Strumigenys rectidens

Identification
Bolton (2000) - A member of the ebbae complex in the Strumigenys koningsbergeri-group. At first glance this species would seem to be related to Strumigenys ebbae and its closest relatives, but striking differences in form of pilosity and its arrangement immediately isolate rectidens.

The presence of flagellate humeral hairs in rectidens is unique in the group and leads to the suspicion that the species is not correctly placed here. It may be independently derived from forms such as Strumigenys baal and Strumigenys edaragona of the rofocala-complex (godeffroyi-group), but if so it has undergone radical modifications to the mandibles and preapical teeth. Until more material than the holotype of rectidens is known, little can be done to ensure its correct placement.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Indonesia.

Nomenclature

 *  rectidens. Strumigenys rectidens Brown, 1966: 23, fig. 1 (w.) INDONESIA (Sumba I.). See also: Bolton, 2000: 851.

Worker
Bolton (2000) - TL 2.1, HL 0.63, HW 0.48, CI 76, ML 0.27, MI 43, SL 0.32, SI 67, PW 0.29, AL 0.59. With characters of ebbae-complex. Preapical tooth conical and very slightly recurved, widely separated from apicodorsal tooth; length of preapical tooth less than width of mandible at point where it arises. Inner margin of mandible straight to extremely weakly convex proximal of preapical tooth, not sinuate and without a lamella. Outer margin of mandible shallowly convex from base to level of preapical tooth. Ventrolateral margin of head without trace of a preocular concavity. Upper scrobe margins evenly divergent posteriorly, almost straight; outer arc of eye visible in full-face view. Hairs that fringe upper scrobe margin uniformly small, without an apicoscrobal hair. Dorsum of head in profile with 4 narrowly remiform curved erect hairs along occipital margin, without standing hairs anterior to this. Pronotal humeral hair slender and flagellate; pronotal dorsum otherwise without standing hairs. Mesonotum with a single pair of erect narrowly remiform hairs. Anterior half of katepisternum smooth, remainder of side of alitrunk reticulate-punctate. Lamella on propodeal declivity narrow, with posterior (free) margin convex. Disc of postpetiole reticulate-punctate. Standing hairs on first gastral tergite narrowly remiform, sparse, restricted to a basal and an apical transverse row.

Type Material
Bolton (2000) - Holotype worker, INDONESIA: Soemba I., Mao Marroe, 450 m., v.1925 (K. Dammerman) [examined].