X-ray microtomography for ant taxonomy: an exploration and case study with two new Terataner (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Myrmicinae) species from Madagascar

We explore the potential of x-ray micro computed tomography (μCT) for the field of ant taxonomy by using it to enhance the descriptions of two remarkable new species of the ant genus Terataner: T. balrog sp. n. and T. nymeria sp. n.. We provide an illustrated worker-based species identification key for all species found on Madagascar, as well as detailed taxonomic descriptions, which include diagnoses, discussions, measurements, natural history data, high-quality montage images and distribution maps for both new species. In addition to conventional morphological examination, we have used virtual reconstructions based on volumetric μCT scanning data for the species descriptions. We also include 3D PDFs, still images of virtual reconstructions, and 3D rotation videos for both holotype workers and one paratype queen. The complete μCT datasets have been made available online (Dryad, https://datadryad.org) and represent the first cybertypes in ants (and insects). We discuss the potential of ...

本研究探索了X射线显微计算机断层扫描（micro computed tomography，简称μCT）在蚂蚁分类学领域的应用潜力，通过该技术优化了蚁属（Terataner）下两个珍稀新种——T. balrog sp. n.与T. nymeria sp. n.（其中sp. n.为species nova的缩写，即新种）的物种描述。本研究为马达加斯加境内发现的所有蚁属物种提供了基于工蚁的图解物种鉴定检索表，同时为这两个新种提供了详尽的分类学描述，内容涵盖鉴别特征（diagnoses）、讨论内容、测量数据、自然历史资料、高质量显微拼接图像（montage images）以及分布图。除常规形态学检查外，本研究还基于容积μCT扫描数据构建虚拟重建模型，用于物种描述。此外，本研究为所有工蚁正模标本（holotype）以及1头副模蚁后（paratype queen）提供了3D PDF文件、虚拟重建静态图像以及3D旋转视频。完整的μCT数据集已上传至Dryad数据仓储（Dryad，https://datadryad.org）公开获取，这也是蚂蚁（乃至昆虫纲）领域的首批电子模式标本（cybertype）。本研究还探讨了μCT技术在该领域的应用潜力……