Tetramorium amatongae

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Mozambique, United Republic of Tanzania.

Nomenclature

 *  amatongae. Tetramorium amatongae Bolton, 1980: 358, figs. 133, 137 (w.) MOZAMBIQUE.

Worker
Holotype: TL 3.9, HL 0.92, HW 0.82, CI 89, SL 0.70, SI 85, PW 0.56, AL 1.05. Paratypes: TL 3.6-4.1, HL 0.88-0.94, HW 0.76-0.82, CI 86-89, SL 0.64-0.72, SI 83-90, PW 0.52-0.59, AL 0.98-1.08 (12 measured). As holotype but maximum diameter of eye 0.17-0.18, about 0.22-0.24 x HW.

Mandibles longitudinally striate. Anterior clypeal margin with a median notch or impression. Frontal carinae elongate, surmounted by a low rim or crest, running back almost to the occipital margin but becoming weaker behind the level of the eyes; occipitally no stronger than the remaining sculpture. Antennal scrobes vestigial and poorly defined. Maximum diameter of eye 0.18, about 0.22 x HW and with 9-10 ommatidia in the longest row. Dorsum of alitrunk uninterrupted in profile or at most with a very slight metanotal impression. Propodeal spines elevated, long and narrow, acute apically, usually straight but sometimes very feebly curved. Metapleural lobes triangular and low, much shorter than the propodeal spines. Petiole in profile nodiform, with a long anterior peduncle. Anterior and dorsal surfaces of node meeting in a right-angle or near right-angle but the dorsal and posterior surfaces separated by a short bluntly rounded curve, not by an angle. In dorsal view the petiole node is as long as broad or slightly broader than long. Dorsum of head with sharp, spaced-out longitudinal rugulae, 8-11 present between the frontal carinae at eye level. A few weak anastomoses occur occipitally between the rugulae but no rugoreticulum is developed. Ground-sculpture on head faint, the spaces between the rugulae shining. Dorsal alitrunk predominantly longitudinally sharply rugulose, the rugulae most regular and most widely and evenly spaced on the anterior half of the pronotum. Behind this the rugulae are less regular and a few weak cross-meshes are developed. Ground-sculpture on the alitrunk vestigial. Petiole and postpetiole finely but sharply rugulose dorsally, the latter segment predominantly longitudinally so. First gastral tergite unsculptured except for hair-pits. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous elongate, fine acute hairs, the longest of those on the alitrunk obviously much longer than the maximum diameter of the eye. Middle and hind tibiae with decumbent to appressed short hairs. Colour uniform mid-brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Mozambique: Amatongas Forest, 13.ii.1917 (G. Arnold). Paratypes. 12 workers with same data as holotype (BMNH; ; ; ).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * IZIKO South Africa Museum Collection