Euponera antsiraka

Specimens have been found mostly from leaf litter. Due to the hypogaeic habits of workers, the biology of this species is poorly understood.

Identification
Rakotonirina and Fisher (2013) - Worker: Anterior margin of clypeus medially convex or with blunt angle; posterolateral margins of propodeum and petiolar node armed with a series of sharp teeth or tubercles; head densely and finely reticulate-rugulose or reticulate-punctate behind the eye; with head in full face view, lateral borders anteriorly gradually curving towards the base of mandibles; in profile, distance between eyes and base of mandibles roughly three times or more the maximum diameter of eye; mesopleural sulcus distinctly continuous and narrowly impressed; second gastral tergite punctate, pubescence absent or reduced on first and second gastral segments.

Distribution
Euponera antsiraka is only known from the lowland and littoral forests of the central east of the Madagascar

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  antsiraka. Pachycondyla antsiraka Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2013: 459, figs. 26, 31, 32, 33, 71 (w.) MADAGASCAR. Combination in Euponera: Schmidt & Shattuck, 2014: 86.

Worker
(9 specimens): HW: 1.03–1.25, HL: 1.16–1.30, CI: 88–96, SL: 0.78–0.94, SI: 74–78, PW: 0.75–0.91, WL: 1.49–1.82, NH: 0.68–0.86, NL: 0.50–0.68, NW: 0.64–0.86, DNI: 125–141, LNI: 123–143.

Head rectangular, with almost straight lateral margins which weakly converge to the base of the mandibles; posterior border more or less straight. Head capsule densely and finely reticulate-rugulose to reticulate-punctate; space between punctures about the same or smaller than diameter of puncture. Eye small, slightly protruding from the head surface, with 13 or fewer ommatidia; distance between eyes and base of mandibles roughly three times or more the maximum diameter of eye. Antennal scape short, not attaining posterior cephalic margin. Anteromedian margin of clypeus convex or bluntly angulate. Mandibular surface with widely spaced punctulae, the spaces between which are smooth and shiny; apical margins with 8–9 teeth or denticles.

In dorsal view, metanotal groove absent; dorsum of mesosoma reticulate-rugulose, interspersed with punctures; sparse tubercles may be present on anterior portion of pronotum. In profile, mesopleural suture visible as a continuous transverse sulcus from anterior margin to posterior border of mesopleuron. Posterior margin of propodeum with a sequence of teeth or denticles. In dorsal view, petiolar node punctate, lateral surface tuberculate, superimposed with punctures; in lateral view posterolateral margin of petiolar node armed with a series of sharp teeth or tubercles. First gastral segment without impression on its anterior face. First two gastral tergites with punctate sculpture.

Pilosity present on dorsum of body; pubescence sparse on first and second gastral tergites. Body color dark brown to reddish brown; appendages lighter.

Type Material
Holotype worker: Madagascar, Toamasina, FC Sandranantitra, -18.0483, 49.0917, 450 m, rainforest, sifted litter, 18–21 Jan 1999 (H.J. Ratsirarson) collection code: HJR101, specimen code: CASENT0317590. Paratype: worker with same data as holotype but with specimen code HJR101(3)–21 (CASC).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Rakotonirina J. C., and B. L. Fisher. 2013. Revision of the Pachycondyla sikorae species-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Madagascar. Zootaxa 3683 (4): 447-485.