Syscia indica

The holotype (and only known specimen of this species) was collected from the Eaglenest Wildlife Sanctuary at an elevation of 1600 m above sea level. The region has a canopy cover of about 85% and no indications of anthropogenic disturbances. The soil had a pH of 6.85 and temperature 16°C at the time of collection. The specimen was collected using a Winkler extractor from sifted leaf litter of 1 m2. We were able to capture one additional ant genus Carebara in the same trap, which consisted of 295 ml leaf litter.

Identification
Syscia indica is similar to Syscia chaladthanyakiji in general appearance and 11-segmented antennae. However, S. indica can be separated from S. chaladthanyakiji by the following characteristics:
 * 1) weak sculpture with relatively small and closely-spaced foveolae in S. indica (stronger sculpturing with well-deﬁned macropunctures in S. chaladthanyakiji)
 * 2) abdominal segment IV (first gastral tergite) with large number of closely-spaced foveolae in S. indica (first gastral tergite with lesser number of relatively widely spaced foveolae in S. chaladthanyakiji)
 * 3) remaining gastral segments with feeble foveolae in S. indica (remaining gastral segments anteriorly with an unscupltured area in S. chaladthanyakiji)
 * 4) head in full-face view oval shaped with convex lateral sides and moderately concave posterior margin in S. indica (head in full-face view rectangular, almost parallel sides, posterior margin weakly concave in S. chaladthanyakiji)
 * 5) CI 74, SI 50 in S. indica (CI 80–84, SI 56–63 in S. chaladthanyakiji)

Syscia indica is also similar to the Sri Lankan and Chinese Syscia typhla in general appearance. However, the new species can be easily separated from S. typhla by the:
 * 1) presence of 11-segmented antennae (9-segmented in S. typhla)
 * 2) foveolae on cephalic dorsum smaller in diameter and closely spaced in S. indica (foveolae comparatively larger in diameter and widely spaced in S. typhla)
 * 3) posterior cephalic margin nearly transverse in S. indica (posterior cephalic margin strongly concave in S. typhla)
 * 4) base of cinctus of first gastral tergite with cross ribs in S. indica (base of cinctus of first gastral tergite without cross ribs in S. typhla)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Nomenclature

 * . Syscia indica Aswaj et al., 2021: 67, figs. 1, 3A–F (w.) INDIA (Arunachal Pradesh).

Type Material

 * Holotype: One worker, point mounted. Original label: “India, Arunachal Pradesh, West Kameng, Eaglenest WLS, 27.0434°N, 92.4302°E, 1600 m, Winkler extraction method, 10.IV.2013, Aniruddha Marathe leg.” [NBAIR/HYMFOR/1721-2].