Strumigenys perissognatha

Identification
A spectacularly specialised and unmistakable species. Its only known close relative is Strumigenys substricta. Differences separating the two are tabulated under the latter name.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Brazil.

Nomenclature

 *  perissognatha. Pyramica perissognatha Bolton, 2000: 238, figs. 160, 181 (w.) BRAZIL. Combination in Strumigenys: Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2007: 126

Worker
Holotype. TL 3.1, HL 0.94, HW 0.84, CI 91, ML 0.12, MI 13, SL 0.34, SI 40, PW 0.31, AL 0.82. In full-face view the closed mandibles together diamond-shaped in outline; outer margins diverging from apex toward clypeus and passing through an abrupt inflected angle just prior to their point of intersection with the anterior clypeal margin. Conical teeth on mandible gradually increase in size from 1 (basal) to 5; teeth 5-7 are about the same size but tooth 8 is distinctly smaller and is followed by a cluster of 3 denticles apically. Extremely broad frontal carinae translucent, the scapes visible through them. Semitranslucent lamella present posteromedially between inner margins of occipital lobes, covering the occipital foramen. Minute hairs on clypeus directed toward midpoint of anterior margin. Head in profile very narrow dorsoventrally, its maximum depth 0.34 X HW (head about three times wider than deep). Dorsal outline of head undulating in profile; convex at about the midlength, concave behind this and then sloping upwards again to the mid-occipital margin. Eye with 4 ommatidia in the longest row, even in profile almost completely overlapped and concealed by the frontal carinae. Ventrolateral margin of head with a narrow row of appressed spatulate hairs. Mesonotum with a pair of appressed spatulate hairs and a few similar present on lateral marginations of propodeum. Base of first gastral tergite with a transverse row of longer closely applied spatulate hairs that arise just behind the apices of the basigastral costulae and arch forward across the limbus to the posterior spongiform collar of the postpetiole. Legs with numerous decumbent to appressed spatulate hairs. Maximum depth of ventral spongiform curtain of petiole in profile greater that height of node. Lateral spongiform lobe of petiole extends along entire length of side of node and laps around its anterior margin, so that in dorsal view the node is completely surrounded by spongiform tissue. Disc of petiole in dorsal view longer than broad, of postpetiole broader than long, the latter also completely surrounded by spongiform tissue.

Paratypes. TL 2.9-3.1, HL 0.94-0.96, HW 0.82-0.84, CI 87-88, ML 0.11, MI 11-12, SL 0.34-0.36, SI 41-43, PW 0.30-0.32, AL 0.78-0.80 (3 measured).

Type Material
Holotype worker, Brazil: Amazonas, Manaus, Colosso, 2.iii.1994, #297 (R. Didham). Paratypes, 3 workers with same data as holotype (INPA, ).