Prionopelta seychelles

This species is known only from Seychelles and is found between 15–660 meters of elevation on the islands of Mahé, Conception, Thérèse, Silhouette, Praslin, La Digue, Félicité Island, and the Little Sister island group. It does not appear to have strict habitat preferences as it has been collected in mixed forest, littoral forest, non-native forest, palm forest, and coastal scrub. P. seychelles has also been collected from a diversity of microhabitats including from leaf litter, inside rotten logs, under rocks, under moss on live trees, and under root mats. (Overson and Fisher 2015)

Identification
Overson and Fisher (2015) - P. seychelles is the only known species from Seychelles. It can be distinguished from all other Malagasy Prionopelta through the following characters: twelve antennal segments; densely arranged cephalic foveae with virtually no space for additional foveae and no shining integument visible between; pronotum consisting of shallow foveae much larger in diameter than those on the head with punctures between; median cephalic band which is devoid of foveae not swelling above the surrounding integument, and often characterized as being wider anteriorly and narrower posteriorly.

P. seychelles is most likely to be confused with Prionopelta subtilis, as both have very small cephalic foveae that are densely arranged on the head. However, the two species are not sympatric, as P. seychelles is known only from Seychelles, and P. subtilis only from Madagascar. The median cephalic bands contrast markedly between these taxa, as that of P. seychelles is wide anteriorly, often tapering posteriorly, with an interrupted border caused by aberrantly placed foveae which break up the margins which define the smooth shining area. That of P. subtilis, on the other hand, is very thin throughout its length, with clearly defined borders which are swollen above the surrounding integument. On average, P. subtilis also has a wider head than P. seychelles: 0.39–0.45 (0.42) vs. 0.33–0.37 (0.35), respectively. Additionally, the cephalic foveae of P. subtilis are smaller and the cephalic sculpture overall appears more delicate than that of P. seychelles.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Seychelles.

Nomenclature

 *  seychelles. Prionopelta seychelles Overson & Fisher, 2015: 132, figs. 3C, 8 (w.) SEYCHELLES.

Worker
(N=15). HL 0.44–0.48 (0.46); HW 0.33–0.37 (0.35); SL 0.22–0.26 (0.24); WL 0.47–0.54 (0.5); PetL 0.13–0.17 (0.14); PetW 0.17–0.21 (0.18); T1W 0.29–0.31 (0.3); CI 73.63–80.41 (76.39); PI 106.92–144.44 (128.7); SI 64.56–73.43 (69.77).

Twelve antennal segments; posterior margin of the head weakly concave in full-face view; small cephalic foveae densely positioned so that no flat, shining integument is present between; median cephalic band which is devoid of foveae does not appear to swell above the surrounding integument, but rather appears as a smooth, shining surface which is widest anteriorly, narrowing posteriorly; apical tooth intermediate in length; pronotum with foveae which range from shallow to deep and are interspersed regularly with punctures; mesonotum and propodeum consisting of large, shallow foveae; metanotal groove strongly visible, and mesopropodeal suture visible to barely visible, but some depression always present; posterior propodeal edge viewed dorsally is straight or only very slightly concave; no protruding lamellae of the posterior propodeum.

Type Material
Holotype, pinned worker, SEYCHELLES, Silhouette Island, ridge from Mont Corgat to Mont Cocos Marrons, 4.50126°S, 55.23985°E, 455 m, for est, sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), collection code BLF23364, 24.ii.2010 (B.L. Fisher et al.) (: CASENT0161311). Paratypes, eight pinned workers with same data as holotype (: CASENT0161314; CASC: CASENT0161310; CASENT0161312; CASENT0161313; CASENT0161315; CASENT0161316; CASENT0161317; CASENT0161319).

Etymology
This species is named after the Seychelles archipelago, to which it is endemic. The species epithet is a noun in apposition, and thus invariable.