Aneuretellus

Last updated

Aneuretellus
Temporal range: Middle Eocene
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Aneuretinae
Tribe: Aneuretini
Genus:† Aneuretellus
Dlussky, 1988
Species:
†A. deformis
Binomial name
†Aneuretellus deformis
Dlussky, 1988

Aneuretellus is an extinct genus of ant in the formicid subfamily Aneuretinae, and is one of eight genera of the subfamily. The genus contains a single described species Aneuretellus deformis and is known from one Middle Eocene fossil which was found in Sakhalin in the Russian Far East.

Contents

History and classification

When first described, A. deformis was known from a single fossil insect included in a transparent chunk of Sakhalin amber. When the fossil was described it was part of the amber collections housed in the Paleontological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The amber was recovered from fossil bearing rocks in the Sakhalin region of Eastern Russia. Sakhalin amber is noted for having undergone high temperatures and pressures after the resin was buried. As a result insects and other inclusions in the amber are not as well preserved as those of other amber locations, even those of older ambers. The inclusions are most of the time carbonized reducing fine detail preservation, and the amber has been subjected to plastic deformation changing the shapes and features of the inclusions. The distortion is visible in the outlines of trapped air bubbles, which are elongated along the plane of distortion, rather than spherical as seen with bubbles in Eocene Baltic amber and Cretaceous Taymyr amber. In some cases the inclusions are at least partially filled with amber rather than being hollow. [1]

Sakhalin amber has been attributed a range of geological ages, with Vladimir Zherikhin in 1978 suggesting dates between 59 and 47 million years old. In 1988, Gennady Dlussky suggested a tentative Paleocene age, which was followed by subsequent authors through 2013. However research published in 1999 on the Naibuchi Formation, in which Sakhalin amber is directly preserved, gives a Middle Eocene age based on geological and paleobotanical context. [2] The Sakhalin amber forest had a variety of plants living in a mixed coastal swamp, river, and lake environment. The river and lake system had numerous swampy areas that resulted in active peat bog formation. The bogs were surrounded by Osmunda , Nymphaeaceae and Ericaceae plants, while Taxodium , Alnus , Salix , and other trees populated the forest. [3]

The amber fossil was first studied by paleoentomologist Gennady Dlussky of the Russian Academy of Sciences, with his 1988 type description for the species published in Paleontologicheskii Zhurnal. [1] The species name deformis was coined from the Latin word meaning "deformed". [1] The etymology of the genus name Aneuretellus was not explained by Dlussky.

Based on the structure of the petiole and shape of the gaster, Dlussky placed A. deformis into the ant subfamily Aneuretinae. [1] The subfamily includes three additional extinct genera, Mianeuretus , Paraneuretus , and Protaneuretus , [4] and a single living genus and species Aneuretus simoni , found in Sri Lanka. [4]

Aneuretus simoni Aneuretus simoni casent0102369 profile 1.jpg
Aneuretus simoni

Description

The lone worker of Aneuretellus has a body length of 3 mm (0.12 in), a head length of 0.61 mm (0.024 in) and antennae with twelve segments. The head is generally trapezoid in shape, with a notably convex rear margin. The antennae have a basal segment, that does not reach past the occipital margin, eleven additional segments, the last three of which are enlarged and form a terminal club. [1] The eyes are shifted forward on the head, [5] while the funicular segments, those between the scape and club, are thickened. Both are features seen in ant species that typically soil or leaf litter dwelling. [1] [6] Due to positioning of the worker in the amber, two of the important features distinguishing the subfamily Aneuretinae genera are not directly visible. An elongated one segmented petiole is indicated by the lower impression of the petiole in the amber, though the upper portion of the petiole along with the upper portion of the mesosoma after the pronotum are missing from the specimen. Though the junction of the petiole with the gaster is missing, the lower impression of the petiole shows it was probably widening at the junction. [1]

