Tetramorium ghindanum

Identification
A member of the Tetramorium simillimum species group.

Bolton (1980) - One of the two species of the group known at present only from Ethiopia (and only from the type-series), T. ghindanum is closest related to Tetramorium nefassitense, the two together being isolated by the strong sculpture which they possess on the basal half of the first gastral tergite. The two are quickly separated as T. ghindanum has hairs projecting from the side of the head behind the eyes, absent in T. nefassitense, and the eyes of T. ghindanum are smaller.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Eritrea, Ethiopia.

Nomenclature

 *  ghindanum. Tetramorium caespitum subsp. ghindanum Forel, 1910c: 260 (w.) ETHIOPIA. Subspecies of pusillum: Forel, 1914d: 223. Raised to species: Bolton, 1980: 312.

Worker
Bolton (1980) - TL 2.2-2.3, HL 0.58-0.60, HW 0.48-0.50, CI 83-84, SL 0.42-0.45, SI 86-90, PW 0.34-0.36, AL 0.60-0.64 (5 measured).

Mandibles finely and delicately longitudinally striate, the striation sometimes inconspicuous. Anterior clypeal margin without a median notch or impression, the median clypeal carina distinct. Frontal carinae narrow and weakly developed, usually ending at or just behind the level of the midlength of the eye. Rarely the frontal carinae extend slightly beyond the level of the eyes but in most this is an illusion as the real carinae end but their place is taken by one of the cephalic rugulae; in such cases there is always a gap between the end of the carina proper and the rugula which arises internal to it. Antennal scrobes absent. Eyes of moderate size, maximum diameter c. 0.12, about 0.24 x HW, with 7 ommatidia in the longest row. Propodeum armed with a pair of short triangular teeth which at most are only as long as the metapleural lobes, usually shorter than them. Petiole node in dorsal view broader than long. Dorsum of head finely but quite strongly longitudinally rugulose and with a conspicuous densely punctulate or granular groundsculpture. Dorsal alitrunk with numerous fine rugulae which form a disorganized reticulum in places and with a blanketing densely punctulate ground-sculpture. Petiole and postpetiole with similar sculpture but the rugulae fainter. First gastral tergite densely sculptured at least on basal half, often the entire sclerite involved but here the markings are distinctly weaker on the posterior half of the segment. The sculpture consists of coarse shagreening or very fine punctulation, sometimes aligned to give the effect of exceptionally fine dense costulation. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with short, stout blunt hairs. With the head in full-face view the sides behind the eyes each with two freely projecting stout hairs. Colour yellowish brown.

Type Material
Bolton (1980) - Syntype workers, Ethiopia: Ghinda, iii.1906 (K. Escherich) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton B. 1980. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 40: 193-384.
 * Emery C. 1915. Formiche raccolte nell'Eritrea dal Prof. F. Silvestri. Bollettino del Laboratorio di Zoologia Generale e Agraria della Reale Scuola Superiore d'Agricoltura. Portici 10: 3-26.
 * Finzi B. 1939. Materiali zoologici dell'Eritrea raccolti da G. Müller durante la spedizione dell'Istituto Sieroterapico Milanese e conservati al Museo di Trieste. Parte III. Hymenoptera: Formicidae. Atti del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Trieste 14: 153-168.
 * Forel A. 1910. Ameisen aus der Kolonie Erythräa. Gesammelt von Prof. Dr. K. Escherich (nebst einigen in West-Abessinien von Herrn A. Ilg gesammelten Ameisen). Zoologische Jahrbücher. Abteilung für Systematik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere 29: 243-274.
 * Madl M. 2019. Notes on the ant fauna of Eritrea (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae): type specimens deposited in the Natural History Museum Vienna (Austria) and a preliminary checklist. Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien, B 121: 9-18.
 * Wheeler W. M. 1922. Ants of the American Museum Congo expedition. A contribution to the myrmecology of Africa. VIII. A synonymic list of the ants of the Ethiopian region. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 45: 711-1004