Formiciinae: Difference between revisions
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{{Automatic taxobox |
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{{Taxobox |
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| name = ''Formicium'' |
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| fossil_range = [[Eocene]] |
| fossil_range = [[Eocene]] |
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| taxon = Formiciinae |
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| authority = Lutz, 1986 |
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| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a |
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| subdivision_ranks = [[Genera]] |
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| ordo = [[Hymenoptera]] |
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| subordo = [[Apocrita]] |
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| superfamilia = [[Vespoidea]] |
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| familia = [[Ant|Formicidae]] |
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| subfamilia = '''Formiciinae'''(extinct) |
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| genus = '''''Formicium''''' |
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| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]] |
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| subdivision = |
| subdivision = |
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*''[[Formicium |
*''[[Formicium]]'' <small>Westwood, 1854</small> |
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*''[[ |
*''[[Titanomyrma]]'' <small>Archibald ''et al'' 2011</small> |
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*''[[Formicium giganteum]]'' <small>Lutz, 1986</small> |
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*''[[Formicium mirabile]]'' <small>Cockerell, 1920</small> |
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*''[[Formicium simillimum]]'' <small>Lutz, 1986</small> |
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}} |
}} |
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'''Formiciinae''' is an [[extinct]] subfamily of [[ant]]s known from [[Eocene]] deposits in [[Europe]] and [[North America]].<ref name="Archibald2011">{{cite journal |last1=Archibald| first1=S. Bruce |last2=Johnson |first2=Kirk R. |last3=Mathewes |first3=Rolf W. |last4=Greenwood |first4=David R. |year=in press |title=Intercontinental dispersal of giant thermophilic ants across the Arctic during early Eocene hyperthermals |journal=[[Proceedings of the Royal Society B]] |volume= |issue= |pages= |doi=10.1098/rspb.2011.0729 |pmid= |url=http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/early/2011/05/03/rspb.2011.0729.abstract}}</ref> |
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The '''Formiciinae''' is a [[fossil]] subfamily of [[ant]]. The type and only [[genus]] is '''''Formicium'''''. The genus ''Formicium'' includes at this moment 5 [[species]] and is known only from queens and males. Workers were never found. The [[wingspan]] of the sexuals is the biggest among ants, both extant and [[extinct]] types combined, that have ever been found. The queens have a maximum wingspan of 13 to 15 cm. They were real giants (one of the species is called ''F. giganteum''). Two of the species are known from queens and males, both from an [[Eocene]] deposit in [[Messel, Germany]]. The others are only known from isolated wings ([[Great Britain|Britain]] and [[USA]]). It is suspected that more species can be found in Messel and nearby deposits. |
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==Genera== |
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== External links == |
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The type [[genus]] is ''[[Formicium]]'' with the genus ''[[Titanomyrma]]'' being described in 2011. ''Formicium'' includes the described [[species]] which are known from fossil wings only. ''Formicium'' is known from three species. ''Formicium mirabile'', named by [[Theodore Dru Alison Cockerell|Theodore D. A. Cockerell]] in 1920, and ''Formicium brodiei'', named by [[John Obadiah Westwood|John O. Westwood]] in 1854, are both known from [[Wing (insect)|fore wings]] found in the [[middle Eocene]] of [[Bournemouth]], [[Dorset, England]].<ref name="Archibald2011"/> The third species named, ''Formicium berryi'' was named by [[Frank M. Carpenter]] in 1929 from the middle Eocene [[Claiborne Formation]] in [[Puryear, Tennessee]], USA, though he misidentified the formation as the [[Wilcox Formation]]. ''F. berryi'' was the first described occurrence of the genus and, until 2011, the subfamily, in North America.<ref name="Archibald2011"/> With the description of ''Titanomyrma'', the two species already described from complete body specimens, ''Formicium giganteum'' and ''F. simillimum'', were transferred to the new genus as ''Titanomyrma giganteum'' and T. simillimum'' respectively. ''Titanomyrma'' also contains a third species, ''T. lubei'' described in the same paper as the genus and which is the second member of the subfamily known from North America.<ref name="Archibald2011"/> |
