Myrmoteras Explained
Myrmoteras is a genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae and the sole member of the tribe Myrmoteratini.[1] They have enormous eyes, a character found in other ancient genera, and extremely elongated mandibles with eight to 16 teeth. These work as trap-jaws and can open up to 270°.[2]
Description
While the elongated 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.[3]
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 ceylonicum Gregg, 1957 — Sri Lanka
- Myrmoteras chondrogastrum Moffett, 1985
- Myrmoteras concolor Bui, Eguchi & Yamane, 2013
- Myrmoteras cuneonodum Xu, 1998
- Myrmoteras danieli Agosti, 1992
- Myrmoteras diastematum Moffett, 1985
- Myrmoteras donisthorpei Wheeler, 1916 — Borneo
- Myrmoteras elfeorum Agosti, 1992
- Myrmoteras estrudae Agosti, 1992
- Myrmoteras glabrum Zettel & Sorger, 2011
- Myrmoteras indicum Moffett, 1985
- Myrmoteras insulcatum Moffett, 1985
- Myrmoteras iriodum Moffett, 1985
- Myrmoteras ivani Agosti, 1992
- Myrmoteras jacquelinae Agosti, 1992
- Myrmoteras jaitrongi Bui, Eguchi & Yamane, 2013
- Myrmoteras karnyi Gregg, 1954
- Myrmoteras marianneae Agosti, 1992
- Myrmoteras maudeae Agosti, 1992
- Myrmoteras mcarthuri Zettel & Sorger, 2011
- Myrmoteras mjoebergi Creighton, 1930 — Borneo
- Myrmoteras morowali Moffett, 1985
- Myrmoteras namphuong Bui, Eguchi & Yamane, 2013
- Myrmoteras nicoletteae Agosti, 1992
- Myrmoteras opalinum Bui, Eguchi & Yamane, 2013
- Myrmoteras scabrum Moffett, 1985
- Myrmoteras susanneae Agosti, 1992
- Myrmoteras tomimasai Bui, Eguchi & Yamane, 2013
- Myrmoteras tonboli Agosti, 1992
- Myrmoteras toro Moffett, 1985
- Myrmoteras williamsi Wheeler, 1919 — Philippines
- Myrmoteras wolasi Moffett, 1985
Notes and References
- ITIS: Genus Myrmoteras
- Bolton, B. (2003): Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Memoirs of the American Entomological Institute. 71. 370 pp.
- Creighton, William S. (1930): A Review of the Genus Myrmoteras (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Journal of the New York Entomological Society 38: 177-193. PDF
