New line drawings for undescribed Fijian Pristomyrmex

Here are a few line drawings I am working on for the description of an undescribed species of Fijian Pristomyrmex. In the Ants of Fiji monograph, this species is listed as Pristomyrmex sp. FJ02.

Full face view of Pristomyrmex sp. FJ02. Line drawings can allow for better representation of important taxonomic features compared to specimen photographs. For example, the mandibular tooth structure is essential for Pristomyrmex species identification. The mandibular teeth on the specimen photograph used as a template for this illustration were obscured and difficult to see. The line drawing shows them quite clearly.

Rendering the characteristic foveae (circular depressions) of Pristomyrmex was a bit challenging, and I am sure my method could use some improvement. I began by using the Ellipse Tool to get the basic shapes, and then rotated them according to the template specimen. Next I used the eraser tool to break the foveae that appeared somewhat shallow. I then selected all the ‘broken’ foveae and applied a stroke profile that tapers strongly on both ends. For the ‘unbroken’ foveae I selected each individually and used the Width Tool to constrict the ellipses at a single point.

Profile of Pristomyrmex sp. FJ02. Of the over 50 known species of Pristomyrmex, this is only the second that lacks propodeal spines. The other, P. inermis, occurs in New Guinea.

I also used a new technique for the hairs on this illustration. I decided to use the Outline Stroke function for all of the hairs, and selected a white outline stroke. This allows for a white break where hairs overlap the ant profile and other strokes.

2 comments

  1. Bette Yozell says:

    I always knew you could draw.

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