Phrynoponera transversa Bolton & Fisher, 2008

Bolton, B. & Fisher, B. L., 2008, The Afrotropical ponerine ant genus Phrynoponera Wheeler (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)., Zootaxa 1892, pp. 35-52 : 50-52

Phrynoponera transversa Bolton & Fisher sp. n.

(Figures 7a-d)

Holotype worker. TL 9.6, HL 2.12, HW 2.08, CI 98, SL 1.66, SI 80, PW 1.76, WL 2.92, maximum diameter of eye 0.44, OI 21.

Four teeth on right mandible, 5 teeth on left; mandibles smooth with scattered pits. Anterior clypeal margin concave medially, the concavity flanked by a blunt tooth on each side. Dorsum of head transversely, concavely subsulcate from behind the level of the posterior margins of eyes to the posterior margin of the head. Posterior margin of head around midline very sharply defined, the midpoint of the vertex separated from the occipital surface by an angle, the two surfaces not rounding together. Rugae on anterior pronotal dorsum transverse; pronotum reticulate-rugose posteriorly. Mesonotal rugae longitudinal; propodeal dorsum reticulate-rugose. Gastral tergites 1 and 2 longitudinally costulate on a densely reticulate-punctate ground sculpture. Gastral tergite 3 densely reticulate-punctate only.

Paratype workers. TL 9.5-9.8, HL 2.04-2.12, HW 1.96-2.12, CI 96-100, SL 1.60-1.68, SI 79-84, PW 1.68-1.80, WL 2.80-3.00, maximum diameter of eye 0.42-0.45, OI 20-22 (8 measured). The paratypes and non-paratypic material show the following variation. Mandible with 4-6 teeth, but typically with 5. Mandible usually completely smooth except for scattered pits but some workers with faint traces of weak striation between the pits in their apical halves. Extent of the transverse subsulcate sculpture on the head varies from almost the entire dorsum behind the level of the eyes, to a broad triangular posteromedian patch, but is always conspicuous. In some the mesonotal rugae have cross-meshes and are not so obviously longitudinal as in the type-series. The costulae on gastral tergites 1-2 are generally conspicuous, but in some they are very reduced or even absent.

Holotype worker. Gabon: Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Res Monts Doudou, 24.5 km 303° WNW Doussala, 2°14.0'S, 10°23.9'E, 18.iii.2000, 630 m, #2276; code no. 2276(23)25; sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), rainforest (B.L. Fisher) ( CASC).

Paratypes: 7 workers with same data as holotype but code nos. 2276(7)16; 2276(22)23; 2276(26)28; 2276(33)17; 2276(40)28; 2276(41)22; 2276(50)20 ( CASC).

This species is immediately distinguished by its modified clypeus and the presence of transverse sculpture on the dorsum of the head behind the level of the eyes. Like the type-series, most others were retrieved from leaf litter samples, but a couple of individuals were caught in pitfall traps.

Non-paratypic material examined. Gabon: Prov. Ogooue-Maritime, Res Monts Doudou, NW Doussala (B.L. Fisher); Res. Moukalaba, NW Doussala (B.L. Fisher). Central African Republic: P.N. Dzanga-Ndoki, Lidjombo (B.L. Fisher).