Key to Tetramorium marginatum-group species

Based on Hita Garcia and Fisher (2012. The ant genus Tetramorium Mayr (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Malagasy region - taxonomy of the T. bessonii, T. bonibony, T. dysalum, T. marginatum, T. tsingy, and T. weitzeckeri species groups. Zootaxa 3365: 1-123. [[Media:Hita Garcia & Fisher 2012a.pdf|PDF ]])

1

 * Mesosomal dorsum unsculptured, generally smooth and shining; body colouration usually a dark brown to black (Fig. 128) . . . . . 2


 * Mesosomal dorsum irregularly to longitudinally rugulose; body colouration generally yellow, rarely a pale brown (Fig. 129) . . . . . 5

2
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 * Head in frontal view distinctly much longer than wide (CI 87 - 90); propodeal spines long (PSLI 26 - 30) (Fig. 130) . . . . . Tetramorium silvicola


 * Head in frontal view longer than wide to as long as wide, much wider than above (CI 92 - 100); propodeal spines long to very long (PSLI 32 - 52) (Fig. 131) . . . . . 3

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 * Petiolar node in profile thickly cuneiform and less anteroposteriorly compressed (LPeI 60 - 66; DPeI 134 - 147) (Fig. 132) . . . . . Tetramorium hector


 * Petiolar node in profile triangular cuneiform to squamiform and much more anteroposteriorly compressed than above (LPeI 16 - 47; DPeI 189 - 500) (Fig. 133) . . . . . 4

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 * Few pairs of hairs present on mesosomal dorsum, but generally restricted to dorsolateral margins of pronotum and mesonotum, rarely some hairs medially present at dorsal border between mesonotum and propodeum (Fig. 134) . . . . . Tetramorium marginatum


 * Hairs on dorsal mesosoma more abundant than above, scattered throughout whole dorsum, and not restricted to any margin (Fig. 135) . . . . . Tetramorium valky

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 * Propodeal spines long to extremely long and always distinctly strongly back-curved; frontal carinae moderately developed and either ending at posterior head margin or shortly before; petiolar node in profile high nodiform to weakly cuneiform, not strongly anteroposteriorly compressed dorsally (LPeI 43 - 53; DPeI 163 - 184) (Fig. 136) . . . . . Tetramorium shamshir


 * Propodeal spines generally long and usually straight-lined, rarely weakly back-curved; frontal carinae often weakly developed and ending between posterior eye margin and posterior head margin, generally closer to posterior eye margin; petiolar node in profile triangular cuneiform and strongly anteroposteriorly compressed dorsally (LPeI 26 - 41; DPeI 195 - 325) (Fig. 137) . . . . . Tetramorium norvigi