Cardiocondyla carbonaria

Only known from two specimens collected east of Mumbai, India, nothing is known of this species' biology.

Identification
Seifert (2003) - Morphometry and body shape of C. carbonaria clearly allocate it to the Cardiocondyla minutior group. The unique microsculpture of the gaster tergites separate C. carbonaria and Cardiocondyla opaca from every species of the group. Furthermore, the ratio FRS/SPBA/SL is only 0.965 in C. carbonaria but is 1.124 ± 0.042 [l.039 - 1.228] in all other 6 species of the C. minutior group.

Seifert (2022) - Worker: Small size, CS 434 µm. Head much elongated, CL/CW 1.282. Postocular distance large, PoOc/CL 0.474. Scape moderately long, SL/CS 0.789. Eye large (EYE/CS 0.243), with notable micropilae, the longest measuring 15 µm. Occipital margin straight or very weakly concave. Frontal carinae nearly parallel immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.010). Dorsal profile of mesosoma almost straight, with only weak metanotal depression (MGr/CS 0.90%). Spines in profile view acute, triangular in profile and of medium length (SP/CS 0.136), their axis in profile deviating by 40–45° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma, their bases more distant than in related species (SPBA/CS 0.306). Petiole wider and higher than on average observed in related species (PeW/CS 0.297, PeH/CS 0.337), in profile with rather a short peduncle, a concave frontal face and convex dorsal node profile; the node is in dorsal view as long as wide. Postpetiole wider than on average seen in related species but similarly low (PpW/CS 0.482, PpH/CS 0.265), its sternite very flat, anterolaterally with a short and curved costa on each side; in dorsal aspect distinctly wider than long, with convex sides and straight anterior margin. Clypeus posteriorly shagreened, with six longitudinal, curved carinae. Frontal lobes shagreenate-microfoveolate. Median area of vertex longitudinally carinulate, intercarinular spaces foveolate. Paramedian and lateral areas of vertex with deeply impressed, closely adjacent foveolae of 14–16 µm diameter that usually show a flat inner tubercle of 8–9 µm diameter. Dorsal area of mesosoma finely shagreenate-foveolate with few short, longitudinal microcarinae; lateral area of mesosoma densely reticulate. Petiole surface microreticulate-shagreened, the dorsum more shagreened. Exposed surfaces of tergites completely matt, very finely and densely shagreened. Pubescence on whole body long and dense, PLG/CS 8.30%, sqPDG 3.01. Whole body blackish brown except for light-yellowish antennae, trochanter, distal ends of femora, tibiae, and tarsi.

Though being in no morphometric character outside the range of extremes of Cardiocondyla goa, Cardiocondyla minutior and Cardiocondyla tjibodana, C. carbonaria clearly differs from these species as well as from 'Cardiocondyla schulzi and Cardiocondyla britteni by a perfectly matt surface of head, mesosoma, waist and dorsum of gaster, caused by a very dense and fine microsculpture and shagrination. The best differences from Cardiocondyla opaca, which is rather similar in microsculpture, are the much larger SPBA/CS, PeW/CS, PpW/CS and PeH/CS. The unique microsculpture of the gaster tergites separate C. carbonaria and C. opaca from every species of the group.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 * . Cardiocondyla carbonaria Forel, 1907a: 17 (w.) INDIA (Maharashtra).
 * Type-material: syntype workers (number not stated).
 * Type-locality: India: Matheran, 800 m. (L. Biró).
 * Type-depositories: HNHM, MHNG.
 * Status as species: Emery, 1922e: 125; Chapman & Capco, 1951: 83; Bolton, 1995b: 132; Seifert, 2003a: 289 (redescription); Bharti, Guénard, et al. 2016: 33.
 * Distribution: India.

Worker
Seifert (2003) - type: CS 434, CL/CW l.282, SL/CS 0:789, PoOc/CL 0.474, EYE 0.243, dFOV 15, SP/CS 0.136, FRS/CS 0.233, SPBA/CS 0.306, PEW/CS 0.297, PPW/CS 0.482, PEH/CS 0.348, PPHICS 0.265, PEW/PPW 0.617, sqrtPDG 3.01, PLG/CS 8.30 %, PigCap 11, PigMes 12, MGr/CS 0.9 %.

Head much elongated, CL/CW 1.282. Scape longer than in other members of the C. minutior group but shorter than in C. opaca, SL/CS 0.789. Postocular distance large, PoOc/CL 0.474. Eye medium-sized, EYE 0.243. Eye setae well-developed, the longest about 15 mm. Occipital margin and anterior clypeal margin rather straight. Frons narrow, frontal carinae immediately behind the FRS level parallel. Whole body including gaster with perfectly mat surface appearance caused by a very dense and fine microsculpture. Clypeus posteriorly shagreened, with six longitudinal, curved carinae. Frontal lobes shagreenate-microfoveolate. Frontal triangle narrow and smooth. Median area of vertex longitudinally carinulate, intercarinular spaces foveolate. Paramedian and lateral areas of vertex with deeply impressed, closely adjacent foveolae of 14 - 16 mm diameter that usually show a flat inner tubercle of 8 - 9 mm diameter. Dorsal area of mesosoma finely shagreenate-foveolate with few short, longitudinal microcarinae; lateral area of mesosoma densely reticulate. Dorsal profile of mesosoma almost straight, with nearly absent metanotal depression. Spines acute, of medium length, their bases more distant than in related species. Petiole high, with rather short peduncle, its dorsal profile truncate-convex; its surface microreticulate-shagreened, the dorsum more shagreened. Postpetiole low; its sternite very flat, anterolaterally with a short and curved costa on each side; in dorsal aspect distinctly wider than long, with convex sides, straight anterior margin, and completely shagreened. Exposed surfaces of tergites completely mat, very finely and densely shagreened; tergite pubescence long and dense, PLG/CS 8.3 %. Head and mesosoma dorsally with apressed pubescence. Whole body blackish brown except for light-yellowish antennae, trochanter, distal ends of femora, tibiae, and tarsi.

Type Material
Seifert (2022) - This taxon has been described on at least two type specimens from India. Directly investigated was the type worker labelled by Forel “C.carbonaria, € type Forel\ India or. Biró 1902\Matheran 800 m”, MHN Genève. A type specimen with equal locality labels, stored in Hungarian Natural History Museum Budapest, was only examined on the basis of images in www.antweb.org (CASENT0922222). The collecting site is east of Mumbai at approximately 18.99° N, 73.27° E and 770 m.