The animal fauna of the Socotra Archipelago is influenced by three biogeographical regions, the Afrotropical, the Oriental and the Palaearctic. Consequently, the Archipelago shares faunal elements of these three regions in addition to...
moreThe animal fauna of the Socotra Archipelago is influenced by three
biogeographical regions, the Afrotropical, the Oriental and the
Palaearctic. Consequently, the Archipelago shares faunal elements
of these three regions in addition to unique endemic taxa. The ant
fauna of Socotra Island was studied and is reviewed based on
literature and newly collected material. In total, 28 species,
belonging to 10 genera and four subfamilies, were collected
from the main island. Eighteen of these (64%) are successful
invasive species, seven are native (25%), and three are considered
endemic (11%), Cardiocondyla longiceps Seifert, Monomorium
elghazalyi sp. nov. and Monomorium nimihil Collingwood et al.
Two genera are recorded for the first time from the island,
Hypoponera Santschi, and Syllophopsis Santschi. Ten species are
recorded for the first time, Cardiocondyla mauritanica Forel,
Cardiocondyla minutior Forel, Monomorium atomum Forel,
Monomorium dichroum Forel, Monomorium exiguum Forel,
Pheidole pallidula (Nylander), Syllophopsis cryptobia (Santschi),
Tetramorium pauper Forel, Tetramorium transformans Santschi
and Hypoponera punctatissima (Roger). Ten invasive species are
recorded from Socotra, reflecting human impacts on the
Archipelago. These species are Tapinoma melanocephalum
(Fabricius), Cardiocondyla emeryi Forel, Monomorium exiguum
Forel, Pheidole indica Mayr, Syllophopsis cryptobia (Santschi),
Tetramorium lanuginosum Mayr, Tetramorium simillimum (Smith),
Tetramorium caldarium (Roger), Trichomyrmex destructor (Jerdon)
and Trichomyrmex mayri (Forel). Our survey indicated a mixture of
Afrotropical faunal elements (10 species, 36%), followed by cosmopolitan
(nine species, 32%), Palaearctic (five species, 18%) and
Oriental (four species, 14%) taxa. Two new synonyms of
Monomorium exiguum Forel are proposed: Monomorium exiguum
Forel = Monomorium baushare Collingwood & Agosti syn.
nov. = Monomorium qarahe Collingwood & Agosti syn. nov.