New genera of termites related to Subulitermes from the Oriental, Malagasy, and Australian regions (Isoptera, Termitidae, Nasutitermitinae). American Museum novitates ; no. 1986
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Abstract
"The relative values of adaptive characters, non-adaptive characters, regressive characters, progressive characters, conservative characters, and rapidly evolving characters for phylogenetic interpretation are discussed. The diphyletic origin of the nasute soldier in the Nasutitermes branch and in the Subulitermes branch of the Nasutitermitinae (Termitidae) is indicated. After the origin of the nasute soldier with regressed mandibles in the Neotropical region in Cretaceous times, it is postulated that genera in both branches dispersed to the Oriental region and then to the Ethiopian and Malagasy regions on the one hand, and to the Australian region on the other. From these highly advanced termites, endemic genera evolved during Tertiary times in each major isolated zoogeographical region. New genera are named and described on the Subulitermes branch from species already described and named. All were formerly placed under other generic names. Following are the new genera and the new combinations of specific names: Leucopitermes, new genus from the Oriental region, includes the type species, Leucopitermes leucops (Holmgren), a new combination for Eutermes leucops Holmgren, which was also placed in the subgenus and genus Subulitermes. Part of the cotype specimens of Termes aciculatus Haviland are placed in synonymy with Leucopitermes leucops (Holmgren). Aciculitermes, new genus from the Oriental region, includes the type species, Aciculitermes aciculatus (Haviland), a new combination for Termes aciculatus Haviland later placed in Eutermes and Subulitermes. Ceylonitermellus, new genus from the Oriental region, includes the type species, Ceylonitermellus hantanae (Holmgren), a new combination for Eutermes hantanae Holmgren later placed in Subulitermes, and one other species, Ceylonitermellus kotuae (Bugnion), a new combination for Eutermes kotuae Bugnion later placed in Subulitermes. Oriensubulitermes, new genus from the Oriental region, includes the type species, Oriensubulitermes inanis (Haviland), a new combination for Termes inanis Haviland later placed in Eutermes and Subulitermes, and one other species, Oriensubulitermes inaniformis (Holmgren), a new combination for Eutermes inaniformis Holmgren also placed in Subulitermes. Malagasitermes, new genus from the Malagasy region, includes the type species, Malagasitermes milloti (Cachan), a new combination for Eutermes milloti Cachan. Occultitermes, new genus from the Australian region, includes the type species, Occultitermes occultus (Hill), a new combination for Mirotermes occultus Hill later placed in Eutermes and Subulitermes. Macrosubulitermes, new genus from the Australian region, includes the type species, Macrosubulitermes greavesi (Hill), a new combination for Eutermes greavesi Hill later placed in Subulitermes, and one other species, Macrosubulitermes perlevis (Hill), a new combination for Eutermes perlevis Hill later placed in Subulitermes. Australitermes, new genus from the Australian region, includes the type species, Australitermes dilucidus (Hill), a new combination for Eutermes dilucidus Hill later placed in Subulitermes. Nasutitermes undecimus (Kemner), a new combination for Subulitermes undecimus Kemner from Amboina, Moluccas, in the Papuan region was also tentatively placed in Leucopitermes (Emerson, 1955, p. 502)"--P. 25-26.
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Includes bibliographical references (p. 27-28).