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==Size== |
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* [http://www.lasius.narod.ru/antGenera/Formiciinae1.htm The biggest ants Formiciinae] |
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While workers belonging to the subfamily have not been found, queens and males for ''T. giganteum'' and ''T. simillimum'' are known and ''T. lubei'' is known from a single queen. The average size for the queens and males in ''Titanomyrma'' is equal to that of some of the largest modern ants known. Only the queens of ''[[Dorylus wilverthi]]'' currenly reach similar lengths, up to {{convert|52|mm|in}} as the smallest species of ''Titanomyrma'', ''T. lubei''.<ref name="Archibald2011"/> Formiciinae members were restricted in habitat to living in regions which had a [[mesic]] wet climate and had and average mean annual temperature of {{convert|20|°C|°F}} or greater. This is similar to the restricted ranges found in the largest species of modern ants.<ref name="Archibald2011"/> The spread of the subfamily from Europe to North America is postulated to have been across the [[North Atlantic]] landbridges which were present in the Eocene. While the average temperatures for this route are though to have been lower then the range needed for Formiciinae species, a series of [[hyperthemal]] events throughout the Eocene are suggested as aides in the crossing.<ref name="Archibald2011"/> |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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[[Category:Subfamilies of the Formicidae]] |
[[Category:Subfamilies of the Formicidae]] |
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[[Category:Eocene insects]] |
[[Category:Eocene insects]] |
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{{ant-stub}} |
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{{portal|Paleontology}} |
{{portal|Paleontology}} |
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Revision as of 06:37, 18 May 2011
| Formiciinae Temporal range: Eocene
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Hymenoptera |
| Family: | Formicidae |
| Subfamily: | †Formiciinae Lutz, 1986 |
| Genera | |
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Formiciinae is an extinct subfamily of ants known from Eocene deposits in Europe and North America.[1]
Genera
The type genus is Formicium with the genus Titanomyrma being described in 2011. Formicium includes the described species which are known from fossil wings only. Formicium is known from three species. Formicium mirabile, named by Theodore D. A. Cockerell in 1920, and Formicium brodiei, named by John O. Westwood in 1854, are both known from fore wings found in the middle Eocene of Bournemouth, Dorset, England.[1] The third species named, Formicium berryi was named by Frank M. Carpenter in 1929 from the middle Eocene Claiborne Formation in Puryear, Tennessee, USA, though he misidentified the formation as the Wilcox Formation. F. berryi was the first described occurrence of the genus and, until 2011, the subfamily, in North America.[1] With the description of Titanomyrma, the two species already described from complete body specimens, Formicium giganteum and F. simillimum, were transferred to the new genus as Titanomyrma giganteum and T. simillimum respectively. Titanomyrma also contains a third species, T. lubei described in the same paper as the genus and which is the second member of the subfamily known from North America.[1]
Size
While workers belonging to the subfamily have not been found, queens and males for T. giganteum and T. simillimum are known and T. lubei is known from a single queen. The average size for the queens and males in Titanomyrma is equal to that of some of the largest modern ants known. Only the queens of Dorylus wilverthi currenly reach similar lengths, up to 52 millimetres (2.0 in) as the smallest species of Titanomyrma, T. lubei.[1] Formiciinae members were restricted in habitat to living in regions which had a mesic wet climate and had and average mean annual temperature of 20 °C (68 °F) or greater. This is similar to the restricted ranges found in the largest species of modern ants.[1] The spread of the subfamily from Europe to North America is postulated to have been across the North Atlantic landbridges which were present in the Eocene. While the average temperatures for this route are though to have been lower then the range needed for Formiciinae species, a series of hyperthemal events throughout the Eocene are suggested as aides in the crossing.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Archibald, S. Bruce; Johnson, Kirk R.; Mathewes, Rolf W.; Greenwood, David R. (in press). "Intercontinental dispersal of giant thermophilic ants across the Arctic during early Eocene hyperthermals". Proceedings of the Royal Society B. doi:10.1098/rspb.2011.0729.
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