The Sri Lankan relict ant (Aneuretus simoni) is a species of ant placed in a tribe of its own within the family Formicidae. The genus is monotypic, with the only species endemic to Sri Lanka, where it is known from just a few locations. It is one of the few ant species considered endangered.
The species is the only extant genus in the tribe Aneuretini (other members include the extinctProtaneuretus, Paraneretus, and Mianeuretus). They are believed to be intermediate in their phylogenetic position between the Myrmeciinae-Ponerinae and the Dolichoderinae. The workers show very distinct dimorphism with "majors" being much larger than the "minors" and lacking few workers intermediate in size. The minor workers are found in the largest numbers within a nest and have small compound eyes having only about 30 ommatidia (units within the compound eye). The antennae have 12 segments, with the segments increasing gradually in size from the base to the tip. The clypeus is broad and flat, lacking any central ridge. The mouthparts show dolichoderine affinities.[2] Outward-facing spines occur on the propodeum. The petiole node is separated from the anterior peduncle by swellings on the sides and tops. They have a well-developed sting that is similar in structure to that of the Dolichoderinae.[3][4] Workers are yellow to orange in colour and the surface has striations running transversely. The queen is larger than the major and has reduced propodeal spines and a much broader head than the major worker. The pupae are characteristic in being enclosed in cocoons. They are predatory and forage mainly on the ground in leaf litter.[5] Major workers are rare – at most two per colony. The social organization of the colony was found to be similar to that of the Dolichoderinae.[6]
Distributionedit
They are known from only a few areas in central Sri Lanka. In Gilimale forest, E O Wilson and other researchers found colonies mainly at the edge of forest clearings. The nests are small and have only a small number of individuals, ranging from two to a hundred. The nests are most often made mainly within rotting and crumbly wood pieces or fallen logs.[5] The few areas in which they live are often disturbed by humans. The species has not been recorded in many of the areas where it was formerly collected and it was recommended for conservation by Wilson.[7] A study in 1985 recorded the species at just one location, Gilimale.[8]
"Twenty years later, one of my undergraduate students, Anula Jayasuriya, a native Sri Lankan, found the species rare or absent in the same localities. I recommended placement of Aneuretus simoni in the Red Data Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, and in time it became one of the first of several ants to be officially classified as a threatened or endangered species."
^Social Insects Specialist Group (1996). "Aneuretus simoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T1290A3395812. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T1290A3395812.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
^Gotwald, WH (1970). "Mouthpart Morphology of the Ant Aneuretus simoni" (PDF). Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 63 (4): 950–952. doi:10.1093/aesa/63.4.950.
^Hermann, HR (1968). "The Hymenopterous Poison Apparatus. V. Aneuretus simoni". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 61 (5): 1315–1317. doi:10.1093/aesa/61.5.1315.
^Traniello, JFA & AK Jayasuriya (1981). "Chemical communication in the primitive ant Aneuretus simoni: The role of the sternal and pygidial glands". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 7 (6): 1023–33. doi:10.1007/BF00987624. PMID 24420827. S2CID 8698790.
^ abWilson, EO; Eisner, T; Wheeler, GC & Wheeler, J. "Aneuretus simoni Emery, a major link in ant evolution". Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 115 (3): 81–99.
^Traniello, J. F. A. & A. K. Jayasuriya (1985). "The biology of the primitive ant Aneuretus simoni (Emery) (Formicidae: Aneuretinae) II. The social ethogram and division of labor" (PDF). Insectes Sociaux. 32 (4): 375–388. doi:10.1007/BF02224015. S2CID 24555430.
^Wilson, E. O. (1994). Naturalist. Island Press, Washington, D.C. pp. 197–199. ISBN0-300-05589-7.
^Jayasuriya, A. K. & Traniello, J. F. A. (1985). "The biology of the primitive ant Aneuretus simoni (Emery) (Formicidae: Aneuretinae) I. Distribution, abundance, colony structure, and foraging ecology". Insectes Sociaux. 32 (4): 363–374. doi:10.1007/BF02224014. S2CID 41910292.
