Cardiocondyla longinoda

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
A distinctive taxon, easily recognisable by its slenderness, elongate and relatively low petiolar node and shagreened gaster. The latter recalls Cardiocondyla luciae, but in other respects these ants are distinct. (Rigato 2002)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: United Republic of Tanzania.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  longinoda. Cardiocondyla longinoda Rigato, 2002: 167, figs. 1-3 (w.) TANZANIA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.1, HL 0.49, HW 0.39, CI 80, SL 0.38, SI 97, PW 0.28, AL 0.60.

A slender and pale species with long appendages. In full face view head relatively elongate with a hardly concave occipital margin and anterior clypeal lobe with an almost straight anterior edge. Maximum eye diameter 0.13 mm (14 ommatidia in the longest row). With the alitrunk in profile, the promesonotum forming a low convexity a little above the level of the propodeal dorsum; metanotal groove shallow. Pronotum seen from above with rounded humeri. Propodeum armed with two blunt and poorly developed teeth, which seen from above appear as close and stubby tubercles. Petiole with a long low node, in dorsal view is about 1.5 times longer than wide; in posterior view the node is convex. Subpetiolar process barely discernable. Postpetiole seen from above about as long as wide, clearly narrower in front than behind and a little more than 1.5 times wider than the petiole.

Mandibles shagreened and feebly longitudinally striolated, matt. Dorsum of head shagreened and finely blanketed with shallow and regular pubescence-bearing punctures. Promesonotal dorsum with a similar sculpture, but the punctures are poorly visible. Propodeum and sides of the alitrunk finely reticulate-punctate. Petiolar node and dorsum of the postpetiole finely shagreened; sides and peduncle of the petiole finely reticulate punctate. Dorsum of the gaster finely shagreened and matt with a silky appearance.

Hairs present only on the anterior border of the clypeal lobe and at the tip of the gaster. Appressed pubescence well developed especially on the head and gaster. Pubescent hairs on gaster distant from one another by about as much as their length or slightly less.

Colour testaceous yellow, with a slightly duller gaster.

Paratypes. TL 2.0, HL 0.48-0.49, HW 0.37-0.38, CI 77-78, SL 0.36-0.37, SI 95-100, PW 0.26-0.27, AL 0.57-0.59 (4 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker: TANZANIA: Kibaha, 7-vi-1988 (A.M. Varela).

Paratypes: 2 workers with the same data as the holotype BMNH. 1 worker: TANZANIA, Mkomazi Game Reserve, near Junction 9, 3°53'S 38°02'E, 8-v-1996 (H.G. Robertson) (SAM-HYM-C009896). 1 worker: TANZANIA, Mkomazi Game Reserve, Pangaro plot, 3°54'S 37°47'E, 23-iv-1996 (H.G. Robertson) (SAM-HYM-C010399) SAMC.

Etymology
An adjective formed by two latin words, "longus" (long) and "nodus" (knot or node), given to this species for the peculiar shape of the petiolar node.