Cryptotermes mobydicki (Isoptera, Kalotermitidae), an extraordinary new termite species from French Guiana

By

Scheffrahn, Rudolf H.
Buček, Aleš
Sillam-Dussès, David
Šobotník, Jan

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2025-11-6

Original Publication

ZooKeys

Volume

1258

Pages

305--311

Subjects

Amazonia , frontal process , soldier

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1258.166021

 

Abstract

<br> Cryptotermes mobydicki<br> sp. nov.<br> is described from the soldier caste. The soldier is unique among all<br> Cryptotermes<br> species worldwide for its very narrow, elongate head capsule terminating with an extended frontal process. The new species constitutes the sixteenth<br> Cryptotermes<br> species for South America. Our phylogenetic reconstruction indicates that<br> C. mobydicki<br> sp. nov.<br> is most closely related to the Neotropical and Central American<br> C. mangoldi<br> ,<br> C. parvifrons<br> ,<br> C. cymatofrons<br> ,<br> C. rotundiceps<br> , and<br> C. cavifrons<br> .<br>