taxonID	type	description	language	source
5454CC02FFB7BA5D41C6FAE7FBD6FEB5.taxon	description	Figure 1 A – C; 2 A – C; 3 A – C; 4 A – E.	en	Hamer, Matthew T., Gómez, Kiko, Jocque, Merlijn (2025): A new Xymmer Santschi, 1914 (Formicidae: Amblyoponinae) species from the Congo Basin, with male and female descriptions of X. muticus (Santschi, 1914). Zootaxa 5647 (5): 479-495, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7
5454CC02FFB7BA5D41C6FAE7FBD6FEB5.taxon	description	Redescription — worker Figures 1 A – C. Material examined (n = 14): Ivory Coast: Montagnes: Site 07 (Taï N. P.) 200 m, 5.84598, - 7.34815, Primary Forest. Gómez, K., Kouakou, L. 13 / 11 / 2019, Hand, ex. rotten log; 1 worker on pin KGCOL 03192, RBINSFOR 1000801 [RBINS] • same data; 1 worker on pin KGCOL 03959, RBINSFOR 1000804 [RBINS] • same data; 1 worker on pin KGCOL 03960, RBINSFOR 1000805 [RBINS] • Site 07 (Taï N. P.) 200 m, 5.84598, - 7.34815, Primary Forest. Gómez, K., Kouakou, L. 13 / 11 / 2019, Hand, ex. rotten log; 1 worker in ethanol KG 04106, 2 workers on pin KGCOL 03165 [KGAC] • Ivory Coast: Montagnes: Site 04 (Taï N. P.) 200 m, 5.83093, - 7.344, Primary Forest. Gómez, K., Kouakou, L. 10 / 11 / 2019, Hand, Ex soil; 1 worker in ethanol KG 04078, 1 worker on pin KGCOL 03166 [KGAC] • same data; 2 workers on pin KGCOL 03165 [KGAC] • Site 07 (Taï N. P.) 200 m, 5.84598, - 7.34815, Primary Forest. Gómez, K., Kouakou, L. 13 / 11 / 2019, Hand, ex. rotten log; 2 workers in ethanol KG 04341 [KGAC] • Ivory Coast: Oumé-Goulikao, Foret. Kone, M. 31 / 03 / 2009, M 1 (0 - 15 cm); 1 worker on pin, RBINSFOR 002633 [RBINS] • same data, Winkler, Leaf litter, 1 worker on pin, KGCOL 03166 [KGAC]. Measurements (n = 3): HW 0.51 – 0.52; HW ₂ 0.49 – 0.51; HL 0.57 – 0.59; MBL 0.36 – 0.36; SL 0.35 – 0.40; WL 0.82 – 0.83; ML 0.79 – 0.81; PNW 0.27 – 0.34; HFL 0.38 – 0.39; PL 0.41 – 0.42; PH 0.27 – 0.28; DPW 0.22 – 0.27; DPL 0.27 – 0.30; AIIIW 0.35 – 0.35; AIVW 0.35 – 0.38; AIIIL 0.24 – 0.28; AIVL 0.28 – 0.29; AVL 0.11 – 0.15; AVIL 0.07 – 0.10; AVIIL 0.17 – 0.26; TL 3.08 – 3.20. Indices: CI 86.50 – 90.01; MI 69.13 – 71.54; SI 68.45 – 79.25; WI 241.54 – 302.63; HFI 72.72 – 77.67; AIIII 130.74 – 161.86. Head In full-face view, head slightly longer than broad, subquadrate (CI 86.50 – 90.01); lateral head margins convex, reaching maximum width in anterior half; occipital margin weakly concave. Mandible linear, long (MI 69.13 – 71.54), widest medially; masticatory margin with 9 teeth, 5 of them being paired; first two basal teeth minute, unpaired; proceeding 5 teeth paired, triangular, subtly incrassate apically; subapical tooth unpaired, triangular; apical tooth large, sharply triangular. Eye absent. Anteromedial clypeal lobe, projecting into intermandibular space, straight to very subtly concave, lacking denticles. Frontal lobes concealing majority of antennal foramen. Frontal carinae minute, scrobes absent. Genal teeth absent. Scape failing to reach posterior head margin (SI 68.45 – 79.25), reaching its maximum width slightly apically to the mid-length. Antennal pedicel longer than wide, reaching maximum width apically; flagella segments I-IX wider than long and incrassate apically; flagella segment X longer than wides sharppointed apically. Mesosoma In profile view, dorsal outline gradually convex, highest at promesonotal articulation; posterior pronotal angle obtuse, propodeal dorsum gradually sloping towards declivity. In dorsal view, pronotum just slightly wider than propodeum; mesosoma narrowest at mesonotum and anterior region of propodeum; pronotal anterior margin convex, posterior margin concave; promesonotal articulation present, metanotal groove absent; propodeal declivity flat. In lateral view, lower propodeal lobes present. Lower-upper mesopleural suture absent; meso-metapleural suture present only between the lower portion of these sclerites. Anterolateral corner of the mesopleuron with a short blunt, anteriorly directly cuticular extension. Metapleural gland