@article{fdi:010084573,
  title = {{S}pecies discrimination of three {O}dontomachus ({F}ormicidae : {P}onerinae) species in {T}hailand using outline morphometrics},
  author = {{S}amung, {Y}. and {C}haiphongpachara, {T}. and {R}uangsittichai, {J}. and {S}riwichai, {P}. and {P}hayakkaphon, {A}. and {J}aitrong, {W}. and {D}ujardin, {J}ean-{P}ierre and {S}umruayphol, {S}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{S}imple {S}ummary {D}etermination of species in the ant genus {O}dontomachus, which is a venomous group of ants, may require the use of highly trained entomologists. {I}n {T}hailand, three species are very similar and difficult to distinguish: {O}. monticola, {O}. rixosus, and {O}. simillimus. {I}n such a situation, a complementary technique not requiring highly specialized entomological knowledge is welcome. {T}he geometric morphometric approach has proven to be this sort of tool, especially powerful for morphologically close or even cryptic species. {I}n its most recent development, the geometric method uses the relative position of some anatomical landmarks. {H}owever, in worker ants these landmarks are few in number and can be difficult to assess without dissection. {H}ere, therefore, we use the outline-based approach, an alternative geometric technique that has not yet been tested in ants. {W}e show that the simple outline of the head contains a strong taxonomic signal, much stronger than the one obtained from the pronotum shape. {T}he outline technique therefore represents a promising approach to aid in the determination of ant species. {A}ll members of the ant genus {O}dontomachus {L}atreille, 1804 are venomous ants. {F}our species in this genus have been identified from {T}hailand: {O}dontomachus latidens {M}ayr, 1867; {O}. monticola {E}mery, 1892; {O}. rixosus {S}mith, 1757; and {O}. simillimus {S}mith, 1758. {T}he three latter species are available and have been used for an outline morphometric study. {T}hey display similar morphology, which makes their distinction very difficult except for highly qualified individuals. {A} total of 80 worker specimens were studied, exploring the contour shapes of their head and pronotum as possible taxonomic characters. {T}he size of each body part was estimated determining the contour perimeter, the values for which were largely overlapping between {O}. rixosus and {O}. simillimus; most {O}. monticola specimens exhibited a significantly larger size. {I}n contrast to the size, each contour shape of the head or pronotum established {O}. rixosus as the most distinct species. {A}n exploratory data analysis disclosed the higher taxonomic signal of the head contour relative to the pronotum one. {T}he scores obtained for validated reclassification were much better for the head (99%) than for the pronotum (82%). {T}his study supports outline morphometrics of the head as a promising approach to contribute to the morphological identification of ant species, at least for monomorphic workers.},
  keywords = {outline morphometrics ; {O}dontomachus monticola ; {O} rixosus ; {O} simillimus ; {THAILANDE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{I}nsects},
  volume = {13},
  numero = {3},
  pages = {287 [12 p.]},
  year = {2022},
  DOI = {10.3390/insects13030287},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010084573},
}