Zasphinctus kouakoui

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Zasphinctus kouakoui
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Hymenoptera
Family: Formicidae
Subfamily: Dorylinae
Genus: Zasphinctus
Species group: sarowiwai
Species: Z. kouakoui
Binomial name
Zasphinctus kouakoui
Hita Garcia & Gómez, 2025

Presently, Z. kouakoui is only known from two collection events from the type locality, the Tai National Park in Ivory Coast, which is the last remaining major intact block of primary forest in West Africa. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 due to exceptional richness in fauna and flora. Indeed, based on several criteria including species diversity, endemism, presence of rare species, and/or endangered and critical habitats, the Tai National Park is considered a priority for the conservation of mammals, birds, amphibians, and invertebrates in West Africa (Reizebos et al. 1994).

Photo Gallery

  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 26. Shaded surface display volume renderings of 3D models of Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). A, full body in profile. B, full body in dorsal view. C, head in full-face view (with antennae). D, head in full-face view (without antennae). E, head in ventral view. F, abdominal segment II (petiole) in profile. G, abdominal segment II (petiole) in dorsal view. H, tergum of AS III in dorsal view I sternum of AS III in ventral view.

Identification

With characters of the Z. sarowiwai group (Figs 19A, B, C, E, G, 20A, B, C, E, G):

  • body size significantly larger (HL 0.73–0.98; WL 0.98–1.40)
  • head in full-face view appearing thicker (CI 80–86)
  • head in profile appearing conspicuously thicker, with a swollen underside
  • clypeal area usually with conspicuous median tooth (except for Z. kouakoui)
  • torular-posttorular complex in dorsal view with sides converging posteriorly
  • torular-posttorular complex in profile funnel-shaped
  • vertexal margin either weakly developed or fully absent
  • outline of occipital margin in posterodorsal view sharp and very regularly defined
  • vertex not clearly demarcated and not appearing fused with the occiput
  • anterior outline of postoccipital margin in ventral view sharp and very regularly defined and with anterolateral projections rounded
  • mesosoma in profile relatively higher and compact (LMI 37–41)
  • pleural endophragmal pit weakly developed, either shallow but visible or inconspicuous
  • mesosoma in dorsal view appearing thicker and more compact (DMI 41–45; DMI2 53–59)
  • petiolar tergum in profile relatively higher, ~ 1.0–1.2 × higher than long (LPI 82–108)
  • petiolar tergum in dorsal view thicker, ~ 1.0–1.3 × broader than long (DPI 102–131)
  • abdominal tergum III in dorsal view weakly trapezoidal, more rounded rectangular with less angulate anterior margin
  • abdominal sternum III in ventral view campaniform, comparatively broader and shorter, sides strongly rounded
  • usually without any noticeable surface sculpture (except for piliferous foveae)

Plus the following:

