Rhytidoponera levior

Wheeler (1934): Numerous workers from a few large crater nests near the Tourist Camp Reserve (Rottnest Island) at the eastern end of the island (Wheeler, X. 22, '31) and at the extreme western and near Cape Vlaming (Darlington, X. 23, '31).

Identification
Heterick (2009) - Morphologically very similar to Rhytidoponera rufonigra.

Distribution
Heterick (2009) - A predominantly coastal distribution in the Perth metropolitan area but was described from Rottnest Island.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 * . Rhytidoponera punctata var. levior Crawley, 1925b: 581 (w.) AUSTRALIA (Western Australia: Rottnest I.).
 * Type-material: holotype (?) worker.
 * [Note: no indication of number of specimens is given.]
 * Type-locality: Australia: Western Australia, Rottnest I., no. 250 (Mathews).
 * Type-depository: OXUM.
 * Clark, 1936: 61 (m.).
 * Subspecies of punctata: Wheeler, W.M. 1934d: 139.
 * Status as species: Clark, 1936: 61 (redescription); Taylor, 1986: 35; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 379; Heterick, 2009: 139.
 * Senior synonym of douglasi: Taylor, 1986: 35; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 379.
 * Distribution: Australia.
 * douglasi. Rhytidoponera douglasi Brown, 1952f: 137.
 * Unnecessary replacement name for Rhytidoponera mayri r. glabrius var. laevior Stitz, 1911a: 352; unavailable (infrasubspecific) name.
 * Status as species: Brown, 1958g: 203, 271; Taylor & Brown, 1985: 42.
 * Junior synonym of levior: Taylor, 1986: 35; Taylor, 1987a: 69; Bolton, 1995b: 379.

Worker
Somewhat darker than typical punctata. The eyes are not quite so close to the occiput, the occipital angles more rounded, and there is no sign of a carina, though the border is slightly depressed in the middle. (In punctata there is a feeble occipital carina.) The scape passes the occipital border by exactly one-third (in punctata by rather more). Otherwise similar in form.

Whole body, as in the type, densely and finely reticulate, except the back of the occiput, which is smoother and more shining than in the type. The head in addition has small punctures, much smaller, rounder, more shining, and further apart than in punctata.

On the thorax the punctures are even smaller and less abundant than on the head, and on the petiole the sculpture is less coarse than in the type. The superficial punctures on the gaster are also smaller and less abundant.