Tetramorium new species Cameroun FK unmounted 54
Type location Cameroun
TL ca 3.7 mm, HL 0.75 HW 0.65 CI 84 SL 0.48 SI 80 PW
0.46 EL 0.15 OI 21
Antennae 12-segmented; mandibles smooth, with 9-10 coarse teeth;
clypeus with median and lateral longitudinal carinae those continuing
back full length of head, anterior margin obscured but appears to be
entire; frontal carinae extend back to occiput but do not turn back to
form a scrobe; funiculus segments 2-7 wider than long; eye weakly ovoid
of a moderate size; alitrunk with relatively long low profile, the
metanotal suture distinctly but shallowly impressed, propodeum unarmed
with no metapleural lobes, spiracle circular; petiole domed with a long
pedicel and minute anterior ventral tooth; postpetiole sub-globular,
from above circular; head with effaced spiculate ground sculpture;
semi-shiny with weak ill-defined sculpturation on alitrunk and, even
weaker, the gaster, overall very dark brown to near black; with
distinctive yellow brown funiculus and mandibles; lower legs brown;
erect hairs very sparse and short but present on head, alitrunk,
pedicel and gaster; scape with appressed short pubescence (possibly
like the short erect hairs of T.
candidum).
Not
obviously related to any species defined by Bolton
(1980) and with no obvious route through his keys. A possibility is to
compare it with members of the dumezi-group,
for instance, assuming the anterior clypeal margin has a median
impression, Tetramorium qualarum,
known
from one collection in Ghana; that is about 10% larger, has distinct
propodeal spines and is almost unsculptured. Another member of
the dumezi-group but with an entire margin to the
clypeus is Tetramorium candidum, which is
yellow-brown with more abundant short fine hairs and finer striations
on the head.
The overall form and
proportions, plus the well developed mandibular teeth and the reduced
or absent metapleural lobes are closer to Decamorium species, although this
has smaller eyes, no antennal scrobes and carinae on the clypeus.
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