Psammotermes allocerus: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Species of termite}}
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| image = Psammotermes allocerus.jpg
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| taxon = Psammotermes allocerus
| taxon = Psammotermes allocerus
| authority = [[Filippo Silvestri|Silvestri]], 1908<ref>{{cite journal |last=Silvestri |first=F. |year=1908 |title=B. Archiptera (I.). Termitidae |journal=Denkschriften der Medicinisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft zu Jena |volume=13 |pages=69–82 |url=http://biostor.org/reference/127222}}</ref>
| authority = Silvestri, 1908
}}
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'''''Psammotermes allocerus''''' is a sand [[termite]] that lives in the deserts of Namibia and neighboring countries. They were thought to be responsible for the creation of [[Fairy circle (Africa)|fairy circles]],<ref>[https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=mysterious-desert-fairy-circles-cau-13-03-28 Mysterious Desert 'Fairy Circles' Caused By Termites], [[Scientific American]]</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Juergens|first=N.|title=The Biological Underpinnings of Namib Desert Fairy Circles|journal=Science|date=2013|volume=339|issue=6127|pages=1618–1621|doi=10.1126/science.1222999|pmid=23539605|bibcode=2013Sci...339.1618J|s2cid=206541797}}</ref> until that theory was disproven in 2013.<ref name="PLOS">{{cite journal |last1=Tschinkel |first1=W.R. |title=The Life Cycle and Life Span of Namibian Fairy Circles |journal=PLOS ONE |date=2012 |volume=7 |issue=6 |page=e38056 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0038056 |pmid=22761663 |pmc=3384657|bibcode=2012PLoSO...738056T |doi-access=free }}</ref>
'''''Psammotermes allocerus''''' Silvestri, 1908<ref>{{cite journal
| last = Silvestri


''Psammotermes'' is essentially a desert-dwelling termite, and seems to replace ''Anacanthotermes'' in drier areas. Well-adapted to very dry conditions, it may be found in areas where there is little evidence of other arthropods. The species even inhabits areas where there are no vegetation: in those cases, it is thought to survive on the wind blown accumulation of organic debris. It is also found in the dry regions of the southern African interior that are almost devoid of soil. Coaton & Sheasby (1973).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://termites.myspecies.info/content/psammotermes|title=Psammotermes &#124; Termites of the World}}</ref>
| first = F

| year = 1908

| title = B. Archiptera (I.). Termitidae

| journal = Denkschriften der Medicinisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft zu Jena

| volume = 13

| pages = 69-82

| url = http://biostor.org/reference/127222

}}</ref> is a sand [[termite]] that lives in the deserts of [[Namibia]] and neighboring countries. They were thought to be responsible for the creation of [[fairy circle (Africa)|fairy circles]],<ref>[https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode.cfm?id=mysterious-desert-fairy-circles-cau-13-03-28 Mysterious Desert 'Fairy Circles' Caused By Termites], [[Scientific America]]</ref> <ref>{{cite journal|last=Juergens|first=N.|title=The Biological Underpinnings of Namib Desert Fairy Circles|journal=Science|date=2013|volume=339|issue=6127|pages=1618–1621|doi=10.1126/science.1222999}}</ref> until that theory was disproven in 2013. <ref name="PLOS">{{cite journal|last1=Tschinkel|first1=W.R.|title=The Life Cycle and Life Span of Namibian Fairy Circles|journal=PLoS ONE|date=2012|issue=PLoS ONE 7(6): e38056|doi=10.1371|url=http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0038056|accessdate=25 October 2016}}</ref>

''Psammotermes'' is essentially a desert-dwelling termite, and seems to replace ''Anacanthotermes'' in drier areas. Well-adapted to very dry conditions, it may be found in areas where there is little evidence of other arthropods. The species even inhabits areas where there are no vegetation: in those cases, it is thought to survive on the wind blown accumulation of organic debris. It is also found in the dry regions of the southern African interior that are almost devoid of soil. Coaton & Sheasby (1973).<ref>http://termites.myspecies.info/content/psammotermes</ref>


== References ==
== References ==
<references />
<references />

{{Taxonbar|from=Q16988626}}


[[Category:Termites]]
[[Category:Termites]]
[[Category:Insects of Namibia]]
[[Category:Taxa named by Filippo Silvestri]]
[[Category:Insects described in 1908]]





Latest revision as of 12:08, 16 October 2023

Psammotermes allocerus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Blattodea
Infraorder: Isoptera
Family: Rhinotermitidae
Genus: Psammotermes
Species:
P. allocerus
Binomial name
Psammotermes allocerus

Psammotermes allocerus is a sand termite that lives in the deserts of Namibia and neighboring countries. They were thought to be responsible for the creation of fairy circles,[2][3] until that theory was disproven in 2013.[4]

Psammotermes is essentially a desert-dwelling termite, and seems to replace Anacanthotermes in drier areas. Well-adapted to very dry conditions, it may be found in areas where there is little evidence of other arthropods. The species even inhabits areas where there are no vegetation: in those cases, it is thought to survive on the wind blown accumulation of organic debris. It is also found in the dry regions of the southern African interior that are almost devoid of soil. Coaton & Sheasby (1973).[5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Silvestri, F. (1908). "B. Archiptera (I.). Termitidae". Denkschriften der Medicinisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft zu Jena. 13: 69–82.
  2. ^ Mysterious Desert 'Fairy Circles' Caused By Termites, Scientific American
  3. ^ Juergens, N. (2013). "The Biological Underpinnings of Namib Desert Fairy Circles". Science. 339 (6127): 1618–1621. Bibcode:2013Sci...339.1618J. doi:10.1126/science.1222999. PMID 23539605. S2CID 206541797.
  4. ^ Tschinkel, W.R. (2012). "The Life Cycle and Life Span of Namibian Fairy Circles". PLOS ONE. 7 (6): e38056. Bibcode:2012PLoSO...738056T. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0038056. PMC 3384657. PMID 22761663.
  5. ^ "Psammotermes | Termites of the World".