Anochetus angolensis, Brown, WL Jr.,, 1978

Brown, WL Jr.,, 1978, Contributions toward a reclassification of the Formicidae. Part VI. Ponerinae, tribe Ponerini, subtribe Odontomachiti. Section B. Genus Anochetus and bibliography., Studia Entomologica 20, pp. 549-638 : 600-601

[27] Anochetus angolensis new species

(fig. 49)

Worker, holotype: TL 9.1, HL 1.99, HW 1.62, ML 1.16, WL 2.80, scape L 1.86, eye L 0.40 mm; Cl 81, MI 58.

Paratype workers: TL 8.3-9.1, HL 1.74-2.02, HW 1.45-1.63, WL 2.48- 2.90, scape L 1.60-1.90, eye L 0.38-0.41 mm; Cl 81-83, MI 57-62 (based on 7 specimens from 2 localities).

A large slender, big-eyed species resembling the larger A. traegaordhi variants with smooth pronotum, but differing in form of petiole and gaster.

1. Petiolar node (fig. 49) longer than broad (excluding brief anterior and posterior peduncles, dorsal-view W is about 0.82 of L); lateral faces flat, converging cephalad to meet in a blunt median anterior ridge (see inset, fig. 49); finely striate in a horizontal direction, sericeous-opaque, with some shallow, indistinct punctures. Posterior face flat, with a feeble vertical sulcus, smooth and shining.

2. Gaster relatively slender, subcylindrical, deeply and broadly constricted (fig. 49) in the anterior part of the second segment; first segment smaller in diameter than second (larger than or equal to second in traegaordhi ). Color dull brownish-yellow; appendages slightly more yellowish.

Pronotum with the usual transversely striate cervix, a fine curved ruga forming an anterior margin, and behind this a few fine striae arched parallel to the margin; disc and sides otherwise smooth and shining. Head with distinct but fine frontal striation fanning out posteriad and becoming finer, to disappear into extremely fine Opalescent roughening of the surface that ends in a smooth, shining zone about 0.2 mm wide in front of the nuchal carina.

' Mesonotal disc about 0.5 mm wide and a little less than 0.3 mm long, depressed but convex, mainly smooth or opalescent, shining. Propodeal dorsum and declivity transversely striate. Meso- and metapleura smooth and shining, with bluish opalescence clouding these surfaces in certain lights. Gaster, coxae and sides of head smooth and shining.

Dorsal surfaces of head and body with numerous, short, fine, erect and suberect hairs, extending to coxae, legs and scapes, but sparse on underside of head and gaster. Fine, short pubescence abundant, decumbent to suberect, on mandibles, antennae, anterior head, legs and mandibles; legs and mandibles shining, very finely punctulate; antennae densely punctulate, subopaque.

Queen and male unknown.

Holotype (CAS-San Francisco) and 6 paratypes (CAS, MCZ, BMNH- London) from 20 km NW of Muxima, Angola, 200 m, E. S. Ross and R. E. Leech, and 1 paratype worker from 20 km E of Luanda, Angola, B. Malkin.

This form seems sufficiently distinctive and constant in its known range in the Luanda area of Angola to be recognized as a separate species.