Pheidole renirano, 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/E2EAF02B-CBFA-4AA5-BD9B-DD1115D47A01 |
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taxon LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:act:E2EAF02B-CBFA-4AA5-BD9B-DD1115D47A01 |
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treatment provided by |
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scientific name |
Pheidole renirano |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Pheidole renirano sp. nov. Figs 51A-F View Figure 51 , 64I View Figure 64 , 67A View Figure 67
Type material.
Holotype. Madagascar. • 1 major worker; Toamasina; Réserve Spéciale Ambatovaky, Sandrangato river; -16.7674, 49.26813; alt. 500 m; 23 Feb 2010; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF24675; CASENT0161924 (CASC). Paratype. • 1w.; same data as for holotype, CASENT0923324 (CASC).
Other material.
Madagascar. - Toamasina: • 1w.; Ankerana; -18.4061, 48.82029; alt. 725 m; 16 Jan 2012; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF27684 (CASC). •1w., 1s.; Parc National Mananara-Nord, 7.1 km 261°Antanambe; -16.455, 49.7875; alt. 225 m; 15 Nov 2005; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; rainforest, ex rotten stick on ground; BLF12611 (CASC). • 1w., 1s.; Res. Ambodiriana, 4.8 km 306°Manompana, along Manompana river; -16.67233, 49.70117; alt. 125 m; 19 Nov 2005; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF12809 (CASC). • 1w., 1s.; Réserve Spéciale Ambatovaky, Sandrangato river; -16.81745, 49.2925; alt. 400 m; 26 Feb 2010; B. L. Fisher et al. leg.; rainforest, ex rotten log; BLF24866 (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, longitudinal, interrupted and dense rugae, interspaces smooth to indistinctly rugulate; lateral sides with thicker, dense and longitudinal to posteriorly slightly irregular rugae with predominantly smooth but sometimes indistinctly rugulate interspaces; 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, large, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider than and approximately as high as inner teeth; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity; mesosoma with sparse foveolae; promesonotum with additional sparse, thin, and transverse rugulae and smooth to indistinctly foveolate interspaces on dorsum; gaster smooth with base indistinctly shagreened; body yellow. 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, 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 = 4): HL: 1.05-1.21 (1.16); HW: 1.03-1.16 (1.12); SL: 0.76-0.88 (0.84); EL: 0.12-0.17 (0.15); WL: 1.03-1.14 (1.1); PSL: 0.14-0.18 (0.16); MTL: 0.69-0.82 (0.77); PNW: 0.45-0.54 (0.5); PTW: 0.13-0.15 (0.14); PPW: 0.26-0.31 (0.29); CI: 101.5-105.3 (103.6); SI: 73.2-76.3 (75.1); PSLI: 11.9-15.0 (13.4); PPI: 46.2-49.6 (47.8); PNI: 39.5-51.8 (44.4); MTI: 66.5-70.5 (68.8).
Head. In full-face sub-oval, not widening posteriorly, with anterior and posterior sides slightly convex (Fig. 51B View Figure 51 ). 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, longitudinal, interrupted and dense rugae, interspaces smooth to indistinctly rugulate; lateral sides with thicker, dense, and longitudinal to posteriorly slightly irregular rugae with predominantly smooth but sometimes indistinctly rugulate interspaces. Occipital lobes with thick and dense irregular rugae and predominantly smooth interspaces. Area posterolateral from eyes with longitudinal, moderately thick, very dense rugae with smooth to rugulate interspaces. Gena with relatively sparse, thick, and longitudinal rugae and smooth to indistinctly 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. 51B, D View Figure 51 ). Inner hypostomal teeth distinct, large, closely spaced, triangular, with rounded apex directed upward; outer hypostomal teeth lobe-like, wider than and approximately as high as inner teeth; inner and outer hypostomal teeth closely spaced and not connected by concavity (Fig. 64I 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 moderate, with wide base and acute apex; humeral area produced (Fig. 51D View Figure 51 ). Surface shiny and sparse foveolae; promesonotum with additional sparse, thin, and transverse rugulae and smooth to indistinctly foveolate interspaces on dorsum. Pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 51D, F View Figure 51 ). 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. 51D, F View Figure 51 ). 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. 51D, F View Figure 51 ). Gaster. Shiny and smooth with base indistinctly shagreened; pilosity moderately sparse, long, and erect (Fig. 51D, F View Figure 51 ). Colour. Yellow with yellowish legs (Fig. 51D, F View Figure 51 ).
Minor workers. Measurements (N = 4): HL: 0.53-0.59 (0.55); HW: 0.42-0.46 (0.44); SL: 0.66-0.74 (0.72); EL: 0.11-0.11 (0.11); WL: 0.69-0.78 (0.74); PSL: 0.06-0.08 (0.07); MTL: 0.51-0.58 (0.55); PNW: 0.3-0.33 (0.31); PTW: 0.06-0.08 (0.07); PPW: 0.11-0.14 (0.12); CI: 119.8-130.5 (126.5); SI: 157.8-170.9 (163.5); PSLI: 11.4-15.6 (13.3); PPI: 55.1-63.9 (59.3); PNI: 68.5-73.9 (70.8); MTI: 121.1-134.2 (126.2).
Head. Cephalic margin slightly convex (Fig. 51A View Figure 51 ). Pilosity relatively sparse, moderately long, subdecumbent to erect. Sculpture shiny and foveolate, foveolae sparse; antennal sockets with few thick, 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, suberect to erect (Fig. 51A, C View Figure 51 ). Mesosoma. In lateral view, promesonotum low and moderately long, arched; promesonotal groove absent; metanotal groove distinct; propodeal spines minute, triangular (Fig. 51C View Figure 51 ). Sculpture shiny and foveolate; katepisternum with big smooth notch; dorsal side of promesonotum and lateral sides of pronotum with reduced sculpture and smooth notches on medial parts. Pilosity very sparse, moderately long, and erect (Fig. 51C, E View Figure 51 ). Gaster. With sparse, erect pilosity (Fig. 51C, E View Figure 51 ). Colour. Yellowish brown, vertex and gaster darker (Fig. 51C, E View Figure 51 ).
Etymology.
Malagasy for river in reference to the Sandrangato River located in the type locality.
Biology.
The species was collected between 125-725 m in elevation, in rainforest. Nests were located in rotten logs and sticks on the ground.
Comments.
Pheidole renirano sp. nov. is known from several localities in the Toamasina prefecture. Its range covers the area from Réserve Spéciale Ambatovaky north to Antanambe. Morphologically it is most similar to parapatric P. tsaravoniana sp. nov., known from the vicinity of Tsaravoniana in Toamasina. Major workers of P. renirano sp. nov. can be distinguished from majors of P. tsaravoniana sp. nov. based on bright yellow body colouration and promesonotal dorsum with short, transverse rugae with smooth to indistinctly foveolae interspaces; minors can be separated based on yellowish brown body, and reduced sculpture and smooth notches on medial parts of dorsal side of promesonotum and lateral sides of pronotum.
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