Echinopla fisheri

Known only from the holotype worker, collected in rainforest.

Identification
Zettel and Laciny (2015) - A member of the Echinopla serrata group. Worker: Predominantly black, medium-sized, slender species, TL = 6.3. Surface polyporous, pronotum with one pair of sharp tubercles, otherwise tubercles on mesosoma hardly developed. Head very large, about as wide as long (CI = 101). Mesosoma about two thirds longer than wide (MI = 166), with sharp and very deep mesometanotal suture. Pronotal width much smaller than head width. Propodeum much shorter than promesonotum. Petiole longer than high, with three pairs of dorsal spines and three spines below the prominent lateral spines. Gaster tergite 1 with very fine, sparsely distributed pores, along hind margin with transverse impression. Setae on dorsal surface, legs and scape very long, mostly brown.

Echinopla fisheri differs strongly from other species with polyporous surface structure by a very long, dark pilosity of the trunk, a deep metanotal suture that separates the strongly convex promesonotum and propodeum, and very fine and sparsely distributed pores on gaster tergite 1. It is conspicuously larger than the preceding species and it has a distinctly emarginated clypeus margin (straight to convex in the other species) and a petiole that is longer than high (higher than long in the other species).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia.

Castes
Known only from the worker caste.

Nomenclature

 *  fisheri. Echinopla fisheri Zettel & Laciny, 2015: 108, figs. 17-20 (w.) MALAYSIA.

Worker
Holotype: TL 6.3; HW1 1.58; HW2 1.41; HL 1.57; EL 0.27; SL 1.53; SW 0.18; HaL 0.27; PML 1.20; PMW 1.28; PpL 0.93; PpW 1.04; PH 0.54; PL 0.63; PW 1.17; GL 1.87; GW 1.61. Indices: CI 101; SI 97; MI 166.

Structures: Head very large compared to mesosoma, as long as wide, with convex sides and almost straight hind margin bearing a small medial lobe; dorsally and laterally polyporous, unevenly large pores, posteriorly and laterally larger and denser than in centre, shiny; ventral surface smooth and shiny. Compound eye small, slightly protruding, positioned near mid-length of head (slightly posteriorly). Frons with two short sections of a median carina; frontal lobes chiefly horizontally oriented, in full-face view covering antennal fossae only in part, maximum distance of margins near posterior end, smaller than half of HW2. Clypeus with median carina, anterior margin emarginated at middle. Mandibles striate, masticatory margin with five teeth. Antennal scape moderately long, almost straight, steadily widened from base to apex; all antennomeres longer than wide.

Mesosoma slender, length roughly 1.7 times pronotum width; propodeum much shorter than promesonotum. Dorsal outline of both promesonotum and propodeum strongly convex, meeting at the deep incision of a sharp metanotal groove. Promesonotal suture only laterally indicated. Surface polyporous, with closely set, relatively large pores, dorsal margins with few small tubercles, on propodeum more numerous than on promesonotum. Pronotum angular, much narrower than head. “Waist” in front of propodeum well developed in dorsal aspect. Legs comparatively long and slender.

Petiole moderately wide, slender subtriangular in lateral, slightly transverse in dorsal aspect; surface sculpture on node as on the mesosoma, a broad posterior rim smooth; dorsal apex crested with three pairs of sharp, rather long teeth; each side bearing three teeth below a strongly developed lateral tooth. Gaster tergite 1 considerably longer than wide, completely covering the following tergites; hind margin convex, with indistinct serration and with shallow emargination at middle; along posterior margin a shallow but rather wide impression; surface polyporous, but pores extremely fine and sparse; interspaces smooth and shiny; distances of pores everywhere several times larger than their diameters.

Pilosity: Trunk dorsally and laterally with dense, appressed white pilosity, lacking only on centre of face and gaster tergite 1. Dorsal surface with very long brown standing setae. Standing setae on scape, femora, tibiae, and first tarsomeres also very long, brown or grey.

Colour: Trunk black, without metallic shimmer, mesosoma appearing grey by whitish pilosity. Antenna black. Mandible black, teeth dark reddish brown; other mouthparts pale yellowish. Legs chiefly black; middle and hind coxa, all trochanters, and femora except their apices reddish.

Type Material
Holotype (worker,, CASENT 0214564-D01) from Malaysia, Sabah, Danum Valley, Nature Trail, 180 m a.s.l., 4.96072°N; 117.80014°E, in rainforest, 24.VII.2010, leg. B.L. Fisher. Antweb (2015) states that the holotype specimen was sent for barcoding.

Etymology
Dedicated to Brian L. Fisher (California Academy of Sciences) who discovered this extraordinary species.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Zettel H. and A. Laciny. 2017. Further additions to the taxonomy and distribution of the ant genus Echinopla (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien B. 119: 7-16.