Pheidole sava, 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/B7516043-C09C-4573-9A1B-9B649C329C67 |
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taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:B7516043-C09C-4573-9A1B-9B649C329C67 |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Pheidole sava |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Pheidole sava sp. nov. Figs 52A-F View Figure 52 , 64J View Figure 64 , 67B View Figure 67
Type material.
Holotype. Madagascar. • 1 major worker; Antsiranana; Sava Region: Parc National de Marojejy, Manantenina River, 21.3 km 27.0°NE Andapa; -14.43686, 49.74291; alt. 1350 m; 12 Feb 2018; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF41084; CASENT0808425 (CASC). Paratype. • 1w.; same data as for holotype; CASENT0923296 (CASC).
Other material.
Madagascar. - Antsiranana: • 1w., 1s.; Sava Region: Parc National de Marojejy, Manantenina River, 21.3 km 27.0°NE Andapa; -14.43686, 49.74291; alt. 1350 m; 12 Feb 2018; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex root mat; BLF41089 (CASC). • 1w., 1s.; Sava Region: Parc National de Marojejy, Manantenina River, 21.3 km 27.0°NE Andapa; -14.43686, 49.74291; alt. 1350 m; 12 Feb 2018; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; montane rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF41097 (CASC).
Diagnosis.
Moderately large species. Major workers. Head in full-face view sub-oval, widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides convex, in lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; sides of the head with dense, short, suberect pilosity; anterior and medial parts of frons with moderately dense, thick, and longitudinal rugae sometimes interrupted in the posteromedial part, interspaces with sparse and distinct rugulae; posterolateral sides with longitudinal to irregular and thick rugae with distinctly rugulate interspaces; area posterolateral from eyes without smooth notches; scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by approximately one-fifth of its length; inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderate, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider than inner hypostomal teeth and approximately the same height, apex directed outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and connected by indistinct concavity; mesosoma with fine rugofoveolae, dorsal and lateral sides of pronotum with additional transverse and thin rugae and smooth notches; gaster smooth; body brownish orange. Minor workers. Head foveolate with additional indistinct longitudinal rugulae on medial frons, area posterolateral from eyes smooth; scape, when laid back, surpassing the posterior head margin by one-fifth of its length; promesonotum moderately high and long, arched; promesonotal groove present; propodeal spines indistinct, triangular; mesosoma smooth and shiny, only promesonotal dorsum with arched rugae and indistinct foveolae, mesonotum and lateral sides of propodeum with indistinct and sparse foveolae; body yellowish brown.
Description.
Major workers. Measurements (N = 3): HL: 1.14-1.24 (1.2); HW: 1.16-1.23 (1.2); SL: 0.66-0.69 (0.68); EL: 0.13-0.15 (0.14); WL: 1.07-1.1 (1.09); PSL: 0.19-0.21 (0.2); MTL: 0.68-0.73 (0.7); PNW: 0.52-0.53 (0.52); PTW: 0.14-0.17 (0.16); PPW: 0.28-0.34 (0.31); CI: 98.2-101.0 (99.7); SI: 55.5-57.1 (56.4); PSLI: 16.2-16.7 (16.5); PPI: 44.8-61.3 (51.3); PNI: 42.7-45.3 (43.7); MTI: 57.5-59.1 (58.4).
