Cardiocondyla tenuifrons

This species is known only from the type locality and nothing is known about its biology.

Identification
Seifert (2003) - Big eye size and low postocular index allocate this species to the Cardiocondyla batesii group. Cardiocondyla tenuifrons can be separated from any species by its frontal carinae strongly converging caudad. The ratio FL/FR (measured as in Myrmica, see Seifert 1988) is lower than 1.12 in any sympatric species known but is 1.15 - 1.19 in C. tenuifrons. The most similar species in overall character combination is Cardiocondyla nigra but the latter has less converging frontal carinae, a smaller postocular index, and lower PEH/CS and PPH/CS.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Jordan.

Nomenclature

 *  tenuifrons. Cardiocondyla tenuifrons Seifert, 2003a: 243, fig. 24 (w.) JORDAN.

Worker
Head elongated, CL/CW 1.205. Postocular distance larger than in related species, PoOc/CL 0.413. Occipital margin straight. Eyes large, EYE 0.267. Foveolae on vertex shallow, simple, of 13 - 15 mm diameter; interspaces shining, wider than foveolar diameter, with fine cross-branched to semireticulate microstructures. Frontal lobes, area posterior of frontal carinae, and clypeus finely longitudinally carinulate. Frontal lobes strongly converging immediately caudal of FRS level, FL/FR 1.177 ± 0.023 [1.151, 1.192]. Dorsal mesosoma shining, with shallow foveolae and fine cross-branched microstructures. Ventrolateral area of mesosoma with well-developed microreticulum, metapleuron with clearly visible longitudinal sculpture. Metanotal groove very shallow. Spines steep, very short and acute. Petiole node wedge-shaped in caudal view, in lateral aspect similar to Cardiocondyla nigra. Postpetiole in dorsal view with straight anterior margin, roughly trapezoidal Postpetiolar sternite without any flat bulge. Head and gaster blackish brown. Mesosoma and waist medium to dark brown, with yellowish-red component.

Type Material
Holotype worker and 2 worker paratypes labelled “JORDANIA: Abdallah zw. Shobek und Wadi Musa, 1996.03.30, No 1, leg. Chr. Dietrich”,. The type sample was morphometrically investigated.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
 * Seifert, B.. "The ant genus Cardiocondyla (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) - a taxonomic revision of the C. elegans, C. bulgarica. C. batesii, C. nuda, C. shuckardi, C. stambuloffii, C. wroughtonii, C. emeryi, and C. minutior species groups." Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 104B (2003): 203-338.