Myrmoteras is a genus of ants in the subfamily Formicinae and the sole member of the tribe Myrmoteratini. 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 270ð.
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.
Species
- Myrmoteras arcoelinae <small>Agosti, 1992</small>
- Myrmoteras bakeri <small>Wheeler, 1919</small> â Borneo
- Myrmoteras barbouri <small>Creighton, 1930</small> â Java
- Myrmoteras baslerorum <small>Agosti, 1992</small>
- Myrmoteras binghamii <small>Forel, 1893</small> â Burma
- Myrmoteras brachygnathum <small>Moffett, 1985</small>
- Myrmoteras brigitteae <small>Agosti, 1992</small>
- Myrmoteras ceylonicum <small>Gregg, 1957</small> â Sri Lanka
- Myrmoteras chondrogastrum <small>Moffett, 1985</small>
- Myrmoteras concolor <small>Bui, Eguchi & Yamane, 2013</small>
- Myrmoteras cuneonodum <small>Xu, 1998</small>
- Myrmoteras danieli <small>Agosti, 1992</small>
- Myrmoteras diastematum <small>Moffett, 1985</small>
- Myrmoteras donisthorpei <small>Wheeler, 1916</small> â Borneo
- Myrmoteras elfeorum <small>Agosti, 1992</small>
- Myrmoteras estrudae <small>Agosti, 1992</small>
- Myrmoteras glabrum <small>Zettel & Sorger, 2011</small>
- Myrmoteras indicum <small>Moffett, 1985</small>
- Myrmoteras insulcatum <small>Moffett, 1985</small>
- Myrmoteras iriodum <small>Moffett, 1985</small>
- Myrmoteras ivani <small>Agosti, 1992</small>
- Myrmoteras jacquelinae <small>Agosti, 1992</small>
- Myrmoteras jaitrongi <small>Bui, Eguchi & Yamane, 2013</small>
- Myrmoteras karnyi <small>Gregg, 1954</small>
- Myrmoteras marianneae <small>Agosti, 1992</small>
- Myrmoteras maudeae <small>Agosti, 1992</small>
- Myrmoteras mcarthuri <small>Zettel & Sorger, 2011</small>
- Myrmoteras mjoebergi <small>Creighton, 1930</small> â Borneo
- Myrmoteras morowali <small>Moffett, 1985</small>
- Myrmoteras namphuong <small>Bui, Eguchi & Yamane, 2013</small>
- Myrmoteras nicoletteae <small>Agosti, 1992</small>
- Myrmoteras opalinum <small>Bui, Eguchi & Yamane, 2013</small>
- Myrmoteras scabrum <small>Moffett, 1985</small>
- Myrmoteras susanneae <small>Agosti, 1992</small>
- Myrmoteras tomimasai <small>Bui, Eguchi & Yamane, 2013</small>
- Myrmoteras tonboli <small>Agosti, 1992</small>
- Myrmoteras toro <small>Moffett, 1985</small>
- Myrmoteras williamsi <small>Wheeler, 1919</small> â Philippines
- Myrmoteras wolasi <small>Moffett, 1985</small>
References
External links