Ravavy

Ravavy
R. miafina male from Madagascar
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Dolichoderinae
Tribe:	Bothriomyrmecini
Genus:	Ravavy Fisher, 2009
Species:	R. miafina
Binomial name
Ravavy miafina Fisher, 2009
Type species
Ravavy miafina

Ravavy is a Malagasy genus of ant in the subfamily Dolichoderinae containing the single species Ravavy miafina.^[1]

Description[]

The genus is only known from males from Madagascar.^[2] The males are distinguished from all other described males in the dolichoderine genera by its unique mandibular shape. The elongate basal margin and reduced masticatory margin is considered apomorphic for the genus. The shape of the clypeus, length of scape and form of petiole, together form an inclusive diagnosis that isolates Ravavy from all other genera in the subfamily. No other described male is even superficially similar to Ravavy. The shape of the mandible in Bothriomyrmex, however, is reminiscent in some respects. The mandible in Bothriomyrmex is not triangular as in Tapinoma for example, but like Ravavy, has a short masticatory margin compared to the basal margin. In Bothriomyrmex, however, the masticatory margin includes at least three teeth, while in Ravavy a single tooth is present.^[3]

References[]

External links[]

• Media related to Ravavy miafina at Wikimedia Commons