Cataulacus jacksoni

Identification
The characteristic strong sulcate sculpture of this species, coupled with its possession of immarginate and unarmed lateral pronotal margins, stalked-suborbicular cephalic hairs, and propodeal spines which are bowed outwards in dorsal view and downcurved in profile, make jacksoni very easily recognizable. (Bolton 1982)

Distribution
This taxon was described from Cameroon.

Nomenclature

 *  jacksoni. Cataulacus jacksoni Bolton, 1982: 360 (w.) CAMEROUN.

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.5, HL 0.98, HW 0.94, CI 96, EL 0.46, OI 50, SL 0.49, SI 52, PW 0.68, AL 0.98 (cephalic measurements approximate as head crushed).

With the head in full-face view the sides behind the eyes minutely denticulate. Occipital crest absent, the dorsum rounding into the occipital margin. Head of holotype crushed behind level of eyes and the surface fractured; the fracture also running forward on the head along the inner margin of the right eye to the clypeus. With the alitrunk in profile the dorsal outline rising steeply to about the midlength of the pronotum. Behind this the remainder of the dorsum evenly shallowly convex to the bases of the propodeal spines, the outline not interrupted by superficial peaks or tubercles. Mesokatepisternal tooth small and broadly triangular. Propodeal spines in profile strongly downcurved along their length. Metapleural lobes very small. With the alitrunk in dorsal view the pronotal corners angular, the angle slightly projecting. Sides of pronotum behind this not marginate, without a regular series of laterally projecting denticles. Instead the sides with only a blunt tubercle at the point of junction of the pronotum and mesonotum and with one or two minute irregularities, too low, small and blunt to be called tubercles or denticles, situated behind the corner. Sides of mesonotum and propodeum unarmed and immarginate, the latter with a low salient welt at the site of the spiracle. Propodeal spines in dorsal view curved, bowed outwards along their length. Petiole in profile blunt above, not rising to a sharp peak. Subpetiolar process with the anteroventral angle rounded, the posteroventral angle acute and slightly projecting. Postpetiole in profile very high and narrow, with a flat anterior face and a long simple ventral process. In dorsal view the postpetiole with the sides converging dorsally so that the node narrows from base to apex. Dorsum of head to level of posterior margins of eyes finely longitudinally rugose, behind this level the head with very heavy broad strong sulci. Ventral surface of head longitudinally sulcate. Dorsal alitrunk regularly strongly longitudinally sulcate except for the area between the bases of the propodeal spines where the sulci are arched-transverse. Propodeal declivity transversely sulcate. Coxae, femora and tibiae of legs all longitudinally sulcate. Anterior face of petiole node transversely sulcate, the dorsum with U-shaped sulci. Upper half of anterior face of postpetiole vertically sulcate. Sides of alitrunk diagonally sulcate from anteroventral to posterodorsal on each sclerite except on the mesokatepisternum where they run from posteroventral to anterodorsal. First gastral tergite and first sternite covered with strong parallel longitudinal sulci throughout. Dorsum of head with abundant stalked-suborbicular hairs which have slender basal stems. Remainder of dorsal surfaces of body with sparse fine curved hairs which are very feebly clavate apically. Colour uniform black but scapes, anterior tibiae and tarsi, and tarsi of middle and hind legs dull yellow.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Cameroun: Nkoemvon, 1980 (D. Jackson).

Additional References

 * [[Media:Bolton 1982.pdf|Bolton, B. 1982. Afrotropical species of the myrmecine ant genera Cardiocondyla, Leptothorax, Melissotarsus, Messor and Cataulacus (Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology, 46: 307-370 PDF]]