reservoir circular, occupying less than half of propodeal surface, located on the lower and posteriormost corner of propodeum in lateral view; propodeal spiracle circular, located below the median line of propodeum, separated from the reservoir by a distance about 1 × its diameter. Propodeal lobe inconspicuous, semi-circular. Meso-metapleural suture present only between the lower portion of these sclerites. Profemora medially swollen. Tibiae roughly triangular, distinctly wider apically than at base. Metatibiae with pectinate comb and barbulate spur; mesotibiae with one spur. Pretarsal claws simple, lacking teeth on their inner margins. Metasoma In lateral view, petiole with distinct peduncle; anterior face straight; angle between petiole anterior face and dorsum obtuse; dorsum subtly convex across length; lacking posterior face. Posteroventral angle obtuse; anteroventral margin subtly concave, as long as posteroventral margin. Petiole spiracle circular; located just posterior to peduncle. In dorsal view, petiole narrow, distinctly longer than wide, lateral margins subtly convex. Anterolateral angle gradually curved. In ventral view, petiolar poststernite ovoid; narrow inverted U-shaped sulcus separating poststernite and laterotergite; ventrolateral junction marginated. In profile, ventral outline of gastral sternite of abdominal segment III distinctly more convex than corresponding tergite. Girdling constriction of abdominal segment IV conspicuous. Sting well-developed. Sculpture Head densely foveolate overall, with medial smooth central, longitudinal strip extending from clypeal lobes to vertexal margin. Mandible, scape and antennal segments punctulate, rendering a dull surface. Pronotum overall punctulated, mat, except for collar, with faint transverse strigulae, mesopleuron, metapleuron and propodeum including declivity finely striate. Visible portion of presternite III imbricate. Girdling constriction abdominal segment IV with areolate sculpturing across its width. Abdominal segments II-VII finely punctured with smooth and shining interspaces. Pilosity Whole body covered with appressed dense pubescence. Mandible masticatory margin lined with a series of erect, fine setae directed into inner mandibular space; mandible dorsum with subdecumbent setae of varying length. Anterior clypeal margin with a pair of long and numerous fine shorter setae that extend well into inter-mandibular space. Head dorsum, with pubescence directed medially. Frontal lobes with numerous, appressed setae radiating outwards. Meso-, metapleuron and declivity of propodeum mostly glabrous. Petiole peduncle glabrous. Gastral sternites with numerous, short subdecumbent setae as well as longer, erect setae; pygidium and hypopygium with a denser concentration of such setae, including the longest in metasoma, lacking spiniform setae. Legs covered with appressed pubescence. Colour Head, mesosoma, and metasoma orange yellow; mandible, scape, flagellum, and legs yellow. Description — gyne Figures 2 A – C; 4 B Material examined (n = 4): Ivory Coast: Montagnes: Site 07 (Taï N. P.) 200 m, 5.84598, - 7.34815, Primary Forest. Gómez, K., Kouakou, L. 13 / 11 / 2019, Hand, ex. rotten log; 1 alate gyne on pin, KGCOL 03193, RBINSFOR 1000802 [RBINS] • same data; 1 dealate gyne in ethanol, KG 04106 [KGAC] • Site 02 (Taï N. P.) 200 m, 5.83117, - 7.3429, Primary Forest. Gómez, K., Kouakou, L. 08 / 11 / 2019, Winkler, Leaf litter; 1 dealate gyne on pin, KGCOL 00224 [KGAC] • Site 06 (Taï N. P.) 200 m, 5.83458, - 7.34638, Primary Forest. Gómez, K., Kouakou, L. 12 / 11 / 2019, Winkler, Leaf litter; 1 dealate gyne on pin KGCOL 00282 [KGAC]. Measurements (n = 1): HW 0.55; HW ₂ 0.54; HL 0.60; MBL 0.38; SL 0.37; WL 0.93; ML 0.89; PNW 0.38; HFL 0.42; PL 0.45; PH 0.30; DPW 0.25; DPL 0.30; AIIIW 0.41; AIVW 0.43; AIIIL 0.34; AIVL 0.37; AVL 0.20; AVIL 0.18; AVIIL 0.26; TL 3.71. Indices: CI 92.17; MI 69.44; SI 66.00; WI 237.77; HFI 75.59; AIIII 164.92. Head As in the worker, except: in full