Cardiocondyla longiceps

Described from winged gynes originating both from Socotra Island and the Yemen mainland (Ta'izz). The workers are as yet unknown (Collingwood et al. 2004) and nothing is known concerning its ecology or biology (Sharaf et al., 2017).

Identification
Seifert (2003) - A member of the Cardiocondyla shuckardi group. C. longiceps is most similar to sympatric Cardiocondyla fajumensis in structure and body shape but nonoverlapping morphometric data and the characteristic clypeal pubescence strongly indicate heterospecifity.

Collingwood et al. (2004) - As a member of the Cardiocondyla shuckardi-group, this species has the propodeal spines much shorter than in Cardiocondyla emeryi, a character true also for workers in this species group.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Socotra Archipelago, Yemen.

Nomenclature

 *  longiceps. Cardiocondyla longiceps Seifert, 2003a: 259, fig. 45 (q.) YEMEN.

Queen
Closely related to Cardiocondyla fajumensis but size and head length index outside the range of this species. Head extremely elongated, CL/CW 1.254. Anterior clypeal margin and occipital margin convex, in most median parts straight. Postocular distance large, PoOc/CL 0.444. Scape long, SL/CS 0.815. Clypeus and frontal laminae densely longitudinally rugulose-carinulate. Anterior clypeus with profuse erect pubescence, appearing bearded. Frontal carinae immediately behind FRS level parallel or slightly converging caudad. Vertex and anterior pronotum strongly reticulate, the meshes with bicoronate foveolae. Mesonotum strongly longitudinally rugulose, interspaces foveolate. Propodeum and postpetiolar dorsum strongly foveolate-reticulate. Petiole more smooth but weakly reticulate-rugose. Lateral mesosomal sclerites strongly longitudinally rugulose. Petiole node in dorsal view globular, as long or slightly longer than wide. Postpetiole with straight or slightly concave anterior margin and convex sides, its sternite with 2 shallow, paramedian longitudinal bulbs. Spines reduced to right or blunt angles. Pubescence on whole body long and profuse. Lateral mesosoma, propodeum and waist light-yellowish brown. Dorsum of antennal funiculus, dorsal head, gaster, and dorsum of mesosoma from scutellum to metanotum distinctly darker.

Type Material
Holotype gyne plus 3 paratype gynes labelled “YEMEN: lsI. Socotra Hadibo, 1993.04.14 leg. A. van Harten”; 4 paratype gynes labelled "YEMEN: Taiz(L) leg. A. van Harten 1998.08.24”, all in.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Collingwood, C. A., H. Pohl, and R. Güsten. "The ants (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Socotra archipelago." Fauna of Saudi Arabia 20 (2004): 473-495.
 * Seifert B. 2003. The ant genus Cardiocondyla (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) - a taxonomic revision of the C. elegans, C. bulgarica, C. batesii, C. nuda, C. shuckardi, C. stambuloffii, C. wroughtonii, C. emeryi, and C. minutior species groups. Annalen des Naturhistorischen Museums in Wien. B, Botanik, Zoologie 104: 203-338.
 * Sharaf M. R., B. L. Fisher, C. A. Collingwood, and A. S. Aldawood. 2017. Ant fauna (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of the Socotra Archipelago (Yemen): zoogeography, distribution and description of a new species. Journal of Natural History http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2016.1271157