Cardiocondyla pirata paratype - ZooKeys-301-013-g003

''Cardiocondyla'' is an

Old World The "Old World" is a term for Afro-Eurasia that originated in Europe , after Europeans became aware of the existence of the Americas. It is used to contrast the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia, which were previously thought of by the ...

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

of ants in the

subfamily In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...

Myrmicinae Myrmicinae is a subfamily of ants, with about 140 extant genera; their distribution is cosmopolitan. The pupae lack cocoons. Some species retain a functional sting. The petioles of Myrmicinae consist of two nodes. The nests are permanent and ...

Distribution

Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World

tropics The tropics are the regions of Earth surrounding the Equator. They are defined in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the Northern Hemisphere at N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern Hemisphere at S. The tropics are also referred to ...

and

subtropics The subtropical zones or subtropics are geographical and climate zones to the north and south of the tropics. Geographically part of the temperate zones of both hemispheres, they cover the middle latitudes from to approximately 35° north and ...

, but a few of which occur in the temperate zone. Some species are also found widely separated in North America and the Pacific Islands, as a result of human introduction.

Description

Several species of this genus have a striking male polymorphism, with both winged and wingless forms. These males differ not only in

morphology Morphology, from the Greek and meaning "study of shape", may refer to: Disciplines *Morphology (archaeology), study of the shapes or forms of artifacts *Morphology (astronomy), study of the shape of astronomical objects such as nebulae, galaxies, ...

, but also in reproductive tactics. Closely related genera are ''

Leptothorax ''Leptothorax'' is a genus of small ants with mainly Holarctic distributions. The genus is notable for its widespread social parasitism, i.e. they are dependent on the help of workers from other ant species during a part or the whole of their lif ...

'', ''

Stereomyrmex ''Stereomyrmex'' is a genus of myrmicine ants. Two of the described species are known from only a single worker, making this one of the rarest groups of ants in the world.Australian Ants OnlineGenus ''Stereomyrmex''/ref> Biology The single sp ...

'' and ''

Romblonella ''Romblonella'' is a genus of myrmicine ants. Systematics ''Romblonella'' is probably the sister taxon to '' Stereomyrmex''. Closely related genera are ''Leptothorax'' and ''Cardiocondyla''.Taylor, Robert W. (1991): Notes on the ant genera ''R ...

''.

Outbreeding

''Cardiocondyla elegans'' worker ants transport young queen ants to alien nests to promote outbreeding.Vidal M, Königseder F, Giehr J, Schrempf A, Lucas C, Heinze J. Worker ants promote outbreeding by transporting young queens to alien nests. Commun Biol. 2021 May 3;4(1):515. doi: 10.1038/s42003-021-02016-1. PMID: 33941829; PMCID: PMC8093424 This allows avoidance of

inbreeding depression Inbreeding depression is the reduced biological fitness which has the potential to result from inbreeding (the breeding of related individuals). Biological fitness refers to an organism's ability to survive and perpetuate its genetic material. In ...

. The worker ants, sisters of these queens, may transport the queens several meters from their natal nest and drop them off at another, alien nest to promote outbreeding with wingless stationary males in a process somewhat analogous to third party matchmaking in humans. After mating during the winter, the sexual females may depart in the spring and found their own colonies.

Species

*''

Cardiocondyla atalanta ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, b ...

'' Forel, 1915 *'' Cardiocondyla batesii'' Forel, 1894 *'' Cardiocondyla bicoronata'' Seifert, 2003 *''

Cardiocondyla brachyceps ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, but a ...

'' Seifert, 2003 *''

Cardiocondyla breviscapa ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, but a ...

'' Seifert, 2003 *''

Cardiocondyla britteni ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, but a ...

'' Crawley, 1920 *''

Cardiocondyla bulgarica ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, b ...

'' Forel, 1892 *''

Cardiocondyla carbonaria ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, b ...

'' Forel, 1907 *''

Cardiocondyla cristata ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, b ...

'' (Santschi, 1912) *''

Cardiocondyla elegans ''Cardiocondyla elegans'' is an ant Ants are eusocial insects of the family Formicidae and, along with the related wasps and bees, belong to the order Hymenoptera. Ants evolved from vespoid wasp ancestors in the Cretaceous period. M ...

'' Emery, 1869 *''

Cardiocondyla emeryi ''Cardiocondyla emeryi'' is a species of ant in the subfamily Myrmicinae. There are two subspecies recognized. The type subspecies is found in numerous countries, through its large introduced range. Subspecies *''Cardiocondyla emeryi emeryi'' ...

'' Forel, 1881 *''

Cardiocondyla fajumensis ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, b ...

'' Forel, 1913 *''

Cardiocondyla gallagheri ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, b ...

