Cardiocondyla tenuifrons

This species is known only from the type locality in Jordan and nothing is known about its biology.

Identification
Seifert (2003) - Big eye size and low postocular index allocate this species to the Cardiocondyla batesii group. Cardiocondyla tenuifrons can be separated from any species by its frontal carinae strongly converging caudad. The ratio FL/FR (measured as in Myrmica, see Seifert 1988) is lower than 1.12 in any sympatric species known but is 1.15 - 1.19 in C. tenuifrons. The most similar species in overall character combination is Cardiocondyla nigra but the latter has less converging frontal carinae, a smaller postocular index, and lower PEH/CS and PPH/CS.

Seifert (2023) - Rather small, CS 509 µm. Head rather long, CL/CW 1.205. Postocular index larger than in any member of the batesii group, PoOc/CL 0.413. Median third of hind margin of head straight. Scape moderately long, SL/CS 0.804. Eye large, EYE/CS 0.267. Frons narrow (FRS/CS 0.238), frontal carinae strongly converging immediately caudal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.149). Dorsal profile of promesonotum moderately convex, metanotal depression shallow (Mgr/CS 2.00%), dorsal profile of propodeum moderately convex. Propodeal spines short (SP/CS 0.093), acute, and very steep, their angle differing by 50° from longitudinal axis of mesosoma; their bases more approached (SPBA/CS 0.237). Petiole distinctly higher than wide (PeW/CS 0.272, PeH/CS 0.325), in profile with a short but rather thin peduncle, a straight to weakly convex anterior face and the anterior and posterior slopes of the node equally inclined—as result the node profile is symmetric. Petiole node wedge-shaped in dorsocaudal view. Postpetiole moderately wide and rather high (PpW/CS 0.516, PpW /PeW 1.90, PpH/CS 0.288), in dorsal view with a straight anterior margin and roughly trapezoidal—when tilted caudad as in Fig. 76, anterior margin concave; postpetiolar sternite completely flat. Clypeus on whole surface rather smooth and shiny but very finely longitudinally carinulate. Frontal lobes and area posterior of the frontal lobes longitudinally rugulose-carinulate. Foveolae on vertex shallow, of 13–15 µm diameter, with an inner corona, foveolar margins not ideally circular, often kinked or breached by short microrugulae running partially or entirely through the foveolae; foveolar interspaces wider than foveolar diameter, shiny and with fine cross-branched to semireticulate microstructures (Fig. 77). Dorsal mesosoma shiny, with shallow foveolae and fine cross-branched microstructures. ventrolateral mesosoma with well-developed microreticulum, metapleuron with few longitudinal carinulae. Petiole and postpetiole smooth and shiny but delicately microreticulate. Pubescence on gaster tergites short and dilute, PLg/CS 5.37 %, sqPDg 5.57. Head and gaster dark brown. Mesosoma and waist medium brown, with yellowish-red component.

As a combination of very high FL/FR and very high PoOc/CL, Cardiocondyla tenuifrons can be separated from any closely related species.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Palaearctic Region: Jordan.

Nomenclature

 * . Cardiocondyla tenuifrons Seifert, 2003a: 243, fig. 24 (w.) JORDAN.
 * Type-material: holotype worker, 2 paratype workers.
 * Type-locality: holotype Jordan: Abdallah, between Shobek and Wadi Musa, 30.iii.1996, no. 1 (Dietrich); paratypes with same data.
 * Type-depository: SMNG.
 * Status as species: Borowiec, L. 2014: 49; Borowiec, L. & Salata, 2020: 5.
 * Distribution: Jordan.

Type Material

 * Holotype worker and 2 worker paratypes labelled “JORDANIA: Abdallah zw. Shobek und Wadi Musa, 1996.03.30, No 1, leg. Chr. Dietrich”,.

Worker
Head elongated, CL/CW 1.205. Postocular distance larger than in related species, PoOc/CL 0.413. Occipital margin straight. Eyes large, EYE 0.267. Foveolae on vertex shallow, simple, of 13 - 15 mm diameter; interspaces shining, wider than foveolar diameter, with fine cross-branched to semireticulate microstructures. Frontal lobes, area posterior of frontal carinae, and clypeus finely longitudinally carinulate. Frontal lobes strongly converging immediately caudal of FRS level, FL/FR 1.177 ± 0.023 [1.151, 1.192]. Dorsal mesosoma shining, with shallow foveolae and fine cross-branched microstructures. Ventrolateral area of mesosoma with well-developed microreticulum, metapleuron with clearly visible longitudinal sculpture. Metanotal groove very shallow. Spines steep, very short and acute. Petiole node wedge-shaped in caudal view, in lateral aspect similar to Cardiocondyla nigra. Postpetiole in dorsal view with straight anterior margin, roughly trapezoidal Postpetiolar sternite without any flat bulge. Head and gaster blackish brown. Mesosoma and waist medium to dark brown, with yellowish-red component.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
 * Seifert, B.. "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." Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien 104B (2003): 203-338.