Protalaridris

Lattke et al. 2018 recognize seven species, 6 of which are described as new. Sporadic observations of one long-mandibulate species suggest they are sit-and-wait ambush predators that open their jaws to approximately 180° when stalking. A nest has never been found.

Identification
Brown (1980) - General characters as in Rhopalothrix and Talaridris, but with the following differences: Antennae 9-merous; segments III- VII short and transverse. Mandibles long, slender, their insertions remote, but the shafts converging to cross at apices when closure is complete, each tapering toward an acute, incurved, straight apical spine. As seen from the side, shafts curved markedly dorsad from base toward apex away from main axis of cranium, much as in Talaridris. Inner margins of mandibular shafts each armed with 2 long, spaced, slender teeth and 3 smaller teeth or denticles in addition to apical spine.

Rhopalothrix and Talaridris are similar but have antennae 7-merous. In Talaridris, mandibles are also upcurved, but are short compared to Protalaridris armata, and the shorter and longer teeth are concentrated in a small area near to the apex, though they still appear to be homologous with the more widely-spaced teeth of Protalaridris.

Biology
The little natural history information known about this genus is detailed under Protalaridris armata.

Castes
Males have yet to be collected.

Nomenclature

 *  PROTALARIDRIS [Myrmicinae: Basicerotini]
 * Protalaridris Brown, 1980a: 36. Type-species: Protalaridris armata, by original designation.
 * Protalaridris junior synonym of Basiceros: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 88.

Description
General characters as in Rhopalothrix and Talaridris, but with the following differences:

(1) Antennae 9-merous; segments III- VII short and transverse.

(2) Mandibles long, slender, their insertions remote, but the shafts converging to cross at apices when closure is complete, each tapering toward an acute, incurved, straight apical spine. As seen from the side, shafts curved markedly dorsad from base toward apex away from main axis of cranium, much as in Talaridris. Inner margins of mandibular shafts each armed with 2 long, spaced, slender teeth and 3 smaller teeth or denticles in addition to apical spine.