Key to Protanilla species

The following key is based on: Xu, Z.-H. 2012. Furcotanilla, a new genus of the ant subfamily Leptanillinae from China with descriptions of two new species of Protanilla and P. rafflesi Taylor (Hymenoptera Formicidae). Sociobiology 59, 477-491.

Protanilla genus page

1

 * In full face view, anterior margin of clypeus strongly concave. Laterodorsal surface of mandible without longitudinal groove. In dorsal view, petiolar node laterally compressed and roughly elliptic, distinctly longer than broad. Body bicolor, the middle portion black, the rest brownish yellow . . . . . 2


 * In full face view, anterior margin of clypeus straight to weakly concave. Laterodorsal surface of mandible with a longitudinal groove. In dorsal view, petiolar node anteroposteriorly compressed or square, as broad as long or broader than long. Body concolor, uniformly yellowish brown or reddish brown . . . . . 3

2
return to couplet #1
 * In full face view, anterior 1/3 of the head distinctly narrowed forward. In profile view, anterodorsal corner of petiolar node roundly prominent. Head brownish yellow. Body small with TL 2.7-3.0 mm (China: Yunnan Province) . . . . . Protanilla bicolor


 * In full face view, anterior 1/2 of the head distinctly narrowed forward. In profile view, anterodorsal corner of petiolar node rounded. Head light black to blackish brown. Body large with TL 4.1-4.5 mm (China: Yunnan Province) . . . . . Protanilla gengma

3
return to couplet #1
 * In dorsal view, petiolar node nearly square, as broad as long, and weakly narrowed backward. In profile view, anterior face of petiolar node vertical, postpetiolar node not inclined forward (China: Taiwan Province) . . . . . Protanilla lini


 * In dorsal view, petiolar node anteroposteriorly compressed, distinctly broader than long, and weakly widened backward. In profile view, anterior face of petiolar node steeply sloped. Postpetiolar node strongly inclined forward . . . . . 4

4
return to couplet #3
 * In full face view, occipital margin almost straight. In dorsal view, anterior margin of gaster weakly concave (Sri Lanka) . . . . . Protanilla schoedli


 * In full face view, occipital margin weakly concave. In dorsal view, anterior margin of gaster straight . . . . . 5

5
return to couplet #4
 * In full face view, anterior 1/2 of the head distinctly narrowed forward. In profile view, petiolar node relatively thin and roughly triangular, dorsal face very short, about 1/2 length of anterior face (China: Yunnan Province) . . . . . Protanilla concolor


 * In full face view, anterior 1/3 of the head distinctly narrowed forward. In profile view, petiolar node relatively thick and roughly trapezoidal, dorsal face long, about as long as anterior face . . . . . 6

6
return to couplet #5
 * In profile view, posterodorsal corner of propodeum evenly convex. Petiolar node strongly narrowed upward, anterior face nearly straight, dorsal face weakly convex, anterodorsal corner blunt (China: Tibet) . . . . . Protanilla tibeta


 * In profile view, posterodorsal corner of propodeum strongly convex. Petiolar node weakly narrowed upward, anterior face weakly concave, dorsal face strongly convex, anterodorsal corner roundly protruding (Singapore, Malaysia) . . . . . Protanilla rafflesi