Cardiocondyla yemeni Collingwood & Agosti 1996

Seifert, Bernhard, 2024, A taxonomic revision of the ants of the Cardiocondyla wroughtonii group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) with a checklist of the Cardiocondyla species of the world, Soil Organisms (London, England) 96 (2), pp. 113-144 : 135-136

Cardiocondyla yemeni Collingwood & Agosti 1996

[type investigation]

This taxon has been described from Yemen. Investigated wasonetypeworkerlabelledinCollingwoodshandwriting ‘ YEMEN: SANAA (sandy path) 05 03 1993 ’, ‘Typus’ and ‘ Cardiocondyla yemeni’; one topotypical worker, without postpetiole and gaster, labelled ‘ YEMEN Sana’a 17 III 93 ’ (day not clearly legible, other possible reading ‘27 III 93’) and ‘ Cardiocondyla yemeni n.sp. Collingwood & Agosti 1996’; depository SMN Görlitz.

All material examined. Morphometrically investigated were only the type samples.

Geographic range. Known so far only from the Arabian Peninsula: Yemen and Oman (by image evaluation of CASENT0922296 in www.antweb.org).

Diagnosis: --Worker ( Tab. 2, Figs 11–15 , key). Very small, CS 377 µm. Head very long, CL/CW 1.260. Median third of anterior clypeal margin straight, median third of occipital margin slightly concave. Postocular distance large, PoOc/CL 0.453. Frons relatively narrow (FRS/CS 0.242); frontal carinae slightly diverging frontal of FRS level (FL/FR 1.063), caudal of FRS level parallel or slightly converging. Eye rather small, EYE/ CS 0.238. Scape very short, SL/CS 0.724. Metanotal depression nearly absent (MGr/CS 0.55 %). Propodeal spines short (SP/CS 0.103) and almost triangular in lateral view, their axis in profile deviating from longitudinal mesosomal axis by 25°, in dorsal view not diverging and their bases relatively narrow (SPBA/CS 0.266).

Petiole rather narrow and moderately high (PeW/CS 0.276, PeH/CS 0.336); in profile with a concave anterior face and a semicircular dorsum; in dorsal view with an almost globular node, which is only slightly longer than wide. Postpetiole narrow and low (PpW/CS 0.430, PpH/CS 0.268); postpetiolar sternite anterolaterally with a rounded lobiform protrusion on each side which clearly elevates above the level of median surface of sternite; the surface of the sternite thus appearing deeply concave in frontal view. Postpetiole in dorsal view with a straight to slightly concave anterior margin and convex sides. Lateral parts of clypeus each with 2–3 rugulae, central part slightly carinulate-reticulate. Frontal laminae with weak microsculpture, consisting of an irregular mixture of microrugulate, foveolate and microreticulate elements. Whole vertex foveolate, mediad of the eyes with densely-arranged, flat-bottomed foveolae of 14–16 µm diameter. The largest foveolae show a well-demarcated but flat central tubercule of 6–8 µm diameter around the hair bases ( Fig. 14 ). Whole surface of mesosoma foveolate-microreticulate; petiole and postpetiolar tergite microreticulate. First gaster tergite with moderately long and dense pubescence (PLG/CS 6.78 %, sqPDG 3.76) and a weakly developed microreticulum, with the hair bases placed in microfoveolae of 4–6 µm diameter. All body parts yellowish or yellowish-brown.

Taxonomic comments. For separation from closely related Cardiocondyla yoruba see there.

Biology. As habitat was reported a sandy path in Saana / Yemen.

Figures

Figure 11–15. Cardiocondyla yemeni, type, Sanaa / Yemen, 5 March 1993. (11) head in dorsal view; (12) lateral view; (13) dorsal view; (14) head surface between inner eye margin and paramedian vertex. (15) anterior dorsum of 1st gaster tergite. Figure 16. Cardiocondyla nana, holotype, Ulu Temburong / Brunei 22 February 1982; from www.antweb.org CASENT0901757, images by Ryan Perry.