face view, eye present in posterior third of head; eye positioned laterally; with ca. 30 ommatidia and 7 across maximum width; eye barely surpassing lateral head margin. Ocelli present in posterior quarter of head, their width shorter than the distance between them. Masticatory margin of mandible with a maximum 8 teeth, 5 paired. Mesosoma With the usual gyne morphological features; mesosoma segmented, in dorsal view, pronotum visible; mesoscutum wider than long; notaular lines absent; parapsidal lines present, faintly impressed; scuto-scutellar suture present, narrow; metanotum present as a transverse strip, longer than wide; mesepimeral lobe indistinct; meso-metapleural sulcus narrow; metapleuron divided into upper metapleuron only, lower metapleuron fused to lateral propodeal surface. Metapleural gland reservoir large, almost reaching propodeal spiracle. Metasoma As in the worker, but metasomal segments III-VII enlarged. Wings Forewing; as in Figure 10. and Xymmer forewing description presented in Yoshimura and Fisher (2012). Hindwing; as in Figure 10. and Xymmer hindwing description presented in Yoshimura and Fisher (2012). Sculpture As in worker, except: mesoscutum and metanotum smooth and shining other than hair bearing punctures; meso-, meta- pleuron, and lateral face of propodeum with stronger striae covering the majority of each pleuron. Pilosity As in worker except for denser pubescence. Colour Head, mesosoma, metasoma, mandible, scape, flagellum, and legs light orange yellow. Description – male Figures 3 A – C; 4 C – E Material examined (n = 4): Ivory Coast: Montagnes: Site 07 (Taï N. P.) 200 m, 5.84598, - 7.34815, Primary Forest. Gómez, K., Kouakou, L. 13 / 11 / 2019, Hand, ex. rotten log; 1 male on pin, KGCOL 03192, RBINSFOR 1000803 [RBINS] • Site 07 (Taï N. P.) 200 m, 5.84598, - 7.34815, Primary Forest. Gómez, K., Kouakou, L. 13 / 11 / 2019, Hand, ex. rotten log; 3 males in ethanol, KG 04106 [KGAC]. Measurements (n = 1): HW 0.45; HW ₂ 0.31; HL 0.49; MBL 0.20; SL 0.12; WL 0.92; ML 0.94; PNW 0.52; HFL 0.43; PL 0.36; PH 0.26; DPW 0.21; DPL 0.18; AIIIW 0.29; AIVW 0.324; AIIIL 0.20; AIVL 0.20; AVL 0.20; AVIL 0.17; AVIIL 0.15; AVIIIL 0.11; TL 2.99. Indices: CI 91.08; MI 43.43; SI 26.50; WI 180.27; HFI 95.55; AIIII 135.38. Head In full-face view, head longer than broad (excluding eyes); posterior margin straight, posterolateral margins evenly curving towards posterior margin. Mandibles linear and subtly falcate, bearing a single apical tooth. Anterior clypeal margin straight, posterior clypeal margin concave between antennal sockets. Frontal lobes and carinae absent. Frontal furrow present, feebly impressed and terminating in posterior third of head. Ocelli subequal in size, located at the posterior quarter of head, separated from each other by a distance greater than their diameters, subtly protruding from posterior head margin. Eye occupying majority of lateral head margin; significantly protruding; with ca. 100 ommatidia. Antennae comprising scape, pedicle and 11 flagellomeres; scape shorter than mandible, about 1.5 × as long as pedicel; pedicle as long as wide; flagellomeres longer than broad, 2 nd flagellomere as long as pedicel, 11 th flagellomere as long as scape. Palp formula indiscernible. Mesosoma In dorsal view, pronotum barely visible; mesoscutum subtly wider than long. Notauli strongly impressed; meeting medially, forming a Y-shaped sulcus; anteriorly extending to lateral mesoscutal margins, posteriorly reaching scutoscutellar sulcus. Parasidal line weakly impressed on mesoscutal posterior half. Mesoscutellum as wide as long. Scutoscutellar suture deeply impressed. Metanotum a thin transverse strip. In lateral view, mesopleural sulcus absent. Mesepimeral lobe not distinct. Mesopleuron not divided. Upper and lower metapleuron divided by a sulcus; lower metapleuron well-separated from lateral propodeum by a sulcus. Propodeal spiracle round, located just below medial line of propodeum. Propodeum dorsum as long