External linksedit
Data related to Aneuretus simoni at Wikispecies
Media related to Aneuretus simoni at Wikimedia Commons
April 14, 2024
lankan, relict, aneuretus, simoni, species, placed, tribe, within, family, formicidae, genus, monotypic, with, only, species, endemic, lanka, where, known, from, just, locations, species, considered, endangered, aneuretus, simoni, workerconservation, statuscri. The Sri Lankan relict ant Aneuretus simoni is a species of ant placed in a tribe of its own within the family Formicidae The genus is monotypic with the only species endemic to Sri Lanka where it is known from just a few locations It is one of the few ant species considered endangered Sri Lankan relict antAneuretus simoni workerConservation statusCritically Endangered IUCN 2 3 1 Scientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder HymenopteraFamily FormicidaeSubfamily AneuretinaeTribe AneuretiniGenus AneuretusEmery 1893Species A simoniBinomial nameAneuretus simoniEmery 1893 Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution 3 References 4 External linksDescription edit nbsp A winged queenThe species is the only extant genus in the tribe Aneuretini other members include the extinct Protaneuretus Paraneretus and Mianeuretus They are believed to be intermediate in their phylogenetic position between the Myrmeciinae Ponerinae and the Dolichoderinae The workers show very distinct dimorphism with majors being much larger than the minors and lacking few workers intermediate in size The minor workers are found in the largest numbers within a nest and have small compound eyes having only about 30 ommatidia units within the compound eye The antennae have 12 segments with the segments increasing gradually in size from the base to the tip The clypeus is broad and flat lacking any central ridge The mouthparts show dolichoderine affinities 2 Outward facing spines occur on the propodeum The petiole node is separated from the anterior peduncle by swellings on the sides and tops They have a well developed sting that is similar in structure to that of the Dolichoderinae 3 4 Workers are yellow to orange in colour and the surface has striations running transversely The queen is larger than the major and has reduced propodeal spines and a much broader head than the major worker The pupae are characteristic in being enclosed in cocoons They are predatory and forage mainly on the ground in leaf litter 5 Major workers are rare at most two per colony The social organization of the colony was found to be similar to that of the Dolichoderinae 6 Distribution editThey are known from only a few areas in central Sri Lanka In Gilimale forest E O Wilson and other researchers found colonies mainly at the edge of forest clearings The nests are small and have only a small number of individuals ranging from two to a hundred The nests are most often made mainly within rotting and crumbly wood pieces or fallen logs 5 The few areas in which they live are often disturbed by humans The species has not been recorded in many of the areas where it was formerly collected and it was recommended for conservation by Wilson 7 A study in 1985 recorded the species at just one location Gilimale 8 Twenty years later one of my undergraduate students Anula Jayasuriya a native Sri Lankan found the species rare or absent in the same localities I recommended placement of Aneuretus simoni in the Red Data Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and in time it became one of the first of several ants to be officially classified as a threatened or endangered species E O Wilson from Naturalist 1994 References edit Social Insects Specialist Group 1996 Aneuretus simoni IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 1996 e T1290A3395812 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 1996 RLTS T1290A3395812 en Retrieved 16 November 2021 Gotwald WH 1970 Mouthpart Morphology of the Ant Aneuretus simoni PDF Annals of the Entomological Society of America 63 4 950 952 doi 10 1093 aesa 63 4 950 Hermann HR 1968 The Hymenopterous Poison Apparatus V Aneuretus simoni Annals of the Entomological Society of America 61 5 1315 1317 doi 10 1093 aesa 61 5 1315 Traniello JFA amp AK Jayasuriya 1981 Chemical communication in the primitive ant Aneuretus simoni The role of the sternal and pygidial glands Journal of Chemical Ecology 7 6 1023 33 doi 10 1007 BF00987624 PMID 24420827 S2CID 8698790 a b Wilson EO Eisner T Wheeler GC amp Wheeler J Aneuretus simoni Emery a major link in ant evolution Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology 115 3 81 99 Traniello J F A amp A K Jayasuriya 1985 The biology of the primitive ant Aneuretus simoni Emery Formicidae Aneuretinae II The social ethogram and division of labor PDF Insectes Sociaux 32 4 375 388 doi 10 1007 BF02224015 S2CID 24555430 Wilson E O 1994 Naturalist Island Press Washington D C pp 197 199 ISBN 0 300 05589 7 Jayasuriya A K amp Traniello J F A 1985 The biology of the primitive ant Aneuretus simoni Emery Formicidae Aneuretinae I Distribution abundance colony structure and foraging ecology Insectes Sociaux 32 4 363 374 doi 10 1007 BF02224014 S2CID 41910292 External links edit nbsp Data related to Aneuretus simoni at Wikispecies nbsp Media related to Aneuretus simoni at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sri Lankan relict ant amp oldid 1180186372, wikipedia, wiki, book, 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