13 replies to this topic

[Antennal_Scrobe]

There has been an interesting development in the field of myrmecology; the genus Trachymyrmex has been split into the 3 genera Trachymyrmex, Paratrachymyrmex, and Mycetomoellerius. Trachymyrmex contains 9 North American species, Paratrachymyrmex consists of 9 additional species scattered across the Neotropics, and Mycetomoellerius encompasses a whopping 30 species with the diversity centered on Brazil, though the North American M. turrifex is included in the genus.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Interesting, keep us posted

[gcsnelling]

Link to the paper? Shall be interested to see how this plays out.

[ponerinecat]

 photographers are gonna have a fit over this

[Manitobant]

photographers are gonna have a fit over this

RIP alex wild...

[Kalidas]

Oh woah, that's an interesting update. Why did they break up the genus?

[Antennal_Scrobe]

They did a DNA test or something like that, and found that Trachymyrmex was actually 3 genera.

[Antennal_Scrobe]

 photographers are gonna have a fit over this

Not to mention the poor grad student who's gonna have to change all those names on AntWeb.

[Martialis]

Here's the paper:

 

https://onlinelibrar...1111/syen.12370

[gcsnelling]

I know several of the authors which gives me a little more hope for this split.

[dspdrew]

Makes me wonder how many other genera with such big variations in characteristics we will find are actually multiple genera. I always wonder about the coastal variety vs. the desert variety of Pogonomyrmex californicus.

[Da_NewAntOnTheBlock]

Interesting, is it that palpable of a difference that DNA testing would just support some observations by eye/ watching their behavior?

[Antennal_Scrobe]

Nevermind, apparently Acromyrmex striatus is still a part of Acromyrmex, and the connection to Trachymyrmex is weakly supported and should be ignored.

Edited by Antennal_Scrobe, November 2 2019 - 7:48 AM.

[gcsnelling]

Makes me wonder how many other genera with such big variations in characteristics we will find are actually multiple genera. I always wonder about the coastal variety vs. the desert variety of Pogonomyrmex californicus.

 

Something I have always wondered about myself.