Terataner velatus

Identification
The four known species of the luteus-complex are confined to the forests of West and Central Africa. The complex is diagnosed by the short straight frontal carinae which fade out on the head behind the level of the eyes, fine sculpture, and sparse pilosity on the body; the tibiae lack standing hairs. Of the species thus defined two, Terataner elegans and Terataner luteus, have a broad flattened postpetiole, the posterior dorsal margin of which is broad and very broadly, evenly rounded. The other two species, Terataner piceus and Terataner velatus, have the posterior arch of the postpetiole narrow and narrowly rounded in dorsal view. T. piceus is separated from velatus by its lack of rugular sculpture on the promesonotum and lack of hairs on the first gastral tergite. (Bolton 1981)

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Ghana, Ivory Coast.

Nomenclature

 *  velatus. Terataner velatus Bolton, 1981b: 295 (w.) GHANA.

Worker
Holotype. TL 4.5, HL 1.14, HW 1.07, CI 94, SL 0.64, SI 60, PW 0.76, AL 1.40.

Mandibles smooth basally but in the apical halves with a number of large elongate pits which, where aligned, give the appearance of short impressions. Frontal carinae fine, close together, parallel, more or less straight, fading out on the dorsum between the level of the posterior margins of the eyes and the occiput. Maximum diameter of eyes 0.27, about 0.25 x HW. Pronotum marginate laterally and more weakly so anteriorly, the pronotal corners bluntly dentate and prominent. Sides of pronotum shallowly convex and somewhat convergent posteriorly. Mesonotum marginate laterally, the propodeal dorsum separated from the sides by a blunt angle, not at all as sharply marginate as the pronotum. Promesonotal suture absent on dorsum except laterally where it forms a break in the margination. Metanotal groove only very shallowly impressed in profile. Propodeum unarmed. Metapleural lobes large and rounded. Petiole node in profile appearing as a triangular tooth, broad-based but short, tapering to an acute point apically and very slightly curved backwards. In anterior view the dorsal surface of the node strongly emarginate in the middle, the portions on each side of the emargination projecting slightly outwards as a pair of blunt teeth. Postpetiole in dorsal view narrow and narrowly rounded posteriorly. Dorsum of head and sides of head above the eyes with a fine dense reticulate-punctulate ground-sculpture which is fainter between the frontal carinae than outside them. Overlying the ground-sculpture are a few fine longitudinal rugulae between the frontal carinae and a series of somewhat stronger longitudinal rugulae running above the eye. Dorsal alitrunk finely and densely reticulate-punctate everywhere. On the propodeal dorsum this is the only sculpture but the pronotum, and to a lesser extent the mesonotum, has fine but conspicuous fairly dense longitudinal rugulation. Petiole, postpetiole and first gastral tergite finely and densely reticulate-punctate everywhere. Basigastral costulae very reduced, the individual components short, fine and restricted to the area immediately behind the postpetiolar-gastral junction. Standing hairs sparse on dorsal surfaces of the body, consisting only of 4 pairs on the head following the lines of the frontal carinae, one pair each on the pronotum (at the corners), mesonotum and propodeum, 3 pairs each on the petiole and postpetiole, and 3 pairs on the first gastral tergite situated in the basal half towards the sides of the sclerite. Other than this hairs are present only on the mouthparts and gastral apex; standing hairs are absent on the scapes and tibiae. Colour uniform dark brown.

Paratypes. TL 4.1-4.4, HL 1.04-1.10, HW 0.98-1.06, CI 94-96, SL 0.60-0.64, SI 60-64, PW 0.70-0.74, AL 1.24-1.36 (5 measured). Maximum diameter of eye 0.24-0.26, about 0.24-0.25 x HW. As holotype but several para types with hairs variously lost by abrasion from the dorsal body surfaces. Colour varying from mid-brown to blackish brown.

Type Material
Holotype worker, Ghana: Okumaning, 12.viii.1969, ant ecology sample K12 (D. Leston). Paratypes. Ghana: 1 worker with same data as holotype but sample K11; 1 worker, Kade, ant ecology sample K96 (D. Leston); 2 workers, Enchi, 17.v.1969, ant ecology sample E 5-8 (D. Leston). Ivory Coast: 1 worker, Banco Forest near Abidjan, 10.i.l963, no. A30 (w. L. Brown). (BMNH, )

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Bolton B. 1981. A revision of six minor genera of Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History). Entomology 43: 245-307.