Simopone amana

Identification
Key to Afrotropical Simopone Species

A member of the schoutedeni species group

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Gabon.

Nomenclature

 *  amana. Simopone amana Bolton & Fisher, 2012: 18 (w.) GABON.

Worker
Holotype. HL 0.78, HW 0.53, SL 0.24, EL 0.28, PW 0.38, AIIW 0.38, AIIL 0.40, AIIIW 0.48, AIIIL 0.48, WL 0.89, MFL 0.40, CI 68, SI 45, EL/HW 0.53, EP 0.92, AIIW/AIIL 0.95, AIIIW/AIIIL 1.00.

With head in full-face view the outlines of the outer margins of the eyes just fail to interrupt the outlines of the sides of the head. ES 0.25 and width of head across broadest part of eyes 0.52. Frontal carinae extend back to level of anterior margins of eyes and are weakly divergent posteriorly. Cephalic dorsum with scattered broad, shallow punctures. Conspicuous ground sculpture is present between the eyes that appears as longitudinal fine striolae; this ground sculpture fades out behind the level of the eyes. Leading edge of scape with a few setae, inclined toward the scape apex. Sides of head below and behind eyes with projecting short setae, inclined anteriorly. Cephalic dorsum with numerous short, curved setae and with a few pairs of longer setae present; longest setae occur on the frontal carinae and above the eye. Ventral surface of head with short setae. Mesosoma in dorsal view narrowest across the mesonotum (maximum width 0.38), broadest across the propodeum (maximum width 0.40). Anterior margin of pronotum weakly marginate. Propodeum with a fine weak carina between dorsum and declivity. Entire dorsum of mesosoma with widely spaced broad, shallow punctures that are most widely spaced on the pronotum. Mesopleuron with a few punctures and a distinct transverse sulcus. Propodeal declivity smooth except for a narrow band of disorganised superficial sculpture immediately below the dorsal carina. In profile, dorsal surfaces of mesosoma and all abdominal tergites with numerous posteriorly curved setae. Standing setae present on middle and hind tibiae. AII (petiole) in dorsal view with a weak transverse carina both anteriorly and posteriorly; sides very shallowly convex, almost straight, gradually divergent posteriorly so that the width across the anterior margin is noticeably less than across the posterior margin. Dorsum of AII with large, shallow punctures. Tergite of AIII with similar but more crowded punctures, so that some are adjacent; diameters of punctures always greater than the distances between them. AII slightly longer than broad, AIII as long as broad, AIV distinctly broader than long (width 0.54, length 0.47; AIVW/AIVL 1.15). Head capsule and body blackish brown to black; scapes and funiculi light brown; femora and tibiae brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Gabon: La Makandé, Forêt des Abeilles, i-ii.1999 (A. Dejean).