Tetraponera prelli (Forel)
  Type location Tanzania
(Sima Prelli n. sp., Forel, 1911d: 365, worker; in Tetraponera,
Wheeler, 1922: 800) Monga, Prell - see below
new status junior synonym usambarensis
(Sima natalensis Sm. var. usambarensis n. var., Forel, 1911d:
367, worker; Santschi, 1914b: 70, queen) from Tanzania, Monga,
collector Prell - see below
worker & queen only described  .
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Forel's (1911d) description is at  . Forel's (1911d) description of usambarensis,
is at  Santschi's (1914b) description of the usambarensis
queen is at  .
|
 The
photomontage of the type worker is
collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0907474.
|
 The
photomontage of the type worker of usambarensis is
collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0907452.
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Oxford University Museum
specimens
Tetraponera prelli
B Taylor det. |
Tanzania
G McGavin
tree 2-25
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9.iv.1995
Mkomazi
3°54.75' S
37°48.50' E
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pkd collection from Combretum molle
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1
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 |
Tetraponera prelli
B Taylor det. |
Tanzania
G McGavin
tree 3-64
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15.i.1996
Mkomazi
3°54.74' S
37°48.49' E
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pkd collection from Combretum molle
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2
|
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Tetraponera prelli
B Taylor det. |
Tanzania
G McGavin
tree 3-66
|
16.i.1996
Mkomazi
3°57.996' S
37°48.128' E
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pkd collection from Lannea schweinfurthii
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1
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Tetraponera prelli
B Taylor det. |
Tanzania
G McGavin
tree 3-67 |
16.i.1996
Mkomazi
3°57.996' S
37°48.128' E
|
pkd collection from Lannea schweinfurthii
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1
|
|
|
 The
photomontage is of a worker from Tanzania, Mkomazi Game
Reserve; collector McGavin (Tree 2-25).
This is somewhat larger, TL ca 6.5 mm, than Forel
(1911d) gave for prelli but has all the described characters.
What is puzzling is why, in the same paper, Forel separated usambarensis
from Tanzania as a new variety of Tetraponera
natalensis (Forel, 1911d: 367, worker). His description has -
"TL 5.7-7.3 mm; differing from natalensis by the petiole which
is more than twice as long as wide, much less enlarged behind, less
bordered (the border a little obtuse), and less convex below; the
suture between the mesonotum and the intermediary segment [metanotum]
is much less distinct but concave posteriorly; the propodeum is a
little less enlarged; the rest identical; from Monga, Tanzania (Prell);
also running alone at the base of a tree at Moschi, (Zimmer)". From
Arnold's illustration of natalensis it is obvious that the head
is much more ovoid in full face view, whereas prelli has the
near rectangular head shape of Tetraponera
mocquerysi. All the differences from natalensis appear
to hold for usambarensis which comes from the same north-east
Tanzania geographical area.
|
 The
photomontage is of a worker from Tanzania, Mkomazi Game
Reserve; collector G McGavin (Tree 3-67).
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