A phylogenetic analysis of the dirt ants, Basiceros Schulz (Formicidae: Myrmicinae): inferring life histories through morphological convergence

Ants of the genus Basiceros (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae) are elusive species known only from Neotropical rainforests. Little information is available regarding their natural history, and nothing is known about the phylogenetic relationships among species within the genus. The genus has been the subject of some controversy regarding generic delimitation but is currently a member of the “Basiceros-genus group” following recent classification changes. For mouthparts, labral and mandibular morphologies present considerable variation in the Basiceros-genus group, likely a result of adaptive evolution. In Basiceros, those differences can be observed in the labrum shape and the various degrees of development of the labral cleft and the clypeomandibular space. Here, in an attempt to illuminate the evolution of the group, species boundaries are tested for Basiceros. The evolutionary relationships of its species are investigated using molecular and morphological data. Bayesian inference ...膜翅目（Hymenoptera）蚁科（Formicidae）切叶蚁亚科（Myrmicinae）的Basiceros属蚂蚁，是一类仅见于新热带雨林区的隐匿性物种。目前关于该属的自然历史信息极为匮乏，其内部物种间的系统发育关系也完全未知。该属的属级界定曾引发一定争议，但在近期的分类学修订后，目前被归入"Basiceros属类群"。在口器结构方面，Basiceros属类群的上唇与上颚形态存在显著变异，这一特征大概率是适应性进化的结果。在Basiceros属内，这类差异具体体现为上唇形态、上唇裂的不同发育程度，以及唇基上颚间隙的结构差异。本研究旨在阐明该类群的演化历程，对Basiceros属的物种分界展开了检验。研究结合分子与形态学数据，探究了该属物种的演化关系。贝叶斯推断（Bayesian inference）……