''Simopelta'' is a
Neotropical 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 ...
Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slender, small in size (2.1–4.9 mm), and black to orange in color. Queens are dichthadiiform (wingless and with enlarged
gasters) and "
morphologically simplified" relative to workers. Males remain unknown.
Species have an
army-ant life style, including group predation and nomadism. However, belonging to the
tribe
The term tribe is used in many different contexts to refer to a category of human social group. The predominant worldwide usage of the term in English language, English is in the discipline of anthropology. This definition is contested, in p ...
Ponerini
Ponerini is a tribe of Ponerinae ants with 46 genera and 6 extinct genera.
Genera
*''Anochetus''
*†'' Archiponera''
*''Asphinctopone''
*''Austroponera''
*''Belonopelta''
*''Boloponera''
*''Bothroponera''
*''Brachyponera''
*''Buniapone ...
, they are evidently ponerines and the army-ant like characters are deemed to have evolved through
convergent evolution
Convergent evolution is the independent evolution of similar features in species of different periods or epochs in time. Convergent evolution creates analogous structures that have similar form or function but were not present in the last com ...
. Compared to other ponerines, colonies are large, consisting of 1,000 to 2,000 individuals.
Species
*''
Simopelta andersoni''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta bicolor''
Borgmeier, 1950
*''
Simopelta breviscapa
''Simopelta'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slende ...
''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta curvata''
(Mayr, 1887)
*''
Simopelta fernandezi''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta jeckylli''
(Mann, 1916)
*''
Simopelta laevigata''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta laticeps''
Gotwald & Brown, 1967
*''
Simopelta longinoda''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta longirostris''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta manni''
Wheeler, 1935
*''
Simopelta mayri''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta minima''
(Brandao, 1989)
*''
Simopelta oculata''
Gotwald & Brown, 1967
*''
Simopelta paeminosa
''Simopelta'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slende ...
''
Snelling, 1971
*''
Simopelta pentadentata
''Simopelta'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slende ...
''
*''
Simopelta pergandei
''Simopelta'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slende ...
''
(Forel, 1909)
*''
Simopelta quadridentata
''Simopelta'' is a Neotropical genus of ants in the subfamily Ponerinae.
Distribution
The genus is known from central and northern South America, where they are primarily found in mid-elevation moist forests.
Description
Workers are slender, ...
''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta transversa''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta vieirai''
MacKay & MacKay, 2008
*''
Simopelta williamsi''
Wheeler, 1935
References
External links
*
Ponerinae
Ant genera
Hymenoptera of South America
{{Ponerinae-stub