Cyatta abscondita: Taxonomy, Evolution, and Natural History of a New Fungus-Farming Ant Genus from Brazil

Author(s)

Sosa-Calvo, Jeffrey ^{[1, 2]} ; Schultz, Ted R. ^[1] ; Brandao, Carlos R. F. ^[3] ; Klingenberg, Christiana ^[4] ; Feitosa, Rodrigo M. ^[5] ; Rabeling, Christian ^[6] ; Bacci, Jr., Mauricio ^[7] ; Lopes, Caue T. ^[8] ; Vasconcelos, Heraldo L. ^[8]

Affiliation

^[1] Smithsonian Inst, Dept Entomol, Natl Museum Nat Hist, Washington, DC 20560 - USA

^[2] Univ Maryland, Dept Entomol, Maryland Ctr Systemat Entomol, College Pk, MD 20742 - USA

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Museu Zool, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Staatl Museum Nat Kunde, Abt Entomol, Karlsruhe - Germany

^[5] Univ Fed Parana, Dept Zool, BR-80060000 Curitiba, Parana - Brazil

^[6] Harvard Univ, Museum Comparat Zool, Cambridge, MA 02138 - USA

^[7] Univ Estadual Paulista, Ctr Estudos Insetos Sociais, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[8] Univ Fed Uberlandia, Inst Biol, BR-38400 Uberlandia, MG - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PLoS One; v. 8, n. 11 NOV 15 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 21

Abstract

Cyatta abscondita, a new genus and species of fungus-farming ant from Brazil, is described based on morphological study of more than 20 workers, two dealate gynes, one male, and two larvae. Ecological field data are summarized, including natural history, nest architecture, and foraging behavior. Phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequence data from four nuclear genes indicate that Cyatta abscondita is the distant sister taxon of the genus Kalathomyrmex, and that together they comprise the sister group of the remaining neoattine ants, an informal clade that includes the conspicuous and well-known leaf-cutter ants. Morphologically, Cyatta abscondita shares very few obvious character states with Kalathomyrmex. It does, however, possess a number of striking morphological features unique within the fungus-farming tribe Attini. It also shares morphological character states with taxa that span the ancestral node of the Attini. The morphology, behavior, and other biological characters of Cyatta abscondita are potentially informative about plesiomorphic character states within the fungus-farming ants and about the early evolution of ant agriculture. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 06/00185-7 - Molecular systematics and diversity of some species of leaf-cutting ants
• Grantee: Mauricio Bacci Junior
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/24160-1 - Phylogeny, molecular dating and biogeography of Heteroponerinae ants (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)
• Grantee: Rodrigo dos Santos Machado Feitosa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral