Strumigenys anorbicula

The type material was collected from sifted litter that consisted of leaf mold and rotten wood in a littoral rainforest.

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the laticeps complex in the Strumigenys argiola group. Immediately diagnosed within the group by its lack of orbicular hairs anywhere on the head and presence of long fine hairs on the anterior clypeal margin, this species is also the only one known that has a transversely arched row of short erect hairs at the highest point of the vertex. See also notes under Strumigenys laticeps.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Gabon.

Nomenclature

 *  anorbicula. Pyramica anorbicula Bolton, 2000: 287 (w.q.) GABON. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 115

Worker
Holotype. TL 2.2, HL 0.52, HW 0.64, CI 125, ML 0.26, MI 50, SL 0.26, SI 40, PW 0.38, AL 0.56. Apicodorsal tooth of mandible spiniform, much longer than the ventral tooth of the apical series; each apicodorsal tooth projects beyond the outer margin of the opposing mandible at full closure. Mandible with 2 small preapical teeth, located close to the apicodorsal tooth, the proximal preapical slightly longer than the distal. Mandible without large flattened hairs arising from its dorsal surface. Anterior clypeal margin with 6 very long anteriorly directed hairs that are not strap-like. Instead they are broadest basally, where they are somewhat flattened, but distally taper to long finely filiform apices; the longest of them (the outermost) are more than 0.50 X ML. Dorsum of head entirely lacking orbicular hairs. Highest point of vertex with an arched transverse row of short stout erect hairs that are inclined or feebly curved anteriorly. With alitrunk in profile outline of anterior portion of mesonotum slightly depressed, of posterior portion convex and humped.

Paratypes. TL 2.0-2.2, HL 0.48-0.54, HW 0.60-0.66, CI 122-129, ML 0.23-0.26, MI 46-50, SL 0.25-0.28, SI 39-43, PW 0.35-0.40, AL 0.54-0.58 (10 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Gabon: Provo Estuaire, F. C. Mondah, 21 km. 331° NNW Libreville, 0°34.6'N, 9°20.1'E, 10 m., 24.ii.1998, #1742(10), sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood), littoral rainforest (B.L. Fisher).

Paratypes. 22 workers and 1 queen (dealate) with same data as holotype but sample numbers #1742 (2, 4, 6, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 44, and 45) (BMNH,, , , and in coll. Fisher).