Typhlomyrmex prolatus

Typhlomyrmex prolatus specimens examined by Fernández et al. (2023) from Colombia were collected exclusively in the soil at 0–10 cm depth; the collection substrate in previous records is unknown. This species has been found in fragmented rain forests in piedmont area. The individuals of CATAC-00879 were collected sharing the soil galleries with a colony of the termite Anoplotermes meridianus.

Identification
Fernández et al. (2023) - This species is easily separated from any other Typhlomyrmex by the possession of the short protruding carina on the anterior dorsum of the first metasomal tergum. This trait is described in the female of the species in Brown (1965) where they posit that it may be present in the worker. All workers examined in this work share this characteristic, so the possibility that it is a pointing error or a mutation in the first specimen observed by Brown is clearly ruled out. The function of this structure, if it exists, is unknown. As far as we know, this structure is unknown in other ants within this genus.

Distribution
Fernández et al. (2023) - Until this present work, the only confirmed localities of this species were in Central America (Brown 1965; Mackay et al. 2004; Dáttilo et al. 2020); however, records for Brazil and Venezuela were mentioned by Lacau et al. (2008) without pointing out the records; our records and the literature records establish an altitudinal distribution from 50 m to 1,200. m for T. prolatus. With these records, along with our own presented herein, we confirm the presence of this species in South America. Confirmed records range from Mexico to Colombia, with the possibility of having a broader distribution.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Costa Rica.

Nomenclature

 * . Typhlomyrmex prolatus Brown, 1965c: 72, fig. 6 (q.) COSTA RICA.
 * Type-material: holotype queen.
 * Type-locality: Costa Rica: vic. San José, 1940 (H. Schmidt).
 * Type-depository: MZSP.
 * Status as species: Kempf, 1972a: 256; Bolton, 1995b: 422; Camacho, Franco, Branstetter, et al. 2022: 12.
 * Distribution: Brazil, Costa Rica, Venezuela.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Brown W. L., Jr. 1965. Contributions to a reclassification of the Formicidae. IV. Tribe Typhlomyrmecini (Hymenoptera). Psyche (Camb.) 72: 65-78.
 * Dattilo W. et al. 2019. MEXICO ANTS: incidence and abundance along the Nearctic-Neotropical interface. Ecology https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.2944
 * Fernández F., and T. M. Arias-Penna. 2008. Las hormigas cazadoras en la región Neotropical. Pp. 3-39 in: Jiménez, E.; Fernández, F.; Arias, T.M.; Lozano-Zambrano, F. H. (eds.) 2008. Sistemática, biogeografía y conservación de las hormigas cazadoras de Colombia. Bogotá: Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt, xiv + 609 pp.
 * Longino J. T. L., and M. G. Branstetter. 2018. The truncated bell: an enigmatic but pervasive elevational diversity pattern in Middle American ants. Ecography 41: 1-12.