as declivity, angle of junction obtuse. Wings Fore and hindwings as in Figure 10 and Xymmer description presented in Yoshimura and Fisher (2012). Metasoma In lateral view, petiole rhomboidal in shape, slanted posteriorly. Posterior margin fully fused to metasomal segment III. In lateral view, peduncle small; subpetiolar process absent. In dorsal view, petiolar dorsum as wide as long, lateral margins straight to feebly convex. In ventral view, prosternite present as a large anteriorly convex and expanding posteriorly. Cinctus not well marked. Abdominal sternum IX narrowly convex. Parameres long, laterally convex and apically blunt. Digitus and aedeagus as long as parameres. Sculpture Head dorsum densely foveolate; laterally smooth and shining with scattered punctae. Clypeal dorsum areolaterugose. Mandible smooth and shining. Pronotum smooth and shining. Mesoscutum and Mesoscutellum densely foveolate; mesoscutum posterolaterally with scattered punctae; notauli and scutoscutellar sulcus scrobiculate. Metanotum, propodeum, and petiolar peduncle densely punctate. Mesopleuron and upper metapleuron smooth and shining; lower metapleuron faintly striated on its upper section and faintly punctate on its lower section, otherwise smooth and shining. All leg segments smooth and shining. Petiole dorsum thinly foveolate, laterally smooth and shining. Abdominal segments III – VIII smooth and shining with scattered punctae. Girdling constriction weakly areolate. Pilosity Head dorsum with dense, short, subdecumbent setae. Clypeal dorsum and anterior clypeal margin with sparse, decumbent setae. Mandible dorsum with longer, erect setae. Scape and flagellum with subdecumbent, appressed and scarce erect setae. Eye with short, erect setae between ommatidia. Mesosoma dorsum with dense, subdecumbent setae; laterally mostly glabrous; scattered subdecumbent hairs on lower mesopleuron. Petiole and abdominal segments III-VII with appressed and subdecumbent hairs; lateral surface of petiole mostly glabrous. Abdominal sternite IX with numerous long setae that extend beyond posteriormost margin. Parameres with several short, erect setae laterally. Colour Head, mesosoma, metasoma brown; mandibles and scape light brown fading into orange; pedicle yellow; legs light brown.	en	Hamer, Matthew T., Gómez, Kiko, Jocque, Merlijn (2025): A new Xymmer Santschi, 1914 (Formicidae: Amblyoponinae) species from the Congo Basin, with male and female descriptions of X. muticus (Santschi, 1914). Zootaxa 5647 (5): 479-495, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7
5454CC02FFB7BA5D41C6FAE7FBD6FEB5.taxon	biology_ecology	Bionomics All X. muticus specimens examined within this study were collected from primary forests from within leaf litter and from decaying wood. Other specimens on antweb. org are known from primary evergreen rainforests (e. g. CASENT 0351684), littoral rainforests (e. g. CASENT 0500007), as well as savannah ecosystems (e. g. CASENT 0006826), collected from within rotting wood, leaf litter and soil microhabitats.	en	Hamer, Matthew T., Gómez, Kiko, Jocque, Merlijn (2025): A new Xymmer Santschi, 1914 (Formicidae: Amblyoponinae) species from the Congo Basin, with male and female descriptions of X. muticus (Santschi, 1914). Zootaxa 5647 (5): 479-495, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7
5454CC02FFBFBA5941C6FE09FEDDF83B.taxon	description	Zoobank: 4 A 98 F 88 F- 208 D- 452 A-A 335 - 4 E 77 A 21 C 724 E Figures 5 A – C; 6 A – D	en	Hamer, Matthew T., Gómez, Kiko, Jocque, Merlijn (2025): A new Xymmer Santschi, 1914 (Formicidae: Amblyoponinae) species from the Congo Basin, with male and female descriptions of X. muticus (Santschi, 1914). Zootaxa 5647 (5): 479-495, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7
