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Gracilidris is a genus of dolichoderine ants known from a single
extant South American species, G. pombero, and a single extinct
species from the Dominican
Amber, G. humilioides. The recent discovery of living
populations spurred the description of Gracilidris as a new genus
(Wild &
Cuezzo 2006), and has led to the observation that Gracilidris
is a "Lazarus taxon",
a group of organisms previously thought extinct that has appeared again
after many millions of years. This is a bit of an exageration, however.
The perceived rarity of living Gracilidris more likely stems from
its nocturnal habits and its association with habitats that are not frequently
visited by entomologists.
These slender ants can be distinguished from other dolichoderine ants
by the large eyes that touch the lateral margins of the head in full-face
view, the long antennal scapes, the lack of erect setae on the dorsum of
the mesosoma, and (in G. pombero) the shape of the petiolar scale,
which curves backward at the apex.
reference:
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Wild, A. L., and F. Cuezzo. 2006. Rediscovery of a fossil
dolichoderine ant lineage (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Dolichoderinae) and
a description of a new genus from South America. Zootaxa 1142: 57-68.
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