Head. In full-face view sub-oval, widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides convex (Fig. 52B View Figure 52 ). In lateral view sub-oval; ventral and dorsal faces convex; inner hypostomal teeth invisible. Sides of the head with dense, short, suberect pilosity; whole head with relatively dense, short, decumbent to erect pilosity. Anterior and medial parts of frons with moderately dense and thick, longitudinal, and sometimes interrupted rugae in posteromedial part, interspaces with sparse and distinct rugulae; posterolateral sides with longitudinal to irregular and thick rugae with distinctly rugulate interspaces. Occipital lobes with thick, sparse, irregular rugae, interspaces smooth or with fine, indistinct rugulae. Gena with sparse, thick, and longitudinal rugae and smooth interspaces. Area posterolateral from eyes with dense longitudinal to irregular rugofoveolae. Centre of clypeus smooth and shiny, lateral sides with indistinct rugulae; median notch present, wide, and shallow; median longitudinal carina absent; lateral longitudinal carinae absent. Scape, when laid back, exceeding the midlength of head by approximately one-fifth of its length; pilosity decumbent to suberect (Fig. 52B, D View Figure 52 ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, moderate, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex and wide base; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider than inner hypostomal teeth and approximately the same height, apex directed outward; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and connected by indistinct concavity (Fig. 64J View Figure 64 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum short, angular, and moderately high, posterior mesonotum moderately steep, mesonotal process indistinct, tubercle-like; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove absent; propodeal spines moderate, thin, with acute apex; humeral area laterally weakly produced (Fig. 52D View Figure 52 ). Surface shiny with fine rugofoveolae, dorsal and lateral sides of pronotum with additional transverse and thin rugae and smooth notches. Pilosity sparse, moderately long, and erect (Fig. 52D, F View Figure 52 ). Petiole. Shiny with fine and sparse rugofoveolae; peduncle; node smooth to indistinctly rugulose, low, triangular, with rounded apex, in rear view node dorsoventrally convex; pilosity moderately sparse and erect (Fig. 52D, F View Figure 52 ). Postpetiole. Shiny, with fine and sparse rugulae; in dorsal view postpetiole oval, lateral margins medially with two indistinct dentate projections; pilosity long, moderately sparse, and erect (Fig. 52D, F View Figure 52 ). Gaster. Shiny and smooth; pilosity moderately dense, long, and erect (Fig. 52D, F View Figure 52 ). Colour. Brownish orange; legs dark yellow, gaster bright brown (Fig. 52D, F View Figure 52 ).
Minor workers. Measurements (N = 3): HL: 0.58-0.61 (0.59); HW: 0.48-0.49 (0.49); SL: 0.6-0.63 (0.61); EL: 0.11-0.12 (0.11); WL: 0.73-0.74 (0.73); PSL: 0.07-0.09 (0.08); MTL: 0.5-0.52 (0.51); PNW: 0.3-0.34 (0.32); PTW: 0.09-0.1 (0.09); PPW: 0.13-0.16 (0.15); CI: 117.1-127.1 (121.6); SI: 122.0-129.4 (126.2); PSLI: 11.3-14.2 (12.8); PPI: 60.4-65.7 (63.0); PNI: 62.7-70.4 (66.4); MTI: 103.3-106.8 (104.7).
Head. Cephalic margin indistinctly convex (Fig. 52A View Figure 52 ). Pilosity relatively sparse, long, decumbent to subdecumbent. Head foveolate with additional indistinct longitudinal rugulae on medial frons, area posterolateral from eyes smooth; antennal sockets with few thick, curved outward rugae and foveolae interspaces. 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 dense, subdecumbent to erect (Fig. 52A, C View Figure 52 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum moderately high and long, arched; promesonotal groove present but indistinct; metanotal groove present and distinct; propodeal spines indistinct, lobe-like (Fig. 52C View Figure 52 ). Sculpture smooth and shiny, only promesonotal dorsum with arched rugae and indistinct foveolae, mesonotum and lateral sides of propodeum with indistinct and sparse foveolae. Pilosity sparse, moderately long, and erect (Fig. 52C, E View Figure 52 ). Petiole. Peduncle short and thin with ventral face relatively straight (Fig. 52C, E View Figure 52 ). Gaster. With sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 52C, E View Figure 52 ). Colour. Brown; legs and lateral sides of pronotum yellowish brown (Fig. 52C, E View Figure 52 ).
Etymology.
From the type locality.
Biology.
The species was collected at 1350 m in elevation, in montane rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs and root mat.
Comments.
Pheidole sava sp. nov., known from Parc National de Marojejy in Antsiranana, is most similar to P. itremo sp. nov., known from Forêt d’Atsirakambiaty in Fianarantsoa and Forêt d Ambohitantely in Antananarivo. Major workers of P. sava sp. nov. can be separated based on brighter body colouration, presence of dense, short, suberect pilosity sides of the head, medial frons with sparse and distinctly rugulate interspaces, finely rugofoveolae mesosoma with dorsal and lateral sides of pronotum with additional transverse and thin rugae and smooth notches; minor workers can be separated based on foveolate head with additional indistinct longitudinal rugulae on medial frons, smooth area posterolateral from eyes, predominantly smooth mesosoma with promesonotal dorsum with arched rugae and indistinct foveolae, and indistinct and sparse foveolae on mesonotum and lateral sides of propodeum.
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