Cardiocondyla caspiense

This species is known from only one collection (consisting of 2 specimens) from an area with shrubs and grass near the Caspian Sea, in Iran.

Identification
Worker (Tab. 2, Figs. 30–33, key). Small, CS 485 µm. Head moderately elongated, CL/CW 1.144. Postocular distance much smaller than in Cardiocondyla littoralis, PoOc/CL 0.418. Scape longer, SL/CS 0.818. Eye rather large, EYE/CS 0.253. Hind margin of vertex in dorsal view suggestively concave. Frons moderately broad (FRS/CS 0.248), frontal carinae slightly converging immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.041). Dorsal profile of promesonotum and of propodeum convex with a well-developed metanotal depression (Mgr/CS 3.88 %). Propodeal spines more diverging and slightly longer than in C. littoralis (SP/CS 0.110), triangular but with sharp tips), their axis in profile deviating by about 45° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma, their bases much approached (SPBA/CS 0.220). Petiole extremely narrow and much higher than wide (PeW/CS 0.252, PeH/CS 0.312), its node in dorsal aspect as long as wide, tapering frontad; in lateral aspect its frontodorsal profile steeper than in C. littoralis (about 58° relative to ventral profile). Postpetiole as wide but much lower than in C. littoralis, about twice as wide as high (PpW/CS 0.502, PpH/CS 0.248), in dorsal view heard-shaped, with a concave anterior margin and convex sides; postpetiolar sternite with a shallow anteromedian bulge. Clypeus between the level of the paramedian 1st order setae, smooth, its anteromedian margin straight or weakly concave. Frontal laminae and a small area posterior of them finely and densely longitudinally rugulose. Anteromedian vertex glabrous and whole vertex without longitudinal microsculpture, in overall impression similar to situation in Cardiocondyla ulianini, foveolar interspaces glabrous and on the average as wide as foveolar diameter (dFOv 16.2 µm), the interspaces with scattered very fine stickman-like fragments of a microreticulum, internal foveolar surface often with longitudinal carinulae (Fig. 33). Dorsal mesosoma in overall impression shiny; dorsal promesonotum shiny, slightly microrugulose and with few shallow foveolae; dorsal propodeum shiny but very finely microrugulose-reticulate. ventrolateral mesonotum, mesopleuron, and propodeum below spiracular level finely reticulate. Lateral metapleuron with 2–4 curved longitudinal carinae. Waist segments almost smooth and shining. First gaster tergite glabrous. Pubescence on whole body moderately long and dilute, PLg/CS 6.47 %, sqPDg 4.80. Color of head, mesosoma, femora, and gaster medium brown with yellowish-reddish color component.

Cardiocondyla caspiense is most similar to C. littoralis but the strong differences in petiole width and postpetiolar height appear to be outside the usual range of intraspecific variability. The separation from C. littoralis and C. ulianini is supported by a PCA considering the characters PoOc/CL, Pew/CS, PpH/CS and PLg/CS (Fig. 136).

Distribution
Only known from the type locality (36.833 °N, 53.450 °E, minus 29 m).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Iran.

Nomenclature

 * . Cardiocondyla caspiense Seifert, 2023: 34, figs. 30-33 (w.) IRAN.

Type Material

 * Holotype plus 1 paratype worker on the same pin labelled “IRAN: 36.833° N, 53.450° E, Miankaleh, shrubs and grass, Paknia 2004.07.23 -561” and “Holotype (upper) paratype of Cardiocondyla caspiense”, depository, SMN görlitz.