Tetramorium quadridentatum

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroun, Kenya, Uganda.

Nomenclature

 *  quadridentatum. Tetramorium quadridentatum Stitz, 1910: 144 (w.) CAMEROUN. Senior synonym of commodum: Bolton, 1980: 364.
 * commodum. Tetramorium commodum Santschi, 1924b: 215 (w.q.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Junior synonym of quadridentatum: Bolton, 1980: 364.

Description
From Bolton (1980):

WORKER. TL 4.1-5.9, HL 0.96-1.24, HW 0.86-1.12 CI 87-93, SL 0.68-0.94, SI 77-85, PW 0.60-0.86, AL 1.20-1.72 (25 measured).

Mandibles finely longitudinally striate, sometimes delicately so. Apical margin of mandible armed with 3 teeth followed by a series of 6-7 minute denticles, not the usual 3 teeth plus 4 denticles. Anterior clypeal margin arcuate and entire, without trace of a median notch or impression. Median clypeal carina running the length of the clypeus and flanked on each side by 1-2 other carinae; sometimes with two flanking carinae on one side of the median and one on the other. Frontal carinae not more strongly developed than other cephalic sculpture, usually running back beyond the level of the eyes but fading out on the occiput or merging with the occipital sculpture before reaching the margin. Frontal carinae sometimes broken or interrupted anteriorly and a number of specimens with one side carina complete, the other broken or deflected. Maximum diameter of eye 0.22-0.26, about 0.23-0.26 x HW. Propodeal spines in profile usually about equal to the length of the elongate-triangular, very strongly developed metapleural lobes, sometimes slightly longer or shorter; the propodeal spines and long metapleural lobes subparallel. Petiole node in profile with the anterior and dorsal surfaces confluent through a broad smooth curve, the dorsum shallowly convex. Dorsal surface separated from posterior face by a blunt angle, the posterior face vertical or even slightly concave. Dorsum of head sculptured with widely spaced longitudinal rugulae which usually are irregular or meandering but which are commonly quite straight and regular. Cross-meshes are absent between the rugulae but the occiput usually has a ruguloreticulum ; only rarely is the reticulum inconspicuous or reduced in extent. Ground-sculpture of head a fine superficial punctulation or granulation. Dorsal surfaces of alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole rugose; on the alitrunk at least the pronotum reticulate-rugose, sometimes the entire dorsum so sculptured. On the petiole and postpetiole the rugae are mostly commonly longitudinal but a few cross-meshes or a partial reticulum may be formed, especially on the petiole. First gastral tergite finely shagreened, at least basally. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous elongate hairs, some or all of them curved so as to follow the line of curvature of the sclerite on which they arise. Hairs on the first gastral tergite subdecumbent to decumbent and, at least on the posterior half of the sclerite, directed towards the midline. Colour very variable but apparently consistent in each nest-sample, varying from yellowish brown to blackish brown, the lighter coloured forms commonly with the gaster darker in shade than the head and alitrunk.