Monomorium bidentatum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Monomorium bidentatum |
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Monomorium bidentatum is a small species of ant. It is part of the Myrmicinae family, which includes many different kinds of ants. This ant is special because it is found only in two countries in South America: Chile and Argentina. This means it is endemic to those areas.
What This Ant Looks Like
Worker ants of Monomorium bidentatum are quite small. They are usually around 3.5 millimeters long. Their main color is dark brown. However, their mandibles (jaws), antennae, and legs are a bit lighter.
Female ants are a little bigger than the workers. They are almost 4.5 millimeters long. Other than their size, they look very similar to the worker ants.
Where These Ants Live
You can find M. bidentatum in both Chile and Argentina. Scientists first officially described this ant from a place called Valdivia, Chile. This tells us where it was first discovered and studied.
How Scientists Name Ants
Scientists often give names to living things. This helps everyone know exactly which plant or animal they are talking about. The famous scientist Gustav Mayr first described Monomorium bidentatum in 1887. He placed it in the genus Monomorium.
For a while, this ant and another similar species were put into a different genus called Antichthonidris. But in 2001, scientists decided that Antichthonidris was not a separate genus. They moved these ants back to their original genus, Monomorium. So, Monomorium bidentatum is now known by its first name again.
