Pristomyrmex usambarensis Taylor new species

Type location Tanzania; holotype and two other workers .

WORKER DESCRIPTION: Clypeus without a median carina and the anterior margin with the lateral teeth more pronounced than the obtuse central projection; frontal carinae short but distinct and diverging to about twice as wide posteriorly than at the antennal insertions; head in full face view widest at anterior with convex sides narrowing to an essentially straight occiput which has a median despression; petiole node with a sharp but rounded angle between the anterior face and a longer convex posterior face; almost no sculpturation other than minute hair pits on the front of the head; very fine and fairly long hairs present on head and alitrunk but these are only semi-erect; gaster with minute but distinct sparse pubescence; overall a uniform glossy dark brown but with lighter red-brown areas, notably the frons and the pedicel (posterior alitrunk).

TL 3.2 mm, HL 0.92, HW 0.96, SL 0.74, EL ca 0.12, i.e. only about 0.125 of head width; PW 0.55 at base of spines, AL 0.68/ Indices CI 104, SI 78,

Key separation characters: Distinct frontal carinae; scapes shorter (SI 82-90); small eyes and pronotum armed with distinct sharp teeth or spines; almost wholly unsculptured, except for minute hairs pits on the front of the head; mandibles apparently with distinct teeth; antennal scapes near straight; pronotum with long acute spines that are very narrow in frontal view; shiny, dark red brown with distinct lighter areas, notably on the frons and pedicel

Name derived from the collecting area.

Specimens deposited in the Oxford University Museum of
Natural History.

The photomontages are of a specimens collected in Tanzania, West Usambara Mts, Lushoto District, Grant's Lodge; Mkusu R., 3-4 km upstream of Kifungilo; 1660 m; 03-08.x.2002; by Vasily Grebennikov; total of three workers. Other images can be seen in the folder at

Second specimen.