Profastigitermes putnami 帕特南前峰白蚁
- Type locality
- Democratic Republic of the Congo: Camp Putnam, Epulu River
- Distribution
- Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo
List： English (genus page) · 中文 · Español
Summary
Profastigitermes putnami is the only extant species of the genus Profastigitermes, in the family TERMITIDAE (subfamily Cubitermitinae). The species was described by Emerson in 1960; the type locality is Democratic Republic of the Congo: Camp Putnam, Epulu River. Distribution: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Etymology
Genus name Profastigitermes: From Greek pro- (before) + Latin fastigium (ridge) + termes.
Specific epithet putnami: Named in honor of the late Mr. Patrick Putnam who, with his wife Mrs. Ann Putnam, enabled the author to collect in the vicinity of his camp in the Belgian Congo.
Taxonomic position
- Family: TERMITIDAE — 280 genera, 2144 species
- Subfamily: Cubitermitinae — 28 genera, 149 species
- Genus: Profastigitermes — monotypic, 1 species
Distribution
- Distribution records: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo
The record above follows the wording of the original data; no geocoding or standardized place names have been applied.
Morphology
The description below is paraphrased from the original or a later revision, by caste; the source is cited at the end.
Diagnostic characters
Above and slightly behind the opening of the fontanelle the vertex forms a rounded hump (the hump of Fastigitermes extends further forwards); the postmentum narrows from below and at its narrowest is a conspicuous double-pointed projection, whereas the corresponding projection of Fastigitermes is a single, sharp backward-pointing spine.
Soldier
The surface of the head bears scattered setae, and a large tuft of long hairs surrounds the opening of the fontanelle; there are a few setae near the anterior margin of the labrum and on the anterior margin of the postmentum; the postmentum narrows from below, with a double-pointed projection situated about one quarter of the way in front of the middle of its posterior margin, between whose two points a slightly concave ridge is visible in anterior view.
This genus is monotypic, containing only this species; the following is the genus-level description based on the original literature; species-level measurements and intraspecific variation are given in the original.
Distribution map
No GBIF record with coordinates was found for this species.
Related papers
Cached papers for this genus (matched automatically, for reference); to search this species with its junior synonyms merged in, use the literature search.
- Redescription and reclassification of the African termite, Forficulitermes planifrons (Isoptera, Termitidae, Termitinae)
Abstract
Forficulitermes planifrons is a monotypic genus and species described by Emerson (1960) from three soldiers and a single worker. All known occurrences of Forficulitermes (Emerson 1960, Wango & Josens 2011, this study) originate from equatorial middle Africa. Emerson (1960) compared soldiers of Forficulitermes with Basidentitermes, Proboscitermes, Orthotermes, Profastigitermes, and Fastigitermes, (the latter all in the Cubitermitinae) with respect to the general shape of the labrum, but found no similarities among these genera with respect to either the former's mandibles or the undulating profile surrounding its fontanelle. The only worker morphology noted for F. planifrons by Emerson (1960) was a pair of worn mandibles. Based largely on the enteric valve armature, we herein redescribe F. planifrons and assign this genus to the subfamily Termitinae.
Papers on this species, synonyms included → OpenAlex Google Scholar CNKI
Abstracts come from open metadata; copyright remains with the original authors/publishers. For reference only — please check the original.
Cite this species
Citation strings are generated from the fields of this page; please keep the DOI and the version number when citing.
GB/T 7714
班奈特格林. Extant Isoptera (termites): a checklist of Latin and Chinese names: Profastigitermes putnami 帕特南前峰白蚁[EB/OL]. Version 2026.10.30. https://termite-extant-isoptera.org/en/species/profastigitermes-putnami/. DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.23646836.
BibTeX
@misc{isoptera_profastigitermes_putnami_2026,
author = {班奈特格林},
title = {Profastigitermes putnami: a checklist of extant Isoptera (termites)},
year = {2026},
version = {2026.10.30},
howpublished = {https://termite-extant-isoptera.org/en/species/profastigitermes-putnami/},
note = {TERMITIDAE; version 2026.10.30; DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.23646836},
doi = {10.5281/zenodo.23646836}
}
RIS
TY - ELEC TI - Profastigitermes putnami: a checklist of extant Isoptera (termites) AU - 班奈特格林 PY - 2026 UR - https://termite-extant-isoptera.org/en/species/profastigitermes-putnami/ DO - 10.5281/zenodo.23646836 ER -