  • body size significantly larger (HL 0.75–0.80; WL 1.03–1.10)
  • torular–posttorular complex in profile comparatively lower and funnel–shaped (Fig. 5B)
  • vertexal margin very weak and dorsum smoothly rounding onto posterior face of head (Figs 6B, 7B)
  • lateral arms of hypostomal carina strongly diverging anteriorly, relatively thick, and outline mostly rounded (Fig. 8B)
  • postgenal sulcus deeply and conspicuously impressed but only running halfway to occipital margin (Fig. 8B)
  • posterodorsal margin of mesosoma continuous across its entire length (Figs 11B, 12B)
  • subpetiolar process of petiole (AS II) in profile with thickened anterior and ventral margins and well developed concavity with differentiated fenestra (Fig. 13B)
  • petiolar tergum in dorsal view relatively thicker: ~ 1.1 × broader than long (DPI 109–114) (Fig. 14B)
  • abdominal sternum III in ventral view campaniform, comparatively broad and short, sides strongly rounded (Fig. 16B)
  • posterior end of abdominal segment III in ventral view with transverse groove weak to absent, instead with irregular groves and rugosity (Fig. 16B)
  • prora in anteroventral view well–developed with sharply and very regularly shaped lateroventral margins (Fig. 16B)
  • abdominal segment VI in dorsal view distinctly shorter: ~ 1.8–2 × broader than long (DA6I 180–204) (Fig. 17B)
  • girdling constrictions between abdominal segments IV, V, VI cross-ribbed (Fig. 18B)
  • surface sculpture on cephalic dorsum and genae completely smooth and very shiny with moderately dense, deep, and moderately sized to large piliferous foveae (Figs 4B, 5B, 19B, 20B)
  • general surface sculpture on mesosoma and metasoma almost completely smooth and very shiny with scattered, piliferous foveae (Figs 20B, 21B)
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 4. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the head in full-face view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (torular-posttorular complex in semi-transparent red; anterior projections of parafrontal ridges in semi-transparent yellow). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai holotype (CASENT0764654). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 6. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the head in posterodorsal view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (occipital margin in semi-transparent red; vertexal margin in semi-transparent yellow). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai holotype (CASENT0764654). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 7. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the head in posterior view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (occipital margin in semi-transparent red; vertexal margin in semi-transparent yellow). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai holotype (CASENT0764654). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 8. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the head in ventral view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (hypostoma in semi-transparent red; postgenal sulcus in semi-transparent yellow; postoccipital carina in semi-transparent green). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae paratype (CASENT0764651). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 10. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the mesosoma in profile view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (pleural endophragmal pit concavity in semi-transparent yellow). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 11. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the mesosoma in dorsal view (the remainder of the body virtually removed). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRAC-FOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 12. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the mesosoma in posterior view focusing on propodeal declivity (outline of declivity in semi-transparent yellow). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae paratype (CASENT0764651). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 13. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the tergum of AS II (petiole) in profile view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (tergum in semi-transparent red, laterotergite in semi-transparent yellow). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 14. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the tergum of AS II (petiole) in dorsal view (the remainder of the body virtually removed). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui holotype (KGCOL00589). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 15. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the tergum of AS III in dorsal view (the remainder of the body virtually removed). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae paratype (CASENT0764651). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRAC-FOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 16. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the sternum of AS III in ventral view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (Bum in semi-transparent yellow, prora in semi-transparent red). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae paratype (CASENT0764651). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 17. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the tergum of AS VI in dorsal view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (outline of post-sclerite tergum in semi-transparent red). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Zasphinctus lolae paratype (CASENT0764651). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 18. Diagnostic plate showing still images from surface volume renderings of the sternites of AS III-VII in ventral view (the remainder of the body virtually removed) (girdling constrictions with cross-ribbed sculpture are in semi-transparent red; unsculptured girdling constrictions are in semi-transparent yellow). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui paratype (CASENT0764653). C, Z. lolae paratype (CASENT0764651). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 19. Diagnostic plate showing head in full-face view of all species treated herein (stacked colour images). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui holotype (KGCOL00589). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai paratype (CASENT0764650). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 20. Diagnostic plate showing full body in profile view of all species treated herein (stacked colour images). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui holotype (KGCOL00589). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai holotype (CASENT0764654). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 21. Diagnostic plate showing full body in dorsal view of all species treated herein (stacked colour images). A, Z. aprilia holotype (CASENT0764763). B, Z. kouakoui holotype (KGCOL00589). C, Z. lolae holotype (KGCOL02270). D, Z. lumumbai holotype (MRACFOR0010007). E, Z. ndouri holotype (KGCOL01883). F, Z. obamai holotype (CASENT0764125). G, Z. sarowiwai holotype (CASENT0764654). H, Z. wilsoni holotype (MCZ-ENT00512764).
  • Hita Garcia, F., Gómez, K. et al. 2025. A never-ending story - updated 3D cyber-taxonomic revision of the ant genus Zasphinctus (10.3897@zookeys.1223.131238), Fig. 5.jpg

Keys including this Species

Distribution

  • Hita Garcia et al. (2025), Figure 3. Maps showing the known distribution ranges of Afrotropical Zasphinctus species.

Latitudinal Distribution Pattern

Latitudinal Range: 5.8° to 5.8°.

 
North
Temperate 		North
Subtropical 		Tropical South
Subtropical 		South
Temperate
  • Source: Hita Garcia et al., 2025

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists

Afrotropical Region: Ivory Coast (type locality).

Distribution based on AntMaps

AntMapLegend.png

Distribution based on AntWeb specimens

Check data from AntWeb

Countries Occupied

Number of countries occupied by this species based on AntWiki Regional Taxon Lists. In general, fewer countries occupied indicates a narrower range, while more countries indicates a more widespread species.
pChart

Estimated Abundance

Relative abundance based on number of AntMaps records per species (this species within the purple bar). Fewer records (to the left) indicates a less abundant/encountered species while more records (to the right) indicates more abundant/encountered species.
pChart

Biology

Castes

Economo-header (arilab.unit.oist.jp).png  X-ray micro-CT scan 3D model of Zasphinctus kouakoui (worker) prepared by the Economo lab at OIST.

holotype See on Sketchfab. See list of 3D images.

Economo-header (arilab.unit.oist.jp).png  X-ray micro-CT scan 3D model of Zasphinctus kouakoui (worker) prepared by the Economo lab at OIST.

paratype See on Sketchfab. See list of 3D images.

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

  • kouakoui. Zasphinctus kouakoui Hita Garcia & Gómez, 2025: 38, figs. 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 7B, 8B, 10B, 11B, 12B, 13B, 14B, 15B, 16B, 17B, 18B, 19B, 20B, 21B, 26 (w.) IVORY COAST.

Type Material

  • Holotype • Pinned worker, Ivory Coast, Montagnes District, Taï National Park, Site 04, primary forest, hand collected, ex soil, 5.8309, -7.3440, 200 m, collection code KG04079, 10.XI.2019 (K. Gómez and L. Kouakou) (RBINS: KGCOL00589).
  • Paratypes • Four pinned workers with same data as holotype (KGAC: KGCOL00586; MNHNC: KGCOL01321; RBINS: KGCOL02132; NHMUK: KGCOL01884) • 1 pinned worker from Ivory Coast, Tai Forest, 5.83, -7.34, 18.V.77 (T. Diomande) (ZMHB: CASENT0764653).

Description

References

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