Tetraponera periyarensis

Manalar, part of Periyar Tiger Reserve and the type locality of the new species, is a fascinating green hill station. The study area is a border line area, which separates Kerala and Tamil Nadu states from each other. On one side, the region is surrounded by the tea gardens of Tamil Nadu, while along the other side, the dense primary evergreen forests of Kerala state are prevalent. The region has a wet, maritime tropical climate with mean average day time temperatures of about 28°C and an altitude of 1630 m. T. rufonigra was common at the same locality. (Bharti & Akbar 2014)

Identification
Bharti & Akbar (2014) - The new species obviously belongs to the rufonigra-group, which is characterized by large size, broad heads, well developed ocelli, angulate pronotal humeri and a developed anteroventral petiolar tooth. There are only three other reported species in the rufonigra-group from the Indo-Australian region: Tetraponera concava, Tetraponera pilosa, and Tetraponera rufonigra. Among these, the new species shares most affinities with T. rufonigra, but with the whole body black, clypeus punctuate, relatively shorter scapes (0.92 mm), and humeral corners of the pronotum bluntly angled. The new species is also close to T. concava, but with the whole body black, the basal margin of mandible without a single denticle, clypeus punctuate and anterior median lobe roundly convex. T. pilosa, is a distinct species and easily separated from other members of the rufonigra-group by its large eyes, subangulate humeri, shallow mesopropodeal impression and dense punctuate sculpture.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 *  periyarensis. Tetraponera periyarensis Bharti & Akbar, 2014: 45, figs 1-3 (w.) INDIA.

Worker
HW 1.66; HL 1.86; LHT 1.60; CI 0.89; FCI 0.18; REL 0.26; SI1 0.55; FI 0.38; PLI 0.51; PWI 0.51; PDI 0.95; LHT/HW 0.96; EL 0.53; MFC 0.33; SL 0.92; LF2 0.13; LF3 0.14; LF4 0.13; FL 1.21; FW 0.46; PrWM 1.14; PDH 0.98; MTW 1.03; PL 1.36; PH 0.71; DPW 0.72; CSC 6; MSC 14; it is difficult to say anything definite about the body pilosity as only a single specimen was available and hairs may have been lost during handling.

Large sized species. Head longer than broad (HW 1.66 mm; HL 1.86 mm), posterior margin of the head weakly convex in fullface view with lateral sides gently rounded posteriorly. Median clypeal lobe broad and conspicuously protruding, anterior margin roundly convex. Distance between frontal carinae about as broad as maximum scape width. Mandibles broad and robust; basal margin (0.51 mm), larger than masticatory margin (0.38 mm); masticatory margin bearing 4 or 5 teeth; apical and preapical teeth are blunt while apicobasal tooth is acute; in between preapical and apicobasal tooth 1 or 2 small teeth are present, which are abraded and difficult to count. Scapes short and clavate (SL 0.92 mm), terminating near the anterior eye margins. Eyes of moderate size (REL 0.26 mm), vertex with 3 distinct ocelli. Pronotum convex in lateral view, with bluntly angled humeral corners and blunt lateral margins. Profemur slender (FI 0.38 mm). Mesonotum raised and descending suddenly to metanotal groove, latter moderately wide. Propodeum weakly convex in lateral view, about as high as wide; dorsal face broad and flattened, rounded into the shorter declivitous face. Petiole longer than broad (PWI 0.51mm), with short anterior peduncle and somewhat elongate flattened node, anteroventral tooth present, directed ventrally. Postpetiole node longer than broad and as high as petiolar node. Gaster elongate.

Mandibles with longitudinal rugae; clypeus punctuate. Cephalic dorsum densely finely punctured; interface about as wide as punctures diameter; punctures fade out on occiput; clypeus punctuate; genae smooth and shining. Pronotum densely finely punctured, the rest of mesosoma densely coarsely punctured, lateral sides with short longitudinal striations in additions to the punctures. Metanotal groove with short longitudinal rugae. Petiole, postpetiole, and gaster smooth and shining.

The whole body with very sparse suberect hairs and dense decumbent pubescence. Scapes with a few suberect hairs and densely decumbent pubescence. Tibiae with dense decumbent pubescence, but without erect hairs. Body black, eyes and antennae blackish brown.

Type Material
Holotype (worker) from India, Kerala, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Manalar, 1630 m a.s.l., 9°35`N, 77°18`E, 24 October 2011, hand picking, coll. Shahid A. Akbar. Holotype deposited in.

Etymology
The species is named after its type locality Periyar Tiger Reserve.