Terataner nymeria

Identification
The following character combination distinguishes T. nymeria from the remainder of the genus: in full-face view head comparatively thin (CI 87–91) with weakly convex sides, broadest at eye level, conspicuously narrowing towards posterior head margin before significantly broadening again into well-developed angulate posterodorsal corners; petiole and postpetiole without extremely long, dorsal spines; postpetiole in profile strongly rounded cuneiform, anterior face relatively long and straight leading to rounded dorsum, dorsal apex slightly pointing backwards; postpetiole in anterodorsal view arch-like leading towards a rounded apex; dorsum of promesonotum longitudinally porcate; petiole and postpetiole conspicuously sculptured.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Biology
Terataner nymeria is only known from its type locality, the Analamerana Special Reserve, which is located in the northern tip of Madagascar. The available material was collected in a dry tropical forest habitat at an altitude of 225 m. The new species seems to live on vegetation and nest in dead branches. The strongly elongate and slender body might be an adaptation to the life in sticks and branches resembling other arboreal stick-inhabiting ants, such as Tetraponera Smith.

Castes
Ergatoid queen.

No alate or dealate queens occur in any of the Malagasy Terataner species. Colonies are almost always monogynous with a single reproductive, an ergatoid queen, that differs only slightly from corresponding workers. This reproductive lacks both wings and ocelli, and has an almost normal, worker-like thorax. The ergatoid queen is externally distinguishable from workers only by very subtle characters (e.g., small spines or tubercles below the mesonotal groove; a unique pattern of rugae on the sides of the pronotum) that vary among species. Ergatoid queens have ovaries bearing two to three ovarioles.

Nomenclature

 *  nymeria. Terataner nymeria Hita Garcia, 2017: 22, fig. 8. (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Description
The new species is named after the fictional, female direwolf from Georg R. R. Martin’s epic fantasy series “A Song of Ice and Fire” referring to the ferocious, predatory nature of the new species. The species epithet is a noun in apposition and thus invariant.

Type Material
Holotype, pinned worker, MADAGASCAR, Antsiranana, Reserve Analamerana, 16.7 km 123˚ Anivorano-Nord, -12.80467˚, 49.37383˚, 225 m, tropical dry forest, on low vegetation, collection code BLF11298, 3.XII.2004 (B.L. Fisher) (CASC: CASENT0053630)