Camponotus sambiranoensis, Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2022

Rakotonirina, Jean Claude & Fisher, Brian L., 2022, Revision of the Malagasy Camponotus subgenus Myrmosaga (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) using qualitative and quantitative morphology, ZooKeys 1098, pp. 1-180 : 1

Camponotus sambiranoensis sp. nov.

Figs 6A , 9A , 73

Holotype worker.

Madagascar: Province Antsiranana: RS Ankarana, 22.9 km 224° SW Anivorano Nord, -12.90889, 49.10983, 80 m, tropical dry forest, ex rotten log, 10-16 Feb 2001, (Fisher, Griswold et al.) collection code: BLF02880, collection code: CASENT0428077 ( CAS).

Paratypes.

3 minor workers of the same data as holotype but with the following specimen codes: CASENT0428078, CASENT0428080, CASENT0428079 ( NHMUK, MHNG, CAS).

Additional material examined.

Madagascar: Antsiranana: Ampasindava, Forêt d’Ambilanivy, 3.9 km 181° S Ambaliha, -13.79861, 48.16167, 600 m, rainforest (Fisher, Griswold et al.) ( CAS); Binara Forest , -13.26388, 49.60141, 900 m, rainforest (B.L. Fisher et al.) ( CAS); District of Vohemar , Analabe Sahaka 43 km E of Daraina, -13.07933, 49.90233, 30 m, wooded grassland-bushland (Mike, Rin’ha) ( CAS); Foret de Binara , 7.5 km 230° SW Daraina, -13.255, 49.61667, 375 m, tropical dry forest (B.L. Fisher et al.) ( CAS); Makirovana forest , -14.17066, 49.95409, 415 m, rainforest (B.L. Fisher et al.) ( CAS); Nosy-Be Pref., Antsirambazaha, Hell-Ville S. -Pref.: Nosy Be, Site 3, -13.41345, 48.3113, 143 m, in degraded primary rainforest on slope with Nastus (D. Lees & R. Ranaivosolo) ( CAS); RS Manongarivo, 10.8 km 229° SW Antanambao, -13.96167, 48.43333, 400 m, rainforest (B.L. Fisher) ( CAS); RS Manongarivo, 14.5 km 220° SW Antanambao, -14, 48.43167, 1220 m, montane rainforest (B.L. Fisher) ( CAS); RS Ambre, 3.5 km 235° SW Sakaramy, -12.46889, 49.24217, 325 m, tropical dry forest edge (Fisher, Griswold et al.) ( CAS); RS Ankarana, 22.9 km 224° SW Anivorano Nord, -12.90889, 49.10983, 80 m, tropical dry forest (Fisher, Griswold et al.) ( CAS). SAVA Region, District of Vohemar , Antsahabelela Rain Forest , 9 km SW of Daraina, -13.2505, 49.61667, 182 m, humid Forêt (Mike, Rin’ha) ( CAS) .

Diagnosis.

With head in full-face view, lateral cephalic margins converging posteriorly towards eye level; anteromedian margin of clypeus broadly convex; two apical teeth of mandible normally spaced; lateral cephalic margin anterior to eye level without erect hairs.

Description.

Minor worker. In full-face view, lateral margins of head converging progressively to level of anterior ocular margin, strongly converging to a short posterior margin behind eye level; eye protruding and large (EL/CS: 0.28 ± 0.01; 0.27-0.29), breaking lateral cephalic border, level of its posterior margin at least at posterior 1/3 of head (PoOc/CL; 0.32 ± 0.04; 0.30-0.42); frontal carinae wide (FR/CS: 0.22 ± 0.0; 0.21-0.23), posteriorly parallel, distance between them larger than smallest distance to eye; clypeus without well-defined anterolateral angle, its anteromedian margin broadly convex or triangular; mandible with two apical teeth closely spaced; antennal scape relatively long (SL/CS: 2.04 ± 0.07; 1.97-2.18). Mesosoma low and long (MPH/ML: 0.33 ± 0.03; 0.28-0.36), with weakly convex promesonotum and approximately flat mesopropodeum; metanotal groove barely visible; propodeal dorsum almost straight or anteriorly slightly convex and posteriorly flat; dorsal margin of propodeum and declivity joined at blunt angle; propodeal declivity 1/3 of length of dorsum. Petiole nodiform, dorsal margin inclined posteriorly, its junction to anterior face bluntly angulate; anterior face of petiolar node 1/2 height of posterior face; femur of hind leg rounded axially, not twisted basally.

First and second gastral tergites without a pair of white spots; lateral margin of head without erect hairs; two erect hairs present near posterior cephalic margin; antennal scape without erect hairs but covered with numerous appressed hairs; pronotum with a pair of erect hairs; posterodorsal angle of propodeum without erect hairs.

Major worker. Differing from minor worker in the following characters: larger head (CS: 4.45; CWb/CL: 0.98); apical 1/4 of antennal scape extending beyond posterior cephalic margin; very robust, short, and high mesosoma, with promesonotum and metanotum forming an even convexity; and propodeal dorsum sloping and joining declivity with blunt angle. Petiolar node much compressed anteroposteriorly, anterior face shorter than posterior.

Distribution and biology.

Camponotus sambiranoensis is only known to occur in the north of Madagascar. It colonizes the dry forests of Binara, RS Ambre, and RS Ankarana, the transitional forests of Ampasindava and Binara, the rainforests of Makirovana and RS Manongarivo, and the montane forest of RS Manongarivo (Fig. 73D ). This species nests in rotten logs and in the ground, and forages on the ground, in leaf litter, and on low vegetation.

Discussion.

Camponotus sambiranoensis shares a broadly convex anteromedian margin of clypeus with C. niavo , and C. cervicalis , but in the two latter species the lateral cephalic margin anterior to the eye level is covered with erect hairs.

The qualitative, morphology-based delimitation of C. sambiranoensis is confirmed by the multivariate morphometric technique. The validity of the species is also confirmed by LDA at 100% classification success.

Etymology.

The species name sambiranoensis is a Latin singular adjective in the nominative case of masculine gender. This species name refers to the region of Sambirano where the species was found.

Figures

Figure 6. Head in full-face view A C. sambiranoensis (CASENT 0231845) B C. radamae (CASENT 0066777) C C. immaculatus (CASENT 0179441).

Figure 9. Head in full-face view A C. sambiranoensis (CASENT 0231845) B C. cervicalis (CASENT 0217303).

Figure 73. Camponotus sambiranoensis A lateral view B head in full-face view C dorsal view of minor worker CASENT 0231845 D distribution map.