Cataulacus elongatus

Nothing is known about the biology of Cataulacus elongatus.

Identification
A member of the tenuis group. The abundant long, curved or sinuate, relatively soft hairs which clothe this species make it immediately recognizable amongst its congeners, The closest related known species appears to be Cataulacus pilosus but this may be distinguished by its shorter, more stocky alitrunk and marked sculptural differences, The lateral denticulations of the pronotum in elongatus are very small and may be overlooked in smaller specimens.

Distribution
Known from Angola, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, and Kenya.

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

Nomenclature

 *  elongatus. Cataulacus elongatus Santschi, 1924b: 221 (w.) ANGOLA. Bolton, 1974a: 34 (q.).

Worker
Bolton (1974) - TL 3.7 – 4.4, HL 1.00 – 1.10, HW 0.92 – 0.98, CI 89-92, EL 0.42 – 0.48, OI 45 - 49, IOD 0.68 – 0.74, SL 0.54 – 0.60, SI 58 - 61, PW 0.60 – 0.72, AL 1.00 – 1.12, MTL 0.52 – 0.58 (4 measured).

Occipital crest absent; occipital corners with a small tooth or denticle and with a second denticle on the border, close to the first. Sides of head behind eyes irregular or crenulate, but not distinctly denticulate. Development of preocular tooth variable, usually distinct but may be reduced. Sides of pronotum virtually parallel, minutely denticulate behind the acute humeral angles. Sides of alitrunk convergent behind the pronotum, often irregular but not denticulate, the mesonotum not marginate. Dorsum of alitrunk without sutures; propodeum armed with a pair of short spines. First gastral tergite not marginate laterally.

Dorsum of head with a fine, loose rugoreticulum, the interspaces of which are shallowly and weakly reticulate-punctate and shining. Dorsum of alitrunk with numerous fine, dense, rounded longitudinal rugae, almost sulcate in appearance; this sculpturation more irregular on the pronotum than elsewhere. Dorsum of petiole regularly, transversely arched-rugulose, the anterior face of the segment with a few weak transverse rugules. Posterior face of postpetiole as petiole, the dorsum rather more coarsely longitudinally rugose. First gastral tergite predominantly finely and densely reticulate-punctate, but with numerous fine or very fine irregular longitudinal rugulae.

All dorsal surfaces of head, body and appendages with abundant fine, long, narrow hairs which are usually curved or sinuate. Hairs on the vertex tend to curve forwards whilst those on the rest of the body are predominantly back-curved.

Queen
Bolton (1974) - TL 4.7, HL 1.10, HW 0.96, CI 87, EL 0.46, OI 46, IOD 0.74, SL 0.62, SI 64, PW 0.84, AL 1.30.

As worker but propodeal spines proportionally shorter and the denticulation of the pronotum less well marked. Sculpturation strongly longitudinal on all dorsal sclerites of alitrunk except the propodeum where it appears to be transverse (obscured by glue on specimen). Petiole strongly U- or V-shaped rugulose, the base of the V being posterior.

Type Material
Bolton (1974) - Holotype worker, Angola: Loanda (Le Mouli) (NM, Basle) [examined].

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton B. 1982. Afrotropical species of the myrmicine ant genera Cardiocondyla, Leptothorax, Melissotarsus, Messor and Cataulacus (Formicidae). Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 45: 307-370.