Heteroponera ecarinata

Sympatric with H. relicta in the Bellenden-Ker Range and at Mt Fisher, Mt Father Clancy, McNamee Creek and Upper Boulder Creek. Mt Bellenden Ker, which at 1,593m is second in Queensland elevation only to the adjacent Mt Bartel Frere (the second-highest Australian mountain after Mt Kosciusco, NSW). Both peaks are in the largely rainforested Wooroonooran National Park.

Identification
Taylor (2015) - Characterized in the H. ecarinata species complex by relatively heavy sculpturation, dark blackish-brown color, with dark reddish-brown legs and antennae, and distinguished from the somewhat similar Heteroponera pendergrasti by differences in sculpturation (particularly of the frons and second gastral tergite), coloration and structure of petiolar node. Fore-coxae, propodeal declivity and posterior surface of node superficially microsculptured; propodeal declivity laterally distinctly, but not strongly, sculpturally bordered: the posterolateral edges in profile more-or-less regular and even, not serrate as a result of minutely extended cuticular points along the sculptural border. Most specimens apart from the Bellenden Ker series have the petiolar summit weakly pointed posterodorsally, and some appear not to be fully colored, possibly sub-callow. The gaster in these is lighter brown than the remaining body (and also the mesosoma in two cases). The propodeal declivity is unsculptured in most specimens, but microsculptured in several.

Apparently close to the broadly similar Heteroponera pendergrasti and to Heteroponera trachypyx at species-complex level.

Identification Keys including this Taxon

 * Key to Australian Heteroponera Species

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  ecarinata. Heteroponera ecarinata Taylor, 2015: 176, figs. 46-49 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Worker
(Holotype, smallest available specimen (Crawfords Lookout) largest available specimen (Mt Father Clancy): TL (ca): 5.1, 4.9, 5.2; HW: 1.23, 1.19, 1.29; HL: 1.16, 1.13, 1.20; CI: 106, 105, 108; EL: 0.22, 0.21, 0.21; SL: 0.70, 0.70, 0.74; SI: 57, 59, 57; PW: 0.91, 0.90, 0.98; WL: 1.55, 1.56, 1.60; petH: 0.73, 0.75, 0.74; petW: 0.52, 0.50, 0.50; GW 1.04, 1.04, 1.07.

Type Material
AUSTRALIA: QUEENSLAND: Bellenden Ker Range: 1 km S of cable tower 6 (17°16S, 145°53'E). Holotype. Paratypes ANIC,.

Etymology
The species epithet, a noun in apposition, refers to the ecarinate antennal scrobes.