5454CC02FFBFBA5941C6FE09FEDDF83B.taxon	materials_examined	Material examined Holotype DRC: [Tshuapa], Salonga National Park; - 1.7477 20.6803, 362 masl; 15. xii. 2022; B. Pett Coll., Pitfall trap BINCO _ DRC _ 22 _ 0303 _ 2. 1 worker on pin, DRC-PNS- 132, RBINFOR 1000800 [RBINS]	en	Hamer, Matthew T., Gómez, Kiko, Jocque, Merlijn (2025): A new Xymmer Santschi, 1914 (Formicidae: Amblyoponinae) species from the Congo Basin, with male and female descriptions of X. muticus (Santschi, 1914). Zootaxa 5647 (5): 479-495, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7
5454CC02FFBFBA5941C6FE09FEDDF83B.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis In full-face view, head distinctly longer than broad; lateral head margins subparallel. Anterior margin of the anteromedial clypeal lobe gradually convex. Mandible medially expanded; masticatory margin with seven teeth. Mesonotum delimited posteriorly by metanotal suture, wider than long, oval in shape. Mesopleuron not divided. In lateral view, peduncle short. In dorsal view, petiole narrow, distinctly longer than wide, lateral margins parallel.	en	Hamer, Matthew T., Gómez, Kiko, Jocque, Merlijn (2025): A new Xymmer Santschi, 1914 (Formicidae: Amblyoponinae) species from the Congo Basin, with male and female descriptions of X. muticus (Santschi, 1914). Zootaxa 5647 (5): 479-495, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7
5454CC02FFBFBA5941C6FE09FEDDF83B.taxon	description	Description Measurements holotype (n = 1): HW 0.30; HW ₂ 0.28; HL 0.41; MBL 0.22; SL 0.24; WL 0.54; ML 0.54; PNW 0.18; HFL 0.23; PL 0.28; PH 0.18; DPW 0.13; DPL 0.42; AIIIW 0.24; AIVW 0.25; AIIIL 0.18; AIVL 0.20; AVL 0.07; AVIL 0.07; AVIIL 0.12; TL 2.12. Indices: CI 73.43; MI 71.71; SI 79.28; WI 305.62; HFI 76.65; AIIII 130.22. Head In full-face view, head distinctly longer than broad, rectangular; lateral head margins subparallel, converging gradually along anterior two thirds, converging more strongly in posterior third; posterior corners gradually curved; occiput margin weakly concave. Mandible linear, half-length of head, widest medially; masticatory margin with seven teeth; from base to apex of mandible, first tooth minute, not easily discernible; second tooth small and triangular, third tooth larger than second and triangular, fourth and fifth teeth long with rounded apexes, sixth and seventh (apical) teeth long with a sharp apexes. Eye absent. Anterior clypeal margin with anteromedial clypeal lobe, projecting into inter-mandibular space, evenly convex. Antennal foramen partially visible anteriorly. Frontal carinae minute; scrobes absent. Genal teeth absent. Antennae with twelve segments; scape failing to reach posterior head margin by one third of head length; width of scape equal across whole length; pedicle longer than broad; flagellomeres incrassate; flagellomeres III to XI wider than long; antennal club absent; segment twelve longer than wide, terminating in a blunt point apically. Mesosoma In lateral view, dorsal mesosomal outline evenly convex; dorsoanteropronotal angle obtuse; propodeal dorsum gradually sloping towards declivity. In dorsal view, pronotum slightly wider than propodeum; mesosoma narrowest at mesonotum and anteriormost region of propodeum, gradually expanding outwards posterior at the propodeum. Pronotum anterior margin convex, posterior margin concave. Promesonotal articulation present. Metanotum wider than long, oval in shape. Metanotal groove present, one third width of the mesonotum; metanotal groove with a series of well-spaced longitudinal ribs. In lateral view, posterior margin of propodeum sinuate with a pair of posteriorly projecting lobes on its upper portion, concave on its lower portion. In dorsal view, propodeal declivital surface subtly concave. In lateral view, mesopleuron not divided. Anterolateral corner of the mesopleuron with a short blunt, anteriorly directed cuticular extension that fails to reach posteroventral corner of the pronotal side. Metapleural gland reservoir located anterolaterally on propodeum, reniform, occupying just less than half of lateral propodeal surface. Propodeal spiracle circular, located on mid height of propodeal side, distance between spiracle and gland