diagnosis.
Moderately large species. Major workers. Head in full-face view sub-oval, 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 moderately dense, moderately long, suberect pilosity; medial part of frons with thick, interrupted, dense, and longitudinal rugae with distinctly rugulate interspaces; lateral sides of frons with dense, thick, and longitudinally irregular rugae, interspaces with dense rugulae; occipital lobes and area posterolateral from eyes without smooth notches; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by two-fifths of its length; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately large, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed inward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider than and approximately as high as inner teeth, apex directed upward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and connected by indistinct concavity; mesosoma rugofoveolate; pronotum with additional thin, moderately dense, and transverse rugae; gaster smooth with base indistinctly shagreened; body ferruginous. Minor workers. Head foveolate, foveolae sparse; scape, when laid back, exceeding the posterior head margin by one-third of its length; promesonotum low and moderately long; promesonotal groove absent; propodeal spines minute and triangular; mesosoma foveolate; katepisternum with large smooth notch; dorsal side of promesonotum and lateral sides of pronotum with reduced sculpture and smooth notches on medial parts; body yellowish brown.
Description.
Major workers. Measurements (N = 1): HL: 1.27; HW: 1.0; SL: 0.9; EL: 0.17; WL: 1.21; PSL: 0.18; MTL: 0.86; PNW: 0.5; PTW: 0.14; PPW: 0.3; CI: 126.7; SI: 89.4; PSLI: 14.4; PPI: 47.5; PNI: 49.8; MTI: 86.2.
Head. In full-face sub-oval, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides slightly convex (Fig. 58B View Figure 58 ). In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; inner hypostomal teeth visible. Sides of the head with moderately dense, moderately long, suberect pilosity; whole head with dense, long, decumbent to erect pilosity. Medial part of frons with thick, interrupted, dense, and longitudinal rugae with distinctly rugulate interspaces; lateral sides of frons with dense, thick, and longitudinally irregular rugae, interspaces with dense rugulae. Occipital lobes with irregular and thinner rugae and indistinctly rugulate interspaces. Area posterolateral from eyes with sparse, thick, irregular to longitudinal rugae with distinctly rugulate interspaces. Gena with relatively sparse, thick, and longitudinal rugae and distinctly rugulate interspaces. Centre of clypeus smooth and 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. 58B, D View Figure 58 ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderately large, closely spaced, and triangular, with rounded apex directed inward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider than and approximately as high as inner teeth, apex directed upward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and connected by indistinct concavity (Fig. 64P View Figure 64 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and moderately low, posterior mesonotum moderately steep, mesonotal process indistinct and tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines moderate, with wide base and acute apex; humeral area weakly produced (Fig. 58D View Figure 58 ). Surface shiny and rugofoveolate; pronotum with additional thin, moderately dense, and transverse rugae. Pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect (Fig. 58D, F View Figure 58 ). 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. 58D, F View Figure 58 ). 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. 58D, F View Figure 58 ). Gaster. Shiny and smooth with slightly shagreened base; pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect (Fig. 58D, F View Figure 58 ). Colour. Ferruginous, gaster slightly darker, legs yellowish (Fig. 58D, F View Figure 58 ).
Minor workers. Measurements (N = 1): HL: 0.66; HW: 0.52; SL: 0.81; EL: 0.12; WL: 0.88; PSL: 0.08; MTL: 0.69; PNW: 0.37; PTW: 0.1; PPW: 0.14; CI: 128.9; SI: 157.5; PSLI: 11.7; PPI: 72.2; PNI: 71.8; MTI: 133.6.
Head. Cephalic margin slightly convex (Fig. 58A View Figure 58 ). Pilosity relatively sparse, moderately long, subdecumbent to erect. Sculpture shiny and foveolate; median frons with short and indistinct longitudinal rugulae; area posterolateral from eyes with weaker sculpture; 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. 58A, C View Figure 58 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low and moderately long, arched; promesonotal groove indistinct; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines minute and triangular (Fig. 58C View Figure 58 ). Sculpture shiny and foveolate. Pilosity very sparse, moderately long, and erect (Fig. 58C, E View Figure 58 ). Gaster. With sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 58C, E View Figure 58 ). Colour. Brown, legs yellowish (Fig. 58C, E View Figure 58 ).
Etymology.
From the type locality.
Biology.
The species was collected at 1036 m in elevation, in rainforest. Nest was located in rotten log.
Comments.
Pheidole tsaravoniana sp. nov. is described from the vicinity of Tsaravoniana in Toamasina and is parapatric with P. renirano sp. nov. from several localities distributed in the Toamasina prefecture (from Réserve Spéciale Ambatovaky north to Antanambe). Both taxa have very similar morphology. Major workers of P. tsaravoniana can be distinguished from majors of P. renirano sp. nov. based on ferruginous body colouration and promesonotal dorsum with transverse and more irregular rugae with distinctly rugofoveolae interspaces; minors can be separated based on brown body, never reduced sculpture, and lack of smooth notches on medial parts of dorsal side of promesonotum and lateral sides of pronotum.
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