Related Research Articles

<i>Prionomyrmex</i> Extinct genus of ants

Prionomyrmex is an extinct genus of bulldog ants in the subfamily Myrmeciinae of the family Formicidae. It was first described by Gustav Mayr in 1868, after he collected a holotype worker of P. longiceps in Baltic amber. Three species are currently described, characterised by their long mandibles, slender bodies and large size. These ants are known from the Eocene and Late Oligocene, with fossil specimens only found around Europe. It is suggested that these ants preferred to live in jungles, with one species assumed to be an arboreal nesting species. These ants had a powerful stinger that was used to subdue prey. In 2000, it was suggested by Cesare Baroni Urbani that the living species Nothomyrmecia macrops and a species he described both belonged to Prionomyrmex, but this proposal has not been widely accepted by the entomological community. Instead, scientists still classify the two genera distinctive from each other, making Nothomyrmecia a valid genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aneuretinae</span> Subfamily of ants

Aneuretinae is a subfamily of ants consisting of a single extant species, Aneuretus simoni, and 9 fossil species. Earlier, the phylogenetic position of A. simoni was thought to be intermediate between primitive and advanced subfamilies of ants, but recent studies have shown it is the nearest living relative of subfamily Dolichoderinae.

<i>Burmomyrma</i> Genus of ants

Burmomyrma is an extinct genus of aculeate hymenopteran, suggested to be an ant. The genus contains a single described species, Burmomyrma rossi. Burmomyrma is known from a single Middle Cretaceous fossil which was found in Asia.

Pristomyrmex rasnitsyni is an extinct species of ant in the genus Pristomyrmex. The species is known from a single Late Eocene fossil which was found in Europe.

<i>Archimyrmex</i> Extinct genus of ants

Archimyrmex is an extinct genus of ant in the formicid subfamily Myrmeciinae, described by palaeoentomologist Theodore Cockerell in 1923. The genus contains four described species, Archimyrmex rostratus, Archimyrmex piatnitzkyi, Archimyrmex smekali and Archimyrmex wedmannae. Archimyrmex is known from a group of Middle Eocene fossils which were found in North America, South America, and Europe. The genus was initially placed in the subfamily Ponerinae, but it was later placed in Myrmeciinae; it is now believed to be the ancestor of the extant primitive genus Myrmecia from Australia. Despite this, Archimyrmex is not a member to any tribe and is regarded as incertae sedis within Myrmeciinae. However, some authors believe Archimyrmex should be assigned as incertae sedis within Formicidae. These ants can be characterised by their large mandibles and body length, ranging from 13.2 to 30 mm. They also have long, thin legs and an elongated mesosoma (thorax) and petiole.

<i>Yantaromyrmex</i> Genus of ants

Yantaromyrmex is an extinct genus of ants first described in 2013. Members of this genus are in the subfamily Dolichoderinae of the family Formicidae, known from Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene fossils found in Europe. The genus currently contains five described species, Y. constrictus, Y. geinitzi, Y. intermedius, Y. mayrianum and Y. samlandicus. The first specimens were collected in 1868 and studied by Austrian entomologist Gustav Mayr, who originally placed the fossils in other ant genera until the fossils were reviewed and subsequently placed into their own genus. These ants are small, measuring from 4 to 6 mm in length and can be characterized by their trapezoidal shaped head-capsules and oval compound eyes that are located slightly to the rear of the capsules midpoint, with no known ocelli present.

<i>Zherichinius</i> Genus of ants

Zherichinius is an extinct genus of ants in the subfamily Dolichoderinae known from fossils found in amber from the Middle Eocene of Sakhalin island Far eastern Russia and Bitterfeld, Germany. At the time of description the species Zherichinius horribilis and Zherichinius rapax were two of eight ant species known from Sakhalin fossils.

<i>Pseudectatomma</i> Genus of ants

Pseudectatomma is an extinct genus of ants in the formicid subfamily Ectatomminae described by from fossils found in Europe. The genus contains two species dating from the Eocene, Pseudectatomma eocenica and Pseudectatomma striatula.

<i>Pachycondyla? messeliana</i> Extinct species of ant

Pachycondyla? messeliana is an extinct species of ants in the formicid subfamily Ponerinae described by from a fossil found in Europe. P.? messeliana is one of six Lutetian Pachycondyla species.

<i>Pachycondyla petiolosa</i> Extinct species of ant

Pachycondyla petiolosa is an extinct species of ant in the formicid subfamily Ponerinae described by from a fossil found in Europe. P. parvula is one of six Lutetian Pachycondyla species.