reservoir less than spiracle diameter. Propodeal lobe inconspicuous, semi-circular. In lateral view, lower-upper mesopleural suture absent; meso-metapleural suture present only between the lower portion of these sclerites. Profemur broad, medially swollen, greater in size than subsequent femora of mid and hind legs. Metatibia roughly triangular, distinctly apically wider than at base, with pectinate comb and barbulate spur; mesotibia lacking spurs. Pretarsal claws simple, lacking teeth on the inner margin. Metasoma In lateral view, petiole with distinct peduncle; anterior face straight; dorsum subtly convex across length. Angle between anterior face and dorsum obtuse. Posteroventral angle obtuse, anteroventral margin of petiole shorter than posteroventral margin; anteroventral and posteroventral margin subtly concave. Petiole spiracle circular; located just posterodorsal to peduncle. In lateral view, peduncle short. In dorsal view, petiole narrow, distinctly longer than wide, lateral margins straight. In lateral view, anterolateral angle gradually curved, lacking posterior face, entirely fused to first gastral segment. In ventral view, petiolar poststernite ovoid; poststernite and laterotergite separated by narrow inverted U-shaped sulcus; ventrolateral junction distinctly marginated. In profile, ventral outline of first gastral sternite of abdominal segment III distinctly more convex than corresponding outline of the first gastral tergite. Girdling constriction of abdominal segment IV conspicuous. Sting present and well-developed. Sculpture Head dorsum and laterally densely foveolate; head dorsum with median, longitudinal smooth strip, extending from clypeal lobes and terminating just posterior of head margin; ventral surface with more scattered foveolae, interspaces smooth and shining. Mandible, scape and antennal segments smooth other than hair pits. Pronotal collar transversely strigulate. Pronotum, mesonotum and propodeum dorsum smooth, other than setae pits. Mesopleuron finely rugose; metapleuron ventrally with fine striations, otherwise smooth. Propodeal declivity smooth. Peduncle imbricate dorsally and laterally. Petiole, and gastral segments smooth other than setae pits. Visible portion of presternite III imbricate. Girdling constriction weakly areolate. Legs smooth, other than setae pits. Pilosity Mandible masticatory margin lined with a series of subdecumbent, stout setae directed into inter-mandibular region; mandible dorsum with subdecumbent setae. Scape with short, decumbent setae; flagellum with both short, decumbent, and erect, setae. Anterior clypeal margin with a pair of long curving setae that extend well into innermandibular space; a series of shorter setae also present. Head dorsum with numerous short, subdecumbent and appressed setae directed anteromedially; ventral and lateral surface also covered in numerous short, subdecumbent hairs. Frontal lobes with subdecumbent setae radiating outwards. Mesosomal dorsum and lateral surface of propodeum entirely with short, dense decumbent setae. Mesopleuron, lateral and declivity of propodeum mostly glabrous. Peduncle glabrous; petiole dorsum and lateral surface with short decumbent setae, and some suberect, longer setae. Posteroventral petiole angle numerous suberect setae. Gastral tergites and sternites with numerous, short subdecumbent setae as well as erect setae on the later gastral sternites. Pygidium and hypopygium with numerous long suberect setae, lacking spiniform setae. Legs covered in short, decumbent and appressed setae. Colour Head, mesosoma and metasoma brown orange; antenna and legs subtly lighter orange brown. Recognition Xymmer paniscus is morphologically distinct from both X. muticus and X. phungi by the convex anterior margin of the clypeal lobe, the distinctly longer than wide head, with subparallel lateral margins, and mandibles which are medially expanded. The masticatory margin is also lined with teeth of different shapes, most notably the long, apically rounded teeth which both X. muticus and X. phungi lack. The mesonotum in dorsal view is distinctly oval in X. paniscus, whereas in X. phungi it is semi-circular, and not distinctly delineated in X. muticus. The lateral margins of the petiole in dorsal view are straight in X. paniscus but convex in X. phungi and X. muticus. Finally, the overall size of X. paniscus is distinctly smaller than both species (e. g. head widths HW 0.303 <HW 0.506 - 0.532).	