Skatitermes

A Namibian species, unusual for being a litter and dung feeder, rather than a soil feeder. It has a complex nesting habit, described in detail by Coaton (1971).....

Sands (1998) describes the nest as 'a subterranean collection of irregular chambers and alveoli in a relatively massive matrix, lined with darker material probably of faecal origin Flattened horizontal chambers about 15 cm below the soil surface were connected by galleries to the main nest and to the surface to allow emergence for night foraging for vegetable litter such as leaves, twigs, grass fragments and ungulate dung. These materials were carries below to be stored in the flattened chambers. The nests were found mostly within the mounds of Trinervitermes or Amitermes’.

The structure of the mandibles suggest that the litter/dung feeding habit are secondarily derived from a soil feeding ancestor (Sands, 1998).

Skatitermes has a characteristic anti-predator behaviour, being able to move its abdomen so as to place drops of, apparently toxic, faecal material on the heads of attacking ants (Coaton, 1971).

Skatitrmes inhabits the most extreme habitats of any African Apricotermitinae, in essentially arid ecosystems.

Classification: 

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Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith