Key to Afrotropical Hypoponera

Key based on: Bolton, B. & Fisher, B.L. 2011. Taxonomy of Afrotropical and West Palaearctic ants of the ponerine genus Hypoponera Santschi. Zootaxa 2843: 1-118.

Note. The positions of Hypoponera sinuosa and Hypoponera petiolata in the key are conjectural: see the respective discussions of these species. West Palaearctic species are included here for comparative purposes but are also keyed separately, below.

1

 * In dorsal view the base of the cinctus of the second gastral tergite (Abd. IV) is traversed by crowded longitudinal short cross-ribs or a continuous distinct row of aligned coarse punctures with raised margins between them . . . . . 2


 * In dorsal view the base of the cinctus of the second gastral tergite (Abd. IV) is smooth and shining, not traversed by crowded longitudinal short cross-ribs and without a continuous row of aligned coarse punctures with raised margins between them . . . . . 44

2
return to couplet #1
 * Metanotal groove sharply and conspicuously present in dorsal view as a depressed transverse groove that clearly interrupts the surface . . . . . 3


 * Metanotal groove absent or vestigial in dorsal view; at most there may be a slight change of angle between mesonotum and propodeum, or a superficial transverse line, or rarely there may be the merest vestige of a shallow depression, but the surface is not clearly interrupted by a transverse groove . . . . . 7

3
return to couplet #2
 * Disc of second gastral tergite almost entirely smooth; sculpture consists only of minute superficial punctures that are separated by very wide areas of shining, polished cuticle. Eye variably developed, either absent or of a single ommatidium, or a small, featureless blister. (Zimbabwe, South Africa) . . . . . Hypoponera ignavia


 * Disc of second gastral tergite densely punctate, reticulate-punctate, or with a microreticulate appearance, without minute punc¬tures separated by broad shining areas. Eye present, small but usually conspicuous . . . . . 4

4
return to couplet #3
 * Dorsum of first gastral tergite (Abd. III) without conspicuous standing setae that arise along the entire length of the sclerite when viewed in profile. Scape relatively longer, SI 88–96 (SL/HL 0.75–0.80). Full adult colour blackish brown to black. At least anterior portion of propodeal dorsum finely and densely reticulate-punctate and opaque . . . . . 5


 * Dorsum of first gastral tergite with conspicuous standing setae that arise along the entire length of the sclerite when viewed in profile. Scape relatively shorter, SI 77–85 (SL/HL 0.66–0.76). Full adult colour yellow to light brown. Propodeal dorsum smooth and shining, with only very inconspicuous, scattered minute superficial punctures . . . . . 6

5
return to couplet #4
 * Dorsum of propodeum finely sculptured everywhere; the sculptured dorsum contrasts strongly with the smooth shining decliv¬ity and the transition between the two is sharp and abrupt. Metanotal groove in dorsal view narrow and simple, without a defined metanotal sclerite. Punctate sculpture on pronotal and mesonotal dorsa dense, sharply defined and obvious. (South Africa) . . . . . Hypoponera sulcatinasis


 * Dorsum of propodeum with sculpture fading out posteriorly so that the posterior half is almost smooth; without a sharp and abrupt transition between sculptured dorsum and smooth declivity. Metanotal groove in dorsal view broad, with a narrow metanotal sclerite defined. Punctate sculpture on pronotal and mesonotal dorsa sparse, weakly defined and superficial. (South Africa) . . . . . Hypoponera transvaalensis

6
return to couplet #4
 * Setae on dorsum of first gastral tergite (Abd. III) long and fine. In full-face view the apex of the scape, when laid straight back from its insertion, just fails to reach or just touches the midpoint of the posterior cephalic margin. Larger species with petiole relatively broader, HW 0.61– 0.74, PeNI 68–76, DPeI 150–180. (South Africa) . . . . . Hypoponera spei


 * Setae on dorsum of first gastral tergite short, stiff and stubbly. In full-face view the apex of the scape, when laid straight back from its insertion, distinctly fails to reach the midpoint of the posterior cephalic margin. Smaller species with petiole relatively narrower, HW 0.56–0.60, PeNI 61–65, DPeI 140–158. (South Africa) . . . . . Hypoponera boerorum

7
return to couplet #2
 * Base of posterior face of petiole node with a radiating series of about 4–8 short straight cuticular ridges that arise just above the peduncle and extend a short distance up the posterior surface of the node . . . . . 8


 * Base of posterior face of petiole node smooth, flat or with a transverse groove or ridge above the peduncle, but without a radi¬ating series of cuticular ridges that arise on the posterior surface just above the peduncle . . . . . 18

8
return to couplet #7
 * Lateroventral surfaces of head completely covered with very coarse and distinct reticulate-punctate to punctate-rugulose sculp¬ture; without areas of smooth, shining cuticle between separated discrete punctures . . . . . 9


 * Lateroventral surfaces of head at most with small punctures that are separated by areas of smooth, shining cuticle that are at least as wide as the puncture diameters; sometimes only minute diffuse superficial punctate sculpture is present so that the sur¬face is mostly smooth . . . . . 10

9
return to couplet #8
 * Eye absent. Smaller species: HW 0.64–0.67, HS 0.700–0.735, SL 0.54–0.57, HFL 0.58–0.62, PeH 0.52–0.54, PeS 0.393–0.417. Pronotal dorsum, except along the midline, densely and coarsely reticulate-punctate, the sculpture nearly as strong as that on the coarsely reticulate-punctate dorsum of the head. (Rwanda) . . . . . Hypoponera hebes


 * Eye present and conspicuous, of 5–6 small ommatidia. Larger species: HW 0.72, HS 0.800, SL 0.66, HFL 0.72, PeH 0.58, PeS 0.427. Pronotal dorsum, except along the midline, sculptured with spaced small punctures, the sculpture much more sparse and feeble than that on the dorsum of the head. (Ethiopia) . . . . . Hypoponera faex

10
return to couplet #8
 * Row of cuticular ridges at base of posterior face of petiole node bounded dorsally by a darkly coloured arched transverse rim or carina; the cuticular ridges lie within a shallow transverse groove of which the dark rim or carina is the upper margin . . . . . 11


 * Row of cuticular ridges at base of posterior face of petiole node not bounded dorsally by an arched transverse dark rim or carina; the cuticular ridges not lying within a shallow transverse groove . . . . . 12

11
return to couplet #10
 * Smaller species, HL 0.55, HW 0.43, SL 0.36, HS 0.490, PeH 0.30; with petiole node relatively narrower, PeNI 67, DPeI 157. In dorsal view maximum width of first gastral tergite is distinctly less than width of second tergite at its midlength. Subpetiolar process with an anteroventral angle that is followed by a long, straight ventral surface that slopes upward posteriorly, without an ascending angle at about the midlength of the sternite. (South Africa) . . . . . Hypoponera traegaordhi


 * Larger species, HL 0.66–0.68, HW 0.52–0.54, SL 0.44–0.48, HS 0.590–0.610, PeH 0.40–0.43; with petiole node relatively broader, PeNI 72–79, DPeI 168–188. In dorsal view maximum width of first gastral tergite is subequal to or slightly greater than width of second tergite at its midlength. Subpetiolar process an elongate low lobe that has a short but distinct ascending angle at about the midlength of the sternite. (Ethiopia) . . . . . Hypoponera exigua

12
return to couplet #10
 * With head in full-face view the mid-point of the anterior clypeal margin is overhung by a small but conspicuous, acutely pro¬jecting sharp denticle that arises from the mid-line of the clypeus just behind the margin. In profile the denticle is seen to be the projecting sharp apex of the mid-clypeal ridge. (Kenya) . . . . . Hypoponera tecta


 * With head in full-face view the mid-point of the anterior clypeal margin blunt and rounded, without trace of a projecting acute denticle . . . . . 13

13
return to couplet #12
 * Petiole node in profile relatively shorter and higher, LPeI 35–38; in dorsal view petiole node relatively shorter and broader, DPeI 179–200. Scape relatively short, SI 81–85, SL/HL 0.66–0.68. (Ethiopia) . . . . . Hypoponera jocosa


 * Petiole node in profile relatively longer and lower, LPeI 43–50; in dorsal view petiole node relatively longer and narrower, DPeI 137–170. Scape usually relatively longer, SI 82–93, SL/HL 0.64–0.75; if SI<85 or SL/HL<0.68 then DPeI in range 140–165 . . . . . 14