en	Hamer, Matthew T., Gómez, Kiko, Jocque, Merlijn (2025): A new Xymmer Santschi, 1914 (Formicidae: Amblyoponinae) species from the Congo Basin, with male and female descriptions of X. muticus (Santschi, 1914). Zootaxa 5647 (5): 479-495, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7
5454CC02FFBFBA5941C6FE09FEDDF83B.taxon	biology_ecology	Bionomics Xymmer paniscus is highly likely to be a subterranean and / or leaf litter dwelling species owing to its small size, lack of eyes and protuberances across the body, as well as the light pigmentation which are all typical characteristics of subterranean and some leaf litter dwelling ants (Wong & Guenard 2017). The individual described here was obtained through pitfall trapping which usually obtains epigeic ant species. Amblyoponinae are not unknown from pitfall traps, but are more typically collected via direct hand collection or leaf litter sifting with subsequent extraction (Hamer et al., 2023). The specimen obtained here could have entered the trap after soil was disturbed following soil excavation necessary for the trap. Leaf litter extractions and further pitfall sampling conducted during the survey failed to obtain further specimens (Jocque et al., 2023).	en	Hamer, Matthew T., Gómez, Kiko, Jocque, Merlijn (2025): A new Xymmer Santschi, 1914 (Formicidae: Amblyoponinae) species from the Congo Basin, with male and female descriptions of X. muticus (Santschi, 1914). Zootaxa 5647 (5): 479-495, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7
5454CC02FFBFBA5941C6FE09FEDDF83B.taxon	discussion	Remarks Xymmer paniscus is the first record of the genus from the DRC. A single individual of X. paniscus was collected and subsequently described as new within this study. This is not atypical of Amblyoponinae, which are notoriously rarely collected, likely owing to their small colony sizes and general rarity. However, a single Xymmer specimen (X. afr 01, CASENT 0172228; ANIC; Figure 7 A-D) collected by J. Levieux from the Ivory Coast (approximately 3000 km from the type locality of X. paniscus) morphologically resembles X. paniscus, so much so that we putatively suggest both are the same species. Both specimens have corresponding overall sizes, as well as mandible, clypeal lobe, metanotum and dorsal petiole shapes. Pubescence and sculpturing also seem to correspond, at least from inspection of specimen images. It was not possible to examine masticatory margin array, but examination of image both teeth shape and array superficially correspond. CASENT 0172228 is damaged, lacking tibia, and tarsal segments across all legs. Unfortunately, this specimen was unobtainable at the time of this study, owing to the ANIC moving their facilities (Koopmans pers. comm.).	en	Hamer, Matthew T., Gómez, Kiko, Jocque, Merlijn (2025): A new Xymmer Santschi, 1914 (Formicidae: Amblyoponinae) species from the Congo Basin, with male and female descriptions of X. muticus (Santschi, 1914). Zootaxa 5647 (5): 479-495, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7
5454CC02FFBFBA5941C6FE09FEDDF83B.taxon	etymology	Etymology Named for the endangered Bonobo apes (Pan paniscus Schwarz, 1929) that inhabit the forest of the Democratic Republic of Congo.	en	Hamer, Matthew T., Gómez, Kiko, Jocque, Merlijn (2025): A new Xymmer Santschi, 1914 (Formicidae: Amblyoponinae) species from the Congo Basin, with male and female descriptions of X. muticus (Santschi, 1914). Zootaxa 5647 (5): 479-495, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5647.5.7
