Anochetus angolensis

Nothing is known about the biology of this species.

Identification
See the description section below.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Angola.

Castes
Queens and males of this species are unknown.

Nomenclature

 *  angolensis. Anochetus angolensis Brown, 1978c: 600, fig. 49 (w.) ANGOLA.

Worker
Worker, holotype: TL 9.1, HL 1.99, HW 1.62, ML 1.16, WL 2.80, scape L 1.86, eye L 0.40 mm; CI 81, MI 58.

Paratype workers: TL 8.3-9.1, HL 1.74-2.02, HW 1.45-1.63, WL 2.48-2.90, scape L 1.60-1.90, eye L 0.38-0.41 mm; CI 81-83, MI 57-62 (based on 7 specimens from 2 localities).

A large slender, big-eyed species resembling the larger Anochetus traegaordhi variants with smooth pronotum, but differing in form of petiole and gaster.

1. Petiolar node (fig. 49) longer than broad (excluding brief anterior and posterior peduncles, dorsal-view W is about 0.82 of L); lateral faces flat, converging cephalad to meet in a blunt median anterior ridge (see inset, fig. 49); finely striate in a horizontal direction, sericeous-opaque, with some shallow, indistinct punctures. Posterior face flat, with a feeble vertical sulcus, smooth and shining.

2. Gaster relatively slender, subcylindrical, deeply and broadly constricted (fig. 49) in the anterior part of the second segment; first segment smaller in diameter than second (larger than or equal to second in traegaordhi). Color dull brownish-yellow; appendages slightly more yellowish.

Pronotum with the usual transversely striate cervix, a fine curved ruga forming an anterior margin, and behind this a few fine striae arched parallel to the margin; disc and sides otherwise smooth and shining. Head with distinct but fine frontal striation fanning out posteriad and becoming finer, to disappear into extremely fine opalescent roughening of the surface that ends in a smooth, shining zone about 0.2 mm wide in front of the nuchal carina.

Mesonotal disc about 0.5 mm wide and a little less than 0.3 mm long, depressed but convex, mainly smooth or opalescent, shining. Propodeal dorsum and declivity transversely striate. Meso- and metapleura smooth and shining, with bluish opalescence clouding these surfaces in certain lights. Gaster, coxae and sides of head smooth and shining.

Dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous, short, fine, erect and suberect hairs, extending to coxae, legs and scapes, but sparse on underside of head and gaster. Fine, short pubescence abundant, decumbent to suberect, on mandibles, antennae, anterior head, legs and mandibles; legs and mandibles shining, very finely punctulate; antennae densely punctulate, subopaque.

Type Material
Holotype and 6 paratypes  from 20 km NW of Muxima, Angola, 200 m, E. S. Ross and R. E. Leech, and 1 paratype worker from 20 km E of Luanda, Angola, B. Malkin.