Acanthognathus laevigatus

Only one specimen was found. Information about the biology or natural history of this species are unknown.

Identification
This species can be easily differentiated from any other species of the genus by having their body completely smooth and shining and for lacking any sculpture in the body. Other species in which the integument is also known to be smooth and shining (A. teledectus or A. brevicornis) have some kind of sculpture. It could be argued that A. laevigatus is just a variation of A. teledectus or A. brevicornis either but this species have characters that markedly contrast with A. laevigatus, this has not the extremely long, heavily-armed mandibles of A. teledectus or the shorter scapes of A. brevicornis.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Colombia.

Biology
Only one specimen was found. Information about the biology or natural history of this species are unknown.

Nomenclature

 * . Acanthognathus laevigatus Galvis & Fernández, 2009: 246, figs. 2-4 (w.) COLOMBIA.
 * Type-material: holotype worker.
 * Type-locality: Colombia: Nariño, Barbacoas, Altaquer, Reserva Natural Rio Nambi, “El Espingo”, 1°18’00’’N, 78°05’00’’W, 1242-1258 m., 14.i.2006 (S. Cabrera).
 * Type-depository: ICNB.
 * Status as species: Fernández & Serna, 2019: 831.
 * Distribution: Colombia.

Worker
Posterior excision of head rounded, not V-shaped as in Acanthognathus rudis. Eyes larger than usual (nearly ¼ of head length), with about 100 facets, weakly convex, and located towards the dorsum of head. Mandibles with respect to head length relatively short (about ¾ of head length), resembling Acanthognathus ocellatus and A. rudis, lacking preapical teeth or denticles, showing only the trigger hairs on the masticatory margin arising from the submedian welts. Humeral angles with tubercles strongly projecting. Propodeal teeth long and diverging from propodeum. Petiole with a low and rounded node in lateral view and with peduncle about 1,5 times as long as the node. Body completely smooth and shining. Body lacking fossae and any rugulose-punctulate sculpture. Standing pilosity absent on the body. Color of body brown, legs lighter.

Holotype: HL 0,94, HW 0,67, EL 0,21, ML 0,67, SL 0,76, WL 1,00, PL 0,68, PPL 0,30, GL 0,95, TL 4,54 CI 71, MI 71, SI 113, SMI, 113.

Etymology
Latin term, laevigatus, referring to the smooth and shiny integument of this species.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Galvis J. P., and F. Fernández. 2009. Ants of Colombia X. Acanthognathus with the description of a new species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Revista Colombiana de Entomología 35: 245-249.