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Issue: Vol. 3956 No. 2: 8 May 2015
Type: Article
Published: 2015-05-08
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.3956.2.10
Page range: 295–300
Abstract views: 25
PDF downloaded: 1

A new species of Simopelta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae) from Brazil and Costa Rica

Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia—INPA. Coordenação em Biodiversidade CBio. Av. André Araújo, 2936. Petrópolis, 69011–970, C. P. 2223. Manaus—AM. Brazil. Fone/Fax: +55 (92) 3643–3305.
Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia—INPA. Coordenação em Biodiversidade CBio. Av. André Araújo, 2936. Petrópolis, 69011–970, C. P. 2223. Manaus—AM. Brazil. Fone/Fax: +55 (92) 3643–3305.
Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 30 No. 45 – 03, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau—CEPEC, Laboratório de Mirmecologia UESC / CEPLAC, Rod. Ilhéus / Itabuna, 45600–000, C. P. 7, Ilhéus—BA, Brazil
Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Entomology. P.O. Box 37012, MRC 188, CE516, Washington DC, 20013–7012
blind ant Rio Madeira hydroelectric plant cryptobiotic Simopelta jeckylli

Abstract

The genus Simopelta consists of 21 described species restricted to Central America and South America. The present study describes a new cryptobiotic species, Simopelta anomma sp. nov.. The new species is blind, possesses a 3-segmented antennal club, and has the midtibia with several stout setae, a combination of characters unique within the genus. Moreover, some traits of this species require broadening the definition of the genus. The discovery of S. anomma sp. nov. suggests that many undiscovered species, some of which may be important for understanding ant evolution, remain hidden below ground in Neotropical rainforests.