Iridomyrmex atypicus

This taxon appears to have an oddly circumscribed distribution, with the only known specimens coming from near Lake Mere, New South Wales. Nothing further is known of this rare species.

Identification
Large, almost circular eyes, a relatively short antennal scape and a somewhat elongate head ensure that I. atypicus cannot be confused with any other Iridomyrmex.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Australasian Region: Australia.

Nomenclature

 *  atypicus. Iridomyrmex atypicus Heterick & Shattuck, 2011: 47, fig. 14 (w.) AUSTRALIA.

Description
Worker Description. Head. Posterior margin of head planar to weakly concave; erect setae on posterior margin in full-face view set in a row; sides of head noticeably convex; erect genal setae present on sides of head in full- face view, or absent from sides of head in full-face view (one to a few small setae may be present near mandibular insertion). Ocelli absent; in full-face view, eyes set at about midpoint of head capsule; in profile, eye set anteriad of head capsule; eye semi-circular. Frontal carinae convex; antennal scape surpassing posterior margin of head by 1–2 x its diameter. Erect setae on scape absent, except at tip; prominence on anteromedial clypeal margin projecting as triangular spur; mandible elongate triangular with oblique basal margin; long, curved setae on venter of head capsule absent. Mesosoma. Pronotum moderately and evenly curved over its length. Erect pronotal setae moderate in number (6–12), short and bristly. Mesonotum evenly curved. Erect mesonotal setae moderate in number (6–12), short and bristly. Mesothoracic spiracles always inconspicuous; propodeal dorsum smoothly and evenly convex; placement of propodeal spiracle mesad, more than its diameter away from propodeal declivity; propodeal angle weakly present or absent, the confluence of the dorsal and declivitous propodeal faces indicated, if at all, by an undulation. Erect propodeal setae moderate in number (6-12), short and bristly. Petiole. Dorsum of node convex; node thin, scale-like, orientation more-or-less vertical. Gaster. Non-marginal erect setae of gaster present on first gastral tergite; marginal erect setae of gaster present on first tergite. General characters. Allometric differences between workers of same nest absent. Colour dull brown, lighter around clypeus and lower genae. Colour of erect setae yellowish.

Measurements. Worker (n = 1)—CI 78; EI 32; EL 0.26; EW 0.21; HFL 1.14; HL 1.02; HW 0.80; ML 1.20; MTL 0.81; PpH 0.14; PpL 0.48; SI 100; SL 0.80.

Etymology
Latin: named for the highly distinctive nature of its appearance.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Heterick B. E., and S. Shattuck. 2011. Revision of the ant genus Iridomyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 2845: 1-174.