''Peronomyrmex'' is a rare
genus 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 ...
.
Its three species are known from the east coast of
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. With only five specimens in total, collected from four localities, ''Peronomyrmex'' is one of the world's most rare ant genera.
''Peronomyrmex'' was first described with the
type species ''P. overbecki'' by
Emery (1920), based on a single worker from
New South Wales.
The genus remained
monotypic until 2002 when Shattuck & Hinkley described ''P. bartoni'' from central
Victoria.
Shattuck (2006) described a third species, ''P. greavesi'' from northern
Queensland. The ''P. greavesi'' specimen was originally collected in 1937, but subsequently placed in the collections of the
Museum of Comparative Zoology,
Cambridge, United States, where it remained until it was rediscovered in 2004.
Little is known about their biology, but they are likely nocturnal, arboreal, and have cryptic habits, which partially explains their infrequent collection. More species of this genus are likely to be discovered in the future.
Species
*''
Peronomyrmex bartoni''
Shattuck & Hinkley, 2002 –
Victoria
*''
Peronomyrmex greavesi''
Shattuck, 2006 –
Queensland
*''
Peronomyrmex overbecki''
Viehmeyer, 1922 –
New South Wales and
Queensland
References
External links
*
Myrmicinae
Ant genera
Hymenoptera of Australia
{{myrmicinae-stub