Tetramorium saginatum

Identification
Bolton (1980) - For relationships and separation of this species see under species-group discussion and under Tetramorium pylacum.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Angola, Uganda.

Nomenclature

 *  saginatum. Tetramorium saginatum Bolton, 1980: 302 (w.) ANGOLA.

Worker
Holotype: TL 3.1, HL 0.74, HW 0.67, CI 90, SL 0.56, SI 83, PW 0.52, AL 0.84. Paratypes (17 measured): TL 2.8-3.2, HL 0.68-0.76, HW 0.65-0.70, CI 89-95, SL 0.52-0.57, SI 80-85, PW 0.48-0.53, AL 0.80-0.88. Maximum diameter of eye 0.11-0.14, about 0.17-0.20 x HW.

Mandibles coarsely longitudinally striate. Anterior clypeal margin entire, without trace of an impression medially. Median clypeal carina strong, otherwise clypeus with only scattered vestiges of rugular sculpture. Frontal carinae strong, running back onto occiput but merging with the remaining cephalic sculpture before reaching the margin. Antennal scapes of moderate length (SI 80-85 in type-series), the scrobes broad and shallow, not conspicuously developed. Eyes small, maximum diameter 0.13, about 0.19 x HW. Alitrunk convex in profile, the propodeal spines broad, only slightly longer than the long, acutely triangular and broad-based metapleural lobes. Petiole node in profile short rectangular, almost square, the dorsal length only marginally greater than the height of the tergal portion. In dorsal view the petiole node slightly broader than long. Dorsum of head irregularly longitudinally rugulose to level of posterior margins of eyes, with 7-8 rugulae between the frontal carinae at eye level and with few or no crossmeshes. Behind the level of the eyes cross-meshes increase in number until they form a rugoreticulum on the occiput. Dorsal surfaces of alitrunk, petiole and postpetiole finely reticulate-rugulose, denser on the pedicel segments than on the alitrunk. Ground-sculpture a fine superficial punctulation, effaced and vestigial on the head, more conspicuous on the posterior half of the alitrunk and on the pedicel segments. Base of first gastral tergite unsculptured except for pits from which hairs arise, which are fairly distinct basally. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous stout standing hairs, obviously blunted on the surfaces behind the head. Hind tibiae with decumbent pubescence only. Uniform dark brown, the legs lighter.

Paratypes: As holotype but some with a pair of feeble rugulae flanking the median clypeal carina. 6-8 longitudinal rugulae between frontal carinae at eye level and some specimens with distinctly more cross-meshes on the cephalic dorsum than in the holotype. Propodeal spines usually feebly sinuate, most commonly ending with the apices upcurved.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Angola: Salazar I.1.A.A., 9-15.iii.1972 (P. M. Hammond). Paratypes. 17 workers with same data as holotype (BMNH; ).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton B. 1980. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 40: 193-384.
 * Yeo K., T. Delsinne, S. Komate, L. L. Alonso, D. Aidara, and C. Peeters. 2016. Diversity and distribution of ant assemblages above and below ground in a West African forest–savannah mosaic (Lamto, Cote d’Ivoire). Insectes Sociaux DOI 10.1007/s00040-016-0527-6