A Never-ending Story: Updated 3D Cyber-taxonomic Revision of the Ant Genus Wheeler (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Dorylinae) for the Afrotropical Region

Overview

Journal Zookeys

Date 2025 Jan 17

PMID 39822654

Authors

Francisco Hita Garcia

Kiko Gomez

Roberto A Keller

Bernhard Schurian

Evan P Economo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The ant genus are fascinating ants due to their distinctive morphology, ecology, and rarity. In this study, a comprehensive revision of in the Afrotropical region is presented, through a combination of morphological examination under the light microscope and three-dimensional (3D) cyber-taxonomy based on microtomography (micro-CT). Micro-CT based 3D surface models of all species were used for virtual morphological visualisation and examination. The 3D models were virtually visualised, rotated, scaled, and dissected in order to obtain the best shape data for whole specimens or individual body parts. This approach offered a greatly improved character evaluation, allowing the development of an updated taxonomic species delimitation system for the genus. Our revision recognises eight worker-based species, of which three were previously known and five are newly described in this study. Furthermore, based on distinctive morphological differences, two species groups are also proposed. The group includes the species Hita Garcia, 2017 (Kenya), Hita Garcia & Gómez, (Democratic Republic of Congo), and Hita Garcia, 2017 (Mozambique) while the group contains Hita Garcia & Gómez, (Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda), Hita Garcia & Gómez, (Ivory Coast), Hita Garcia & Gómez (Ghana), Hita Garcia & Gómez, (Senegal), and Hita Garcia, 2017 (Cameroon). All species are easily distinguishable through a comprehensive character matrix illustrated by numerous diagnostic illustrations, as well as a traditional dichotomous identification key.

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﻿A Never-ending Story: Updated 3D Cyber-taxonomic Revision of the Ant Genus Wheeler (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Dorylinae) for the Afrotropical Region

A Never-ending Story: Updated 3D Cyber-taxonomic Revision of the Ant Genus Wheeler (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Dorylinae) for the Afrotropical Region