Paraparatrechina splendida

Most of the collections of Paraparatrechina splendida have been from rainforest.

Identification
LaPolla et al. (2010) - Body dark brown; mesosoma elongate (WL: 0.71–0.83); head distinctly longer than broad with long scapes; antennae and mandibles typically as dark brown as the head.

Compare with: Paraparatrechina concinnata. This is the largest and darkest colored Afrotropical Paraparatrechina. This species may be confused with P. concinnata, but can be separated from that species based on the following differences: 1) color (P. splendida is a darker brown and the antennae, mandibles and coxae are the same color as the body, unlike in P. concinnata), 2) the length of the scape (P. splendida scape length is greater than 0.72 mm), and 3) longer profemora. The similarly shaped mesosomas of in P. splendida and P. concinnata, as well as their distinctly long heads, scapes, and femurs suggests that these two species are close relatives.

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

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  splendida. Paraparatrechina splendida LaPolla & Cheng, in LaPolla, Cheng & Fisher, 2010: 12, figs. 7,16,17 (w.) GABON.

Worker
(n=8): TL: 1.41–2.6; HW: 0.48–0.50; HL: 0.54–0.64; EL: 0.15–0.18; SL: 0.73–0.83; PW: 0.30–.35; WL: 0.71–0.83; PDH: 0.30–0.34; PrFL: 0.58–0.63; PrFW: 0.14–0.19; GL: 0.74–1.26. Indices: CI: 76–86; REL: 25–30; SI: 157–172; FI: 24–31.

Head dark brown (the darkest brown of any described Afrotropical Paraparatrechina); cuticular surface shining; head distinctly longer than broad. White and short pubescence covering head, with longer pubescence on clypeus althought not as dense as on head. Mandibles dark brown to slightly lighter brown color than head. Scapes, dark brown to slightly lighter brown color than head, surpass the posterior margin by about the length of first 5 funicular segments; scapes with distinctly short pubescence. Pubescence covers entire mesosomal dorsum. Pronotum rise about 45° from anterior margin to dorsum; mesosoma elongate; dorsal face of propodeum gently rounded, with declivitous face of about the same length. Legs dark brown, but tarsi typically much lighter; tarsi typically become whiter towards the last tarsal segment in many specimens. Trochanters typically lighter brown than mesosoma; gaster dark brown as in the head and mesosoma, with white pubescence.

Type Material
Holotype worker, GABON: Prov. Ogooué-Maritime; Res. Monts Doudou; 24.3 km 307° NW Doussala; 2°13.4’, 10°24.4’E; 6.iii.2000; elev. 375 m (B.L. Fisher #2170) ; 6 paratype workers, same locality as holotype (CASC, ).

Etymology
The species epithet is a Latin adjective for splendid or gleaming, in reference to brilliant bluish-purple iridescence reflected on the cuticle of this species.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * LaPolla J. S., C. H. Cheng, B. L. Fisher. 2010. Taxonomic revision of the ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) genus Paraparatrechina in the Afrotropical and Malagasy region. Zootaxa 2387: 1-27.
 * Lapolla, J. S., C. H. Cheng, and B. L. Fisher. "Taxonomic revision of the ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) genus Paraparatrechina in the Afrotropical and Malagasy Regions." Zootaxa 2387 (2010): 1-27.