Zatania, 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 : 204-205

Description of Zatania , gen.n.

Type species of the genus: Zatania cisipa (Smith & Lavigne, 1973)

Etymology. The derivation of the genus name is a combination of the Greek prefix za (very) and tany (long), in reference to the long scapes, mesosomata and legs of species in this genus; it is a feminine noun.

Worker. Monomorphic, medium-sized (2– 3 mm in total length) formicine ants, ranging in colour from brownish yellow to brown and reddish brown. Head with pubescence, and erect setae found along head margin; medially erect setae roughly paired, extended through medial portion of clypeus. Cuticle sculpturing variable; in some species opaque and slightly rugose, as in Z. albimaculata ; in other species cuticle smooth and shining as in Z. cisipa and Z. gloriosa .

Antennae 12-segmented; scapes long ( Fig. 3 A), surpassing posterior margin by at least the length of the first four funicular segments. Scapes with either a dense layer of short erect setae and/or a layer of appressed setae that in some species is fairly scattered. Head longer than wide [cephalic index well below 100 (our recorded range, 75–87)].

Eyes medium to large, relative to head size; in Z. cisipa and Z. gloriosa eyes distinctly convex; three small, indistinct ocelli present.

Mandibles typical for a Prenolepis genus-group taxon, with five or six teeth: Z. albimaculata , Z. gibberosa and Z. karstica have five teeth; Z. cisipa and Z. gloriosa have six teeth; however, the tooth between the basal tooth and tooth 4 is much smaller than the other teeth, and is often missing, leaving a diastema between the basal tooth and tooth 4, effectively making the mandible five-toothed. Palps 6:4 segmented and long (at least as long as head).

Mesosoma distinctly elongated; in profile pronotum and mesonotum long; pronotum rises at less than 45◦ angle to mesonotum; in profile roughly triangular in shape at segment dividing pronotum and mesonotum; in some species mesonotum constricted immediately behind pronotum ( Z. albimaculata and Zatania electra † possess the most extreme example of this character state); between 4–10 pronotal setae present.

Propodeum variable: in Z. albimaculata , Z. electra †, Z. gibberosa and Z. karstica , propodeum dorsal face dome-like and higher than remainder of mesosoma; in Z. cisipa and Z. gloriosa dorsal face gently rounded and not higher than remainder of mesosoma. In Z. gibberosa dorsal face with abundant short erect setae; in other species, dorsal face with only scattered or no erect setae. Petiole cuneate, broadly rounded dorsally and not surpassing height of propodeum.

Legs notably long; in darker coloured species, tarsi lighter in colour than remainder of leg.

Gaster robust, densely covered with erect setae and in some species with layer of pubescence.

Queen. Queens generally have the same coloration (although they are typically darker), setation and pubescence patterns as seen in workers.

Male. (males only examined in Z. cisipa , Z. electra †, Z. gibberosa and Z. gloriosa )

Coloration similar to workers, but generally lighter overall. Cuticle surface, pubescence and setation patterns generally follow worker morphology.

Antennae 13-segmented; scapes long, as in workers, with similar pubescence and setation patterns.

Head shape variable; in Z. cisipa and Z. gloriosa compound eyes very large and convex, taking up most of lateral margin, with three very large ocelli; in Z. gibberosa compound eyes and ocelli considerably smaller, and head more similar to worker in general shape.

Mandibles in Z. cisipa and Z. gloriosa with prominent, pointed apical tooth; remainder of masticatory margin smooth, with indistinct, rounded basal angle that seamlessly blends into inner mandibular margin. In Z. gibberosa mandible also with prominent, pointed apical tooth, but masticatory margin serrated into generally indistinct denticles, most prominent and tooth-like immediately behind apical tooth; basal angle rounded, but more distinct than observed in Z. cisipa and Z. gloriosa ; as in workers, palps 6:4 segmented and long.

Mesosoma robust, with small collar-like pronotum, overarched by rounded and prominent mesonotum; dorsal and declivitous faces of propodeum difficult to distinguish; propodeum linear in profile, at approximately a 45◦ angle.

Legs long as in workers.

Gaster generally similar to workers. Genitalia variable by species, but with some generally similar characteristics: parameres elongate and narrow; digiti and cuspi meet dorsally; digiti and cuspi shorter than aedeagal valves; digiti and cuspi very similar in overall shape and conformation (see Figs 28, 38).