Tetramorium kali Hita Garcia & Fisher, 2012

Garcia, Francisco Hita & Fisher, Brian L., 2012, The ant genus Tetramorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Malagasy region — taxonomy of the T. bessonii, T. bonibony, T. dysalum, T. marginatum, T. tsingy, and T. weitzeckeri species groups, Zootaxa 3365, pp. 1-123 : 36-38

Tetramorium kali Hita Garcia & Fisher sp. n.

(figs 31, 36, 48, 49, 50)

Holotype worker, MADAGASCAR, Antsiranana, R.S. Manongarivo , 14.5 km 220° SW Antanambao, 13.99833 S, 48.42833 E, 1175 m, montane rainforest, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), collection code BLF1938, 20.X.1998 (B.L. Fisher) ( CASC: CASENT0235221 ) . Paratypes, six workers with same data as holotype ( CASC: CASENT0198971 ; CASENT0198972; CASENT0198973; CASENT0247544; CASENT0247545; MHNG: CASENT0247546 ); and three workers from Antsiranana, R.S. Manongarivo , 10.8 km 229° SW Antanambao, 13.96167 S, 48.43333 E, 400 m, rainforest, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), collection code BLF 1996, 8.XI. 1998 (B.L. Fisher) ( BMNH: CASENT0227990 ; CASC: CASENT0198974 ; CASENT0198975) .

Diagnosis

Tetramorium kali is easily recognisable within the group due to the following character combination: moderately long antennal scapes (SI 76–82); lack of well–developed anterior face or anterodorsal protuberance on pronotum; body of yellow to light brown colour.

Description

HL 0.59–0.73 (0.67); HW 0.56–0.69 (0.63); SL 0.44–0.56 (0.50); EL 0.14–0.17 (0.15); PH 0.33–0.38 (0.35); PW 0.42–0.50 (0.46); WL 0.76–0.94 (0.85); PSL 0.22–0.30 (0.26); PTL 0.12–0.16 (0.14); PTH 0.23–0.30 (0.27); PTW 0.17–0.24 (0.21); PPL 0.19–0.23 (0.21); PPH 0.24–0.31 (0.27); PPW 0.22–0.29 (0.26); CI 92–95 (94); SI 76–82 (78); OI 23–24 (24); DMI 53–55 (54); LMI 40–43 (42); PSLI 37–41 (39); PeNI 41–48 (46); LPeI 50–57 (54); DPeI 136–160 (150); PpNI 53–57 (56); LPpI 72–80 (77); DPpI 119–131 (122); PPI 117–129 (122) (10 measured).

Head longer than wide (CI 92–95). Anterior clypeal margin with median impression. Frontal carinae weakly to moderately developed, fading out at or shortly after posterior eye margin. Antennal scrobes absent. Antennal scapes short, not reaching posterior head margin (SI 76–82). Eyes of moderate size (OI 23–24). Mesosomal outline in profile flat, anterior face of pronotum only weakly developed, mesosoma only weakly marginate from lateral to dorsal mesosoma; promesonotal suture absent, metanotal groove absent to weakly developed; mesosoma comparatively high, compact, and stout (LMI 40–435). Propodeal spines long, spinose, and acute (PSLI 37–41); propodeal lobes small and triangular. Petiolar node in profile cuneiform, weakly anteroposteriorly compressed dorsally, approximately 1.7 to 2.0 times higher than long (LPeI 50–57), anterior and posterior faces not parallel, anterodorsal margin situated higher than posterodorsal, dorsum moderately tapering backwards posteriorly; node in dorsal view between 1.3 to 1.6 times wider than long (DPeI 136–160). Postpetiole in profile approximately rounded, approximately 1.2 to 1.4 times higher than long (LPpI 72–80), in dorsal view approximately 1.2 to 1.3 times wider than long (DPpI 119–131). Postpetiole in profile approximately as voluminous as petiolar node, in dorsal view approximately 1.1 to 1.3 times wider than petiolar node (PPI 117–129). Mandibles striate; clypeus with few longitudinal, often irregular rugae or rugulae, median ruga sometimes developed; cephalic dorsum between frontal carinae anteriorly and centrally longitudinally rugose and posteriorly reticulate-rugose, dorsum with five to nine longitudinal rugae, rugae ending at posterior head margin but often broken or with cross-meshes, always with one well-developed longitudinal median ruga, median ruga running from posterior head margin to posterior clypeal margin, approximately at eye level diverging into two rugae leading to posterior clypeal margin; lateral and ventral head mainly reticulate-rugose to longitudinally rugose. Ground sculpture on head weakly to moderately reticulatepunctate. Mesosoma laterally mostly irregularly longitudinally rugose; dorsal mesosoma anteriorly strongly reticulate-rugose, posteriorly reticulate-rugose to longitudinally rugose. Waist segments and gaster unsculptured, smooth, and shiny. All dorsal surfaces of body with abundant, long, fine, and erect pilosity. Body of uniform yellow to light brown colour.

Notes

The new species is only known from the three localities Manongarivo, Montagne d'Ambre, and Marotandrano, which are all widely separated from each other. Furthermore, T. kali seems to prefer rainforests or montane rainforests, and ranges from 400 to 1175 m elevation. Also, it seems to be relatively rare since the available material consists of less than 15 specimens.

As mentioned in the diagnosis above, T. kali is easily recognisable within the group since it is the only species without a well-developed anterior face or an anterodorsal protuberance on the pronotum. In addition, it displays the longest antennal scapes encountered in the group (SI 76–82), whereas all other species have much shorter scapes (SI 65–74).

Etymology

The new species is named in honor of Kali Ressi for the support of Adeo and Cindy Ressi to discover and identify life on earth.

Material examined

MADAGASCAR: Antsiranana, Parc National Montagne d'Ambre, 3.6 km 235° SW Joffreville, 12.53444 S, 49.1795 E, 925 m, montane rainforest, 20.–26.I.2001 (B.L. Fisher, C. Griswold et al.); Antsiranana, R.S. Manongarivo, 14.5 km 220° SW Antanambao, 13.96833 S, 48.42833 E, 1175 m, montane rainforest, 20.X.1998 (B.L. Fisher); Antsiranana, R.S. Manongarivo, 10.8 km 229° SW Antanambao, 13.96167 S, 48.43333 E, 400 m, rainforest, 8.XI.1998 (B.L. Fisher); Mahajanga, Réserve Spéciale Marotandrano, Marotandrano 48.3 km S Mandritsara, 16.28322 S, 48.81443 E, 865 m, transition humid forest, 7.XII.2007 (B.L. Fisher et al.).