Ponera adumbrans

Ponera adumbrans is known from a handful of collections made in the Seychelles. The holotype series was found on a ridge toward Mont Corgat, in forest sifted litter (leaf mold and rotten wood).

Identification
This species cannot be confused with other Malagasy Ponera species due to its dark brown color in contrast to the yellowish brown color of Ponera petila and Ponera swezeyi and its larger body size relative to the latter two species. Worldwide, this species most resembles the Indo-Australian Ponera clavicornis, but P. adumbrans clearly differs from its congener in shape, color, and size characteristics. The two species exhibit non-overlapping ranges of morphometric ratios: P. adumbrans has a shorter head (cephalic index, CI: 77 [75, 78]) than P. clavicornis (CI: 81–85, see Taylor, 1967), and the scape of P. adumbrans is longer (SI: 93 [90, 96]) than that of P. clavicornis (SI: 80–89, see Taylor, 1967).

Distribution
Known only from the Seychelles islands Silhouette and Mahé.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 * . Ponera adumbrans Csősz & Fisher, in Csősz et al., 2023: 6, fig. 3A-C (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Type Material

 * Holotype worker, Seychelles: CASENT0160838, collection code: BLF23554, Silhouette Island, on ridge toward Mont Corgat, [forest, sifted litter, leaf mold, rotten wood], -4.49537, 55.23946, alt. 445 m, B.L. Fisher et al., 2010.01.28, (3w, CASC).
 * Paratypes, six workers with the same label data as the holotype under CASENT codes: Seychelles: CASENT0160837, collection code: BLF23554, (1w, CASC); CASENT0160840, collection code: BLF23554, (1w, CASC); CASENT0159923, collection code: BLF23458, (1w, CASC); CASENT0159088, collection code: BLF23558, (1w, CASC); CASENT0159966, collection code: BLF23434, (1w, CASC); CASENT0158808, collection code: BLF23254, (1w, CASC); CASENT0159375, collection code: BLF24028 (1w, CASC).