The Ants of Africa
Genus Tetraponera tenebrosa Santschi new status

Tetraponera tenebrosa Santschi

return to key Type location Zaïre (Tetraponera ophthalmica Em. v. tenebrosa n. var., Santschi, 1928d: 61, worker) Lukula, 17.ix.1920, Dr H Schouteden; raised here to full species (May 2014). .


Santschi's (1928d) description of tenebrosa, is at {original description}.


{Tetraponera tenebrosa} The photomontage of the type worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0915537.


In 2011, I felt the fresh worker shown below perhaps was a new species. Now (2014) the Antweb images of tenebrosa (listed under T. ophthalmica) show it is that species. Santschi's (1928d: 61) brief description gave: TL 3.8 mm. Black or blackish-brown; appendages reddish brown; head and alitrunk reticulate punctate, as the type and submatt; gaster and postpetiole smooth and shiny; head a little longer, rest as the type. Belgian Congo, Lukula, 17.ix.1920, Dr H Schouteden. He did not mention the distinctive pubescence on the postpetiole and gaster but that can be seen on the high resolution Antweb images, including on a second specimen from the type collection shown on http://www.antweb.org/specimenImages.do?code=rmcaent000017748

WORKER - TL ca 3.8 mm; HL 0.9 HW 0.56 SL 0.35 EL 0.40 PW 0.30; CI 60 SI 67 OI 68
Colour dark brown; pronotum but not rest of alitrunk or petiole margined and without distinct ocelli, characteristic of former genus Tetraponera members. Anterior margin of clypeus weakly concave without any dentition; mandibles dull but not striate. Over shape narrowly elongate; pedicel segments in profile low and weakly domed, dorsum of petiole narrow and of postpetiole trapezoidal, anterior about half width of posterior.  Distinctive quite dense layer of decumbent golden pubescence on the postpetiole and gaster; overall sculpturation of dense fine spiculation.


Oxford University Museum specimens

Tetraponera tenebrosa Congo
B Taylor det.
Rep. of Congo
E Vingerhoedt
ex Y Braet

xi.2009
Owando
0°28'" S
15°52' E
.

1
{album}

{Tetraponera n sp Congo}The photomontage is of a worker from Congo, Owando; collector E Vingerhoed.


{Tetraponera nsp}The photomontage of a worker from Gabon is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0172623.

This appears identical in every aspect, including size, to the Congo worker above. There it is catalogued as T. ophthalmica.

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© 2012, 2014, 2019 - Brian Taylor CBiol FRSB FRES
11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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