Taxonomy of the ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler (Formicidae, Myrmicinae) in the Afrotropical region, with a review of current species groups and description of a new species of the N. angulatus group from Mozambique

  • Francisco Hita Garcia Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Onna-son, Okinawa
  • Nokuthula Mbanyana Iziko South African Museum, Cape Town
  • Tracy Lynn Audisio Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Onna-son
  • Gary D. Alpert Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2017.258
Keywords: ant taxonomy, identification key, Inhaca Island, new species, systematics

Abstract

This study reviews the taxonomy of the ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler, 1910 in the Afrotropical region. Previous revisionary studies are discussed and four species groups are proposed on the basis of external morphology. The N. angulatus group contains seven species that are widely distributed throughout the whole Afrotropical region, with one species also occurring in the Palaearctic and Malagasy regions. The N. cataulacoides group is monotypic, with one morphologically bizarre species found in Equatorial rain forests. The N. humerosus group is also monotypic and occurs in East Africa. The last and by far most species-rich group is the N. simoni group that contains 17 species, all of which are endemic to South Africa. The four groups are defined for the first time for the region, and an illustrated identification key is provided. Furthermore, the N. angulatus group is more thoroughly reviewed. One new species from Mozambique is described, N. inhaca sp. nov., and species accounts for the other six are provided. Also, an illustrated identification key to the species of the N. angulatus group is presented.

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Published
2017-01-06
How to Cite
Hita Garcia, F., Mbanyana, N., Audisio, T. L., & Alpert, G. D. (2017). Taxonomy of the ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler (Formicidae, Myrmicinae) in the Afrotropical region, with a review of current species groups and description of a new species of the N. angulatus group from Mozambique. European Journal of Taxonomy, (258). https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2017.258
Issue
No. 258 (2017): Taxonomy of the ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler (Formicidae, Myrmicinae) in the Afrotropical region, with a review of current species groups and description of a new species of the N. angulatus group from Mozambique
Section
Zoology
Copyright (c) 2017 Francisco Hita Garcia, Nokuthula Mbanyana, Tracy Lynn Audisio, Gary D. Alpert

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