Tetramorium amalae

The type locality is a relatively pristine area. This new species was collected after a season of a relative low rain fall with sparse vegetation cover. It is worth mentioning that in some years heavy rains occur and then usually accompanied by extensive flooding which greatly increases the density of the vegetation. Nothing is known of the biology of this species. The holotype and the paratype specimens were found in leaf litter samples. (Sharaf, Aldawood and Taylor 2012)

Identification
Sharaf, Aldawood and Taylor 2012) - T. amalae is a member of the T. shilohense-group and appears to most resemble Tetramorium dysderke from  Nigeria. It is similar in body size and colour but differs in having greater head length, HL 0.71 versus 0.59; greater head width, HW 0.61 versus 0.50; and, greater pronotal width, PW 0.42 versus 0.34; the scape index is smaller, SI 72 versus 80 and the eyes are much smaller, EL 0.016HW versus EL 0.066HW. T. amalae has more or less well developed frontal carinae which are stronger than the cephalic sculpture whereas in T. dysderke they are very feebly developed and not stronger than the other cephalic sculpture. In addition, in dorsal view the petiole node in T. amalae is longer than broad whereas it is about as long as broad in T. dysderke. T. amalae is also very similar to Tetramorium subcoecum from Kenya in colour, body measurements and general aspects but they can be separated by the following: antennal scrobes visible only as shallow depression in T. amalae whereas no antennal scrobes in T. subcoecum; eyes tiny in T. amalae, about 0.016HW, consisting of two ommatidia, whereas in T. subcoecum eyes little bit bigger, about 0.04–0.066HW consisting of a single ommatidia. Another similar but easily distinguishable species is the West African Tetramorium jugatum. Although of a similar size and proportions, that has multi-faceted eyes and more pronounced sculpture on the head and mesosoma.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia.

Nomenclature

 *  amalae. Tetramorium amalae Sharaf & Aldawood, in Sharaf, Aldawood & Taylor, 2012: 2, figs. 1-8 (w.) SAUDI ARABIA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.55, HL 0.71, HW 0.61, SL 0.44, ML 0.63, PW 0.42, EL 0.01, PL 0.26, PTW 0.15, PPL 0.17, PPW 0.19, SI 72, CI 86.

Head distinctly longer than broad with convex sides and shallowly concave posterior margin. Mandibles finely and very faintly longitudinally striated. Anterior clypeal margin with a small notch, the median carina running the length of the clypeus Frontal carinae relatively short and weakly developed but distinctly stronger than the other cephalic sculpture, diverging from the frontal lobes and ending at the level of the eyes. Antennal scrobes visible only as a shallow depression. Eyes tiny, consisting of only two minute ommatidia on each side, one is smaller than the other and has diameter approximately 0.01, about 0.016HW and only distinguished under higher magnification. Antennae 12-segmented. Metanotal groove feebly impressed. Propodeal spines short and triangular. Metapleural lobes triangular. Mesosoma sides with irregular wavy longitudinal sculpture. Propodeal spiracles well developed and circular. Petiole node rectangular in profile, with a roughly right-angular anterodorsal angle and oblique posterodorsal angle. In dorsal view the petiole and petiole nodes are distinctly longer than broad, the latter is oblong. Dorsum of head finely but distinctly irregularly longitudinally rugulose, the space between the rugulae finely punctulate. Mesosoma with a faint and low transverse ridge on the anterior pronotum. Promesonotum finely longitudinally rugulose, mesonotum smooth, propodeal dorsum very faintly longitudinally striated. Dorsal surfaces of petiole and postpetiole nodes unsculptured. Gaster smooth and shining. All body surfaces with barbulate numerous fine hairs, the head pilosity is shorter than on the mesosoma and gaster. Colour uniformly yellow.

Type Material
Holotype worker. Saudi Arabia, Al Bahah, Amadan Forest, Al Mandaq, 20.20000 N, 41.21667 E, 1881 m.a.s.l. 19.V.2010 (M. R. Sharaf & A. S. Aldawood Leg.). King Saud Museum of Arthropods, College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Paratype worker. Saudi Arabia, Al Bahah,Wadi Turabah, Al Mandaq, 20.21103N,41.28822E, 1739 m.a.s.l. 14.V.2011 (M. R. Sharaf Leg.). King Saud Museum of Arthropods (KSMA), College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Etymology
The patronym has been selected to honor both Amal El Saadany (wife of the senior author MRS) and Amal Aldawood (daughter of the second author ASA).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * El-Hawagry M. S., M. W. Khalil, M. R. Sharaf, H. H. Fadl, and A. S. Aldawood. 2013. A preliminary study on the insect fauna of Al-Baha Province, Saudi Arabia, with descriptions of two new species. ZooKeys 274: 188. doi:10.3897/zookeys.274.4529
 * Sharaf M. R., H. M. Al Dhafer, and S. A. Aldawood. 2014. First record of the myrmicine ant genus Meranoplus Smith, 1853 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Arabian Peninsula with description of a new species and notes on the zoogeography of Southwestern Kingdom Saudi Arabia. PLoS ONE 9(11): e111298 (doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111298).