Tetramorium meghalayense

Nothing is known about the biology of .

Identification
Tiwari (2000) - Tetramorium meghalayense belongs to the bicarinatum group of Tatramorium and can be distinguished by its round pronotal angles, unsculptured nodes of pedicel and moderate size of the metanotal spines.

While placed in the Tetramorium bicarinatum group by Mathew & Tiwari (2000), based on the line drawings provided in this publication Agavekar et al. (2017) found this placements to be dubious and treated this taxon and unplaced to species group.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Oriental Region: India.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 * browni. Tetramorium browni Tiwari, in Mathew & Tiwari, 2000: 308, figs. 58, 59 (w.) INDIA. [Junior primary homonym of browni Bolton, above.] Replacement name: meghalayense Bharti, 2011: 86.
 *  meghalayense. Tetramorium meghalayense Bharti, 2011: 86. Replacement name for browni Tiwari, in Mathew & Tiwari, 2000: 308. [Junior primary homonym of browni Bolton, 1980: 337.]

Worker
Tiwari (2000) - Holotype: TL 2.97; HL 0.74; HW 0.61; C182; SL 0.55; SI 90; PW 0.53; Th L 0.71.

Head excluding the mandibles longer than broad, the occipital border emarginate, the sides convex; compound eyes moderate, placed more towards the lower half of the head; maximum diameter of the eye 0.11; anterior c1ypeal margin feebly notched in the middle, not entire; mandibles finely longitudinally striate, masticatory margin broad, with 6-7 unequal teeth; frontal carinae distinct, reaching almost to the occiput; antero-lateral angles of pronotum round; metanotal spines longer than the metapleural teeth, divergent and slightly upturned; metapleural teeth broad, acute; dorsum of head between the frontal carinae with not less than ten longitudinal rugae; dorsum of thorax reticulate rugose; sides of thorax with few diagonal striae; nodes of pedicel oval, subequal, smooth and shining; anterior node petiolate in front; abdomen smooth, polished and shining; all dorsal surfaces with numerous erect or suberect hairs of varying length; antennae and legs densely pubescent.

Colour: Dark brown, abdomen darker, almost black; the appendages a shade lighter.

Paratype: TL 2.65-3.28; HL 0.66-0.76; HW 0.58-0.63; CI 82-90; SL 0.53-0.56 SI 90-95; PW 0.45-0.53; Th L 0.79-0.84.

Similar to holotype; colour varies from reddish brown to dark brown.

Type Material
Tiwari (2000) - Holotype: worker: INDIA: Meghalaya, East Khasi hills, Pynursla, 6.viii.81, Coll. R. Mathew; Paratypes: 13 workers with the same collection data as the holotype.

Note (Lubertazzi 2018): it is stated in the publication where this description was published that "The present work is based on the material collected and deposited at the Zoological Survery of India, Eastern Regional Station, Shillong, and the Headquarters at Calcutta" with the latter presumably referring to the Zoological Survey of India headquarters. The types of this species can presumably be found in either or both of these collections.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bharti H., B. Guénard, M. Bharti, & E. P. Economo. 2015. An updated checklist of the ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of India with their specific distributions in Indian states. Zookeys