Leptogenys fotsivava

Leptogenys fotsivava has been found foraging on the surface of the ground and through leaf litter. Colony nests are known to be in soil layers and under rocks. Raiding behavior has been observed in the PN Isalo along a portion of the Sahanafa River.

Identification
A member of the ridens complex of the truncatirostris species group. Rakotonirina and Fisher (2014) - Worker. Clypeus with median carina, distance between anterior level of torulus and anteromedial clypeal margin greater than maximum width of scape; antennal scape relatively short; eye medium, maximum diameter between one-third and one-fourth the length of side of head; breaking outline of side of head; dorsum of mesosoma, petiolar node and gaster with few short suberect hairs and dense pubescence.

Distribution
Leptogenys fotsivava is distributed in natural dry forest habitats, gallery forests, and Uapaca woodlands in southern Madagascar, but also occurs in anthropogenic habitats.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Nomenclature

 *  fotsivava. Leptogenys fotsivava Rakotonirina & Fisher, 2014: 147, figs. 13B, 17A, 163, 172 (w.) MADAGASCAR.

Worker
(8 specimens). HW: 0.98–1.17, HL: 1.18–1.33, CI: 82–90, SL: 1.15–1.39, SI: 112–119, PW: 0.72–0.84, WL: 1.91–2.15, PNH: 0.66–0.73, PNL: 0.53–0.57, PNW: 0.56–0.65, DNI: 106–115, LNI: 124–137.

Head longer than broad in full-face view, width weakly increasing from behind to front, sides generally straight anteriorly from posterior level of eyes and rounding into a more or less straight posterior margin. Eye medium, maximum diameter between one-third and one-fourth the length of side of head; small girth slightly breaking outline of sides of head. Antennal scape relatively short, about one-fourth of the length extending beyond posterior cephalic border. Median clypeal carina present; anteromedial clypeal margin rounded and covered with semi-translucent membranous spot. In full-face view, median lobe of clypeus relatively long, distance measured from anterior level of torulus to anteromedian clypeal margin greater than maximum diameter of scape. In full-face view, if mandible tightly closed against clypeus, basal two-thirds of blades touching anterior margin of clypeus while their apical third portions overlapping each other and extending downward in front of clypeus. With mesosoma in dorsal view, metanotal groove impressed, with faint cross-ribs. In lateral view, propodeal lobe absent. With petiole in dorsal view, node roughly as broad as long. Mandible longitudinally striate nearly to midlength; remaining portion smooth and shining apart from sparse punctures. Dorsum of head, mesosoma and petiolar node densely and finely reticulate-rugose to densely and finely reticulate-punctate. Third abdominal tergite densely and finely reticulate-punctate dorsally and mostly finely punctate laterally; fourth generally finely punctate. Pubescence numerous on entire dorsum of body, with sparse, suberect, short hairs. Color black to dark brown, with reddish-brown basal portion of appendages and light brown apices.

Type Material
Holotype worker: Madagascar, Toliara, Forêt de Kirindy, 15.5 km 64° ENE Marofandilia, -20.045, 44.6622, 100 m, tropical dry forest, ground nest, 28 Nov–3 Dec 2001 (Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team) collection code: BLF04671, specimen code: CASENT0001423. Paratypes: series of 6 workers with the same data as holotype but with the following specimen codes: CASENT0001421, CASENT00011422, CASENT0247211, CASENT0247212, CASENT0247213, CASENT0247214 (CASC,, , , ).

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Rakotonirina J. C., and B. L. Fisher. 2014. Revision of the Malagasy ponerine ants of the genus Leptogenys Roger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Zootaxa 3836 (1): 001163.