Myrmoteras

Myrmoteras
Myrmoteras
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Formicinae
Genus: Myrmoteras
Forel, 1893
Type species
Myrmoteras binghami
Forel, 1893
Species

See text.
Diversity
c. 30 species

Myrmoteras is a genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae. They have enormous eyes, a character found in other ancient genera, and extremely elongate mandibles with eight to sixteen teeth. These work as trap-jaws and can open up to 270°[1].

Contents

Description

trap jawed ants: Strumigenys, Daceton, Odontomachus, Anochetus, Myrmoteras

While the elongate mandibles look superficially similar to those of the basal Myrmecia, the mechanism is as a whole totally dissimilar and is rather convergent to that of the ponerine genera Anochetus and Odontomachus, and the myrmicine Strumigenys. The trigger mechanism of the trap-jaw like mandibles of Myrmoteras consists of two hairs. Other trap-jawed genera are Daceton, Acanthognathus, Orectognathus, Microdaceton and Epitritus.

Distribution

Myrmoteras occurs in the Indo-Malayan region[2].

Species

  • Myrmoteras arcoelinae Agosti, 1992
  • Myrmoteras bakeri Wheeler, 1919 — Borneo
  • Myrmoteras barbouri Creighton, 1930 — Java
  • Myrmoteras baslerorum Agosti, 1992
  • Myrmoteras binghamii Forel, 1893 — Burma
  • Myrmoteras brachygnathum Moffett, 1985
  • Myrmoteras brigitteae Agosti, 1992
  • Myrmoteras ceylonica Gregg, 1957
  • Myrmoteras chondrogastrum Moffett, 1985
  • Myrmoteras danieli Agosti, 1992
  • Myrmoteras diastematum Moffett, 1985
  • Myrmoteras donisthorpei Wheeler, 1916 — Borneo
  • Myrmoteras elfeorum Agosti, 1992
  • Myrmoteras estrudae Agosti, 1992
  • Myrmoteras indicum Moffett, 1985
  • Myrmoteras insulcatum Moffett, 1985
  • Myrmoteras iriodum Moffett, 1985
  • Myrmoteras ivani Agosti, 1992
  • Myrmoteras jacquelinae Agosti, 1992
  • Myrmoteras karnyi Gregg, 1954
  • Myrmoteras marianneae Agosti, 1992
  • Myrmoteras maudeae Agosti, 1992
  • Myrmoteras mjoebergi Wheeler, 1930 — Borneo
  • Myrmoteras morowali Moffett, 1985
  • Myrmoteras nicoletteae Agosti, 1992
  • Myrmoteras scabrum Moffett, 1985
  • Myrmoteras susanneae Agosti, 1992
  • Myrmoteras tonboli Agosti, 1992
  • Myrmoteras toro Moffett, 1985
  • Myrmoteras williamsi Wheeler, 1919 — Philippines
  • Myrmoteras wolasi Moffett, 1985

Footnotes

  1. ^ Bolton 2003
  2. ^ Wheeler 1930

References

  • Creighton, William S. (1930): A Review of the Genus Myrmoteras (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Journal of the New York Entomological Society 38: 177-193. PDF
  • Bolton, B. (2003): Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 71. 370 pp.
  • ITIS: Genus Myrmoteras
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