Zatania electra, John S. Lapolla, Robert J. Kallal & Seán G. Brady, 2012

John S. Lapolla, Robert J. Kallal & Seán G. Brady, 2012, A new ant genus from the Greater Antilles and Central America, Zatania (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), exemplifies the utility of male and molecular character systems, Systematic Entomology 37, pp. 200-214 : 206-209

Zatania electra †, sp.n.

[ Figs 30 a, b and 31b (worker), 31a (male)]

Holotype worker, Dominican Amber fossil, AMNH DR10- 159; one paratype worker, Dominican Amber fossil (MCZC); and one paratype male, AMNH PB-118-25.

Worker diagnosis. Dominican amber fossil species. Measurements (n = 1): TL 2.80 mm; HW 0.57 mm; HL 0.73 mm; EL 0.17 mm; SL 1.18 mm; PW 0.41 mm; WL 1.14 mm; PrFL 0.84 mm; PrFW 0.16 mm; GL 0.94 mm. Indices: CI 78; REL 23; SI 207.

Species description

Worker. Coloration difficult to ascertain in amber matrix, but appears to be either uniformly dark or reddish brown. Head distinctly longer than wide (CI 78) and strongly oval in shape; mandibles seemingly with five teeth; posterolateral corners of head indistinct and rounded; posterior margin short; scattered macrosetae on head; difficult to ascertain if pubescence is present. Scapes surpass posterior margin by about length of first six or seven funicular segments; scapes with thin, short erect setae, difficult to ascertain if pubescence present.

Eyes relatively small, but distinctly convex. Pronotum with scattered erect setae; erect setae on notum; propodeal erect setae shorter than other notal setae; distinct constriction present immediately behind pronotum; metanotal area long; dorsal face of propodeum dome-like, higher than remainder of notum; gaster with scattered erect macrosetae.

Queen. Unknown.

Male. Coloration difficult to ascertain in amber matrix but appears to be either uniformly dark or reddish brown. Head slightly wider than long, dominated by large, convex compound eyes that take up most of lateral margin of head; mandibles, with prominent, pointed apical tooth; masticatory margin partly obscured, but seemingly with indistinct denticles, similar to what is observed in Z. gibberosa males; head with scattered erect macrosetae; difficult to ascertain if pubescence present. Scapes surpass posterior margin by about length of first five or six funicular segments; scapes with short, thin erect setae. Mesosoma modified for presence of wing; erect setae scattered across mesonotum and metanotum; propodeum indistinct with very short dorsal face and long declivitous face. Gaster with scattered erect setae; genitalia with long, narrow parameres, similar to what is observed in Z. cisipa and Z. gloriosa .

Measurements (n = 1): TL 2.85 mm; HW 0.68 mm; HL 0.62 mm; EL 0.29 mm; SL 0.98 mm; PW 0.51 mm; WL 1.28 mm; PrFL 1.01 mm; PrFW 0.15 mm; GL 0.95 mm. Indices: CI 101; REL 47; SI 145.

Etymology. The species epithet is in reference to the fact that this is a fossil species found in amber ( electra is Greek for amber).

Notes. This is the only fossil species known in the genus. The workers, with respect to some morphological features, resemble the workers of Z. albimaculata and Z. karstica , especially with regards to the relatively small size of the compound eyes and the constriction of the mesosoma immediately behind the pronotum. The dome-like propodeum is most similar to Z. gibberosa and Z. karstica . The apparently uniform body colour of the fossil species is only shared with Z. karstica among extant species. Interestingly, however, despite the similarities of the workers to the three mentioned extant species, the narrow male parameres most closely resemble those of Z. cisipa and Z. gloriosa . The narrow head of the Z. electra worker is most similar to what is observed in Z. gloriosa †. It therefore appears that Z. electra † has an interesting combination of morphological features observed among all of the known extant species.