Leptogenys namoroka

This species is known only from one specimen collected from the dry forest habitat of the PN Tsingy de Bemaraha in western Madagascar. It was found foraging in leaf litter.

Identification
A member of the ridens complex of the truncatirostris species group. Rakotonirina and Fisher (2014) - Worker. Clypeus with median carina; distance between anterior level of torulus and anteromedial clypeal margin greater than maximum width of scape, antennal scape relatively short; eye small, maximum diameter roughly one-fifth the length of side of head; not extending beyond lateral cephalic border when head in full-face view; petiolar node approximately as broad as long (DNI: 115) in dorsal view; dorsum of mesosoma, petiolar node and gaster with few, short, suberect hairs and dense pubescence; dense and fine sculptures; larger species (HW: 1.38, HL: 1.58, WL: 2.47).

Leptogenys namoroka is very similar to Leptogenys tsingy in that they have small eyes, which do not break the lateral border of the head in full-face view, but L. tsingy is smaller in size (WL: 2.17–2.39), has broader petiolar node (DNI: 134–146) and is covered with abundant short suberect hairs and sparse pubescence on the dorsum of the mesosoma, petiolar node and the gaster.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  namoroka. Leptogenys namoroka Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2014: 148, figs. 16B, 18A, 164, 173 (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
(1 specimen). HW: 1.38, HL: 1.56, CI: 88, SL: 1.66, SI: 120, PW: 0.95, WL: 2.47, PNH: 0.86, PNL: 0.70, PNW: 0.81, DNI: 115, LNI: 122.

Head elongate and larger in front than behind; sides deviating outward anteriorly and rounding to medially slightly concave posterior border. Eye small; in full-face view, eye not extending beyond line of lateral cephalic border. Antennal scape relatively short, surpassing posterior margin of head by one third of its length. Clypeus broadly rounded anteriorly, bordered with white-yellowish lamella; in full-face view, median lobe of clypeus elongate, width taken from anterior level of torulus to anteromedial clypeal margin greater than maximum diameter of scape. Mandible when fully closed, basal two-thirds of blades placed tightly against anterior margin of clypeus, rest of apical portion overlapping each other and projecting further in front of clypeus. With mesosoma in dorsal view, metanotal groove impressed and transversely striate; in lateral view, propodeal lobe lacking. In dorsal view, petiolar node roughly as broad as long. FIGURE 164. Leptogenys namoroka holotype worker CASENT0072075. A: lateral view. B: head in full-face view. C: dorsal view. Mandible longitudinally striate, with sparse punctures. Dorsum of head, mesosoma and petiolar node densely and finely reticulate-rugose to densely and finely reticulate punctate. Propodeal declivity transversely rugose. Third abdominal tergite densely and finely reticulate-punctate; fourth densely and finely punctate. Pubescence abundant on entire dorsum of body, with sparse, suberect, short hairs. Color blackish dark brown, appendages dark brown at base and brown at tarsal segments and apex of gaster.

Type Material
Holotype worker: Madagascar: Mahajanga, PN Namoroka, 16.9 km 317° NW Vilanandro, -16.4067, 45.31, 100 m, tropical dry forest, sifted litter, 12–16 Nov 2002 (Fisher-Griswold, Arthropod Team) collection code BLF06582, specimen code: CASENT0034713.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Rakotonirina J. C., and B. L. Fisher. 2014. Revision of the Malagasy ponerine ants of the genus Leptogenys Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 3836 (1): 001163.