Thaumatomyrmex nageli

Known from type material collected from litter sampling.

Identification
Baroni Urbani and de Andrade (2003) - T. nageli belongs to the cochlearis group as defined by Kempf (1975).

Resembling Thaumatomyrmex cochlearis but differing from it, in the worker, by the broader head width behind the eyes, by the sides of the mesosoma minutely punctate-reticulate instead of largely and sparsely punctuated, by the sides of the petiole and of the gaster with dense anastomosing canaliculation and rare piligerous foveae instead of piligerous punctures denser and anastomosing canaliculation rare, and by the hairs shorter and sparser.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Neotropical Region: Cuba.

Nomenclature

 *  nageli. Thaumatomyrmex nageli Baroni Urbani & De Andrade, 2003a: 265, fig. 1 (w.) CUBA.

Worker
TL 4.12-4.28; HL 0.76-0.77; HW1 0.86- 0.88; HW2 0.80-0.83; EL 0.23-0.24; SL 0.59-0.61; ML 0.79-0.82; WL 1.22-1.24; PeL 0.47-0.49; PeW 0.60; HFeL 0.78-0.80; HTiL 0.68-0.70; HBaL 0.54-0.55; CII 113.1-114.3; CI2 105.3-107.9; SI 77.6-79.2; MI 103.9-106.5.

Head subquadrate, broader anteriorly and with the sides gently converging posteriorly. Vertexal margin poorly concave medially and with a narrow carina. Frontal lobes developed, largely surpassing the median clypeal border and slightly shorter than the antero-lateral head sides. Median clypeal border anteriorly straight. Eyes large, slightly less than 1/3 of the head length (mandibles excluded) and placed almost entirely on the anterior half of the head. Scapes not reaching the vertexal margin. First funicular joint slightly longer than broad. Joints 2-7 much broader than long, joints 8-10 slightly broader than long and last joint about as long as joints 6-10. Mandibles with 3 long spiniform teeth. Basal teeth absent, only a subround swelling is present before the proximal teeth. Proximal teeth crossing each other on the clypeus. Intermediate teeth slightly hidden by the frontal lobes. Apical teeth reaching or slightly surpassing the maximum antero-lateral head width.

Mesosoma about 1/3 longer than the maximum head length (mandibles included). Mesonotum very short and only superficially differentiated from the propodeum in dorsal view. Propodeum gently convex in profile. Area between basal and declivous propodeal faces superficially marginated laterally, with the margins diverging posteriorly. Petiole thick, 1/5 or l/6 broader than long. Petiole in profile with convex dorsum and truncate anterior and posterior faces. Petiole in dorsal view with gently concave anterior face, with the sides subround and diverging posteriorly. Ventral process of petiole anteriorly with a round tooth and posteriorly straight and minutely crenulated. First gastral tergite in dorsal view with perpendicular anterior face and with strongly convex sides.

Legs elongate. Hind tibiae about 1/8 or 1/9 shorter than the hind femora. Hind basitarsi about 1/5 shorter than the hind tibiae. Fore and hind tibiae with a pectinate spur each. Spur of fore legs with a basal spine each. Mid tibiae with a small, simple spur.

Sculpture. Head dorsum covered with minute, dense punctures, thin, longitudinal rugosities and sparse piligerous foveae, the rugosities thinner posteriorly. Ventral face of the head smooth with very sparse, large piligerous punctures on the genae. Mesosoma minutely punctate-reticulate and with sparse piligerous foveae, these sculptures missing on the center of pronotum, of the propodeum and on the mesopleurae. Declivous face of the propodeum with thin, transversal rugosities. Anterior half of the metapleurae with additional, thin, longitudinal rugosities. Petiole with dense, very superficial anastomosing canaliculation, very sparse on the dorsum of the node. Sides of the gastral tergites with canaliculation similar to the one of the petiole, but sparser, rare on their upper part. In addition the petiole and gaster with very few piligerous foveae. Legs minutely punctate.

Pilosity. Head, mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole with sparse subdecumbent or decumbent, truncate long hairs. Antennae and legs with appressed short hairs. Funicular joints, neck and antenna! fossae with very short, appressed hairs. Clypeus dorsally with two pairs of hairs close to the frontal lobes, the lower external pair longer.

Colour. Head, mesosoma, petiole and gaster black. Antennae, frontal lobes, mandibles and legs ferruginous-brown.

Type Material
CUBA: El Moncada, ca. 17 km from Vinales, 12.XII. 2000. leaf litter (Winkler sieving), 1 worker (holotype), C. Baroni Urbani & M. L. de Andrade ; Road between Vinales and Pinar del Rio, 11.XII.2000, leaf litter (Winkler sieving), 1 worker (paratype), C. Baroni Urbani & M. L. de Andrade [LACM].

Etymology
This species is named after Prof. Dr. Peter Nagel who inspired and supported our trip to Cuba.