Key to Bothroponera talpa species complex

This key is based on Joma & Mackay (2020)

1

 * Anterior medial area of clypeus broadly convex to “v” shaped; relatively small, total length of workers ranges from 6.00 mm to 7.40 mm and for females ranges from 7.10 mm to 7.85 mm .....2
 * Anterior medial area of clypeus straight, “v” shaped to slightly concave; relatively large, total length of workers ranges from 8.10 mm to 14.95 mm and for females ranges from 9.90 mm to 15.90 mm .....4

2
return to couplet 1
 * Mandibles with 7 teeth; carina on anterior medial area of clypeus poorly developed; yellow-brown ..... Bothroponera zumpti


 * Mandibles with 6 teeth; carina on anterior medial area of clypeus well developed .....3

3
return to couplet 2
 * Clypeal carina sharp and present along entire length of clypeus; erect hairs present on surfaces of head and body; anterior medial border of clypeus strongly curved, convex, forming “v” shape; queen only known; red-brown ..... Bothroponera rubescens


 * Carina sharp but not continuous; without erect hairs on surfaces of body and head; anterior medial border of clypeus broadly curved, slightly concave, not forming “v” shape; brown to dark brown ..... Bothroponera fugax

4
return to couplet 1
 * Striae absent on surface of frons, sides of head and body surface, with poor evidence of fine striae on metapleuron; entire surface yellow ..... Bothroponera cribrata


 * Striae present on frons, sides of head, body, top of pronotum, mesonotum, dorsopropodeum, petiole, postpetiole and gastral segments; with strong evidence of fine striae on metapleuron; surfaces pale brown, dark yellowish brown, to reddish brown .....5

5
return to couplet 4
 * Anterior medial area of clypeus straight; all surfaces with coarse, large, deep foveolae and punctae ..... Bothroponera sculpturata
 * Anterior medial area of clypeus slightly concave; surfaces less coarsely sculptured, with small to large, shallow foveolae and punctae ..........6

6
return to couplet 5
 * Moderately smaller eyes (0.17 – 0.25 mm width, 0.15 – 0.25 mm length, OI 9.49 – 12.50); shallower foveolae to punctae on surfaces; smaller body size (8.10 – 9.95 mm for workers, 10.40 – 11.60 mm for females) ..... Bothroponera talpa
 * Moderately larger eyes (0.25 – 0.35 mm width, 0.30 – 0.45 mm length, OI 13.95 – 18.00); slightly deeper foveolae on surfaces; larger body size (10.70 – 14.95 mm for workers, 11.55 – 15.90 mm for females) ..........7

7
return to couplet 6
 * Larger head (2.30 – 2.70 mm length, 2.15 – 2.50 width, CI 92.59 – 93.47); larger size (worker TL 10.90 – 13.75 mm, female 11.55 – 15.90 mm, male 9.55 mm); larger eyes (0.30 – 0.45 mm length, 0.20 – 0.40 mm width for worker); well defined fine striae on top of head, frons, cheeks, top of pronotum, mesopropodeum, mesopleuron, metapleuron, petiole, postpetiole and 4th to 7th tergites of gastral segments; dark brown; common, widely distributed ..... Bothroponera pachyderma
 * Smaller head (2.15 mm length, 1.95 mm width, CI 90.69); smaller size (worker TL 10.70 mm, female and male unknown); smaller eyes (0.30 mm length, 0.25 mm width); poorly defined fine striae on top of head, frons, cheeks, top of pronotum, meso–propodeum, mesopleuron, metapleuron, petiole, postpetiole and 4th to 7th tergite of gastral segments; red; rarely collected ..... Bothroponera sanguinea