Tetraponera protensa

Known from the type material, collected from a mountain rainforest.

Identification
A member of the Tetraponera allaborans species-group.

Xu & Chai (2004) - Close to Tetraponera allaborans, but middle tooth of median lobe of clypeus exceptionally developed and protruding, much longer than the lateral teeth. Occipital margin weakly concave. Scapes relatively shorter with SI 52-53. Eyes relatively smaller with REL 30-31.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: China.

Nomenclature

 *  protensa. Tetraponera protensa Xu & Chai, 2004: 71, figs. 48-52 (w.) CHINA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 4.9, HL 0.97, HW 0.77, CI 79, SL 0.40, SI 52, PW 0.50, AL 1.30, EL 0.30, REL 31, PDH 0.43, MTW 0.40, PDI 108, PL 0.63, PH 0.30, DPW 0.27, PLI 47, PWI 42. Head rectangular and distinctly longer than broad. In full face view, occipital margin weakly concave, occipital corners roundly prominent. Anterior half of lateral side slightly concave, posterior half weakly convex. Mandible narrow and slender, with 3 teeth on the masticatory margin and 2 denticles on basal margin. Median lobe of clypeus narrow and protruding, anterior margin with 3 teeth, the middle tooth exceptionally developed and much longer than the lateral ones. Apex of scape reached to 1/2 of the distance from antennal socket to occipital corner. Eyes moderate large and just reached to lateral sides of head. Ocelli absent. In profile view, pronotum moderately convex, lateral borders distinctly marginate. Mesonotum weakly convex and slope down backward. Metanotal groove widely and deeply impressed. Anterior face of propodeum sloped, dorsum moderately convex and slope down backward, anterodorsal and posterodorsal corners rounded, declivity relatively straight. In dorsal view, pronotum narrowed backward, humeral corners rounded. Metanotum raised up as a small conical prominence between the spiracles. In posterior view, pronotum moderately convex, laterodorsal corners bluntly angled. In profile view, anterior peduncle of petiole moderately long and slightly curved down, ventral face weakly concave, petiolar node roundly convex and symmetrical. Postpetiolar node slightly lower than petiolar node.

Mandibles finely and longitudinally striate. Head, prothorax and mesothorax very sparsely and finely punctate, interspace smooth. Meta thorax and lateral sides of propodeum weakly, finely and longitudinally rugulose. Dorsum of propodeum, petiole, postpetiole and gaster smooth and shining. Metanotal groove with short longitudinal ridges. Dorsum of peduncle of petiole densely and finely punctate. The whole body with sparse decumbent pubescences, standing hairs very sparse: 2 pairs on frontal carinae, 1 pair on vertex, 2 pairs on pronotum, 1 pair on petiole and 2 pairs on postpetiole. Mesonotum and propodeum lack standing hairs. Gaster with sparse erect hairs. Scapes and tibiae with abundant decumbent pubescences and sparse suberect hairs. Body color black. Clypeus and femora blackish brown. Mandibles and tibiae brown. Antennae and tarsi brownish yellow.

Paratype worker. TL 4.8, HL 1.00, HW 0.78, CI 78, SL 0.42, SI 53, PW 0.50, AL 1.33, EL 0.30, REL 30, PDH 0.43, MTW 0.42, PDI 104, PL 0.63, PH 0.32, DPW 0.28, PLI 50, PWI 45 (1 individual measured). As holotype.

Type Material
Holotype. worker, No. A98-129, 1120 m, Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve, Guanping Village, Dadugang Town, Jinghong County, Yunnan Province, 5 Mar. 1998, collected by Mr. Liu TaiYong in the mountain rain forest. Paratype 1 worker, with same data as holotype.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Guénard B., and R. R. Dunn. 2012. A checklist of the ants of China. Zootaxa 3558: 1-77.
 * Xu Z. and Z.-Q. Chai. 2004. Systematic study on the ant genus Tetraponera F. Smith (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) of China. Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica 29(1): 63-76.