Cardiocondyla sulcata

This species is only known from Pasoh Forest Reserve (2.982° N, 102.313° E, 130 m), Malaysia, from a fogging sample (suggesting it likely forages arboreally).

Identification
Worker (Figure 25, Table 3): Very small-sized, CS 415 µm. Head short, CL/CW 1.098. Postocular head sides convex and slightly converging; hind margin of vertex and anterior clypeal margin between the level of frontal carinae straight, postocular distance large, PoOc 0.451. Scape very short, SL/CS 0.787. Eye rather large, EYE 0.241. Frontal carinae very approached (FRS/CS 0.246), at FRS level diverging caudad. Anterior pronotum in dorsal view circularly rounded. Metanotal groove very deep (MGr/CS 6.00%) and with an extremely steep posterior slope that forms with the anterior slope a distinct angle of 90–100°. Spines with very low basal distance (SPBA/CS 0.275), rather short (SP/CS 0.172) and acute; in lateral view steep, deviating from longitudinal mesosomal axis by 35–45°. Petiole extremely narrow and rather low (PeW/CS 0.229, PeH/CS 0.304), with a very long peduncle; in dorsal view more than twice as long than wide, and with a small circular node, in profile the node is low with a convex dorsum. Postpetiole extremely narrow and very low (PpW/CS 0.399, PpH/CS 0.282); in dorsal view with convex sides and a rather narrow, strongly concave anterior margin, postpetiolar sternite almost flat, only with suggested and very rounded anterolateral corners. Whole dorsal head with very shallow microsculpture. Clypeus rather smooth, in posterior third shiny. Frontal laminae rather smooth, with fragments of microfoveolae or rugulae. Vertex with irregular, sometimes bicoronate, foveolae of 17–20 µm diameter and often irregular margins; the interspaces smaller than foveolar diameter, rather smooth with irregular fragmentary microsculpture. Whole mesosoma microreticulate. Petiole microreticulate, a small central spot of dorsal petiole node and whole postpetiolar tergite smooth and shiny. Gaster tergite smooth and shiny, with scattered fragments of very fine microreticular structures and relatively short and dilute pubescence (PLG/CS 6.44%, sqPDG 5.41). All body parts concolorous yellowish.

Cardiocondyla sulcata has a multitude of unique characters and is not to confuse with any known species. It could represent a monotypical clade because morphology does not give suggestions on related species.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Malaysia.

Nomenclature

 * . Cardiocondyla sulcata Seifert, 2022: 56, fig. 25 (w.) MALAYSIA.

Type Material
Holotype worker and 2 paratype workers labelled “MALAYSIA Neg.Sembilan Pasoh For.Res. iii-iv.1994\\Fog sample M.Brendel K.Jackson L.Ficken\\2-15”, BMNH London; 3 paratypes, 2 workers and 1 gyne, with identic labelling in SMN Goerlitz.