Tetramorium mkomazi

Only known from few localities in Tanzania.

Identification
The unsculptured petiolar node and absence of standing hairs from mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole, and first gastral tergite make Tetramorium mkomazi directly recognizable within the edouardi complex.

A member of the Afrotropical edouardi species complex, which is part of the weitzeckeri species group.

Key to weitzeckeri-group species.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Tanzania.

Nomenclature

 *  mkomazi. Tetramorium mkomazi Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010b: 26, figs. 2B, 19A, 28-30 (w.) TANZANIA.

Worker
HL 0.844 - 1.067 (0.967); HW 0.789 - 1.044 (0.924); SL 0.622 - 0.778 (0.717); EL 0.206 - 0.278 (0.243); PW 0.600 - 0.800 (0.707); WL 1.011 - 1.333 (1.193); PSL 0.267 - 0.367 (0.319); PTL 0.189 - 0.267 (0.233); PTH 0.333 - 0.467 (0.408); PTW 0.267 - 0.411 (0.342); PPL 0.222 - 0.322 (0.281); PPH 0.311 - 0.433 (0.389); PPW 0.333 - 0.522 (0.442); CI 93 - 98 (95); SI 74 - 79 (78); OI 26 - 27 (26); PSLI 32 - 34 (33); PeNI 48 - 51 (48); LPeI 56 - 59 (57); DPeI 141 - 154 (146); PpNI 56 - 65 (62); LPpI 69 - 74 (72); DPpI 150 - 163 (157) ; PPI 125 - 133 (129) (4 measured).

Head longer than wide (CI 93 - 98). Anterior clypeal margin with median impression. Frontal carinae strongly developed, growing weaker after eye level, and fading out shortly before posterior margin of head. Antennal scrobe narrow, shallow, and without defined ventral margin. Antennal scape moderate, not reaching posterior margin of head (SI 74 - 79). Eyes relatively large (OI 26 - 27), with 12 to 14 ommatidia in longest row. In lateral view metanotal groove distinctly impressed. Propodeal spines long, spinose, and acute (PSLI 32 - 34). Propodeal lobes small, triangular and acute. Node of petiole high nodiform, in dorsal view around 1.5 times wider than long (DPeI 141 - 154), in lateral view around 1.7 to 1.8 times higher than long (LPeI 56 - 59), posterodorsal angle of node weaker developed and more rounded than anterodorsal, dorsum sloping faintly downwards posteriorly. Postpetiole in dorsal view around 1.6 times wider than long (DPpI 150 - 163); in lateral view antero-posteriorly compressed, and around 1.4 times higher than long (LPpI 69 - 74). Mandibles unsculptured and shiny. Clypeus finely longitudinally rugose, median ruga developed. Head mostly longitudinally rugose, dorsum of head with 10 to 12 rugae between frontal carinae, most reaching posterior margin of head. Dorsum of mesosoma with abundant fine longitudinal rugae, mesosoma laterally mostly unsculptured, weakly longitudinally rugose. Head and mesosoma without ground sculpturation, smooth and shiny. Petiole, postpetiole and gaster completely unsculptured, smooth and shiny. Head with fine, long, erect hairs; mesosoma, petiole, postpetiole, and first gastral tergite without standing hairs. Fine pubescence on tibiae and antennal scapes appressed. Body colour uniformly dark brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker, TANZANIA, Mkomazi Game Reserve, valley behind Ibaya, 03° 58' S, 37° 48' E, burnt savanna on slope, nest entrance in little prominence c. 5cm, high probably made by termites, field # 67, 28.XI.1995, leg. H.G. Robertson (: ZFMK_HYM_2009_6087). Paratypes, 1worker with same data as holotype (BMNH: ZFMK_HYM_2009_6088); 1 worker from TANZANIA, Amani, 850m, 9.XI.1957, leg. E.S. Ross & R.E. Leech (: CASENT0218281); 1 worker from TANZANIA, N. Tanzania, Amani Hills, 23.-24.VI.2001, leg. D. Quick (CASC: CASENT0098010).

Etymology
The new species is named in reference to Mkomazi Game Reserve, an important area for biodiversity conservation in Northern Tanzania. The species epithet is a noun in apposition and thus invariant.