Nesomyrmex brevicornis Csosz & Fisher

Csosz, Sandor & Fisher, Brian L., 2016, Taxonomy of Malagasy Nesomyrmex brevicornis species-group using conventional morphology-based approach, ZooKeys 616, pp. 125-159 : 133-137

Nesomyrmex brevicornis Csosz & Fisher sp. n. Figs 10-12 , 13 , Table 1

Type material investigated.

Holotype: CASENT0027494, collection code: BLF07507, Parc National de Zombitse, 19.8 km 84° E Sakaraha, N -22.84333°, 44.71°, alt 770 m, Fisher, Griswold et al., 02.05.2003, (1w, CASC, CASENT0027494);

Paratypes: CASENT0195104, collection code: DMO-CS7, 48 km ENE Morondava, Kirindy, -20.06667°, 44.65°, alt 30 m, D.M.Olson, 01.05.1991, (1w, PSWC); CASENT0482280, collection code: BLF04508, Forêt de Tsimembo, 11.0 km 346° NNW Soatana, N -18.99528°, 44.4435°, alt 50 m, Fisher-Griswold Arthropod Team, 11.21.2001, (1w, CASC);

Etymology.

The name ( brevicornis ) refers to the short antennal scape that distinguishes this species from other taxa treated in this revisionary work.

Diagnosis in key.

Description of workers. Body color: dark brown; black. Body color pattern: concolorous. Absolute cephalic size: 506 [472, 536]. Cephalic length vs. maximum width of head capsule (CL/CWb): 1.33 [1.32, 1.35]. Postocular distance vs. cephalic length (PoOc/CL): 0.52 [0.51, 0.52]. Postocular sides of cranium contour frontal view orientation: converging posteriorly. Postocular sides of cranium contour frontal view shape: broadly convex. Vertex contour line in frontal view shape: straight. Vertex sculpture: main sculpture absent, ground sculpture areolate. Setal pits on head dorsum: inconspicuous with obscure demarcation. Gena contour line in frontal view shape: convex. Genae contour from anterior view orientation: converging. Gena sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Concentric carinae laterally surrounding antennal foramen: present. Eye length vs. absolute cephalic size (EL/CS): 0.25 [0.24, 0.26]. Frontal carina distance vs. absolute cephalic size (FRS/CS): 0.36 [0.34, 0.37]. Longitudinal carinae on median region of frons: absent. Smooth median region on frons: present. Antennomere count: 12. Scape length vs. absolute cephalic size (SL/CS): 0.54 [0.53, 0.55]. Median clypeal notch: present. Ground sculpture of submedian area of clypeus: present. Median carina of clypeus: absent. Metanotal depression: present. Dorsal region of mesosoma sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Lateral region of pronotum sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Mesopleuron sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Metapleuron sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Petiole width vs. absolute cephalic size (PEW/CS): 0.23 [0.21, 0.25]. Dorsal region of petiole sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Postpetiole width vs. absolute cephalic size (PPW/CS): 0.31 [0.30, 0.33]. Dorsal region of postpetiole sculpture: ground sculpture areolate, main sculpture absent. Surface of first gastral tergite: continuously imbricate.

Distribution.

This species is known to occur in the southwestern part of Madagascar from 30-770 m ( Fig. 13 ). The known samples are collected from sifted litter (leaf mold, rotten wood) in tropical dry forest.

Figures

Figures 13. Geographic distribution of Nesomyrmex brevicornis sp. n .. The known localities of Nesomyrmex brevicornis sp. n. in Madagascar.

Figures 10 - 12. Nesomyrmex brevicornis sp. n. holotype worker (CASENT 0027494). Head in full-face view (10), dorsal view of the body (11), lateral view of the body (12).