Leptogenys mayotte

Leptogenys mayotte occurs only in the rainforest habitats of Mayotte Island. Nest series have been found only in rotten logs.

Identification
Rakotonirina and Fisher (2014) - Worker. Mandible subtriangular and tightly closing against margin of broadly triangular clypeus; eye located slightly toward frontal portion of head and not breaking outline of lateral cephalic border; dorsum of head reticulate-punctulate, promesonotal dorsum transversely striate, superimposed with sparse, small punctures.

Leptogenys mayotte is one of the largest species in the ponerine ant genus Leptogenys and can be separated from Leptogenys oswaldi of the incisa group by the combination of the following two characters: the eyes not breaking the outline of the sides of the head, and the presence of dense and fine transverse striation or rugulae on the pronotal dorsum. Leptogenys mayotte and Leptogenys oswaldi are easily distinguished from the remainder of the incisa group by the form of the mandibles, which are elongate, with convex inner margins, and capable of closing tightly against the triangular clypeus.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Mayotte.

Nomenclature

 *  mayotte. Leptogenys mayotte Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2014: 157, figs. 32A, 33B, 128, 177 (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
(6 specimens). HW: 1.80–1.96, HL: 2.23–2.32, CI: 80–84, SL: 1.98–2.08, SI: 104–113, PW: 1.15–1.24, WL: 3.05–3.17, PNH: 0.88–0.95, PNL: 0.80–0.88, PNW: 0.76–0.80, DNI: 91–97, LNI: 108–111.

Head narrowing from posterior of eyes to base of mandible; sides evenly rounding to posterior cephalic margin. Eye not breaking outline of side of head. Antennal scape relatively short (SI: 104–113). Clypeus with large, triangular anteromedian lobe bordered by semi-translucent yellow-orange membrane; median clypeal carina long and sharp. Mandible elongate, inner margin with blunt basal angle at midlength and outer margin slightly concave; blades tightly closing against clypeal margin; basal groove broadly impressed; preapical tooth present near sharp apical tooth. Hypostomal teeth not visible when head in full-face view. Metanotal groove impressed; with mesosoma in lateral view, propodeum high and short, posterolateral border without toothlike lobe; dorsal margin rounding to declivitous face. In profile, petiolar node approximately as high as broad; anterior face forming convex line with dorsal margin which in turn ends at a distinct angle to anteriorly inclined posterior face. Constriction between third and fourth abdominal segments feebly distinct. Mandible finely longitudinally striate, with small piligerous punctures. Dorsum of head finely rugulose anterior to level of eyes and toward center of head capsule, sculpture becoming densely and finely reticulate-punctulate posteriorly. Promesonotum finely transversely striate or rugulose, interspersed with scattered small punctures; propodeal dorsum with dense and fine transverse striae or rugae; declivitous surface transversely striate. Third and fourth abdominal tergites mostly smooth and shining apart from piligerous small pits. Erect hairs long on promesonotum, petiolar node and gaster, but suberect and short on propodeum; pubescence sparse or absent on dorsum of body. Black to dark brown species, apices of appendages and tip of gaster lighter in color.

Type Material
Holotype worker: Mayotte, Mont Chongui, -12.959, 45.1341, 380 m, rainforest, ex rotten log, 28 Nov 2007 (B.L. Fisher et al.) collection code: BLF18914, specimen code: CASENT0134302. Paratypes: 3 workers with same data as holotype but specimen coded as: CASENT0134301, CASENT0134303, CASENT0132571 (CASC, ).