Sphinctomyrmex schoerederi

Sphinctomyrmex schoerederi  is known only from the holotype. The specimen was collected in a leaf litter sample from a forest remnant in the campus of Universidade Federal de Vicosa, MG, Brazil, where it occurs in sympatry with Sphinctomyrmex stali. Nothing is known about its biology. (Feitosa et al. 2012)

Identification
Feitosa et al. (2012) - Sphinctomyrmex schoerederi can hardly be confounded with other congeners given the combination of subquadrate head, anterior margin of clypeus with two lateral lobes projecting over the mandibles, abdominal segments IV to VII with strongly developed pretergites, and the presence of short appressed hairs on the dorsal surface of gaster.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  schoerederi. Sphinctomyrmex schoerederi Feitosa, Brandão, et al. 2011: 3, figs. 1, 4 (w.) BRAZIL.

Worker
Holotype. HL 0.72;HW0.65; SL 0.43; EL 0.05; WL 1.01; PL 0.44; PW 0.41; GL 2.31; TL 4.48; CI 90.11; SI 65.81; OI 7.32.

Size comparatively large (TL 4.48mm). Body reddish-brown with appendages slightly lighter. Pilosity dense; gaster covered by short appressed hairs.

Posterior area of head (nuchal area) smooth and shiny; body dorsum foveolate; space between the foveae mostly smooth, with fine longitudinal striation on the anterior portion of head; declivous face of propodeum shallowly punctuate-reticulate; sides of mesosoma and petiole strongly sculptured, with shallow foveae and irregular reticulation; sides of gaster predominantly smooth and shiny, with a few coarse punctures.

Head subquadrate (CI 90.11); lateral margins gently convex; clypeus broadly inserted between the frontal lobes, so that the frontal carinae are well separated from each other; anterior margin of clypeus with two lateral lobes projecting over the mandibles; antennal scapes reaching the level of eyes; apical segment of antennae longer than the three preceding ones together; antennal club formed only by the apical segment; eyes strongly reduced, as large as the adjacent foveae of head surface, with about three small facets at its maximum diameter. In dorsal view, lateral margins of mesosoma convex; pronotum with humeral corners rounded; promesonotal suture distinct in dorsal view but not impressed. In dorsal view, petiole a little longer than broad, with lateral margins slightly divergent; subpetiolar process moderately developed. Abdominal segments IV to VII with strongly developed pretergites, separated from each other by comparatively shallow and wide constrictions.

Type Material
Holotype Worker. Brazil.Minas Gerais; Vicosa; ii.1994; Sperber, Louzada and Lopes cols.

Etymology
The specific epithet honors our colleague Dr. Jose Henrique Schoereder, a prominent ant ecologist working at Universidade Federal de Vicosa, MG, Brazil. Dr. Schoereder kindly allowed us to describe this species formerly deposited in the ant collection of his laboratory.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Feitosa R. M. C. R. F. Brandão, F. Fernández and J. H. C. Delabie. 2011. The ant genus Sphinctomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Cerapachyinae) in the Neotropical region, with the description of two new species. Psyche 2012: Article ID 342623, (doi:10.1155/2012/342623):9 pp