Cephalotes resinae

Quick Summary

• Difficulty: Not applicable, fossil species cannot be kept
• Origin & Habitat: Dominican Republic, known only from copal (subfossil resin) deposits ^[1][2]
• Colony Type: Not applicable, only a single fossil worker specimen is known ^[2]
• Size & Growth:
  • Queen: Unknown, only worker caste known from fossil ^[2]
  • Worker: 6.84 mm total length ^[2]
  • Colony: Unknown, no living colonies exist ^[2]
  • Growth: Not applicable
  • Development: Not applicable, species is extinct (No living specimens exist to observe development)
• Antkeeping:
  • Temperature: Not applicable, cannot be kept in captivity
  • Humidity: Not applicable
  • Diapause: Not applicable
  • Nesting: Not applicable, known only from copal fossil ^[2]
• Behavior: Not applicable, no living specimens exist to observe behavior
• Common Issues: This species is only known from a single fossil specimen in copal and cannot be kept as a living colony, No living colonies or queens have ever been found, the species appears to be extinct or extremely rare, Cephalotes resinae is only found preserved in Dominican copal, not in living ant populations

Why This Species Cannot Be Kept

Cephalotes resinae is a fossil species that cannot be kept in captivity. Unlike some Cephalotes species that are still extant and can be collected from the wild, this species is only known from a single worker specimen preserved in Dominican copal. Copal is younger than amber but older than recent resin deposits, and specimens preserved in it are not alive, they are fossilized remains. No living colonies, queens, or additional specimens of this species have ever been documented. The species was described in 1999 from this single specimen, and it remains known only from this single fossil ^[1][2]. For antkeepers interested in the Cephalotes genus, consider looking at extant species such as Cephalotes varians, Cephalotes atratus, or other living species in the genus that are available through legitimate sources.

Taxonomic Position and Relations

Cephalotes resinae belongs to the hamulus clade of the genus Cephalotes, which is part of the tribe Attini in the subfamily Myrmicinae. It is considered the sister species to Cephalotes auricomus, a Recent species also endemic to the Dominican Republic. Both species share distinctive features including dense body striation, black coloration, and thick long hairs on the first gastral tergite ^[2]. The hamulus clade represents a group of Cephalotes species that are endemic to Hispaniola. Notably, both copal species described from the Dominican Republic in the original description (C. taino and C. resinae) belong to this Recent Hispaniolan endemic clade, rather than the much more numerous true fossils found in Dominican amber ^[2].

Physical Characteristics

The holotype worker of Cephalotes resinae measures 6.84 mm in total length ^[2]. The species has several distinctive morphological features: thick and regular body striation that covers the head, mesosoma, petiole, and postpetiole, the pilosity is dense enough to hide the underlying sculpture, the first gastral tergite is black with long, thick hairs ^[1]. The vertexal angles are round with a crenulate margin, and the propodeal spines are shorter than the basal face of the propodeum, thin and oriented posterolaterally ^[2]. The species has a robust mesosoma in side view, with well-visible scapular angles and a pair of spines on the humeral angles directed anterolaterally with round tips ^[2].

Fossil Preservation Context

Cephalotes resinae is preserved in Dominican copal, which is a type of subfossil resin. Copal is younger than true amber but older than fresh resin, typically ranging from thousands to a few million years old. The specimen is embedded in copal sample Do-3566 from the Statliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart ^[2]. The copal specimen lacks exact locality information within the Dominican Republic. The preservation in copal means the ant is not alive and cannot be used to establish a living colony. The species name 'resinae' was chosen from the Latin 'resina' to contrast with fossilized resin and refers to the copal in which the specimen is embedded ^[2].

Frequently Asked Questions

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References