Cardiocondyla littoralis

The type specimens of Cardiocondyla littoralis were collected when foraging on the surface of a salty loess soil with very sparse vegetation near the margin of a lake in a semidesert (Seifert, 2003). It remains only known from the original type material (Seifert, 2023).

Identification
Seifert (2003) - A member of the Cardiocondyla bulgarica group. Clearly differed from the syntopic Cardiocondyla ulianini by much larger PoOc/CL, deviating vertex sculpture, larger PEW/PPW, lower petiole with less steep anterior slope, and by shorter spines. Cardiocondyla littoratis is similar to the W Palaearctic Cardiocondyla gallilaeica from which it differs by the much larger PoOc/CL and PEW/PPW, the more excavated dorsofrontal postpetiolar margin, the almost straight median third of occipital margin, and the less narrow frons with more curved frontal carinae.

Seifert (2023) - Small, CS 486 µm. Head moderately elongated, CL/CW 1.167. Postocular distance much larger than in Cardiocondyla ulianini and Cardiocondyla caspiense. PoOc/CL 0.442. Scape shorter, SL/CS 0.792. Eye rather large, EYE/CS 0.249. Occiput in dorsal aspect with evenly rounded corners, its median third straight or weakly concave. Frons moderately broad (FRS/CS 0.241), frontal carinae slightly converging immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.044). Dorsal profile of promesonotum and of propodeum convex with a well-developed metanotal depression (Mgr/CS 3.70 %). Propodeal spines very short (SP/CS 0.087, more triangular but with sharp tips), their axis in profile deviating by about 48° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma, their bases much approached (SPBA/CS 0.223). Petiole narrow and lower than in C. ulianini but still higher than wide (PeW/CS 0.274, PeH/CS 0.306), its node in dorsal aspect as long as wide, tapering frontad; in lateral aspect its frontodorsal profile not concave, more directed caudad (about 50° relative to ventral profile). Postpetiole much narrower than in C. ulianini, less than twice as wide as high (PpW/CS 0.500, PpH/CS 0.277), in dorsal view heard-shaped, with a concave anterior margin and convex sides; postpetiolar sternite with a shallow anteromedian bulge. Clypeus between the level of the paramedian 1st order setae, smooth, its anteromedian margin straight or weakly concave. Frontal laminae and a small area posterior of them finely and densely longitudinally rugulose. Anteromedian vertex glabrous and whole vertex without longitudinal microsculpture, in overall impression similar to situation in C. ulianini, foveolar interspaces glabrous and on the average as wide as foveolar diameter (dFOv 13–16), the interspaces with scattered very fine stickman-like fragments of a microreticulum, internal foveolar surface often with longitudinal carinulae (Fig. 29). Dorsal mesosoma in overall impression shiny; dorsal promesonotum with shallow foveolae of 9–16 µm diameter, interspaces clearly wider than foveolar diameter; dorsal propodeum shiny but very finely microrugulosereticulate. Caudolateral pronotum, ventrolateral mesonotum, mesopleuron, and propodeum below spiracular level finely reticulate. Lateral metapleuron with 2–4 curved longitudinal carinae. Waist segments almost smooth and shining. First gaster tergite glabrous. Pubescence on whole body rather long but dilute, PLg/CS 6.90 %, sqPDg 4.63. Color of head, mesosoma, femora, and gaster dark brown; waist segments sometimes slightly lighter with yellowish tinge.

The taxonomic separation of Cardiocondyla littoralis from those of sympatric Cardiocondyla ulianini and Cardiocondyla caspiense is supported by a PCA considering the characters PoOc/CL, Pew/CS, PpH/CS and PLg/CS (Fig. 136). The type specimens clearly differed from syntopic C. ulianini by the much larger PoOc/CL, larger PeW/PpW, a lower petiole with a less steep anterior slope, and by shorter spines. C. littoralis shows some similarity to the W Palaearctic Cardiocondyla gallilaeica from which it differs by the much larger PoOc/CL and PeW/PpW, the more excavated dorsofrontal postpetiolar margin, the almost straight median third of occipital margin, and the wider frons with more curved frontal carinae.

Distribution
Only known from the type locality (46.6992 °N, 80.5833 °E, 356 m) (Seifert, 2023).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Kazakhstan.

Nomenclature

 * . Cardiocondyla littoralis Seifert, 2003a: 232, fig. 14b (w.) KAZAKHSTAN.
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 11 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Kazakhstan: W-Ufer des Sassy Kol, 46°41’57’’N, 80°35’00’’E, 358 m., 7.viii.2001-1 (B. Seifert); paratypes with same data..
 * Type-depository: SMNG.
 * Distribution: Kazakhstan.

Worker
Similar to Cardiocondyla gallilaeica. Head moderately elongated (CL/CW 1.167); occiput in dorsal aspect with evenly rounded corners, median third straight or weakly concave. Postocular distance much larger than in C. gallilaeica sp.n. (PoOc/CL 0.442). Eye rather large (EYE 0.249). Clypeus between level of the paramedian 1st order setae smooth, its anteromedian margin straight or weakly concave. Frontal laminae and small area posterior ofthem finely and densely longitudinally rugulose. Vertex completely without longitudinal microsculpture, in overall impression similar to situation in C. ulianini, but foveolae frequently bicoronate and with clearly defined circular margins, foveolar interspaces glabrous and on average narrower than foveolar diameter (dFOV 13 - 16). Anteromedian area of vertex glabrous. Frontal carinae immediately caudad from FRS level slightly converging, frontad incurving. Frons less narrow than in C. gallilaeica, FRS/CS 0.241. Dorsal area of mesosoma in overall impression shining; dorsal area of promesonotum with shallow foveolae of 9 - 16 mm diameter, interspaces clearly wider than foveolar diameter; dorsal area of propodeum shining but very finely microrugulose-reticulate. Caudolateral area of pronotum, ventrolateral area of mesonotum, mesopleuron, and propodeum below spiracular level reticulate. Metapleuron laterally with 2 - 4 curved longitudinal carinae. Outer spine base distance very small, SPBA/CS 0.223; spines sharp but on average shorter than in Cardiocondyla ulianini, SP/CS 0.087. Metanotal depression rather deep (MGr/CS 3.7 %). Waist segments almost smooth and shining. Petiole very narrow (PEW/CS 0.274), its frontodorsal profile less concave, more directed caudad, and the node lower than in C. ulianini; node in dorsal aspect as long as wide, tapering frontad. Postpetiole in dorsal aspect about 1.7x as wide as median length, less than 2x as wide as petiole (PPW/PEW 1.825), and with strongly concave anterior margin; postpetiolar sternite with shallow anteromedian bulge. Colour of head, mesosoma, femora, and gaster dark brown; waist segments sometimes slightly lighter, with yellowish tinge.

Type Material
Holotype worker and 11 paratype workers, all labelled “KAZ: 46.41.57 N, 80.35.00 E, 358 m, W-Ufer des Sassy Kol, Lassboden, versalzt, hart, selten tiberschwemmt leg. Seifert 200 1.08.07-1”,. (Seifert, 2023)

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Seifert B. 2003. The ant genus Cardiocondyla (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) - a taxonomic revision of the C. elegans, C. bulgarica, C. batesii, C. nuda, C. shuckardi, C. stambuloffii, C. wroughtonii, C. emeryi, and C. minutior species groups. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien. B, Botanik, Zoologie 104: 203-338.