'' Collingwood & Agosti, 1996 *''

Cardiocondyla gallilaeica ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, b ...

'' Seifert, 2003 *''

Cardiocondyla gibbosa ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, b ...

'' Kuznetsov-Ugamsky, 1927 *''

Cardiocondyla goa ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, but ...

'' Seifert, 2003 *'' Cardiocondyla humilis'' (Smith, 1858) *''

Cardiocondyla insutura ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, b ...

'' Zhou, 2001 *'' Cardiocondyla israelica'' Seifert, 2003 *'' Cardiocondyla jacquemini'' Bernard, 1953 *'' Cardiocondyla kagutsuchi'' Terayama, 1999 *'' Cardiocondyla koshewnikovi'' Ruzsky, 1902 *''

Cardiocondyla kushanica ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, but ...

'' Pisarski, 1967 *'' Cardiocondyla littoralis'' Seifert, 2003 *'' Cardiocondyla longiceps'' Seifert, 2003 *'' Cardiocondyla longinoda'' Rigato, 2002 *'' Cardiocondyla luciae'' Rigato, 2002 *''

Cardiocondyla mauritanica ''Cardiocondyla mauritanica'' is a species of ant in the family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationsh ...

'' Forel, 1890 *'' Cardiocondyla melana'' Seifert, 2003 *'' Cardiocondyla minutior'' Forel, 1899 *'' Cardiocondyla monardi'' Santschi, 1930 *''

Cardiocondyla nana ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, but ...

'' Seifert, 2003 *'' Cardiocondyla neferka'' Bolton, 1982 *'' Cardiocondyla nigra'' Forel, 1905 *'' Cardiocondyla nigrocerea'' Karavaiev, 1935 *'' Cardiocondyla nivalis'' Mann, 1919 *'' Cardiocondyla nuda'' (Mayr, 1866) *'' Cardiocondyla obscurior'' Wheeler, 1929 *''

Cardiocondyla opaca ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, but ...

'' Seifert, 2003 *'' Cardiocondyla opistopsis'' Seifert, 2003 *''

Cardiocondyla papuana ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, but a ...

'' (Reiskind, 1965) *''

Cardiocondyla paradoxa ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, but a ...

'' Emery, 1897 *''

Cardiocondyla paranuda ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, but a ...

'' Seifert, 2003 *''

Cardiocondyla parvinoda ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, but ...

'' Forel, 1902 *''

Cardiocondyla persiana ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, but ...

'' Seifert, 2003 *'' Cardiocondyla pirata'' Seifert & Frohschammer, 2013 *'' Cardiocondyla rugulosa'' Seifert, 2003 *'' Cardiocondyla sahlbergi'' Forel, 1913 *''

Cardiocondyla sekhemka ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, but a ...

'' Bolton, 1982 *'' Cardiocondyla semirubra'' Seifert, 2003 *'' Cardiocondyla shagrinata'' Seifert, 2003 *'' Cardiocondyla shuckardi'' Forel, 1891 *'' Cardiocondyla sima'' Wheeler, 1935 *'' Cardiocondyla stambuloffii'' Forel, 1892 *'' Cardiocondyla strigifrons'' Viehmeyer, 1922 *'' Cardiocondyla tenuifrons'' Seifert, 2003 *'' Cardiocondyla thoracica'' (Smith, 1859) *''

Cardiocondyla tibetana ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, but ...

'' Seifert, 2003 *'' Cardiocondyla tiwarii'' Ghosh, Sheela & Kundu, 2005 *'' Cardiocondyla tjibodana'' Karavaiev, 1935 *'' Cardiocondyla ulianini'' Emery, 1889 *'' Cardiocondyla unicalis'' Seifert, 2003 *'' Cardiocondyla venustula'' Wheeler, 1908 *'' Cardiocondyla weserka'' Bolton, 1982 *'' Cardiocondyla wheeleri'' Viehmeyer, 1914 *''

Cardiocondyla wroughtonii ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, b ...

'' (Forel, 1890) *''

Cardiocondyla yemeni ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, b ...

'' Collingwood & Agosti, 1996 *''

Cardiocondyla yoruba ''Cardiocondyla'' is an Old World genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. Distribution Approximately 70 species are currently recognized as belonging to this genus, most of which are distributed in the Old World tropics and subtropics, but ...

'' Rigato, 2002 *'' Cardiocondyla zoserka'' Bolton, 1982

References

* Emery, C. 1869: Enumerazione dei Formicidi che rinvengonsi nei contorni di Napoli. Annali dell'Accademia degli Aspiranti Naturalisti, (2)2: 1-26. *

External links

* * Myrmicinae Ant genera Taxa named by Carlo Emery Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{myrmicinae-stub