Tetramorium steinheili Forel
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publication ID |
6435 |
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persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/372B2AD3-85DE-A4D2-BDC4-4CC3F54D4828 |
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treatment provided by |
Christiana |
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scientific name |
Tetramorium steinheili Forel |
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Tetramorium steinheili Forel HNS
(Figs 12, 15)
Tetramorium (Xiphomyrmex) steinheili Forel HNS , 1892: 520. Syntype workers, females, Madagascar: Foret d'Andrangoloaka, confins de l'lmerina {Sikora) (MHN, Geneva) [examined].
Worker. TL 4.3 - 4.4, HL 1.00, HW 0.94 - 0.96, CI 94 - 96, SL 0.72 - 0.76, SI 77 - 80, PW 0.68 - 0.72, AL 118 - 1.20 (2 measured).
Mandibles striate; median clypeal carina sharp. Extensions of frontal carinae long and strong, slightly sinuate from origin to behind the level of the eyes and then strongly divergent, directed towards the occipital corners. Pronotum and mesonotum obtusely marginate at the sides, in dorsal view separated by an impression. Metanotal groove absent, not impressed in profile. Propodeal spines long and stout, metapleural lobes elongate-triangular, acute or blunted apically. Petiole node anteroposteriorly compressed, in dorsal view much broader than long. Dorsum of head regularly longitudinally rugulose, the alitrunk more coarsely rugose, predominantly longitudinal but the rugae meandering and with a few crossmeshes present. Pedicel and gaster unsculptured, smooth and shining. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous fine, erect to suberect hairs. Leading (anterior) edges of antennal scapes with short, projecting, suberect to subdecumbent hairs which are shorter than the maximum width of the scape. Colour reddish brown, the gaster paler than the alitrunk.
In overall appearance steinheili HNS resembles some of the members of the tortuosum-group, but the unsculptured pedicel segments and the fact that the petiole is distinctly anteroposteriorly compressed seem to indicate that the affinities of steinheili HNS are with humbloti HNS and its relatives. Despite this I feel that there is a distinct possibility that this species may truly be related to andrei HNS and its allies, and convergent upon the weitzeckeri-group in pedicel structure.
Material examined
Madagascar: Andranobe, Route d'Andriamena (A. Peyrieras); Bemanevika, Souspref. Bealanana {A. Peyrieras).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.