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Issue: Vol. 5839 No. 3: 30 Jun. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-06-30
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5839.3.4
Page range: 483-506
Abstract views: 66
PDF downloaded: 10

Unearthing hidden predators with micro-CT: A new Zasphinctus (Formicidae, Dorylinae) ant from Papua New Guinea

Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência and CE3C - Centre for Ecology; Evolution and Environmental Changes and CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute. Universidade de Lisboa; Lisbon; Portugal; Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery; Museum für Naturkunde Berlin; Invalidenstrasse 43; 10115 Berlin; Germany
Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência and CE3C - Centre for Ecology; Evolution and Environmental Changes and CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute. Universidade de Lisboa; Lisbon; Portugal
HUN-REN-ELTE-MTM Integrative Ecology Research Group; Pázmány Péter ave 1/C; Budapest 1117; Hungary; Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology; Institute of Biology; ELTE-Eötvös Loránd University; Pázmány Péter ave 1/C; Budapest 1117; Hungary
Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery; Museum für Naturkunde Berlin; Invalidenstrasse 43; 10115 Berlin; Germany
Hymenoptera australasia 3D-model cybertype identification key taxonomy

Abstract

Zasphinctus Wheeler, 1918 is a rarely collected genus of predatory ants within the subfamily Dorylinae. This genus is distributed across the Old World, with its highest diversity in the Australasian region. A new species is described from Papua New Guinea, bringing the total number of known species in the genus to 30. Diagnostic characters distinguishing Zasphinctus papua sp. nov. from other Australasian species, along with a key for the species present in the island of New Guinea are provided. The new species description is enhanced through an in-depth morphological illustration of the holotype, derived from virtual examination of its 3D model created using x-ray microtomography (micro-CT). In addition, a cybertype dataset is provided based on micro-CT.

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How to Cite

Baptista, M., Keller, R.A., Csősz, S. & Garcia, F.H. (2026) Unearthing hidden predators with micro-CT: A new Zasphinctus (Formicidae, Dorylinae) ant from Papua New Guinea. Zootaxa, 5839 (3), 483–506. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5839.3.4