Cananeuretus is an extinct genus of ant in the Formicidae subfamily Aneuretinae, and is one of two Cretaceous genera of the subfamily. The genus contains a single described species Cananeuretus occidentalis and is known from one Late Cretaceous fossil which has been found in North America.

<i>Protopone</i> Extinct genus of ants

Protopone is an extinct genus of ants in the formicid subfamily Ponerinae described from fossils found in Europe and Asia. There are seven described species placed into the genus, Protopone? dubia, Protopone germanica, Protopone magna, Protopone oculata, Protopone primigena, Protopone sepulta, and Protopone vetula. Protopone is one several Lutetian Ponerinae genera.

<i>Paraneuretus</i> Genus of ants

Paraneuretus is an extinct genus of formicid in the ant subfamily Aneuretinae known from fossils found in Asia and Europe. The genus contains three middle to late Eocene age species, Paraneuretus dubovikoffi, Paraneuretus longicornis, and Paraneuretus tornquisti.

<i>Bradoponera</i> Extinct genus of ants

Bradoponera is an extinct genus of ant in the Formicidae subfamily Proceratiinae, and is one of four genera of the subfamily. The genus contains four described species Bradoponera electrina, Bradoponera meieri, Bradoponera similis, and Bradoponera wunderlichi. The species are known from several Middle Eocene amber fossils which were found in Europe.

<i>Aphaenogaster dlusskyana</i> Extinct species of ant

Aphaenogaster dlusskyana is an extinct species of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae known from a single Middle Eocene fossil found in amber on Sakhalin. At the time of description A. dlusskyana was one of eight ant species known from Sakhalin fossil.

<i>Electromyrmex</i> Genus of ants

Electromyrmex is an extinct genus of ants in the formicid subfamily Dolichoderinae. The genus contains a single described species, Electromyrmex klebsi and is known from a group of Middle Eocene fossils which were found in Europe.

<i>Pachycondyla succinea</i> Extinct species of ant

Pachycondyla succinea is an extinct species of ant in the formicid subfamily Ponerinae described from fossils found in Europe. P. petrosa is one of three middle Eocene Pachycondyla species found in Baltic amber.

<i>Nylanderia pygmaea</i> Extinct species of ant

Nylanderia pygmaea is an extinct species of formicid in the ant subfamily Formicinae known from fossils found in the Prussian Formation of the Baltic region.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dlussky, G. M. (1988). "Ants of Sakhalin amber (Paleocene?)" (PDF). Paleontologicheskii Zhurnal (in Russian). 1988 (1): 50–61.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. ↑ Radchenko, A. G.; Perkovsky, E. E. (2016). "The ant Aphaenogaster dlusskyana sp. nov. (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from the Sakhalin amber—the earliest described species of an extant genus of Myrmicinae". Paleontological Journal. 50 (9): 936–946. Bibcode:2016PalJ...50..936R. doi:10.1134/S0031030116090136. S2CID   90471180.
  3. ↑ Baranov, V.; Andersen, T.; Perkovsky, E.E. (2014). "Orthoclads from Eocene Amber from Sakhalin (Diptera: Chironomidae, Orthocladiinae)". Insect Systematics & Evolution. 46 (4): 359–378. doi:10.1163/1876312X-45032122. S2CID   81975987.
  4. 1 2 Dias, R. K.; Udayakantha, W. S. (2016). "Nest density and other observations on a population of Aneuretus simoni Emery, 1893 (Formicidae, Aneuretinae) and other ants in Indikada Mukalana Forest Reserve in Sri Lanka". Journal of Insect Biodiversity. 4 (12): 1–9. doi: 10.12976/jib/2016.4.12 .
  5. ↑ Dlussky, G.M.; Rasnitsyn, A.P. (2002). "Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of formation Green river and some other Middle Eocene deposits of North America". Russian Entomological Journal. 11 (4): 411–436.
  6. ↑ Dlussky, G.M.; Wedmann, S. (2012). "The poneromorph ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae: Amblyoponinae, Ectatomminae, Ponerinae) of Grube Messel, Germany: High biodiversity in the Eocene". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 10 (4): 725–753. Bibcode:2012JSPal..10..725D. doi:10.1080/14772019.2011.628341. S2CID   83928415. – via  Taylor & Francis (subscription required)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.