Tetramorium rothschildi ( Forel, 1907 )
publication ID |
https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2018.454 |
publication LSID |
lsid:zoobank.org:pub:07F6B28D-ECA4-4F14-8132-0A58DE156057 |
DOI |
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3818696 |
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/039887DC-FFB5-A453-2B19-A0F4FEE5A3A9 |
treatment provided by |
Valdenar (2020-05-08 15:01:49, last updated 2024-11-24 23:21:51) |
scientific name |
Tetramorium rothschildi ( Forel, 1907 ) |
status |
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Tetramorium rothschildi ( Forel, 1907) View in CoL
Figs 2C View Fig , 19 View Fig , 24 View Fig
Triglyphothrix rothschildi Forel, 1907: 134 View in CoL (included in Bolton 1976: 334).
Diagnosis
Tetramorium rothschildi is the only species in the T. solidum group with branched hairs ( Fig. 2C View Fig , 19 View Fig ).
Material examined
Holotype
ETHIOPIA: pinned worker, Harar, 1 Mar.1905, Maurice de Rothschild leg. ( MNHN: CASENT0915429 About MNHN ).
Other material
TANZANIA (27 pinned workers): Mkomazi Game Reserve, Kisima pitfall site, 4°01′30″ S, 38°02′27″ E, lightly wooded on red laterite soil, dominant trees Acacia mellifera , A. reficiens, A. senegal and A. zanzibarica , 2–4 Jan. 1997, G. McGavin leg. (SAM-HYM-C011140); GoogleMaps Mkomazi Game Reserve, Ibaya , 3°58′ S, 37°48′ E, 18 Nov. 1994, grassland, pitfall traps, A. Russell-Smith leg. (SAM-HYM-C009595); GoogleMaps Mkomazi Game Reserve, on top of Kisima Mountain , 4°06′ S, 38°05′ E, 1 Dec. 1995, nest entrance in the open (round with no crater of soil around), mountain top grassland with scattered trees and bushes, H.G. Robertson leg. (SAM-HYM-C008700); GoogleMaps Ibaya Game Reserve, 1 Nov. 1995, H.G. Robertson leg. ( CASENT0248479 ).
KENYA: foragers, Laikipia District, Mpala Research Centre, 0.29° N, 36.90° E, 1650 m a.s.l., 7 Oct. 1999, Acacia woodland, on ground, R.R. Snelling leg. ( CASC: CASENT0217078 ); GoogleMaps Narok, Rift Valley, Maasai Mara National Reserve , Mara River , riverbank close to Serena Lodge , 1.42478° S, 34.9099° E, 1493 m a.s.l., hand collected on the ground, savannah, FHG00030, 1 Jul. 2007, F. Hita Garcia leg. ( BMNH: CASENT0764432 , CASENT0764433 , CASENT0764435 ). GoogleMaps
GHANA: Tumu , 25 Dec. 1969, P. Room leg. ( BMNH: CASENT0764594 , CASENT0790132 ).
Measurements (worker N =5)
HL 1.033 –1.131 (1.068); HW 1.072 –1.259 (1.121); SL 0.698 –0.797 (0.745); EL 0.197 –0.226 (0.212); PH 0.541 –0.600 (0.570); PW 0.659 –0.757 (0.708); WL 0.934 –1.141 (1.060); PSL 0.216 –0.285 (0.252); PTH 0.325 –0.413 (0.378); PTL 0.315 –0.374 (0.342); PTW 0.354 –0.433 (0.384); PPH 0.354 –0.413 (0.385); PPL 0.285 –0.334 (0.299); PPW 0.393 –0.492 (0.444); OI 18–21 (19); CI 102–111 (105); SI 63–70 (67); DMI 64–72 (67); LMI 48–58 (54); PSLI 21–26 (24); PeNI 53–57 (54); LPeI 85–97 (91); DPeI 107–117 (112); PpNI 56–66 (63); LPpI 73–81 (78); DPpI 133–172 (149); PPI 105–122 (116).
Distribution
This species is known from Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya and Ghana.
Remarks
Tetramorium rothschildi was first placed in the genus Triglyphothrix because of its branched pilosity ( Bolton 1976). After Bolton (1985) revised the status of Triglyphothrix , he placed this species in the T. solidum group because of the deep indentation on the anterior clypeal margin. Despite Bolton’s decision and our current treatment of this species as a member of the T. solidum group, we are not at all convinced that this species is a genuine member of the group. It is possible that T. rothschildi represents a convergent evolutionary lineage and the similarities in morphology are based on a similar granivore lifestyle. However, at present, it is not possible to address this question without a molecular phylogenetic framework. This species has been recorded from Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana and Tanzania. Tetramorium rothschildi has been found nesting in red laterite soils; nests sometimes have grass husks around the entrance. Pitfall traps and hand collecting methods have been used to collect this species.
Bolton B. 1976. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Constituent genera, review of smaller genera and revision of Triglyphothrix Forel. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology 34: 281 - 379. https: // doi. org / 10.5281 / zenodo. 26843
Bolton B. 1980. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology 40: 193 - 384. https: // doi. org / 10.5281 / zenodo. 26845
Bolton B. 1985. The ant genus Triglyphothrix Forel a synonym of Tetramorium Mayr. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Journal of Natural History 19: 243 - 248.
Forel A. 1907. Fourmis d'Ethiopie recoltees par M. le baron Maurice de Rothschild en 1905. Revue d'Entomologie (Caen) 26: 129 - 144.
Fig. 2. Body in profile showing pilosity and pubescence. A. T. dichroum Santschi, 1932 (CASENT0746320). B. T. peringueyi Arnold, 1926 (CASENT0250873). C. T. rothschildi (Forel, 1907) (CASENT0764434). D. T. clunum Forel, 1913 (CASENT0764600). E. T. galoanasum Santschi, 1910 (CASENT0915015 – Antweb, William Ericson). F. T. setuliferum Emery, 1895 (MCZ_ENT00512567). G. T. glabratum Stitz, 1923 (SAM-HYM-C024395). H. T. rufescens Stitz, 1923 (CASENT0250852). I. T. solidum Emery, 1886 (CASENT0250960).
Fig. 19. Tetramorium rothschildi (Forel, 1907) (CASENT0764434). A. Body in profile. B. Body in dorsal view. C. Head in full-face view.
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.
Kingdom |
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Order |
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SubFamily |
Myrmicinae |
Tribe |
Crematogastrini |
Genus |
Tetramorium rothschildi ( Forel, 1907 )
Mbanyana, Nokuthula, Garcia, Francisco Hita, Robertson, Hamish Gibson & Roux, Johannes Jacobus Le 2018 |
Triglyphothrix rothschildi
Bolton B. 1976: 334 |
Forel A. 1907: 134 |
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