14
return to couplet #13
 * With petiole node in profile the anterior and posterior faces inclined and obviously convergent dorsally. Larger species, HL 0.68–0.74, HS 0.620–0.665, SL 0.50–0.54, HFL 0.52–0.54. (Kenya) . . . . . Hypoponera mixta


 * With petiole node in profile the anterior and posterior faces parallel or nearly so, at most only very slightly convergent dorsally. Smaller species, HL 0.58–0.68, HS 0.525– 0.620, SL 0.40–0.48, HFL 0.39–0.48 . . . . . 15

15
return to couplet #14
 * In profile dorsum of first gastral tergite, discounting the apical margin, densely pubescent but without conspicuous standing setae; at most one or two minute standing hairs present that appear more like erect pubescence than setae; dorsum of second tergite the same. Petiole node relatively broad, PeNI 76, DPeI 172. (Tanzania) . . . . . Hypoponera quaestio


 * In profile dorsa of first and second gastral tergites, discounting the apical margins, densely pubescent and also with numerous conspicuous short standing setae that are usually easily distinguished from the pubescence. Petiole node relatively narrower, PeNI 65–74, DPeI 140–165 . . . . . 16

16
return to couplet #15
 * Petiole node in dorsal view thickly D-shaped, with a strongly convex anterior margin. Petiole larger, PeS 0.297–0.317 (PeNL 0.19–0.21, PeH 0.40–0.45, PeNW 0.28–0.30). Head larger, HS 0.585–0.620 (HL 0.63–0.68, HW 0.52–0.56). SL/HL 0.71–0.75. (Kenya) . . . . . Hypoponera surda


 * Petiole node in dorsal view not thickly D-shaped, with a shallowly convex anterior margin. Petiole smaller, PeS 0.237–0.283 (PeNL 0.15–0.19, PeH 0.34–0.40, PeNW 0.24–0.28). Head smaller, HS 0.525–0.580 (HL 0.58–0.64, HW 0.46–0.52). SL/HL 0.66–0.72. . . . . . 17

17
return to couplet #16
 * Funiculus segments 7–10 all conspicuously broader than long: the sum of the widths of funiculus segments 7–10, divided by the sum of their lengths, is 1.60 or more. (Democratic Republic of Congo) . . . . . Hypoponera ursa


 * Funiculus segments 7–10 gradually increase in width apically: the sum of the widths of funiculus segments 7–10, divided by the sum of their lengths, is 1.50 or less. (Cameroun, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimba¬bwe) . . . . . Hypoponera jeanneli

18
return to couplet #7
 * Either: disc of second gastral tergite (Abd. IV) with sharply incised discrete small punctures that are separated from each other by at least the diameter of the punctures, the spaces between punctures glassy smooth; entire surface without a reticulate-punctate or microreticulate appearance. Or: in dorsal view the maximum width of the first gastral tergite (Abd. III) is greater than the width of the second gastral tergite at its midlength, usually obviously so; or usually both of these . . . . . 19


 * Either: disc of second gastral tergite (Abd. IV) appears reticulate-punctate, microreticulate or with crowded superficial punctures whose margins are nearly confluent, so that the surface appears disorganised; without discrete small punctures separated by distinct smooth broad spaces. Or: in dorsal view the maximum width of the first gastral tergite (Abd. III) is usually less than the width of the second gastral tergite at its midlength, at most the two are subequal; or usually both of these . . . . . 23

19
return to couplet #18
 * With head in full-face view the mid-point of the anterior clypeal margin with a small, sharp denticle; in profile this is seen as the termination of a raised, sharp cuticular ridge on the anterior clypeal midline. (Uganda, Rwanda) . . . . . Hypoponera dema


 * With head in full-face view the mid-point of the anterior clypeal margin without a denticle . . . . . 20

20
return to couplet #19
 * Smaller species: HL 0.53–0.64, HW 0.40–0.48, SL 0.32–0.43, HFL 0.33–0.45. With gaster in profile the dorsum of the first tergite with abundant short, bristly erect setae that are clearly distinguished from the underlying pubescence . . . . . 21


 * Larger species: HL 0.65–0.79, HW 0.50–0.60, SL 0.46–0.58, HFL 0.47–0.60. With gaster in profile the dorsum of the first tergite without, or with only very sparse, short setae; those that are present are scarcely distinguished from the dense elevated pubescence . . . . . 22