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Issue: Vol. 5691 No. 2: 9 Sept. 2025
Type: Article
Published: 2025-09-09
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5691.2.4
Page range: 257-276
Abstract views: 128
PDF downloaded: 4

Inflated taxonomy in the West Mediterranean Temnothorax algiricus complex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) revealed by quantitative morphology

Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Univ. Pompeu Fabra); Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta; 37-49; 08003 Barcelona; Spain; Department of Chemistry; Life Sciences; and Environmental Sustainability; University of Parma; Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A; 43124 Parma; Italy
Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Univ. Pompeu Fabra); Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta; 37-49; 08003 Barcelona; Spain; Museum für Naturkunde; Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science; Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery; Invalidenstraße 43; Berlin
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
Institute of Evolutionary Biology (CSIC-Univ. Pompeu Fabra); Passeig Marítim de la Barceloneta; 37-49; 08003 Barcelona; Spain
Hymenoptera ant taxonomy Myrmicinae Crematogastrini morphometrics

Abstract

Temnothorax is one of the largest ant genera, with most taxa described from the Mediterranean. The western Mediterranean Temnothorax algiricus complex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) is a well-defined lineage of dark-reddish arboreal species, whose taxonomy has never been comprehensively addressed. We conducted a comprehensive taxonomic revision using quantitative morphological analysis complemented by qualitative observations to clarify the systematic relationships within this group. Our analysis of 13 previously described taxa reveals only three valid species: T. algiricus (Forel, 1894), T. atlantis (Santschi, 1911), and T. trabutii (Forel, 1894). We establish several new synonymies: Leptothorax angustulus brunea Santschi, 1918, Leptothorax gazella Santschi, 1932, Leptothorax gazella monticola Santschi, 1932, Temnothorax mediterraneus Ward, Brady, Fisher, & Schultz, 2014, and Temnothorax atlantis veneris Galkowski & Cagniant, 2017 are considered junior subjective synonyms of T. algiricus. Leptothorax kiudiria Espadaler, 1997, Leptothorax angustulus silvanus (Forel, 1907), Temnothorax atlantis suturalis Galkowski & Cagniant, 2017, and Temnothorax continentalis Galkowski & Cagniant, 2017 are synonymized under T. atlantis. Leptothorax lindbergi Santschi, 1931 is considered a synonym of T. trabutii. Leptothorax convexus timida Santschi, 1912 is a junior synonym of Temnothorax convexus (Forel, 1894), and excluded from the complex. This revision resolves the oversplit nomenclature characteristic of North African myrmecology and establishes taxonomic consistency with European classifications. Our quantitative morphology-based framework provides the foundation for future integrative taxonomic studies investigating intraspecific variation and potential cryptic diversity within this ecologically important ant lineage.

 

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How to Cite

Schifani, E., Menchetti, M., Csősz, S. & Vila, R. (2025) Inflated taxonomy in the West Mediterranean Temnothorax algiricus complex (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) revealed by quantitative morphology. Zootaxa, 5691 (2), 257–276. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5691.2.4