Widespread throughout Madagascar in forest or shrubland habitats below 1100 m elevation. It has been collected in gallery, dry, littoral, lowland, and montane forests, and in desert spiny bush thicket in the southwest of Madagascar.
- 1 Identification
- 2 Distribution
- 3 Biology
- 4 Castes
- 5 Nomenclature
- 6 References
The species is most similar to Anochetus grandidieri but can be easily distinguished by its large eyes (0.24–0.26 mm), and scapes that surpass occipital lobes (Fisher and Smith 2008).
Keys including this Species
Comores and Madagascar.
Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Distribution based on AntMaps
Distribution based on AntWeb specimens
Check data from AntWeb
Fisher and Smith (2008) - The longer scapes and larger eyes of A. madagascarensis compared to A. grandidieri, correlate with nesting and foraging above the soil layer. The species was most often recorded nesting in rotten logs (99 collection records) followed by sifted litter (41). In addition, it was collected from dead twigs above ground (1), rot pockets (2), ground foragers (20), ground nests (6), Malaise trap (14), on low vegetation (2), and pitfall traps (4).
Males have been collected in Malaise traps in every month of the year and males have been noted to swarm and fly at dusk and early evening.
The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's New General Catalogue, a catalogue of the world's ants.
- madagascarensis. Anochetus africanus var. madagascarensis Forel, 1887: 382 (w.) MADAGASCAR. Fisher & Smith, 2008: 12 (q.m.). Raised to species and senior synonym of friederichsi: Brown, 1978c: 557.
- friederichsi. Anochetus africanus var. friederichsi Forel, 1918b: 155 (w.) MADAGASCAR. Junior synonym of madagascarensis: Brown, 1978c: 557.
Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.
Fisher and Smith (2008) - Measurements: maximum and minimum based on n = 20. HL 1.35–1.68, HW 1.19–1.53, CI 87–94, EL 0.23–0.28, ML 0.73–0.93, MI 53–57, SL 1.11–1.41, SI 89–95, WL 1.60–2.02, FL 1.13–1.54, PW 0.63–0.80.
Inner blade of mandible without teeth and denticles; apical end of inner blade with notched semicircular concavity. Eyes large (0.24–0.26 mm), projecting dorsally. In full face view, antennal scape extends beyond posterior margin of occipital lobe. Dorsal surface of head asetose.
Fisher and Smith (2008) - Measurements: maximum and minimum based on n = 5. HL 1.52–1.66, HW 1.48–1.55, CI 92–97, EL 0.32–0.36, ML 0.81–0.89, MI 53–55, SL 1.26–1.39, SI 85–91, WL 1.99–2.22. FL 1.35–1.49, PW 0.84–0.92.
Very similar to worker and only slightly larger. Queens of only one size. Ergatoid queens not recorded.
Fisher and Smith (2008) - Measurements: maximum and minimum based on n = 5 from Madagascar: HL 0.85–1.89, HW 1.07–1.20, CI 122–135, EL 0.63–0.69, SL 0.20–0.22, SI 18–21, WL 1.90–1.98, FL 1.35–1.47
Males light yellowish brown in color and with large projecting ocelli on vertex.
Fisher and Smith (2008) - Lectotype: worker, Madagascar, Tamatave Province, Ivondro, (Dr. Conrad Keller) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève) present designation [examined] AntWeb CASENT0101574.
Anochetus africanus friederichsi Lectotype: worker, Madagascar, Tamatave Province, Prune Island (Nosy Alanana) (Friederichs) (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle Genève), present designation [examined] AntWeb CASENT010165.
- Brown, W. L., Jr. 1978c. Contributions toward a reclassification of the Formicidae. Part VI. Ponerinae, tribe Ponerini, subtribe Odontomachiti. Section B. Genus Anochetus and bibliography. Stud. Entomol. 20: 549-638 (page 557, Raised to species, and senior synonym of friederichsi)
- Fisher, B. L. and M. A. Smith. 2008. A Revision of Malagasy Species of Anochetus Mayr and Odontomachus Latreille (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). PloS one. 3:e1787.
- Forel, A. 1887. Fourmis récoltées à Madagascar par le Dr. Conrad Keller. Mitt. Schweiz. Entomol. Ges. 7: 381-389 (page 382, worker described)
- Vankerkhoven, F., Hendrickx, H.,& Dekoninck, W. 2010. Anochetus madagascarensis found in Madagascan copal (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Bulletin de la Société Royale Belge d'Entomologie 146: 216-219.