Taxonomy of the cerapachyine ant genera Simopone Forel, Vicinopone gen. n. and Tanipone gen. n. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) 3283 Author Bolton, Barry Author Fisher, Brian L. text Zootaxa 2012 2012-04-30 3283 1 1 101 https://biotaxa.org/Zootaxa/article/view/zootaxa.3283.1.1 journal article 10.11646/zootaxa.3283.1.1 1175­5334 5249502 Tanipone Bolton & Fisher gen. n. Type-species: Tanipone hirsuta sp. n. , by present designation. DIAGNOSIS OF WORKER A Malagasy genus of predominantly terrestrial cerapachyine ants, but also quite frequently found on low vegetation. With the shared characters of Cerapachyini listed in the introduction and also with the following combination of characters. Two apomorphies of the genus are in italics . 1 Palp formula 6,4. Maxillary palps extremely long: with mouthparts retracted the apices of the maxillary palps, when extended back on underside of head, extend beyond the level of the posterior margin of the eye and usually approach the occipital foramen . 2 Antenna with 12 segments, tapering apically and not incrassate; apical antennomere subcylindrical and tapering apically, not swollen and bulbous, no broader than the preapical segment. 3 Scape short (SI 49–65), when laid straight back in full-face view the apex of the scape excedes the level of the anterior margin of the eye but never reaches the level of the posterior margin of the eye. 4 Eyes large (EL/HW 0.37–0.48), located slightly behind the midlength of the head. 5 Ocelli present. 6 Clypeus more or less flat between the slightly elevated frontal lobes; frontal carinae very short, constricted and terminating almost immediately behind the frontal lobes. 7 Parafrontal ridges short and indistinct, weakly developed. 8 Head capsule with a short, vertical posterior surface above the occipital foramen, that meets the vertex through a blunt angle; vertex behind ocelli usually with a very fine, low transverse ridge. 9 Head capsule, in ventral or ventrolateral view, with a carina that extends down the posterolateral margin and onto the ventral surface where it passes through a near right-angle and extends to the ventral midline. 10 Mesosoma dorsally without trace of the promesonotal suture; metanotal groove vestigial to absent. 11 Pronotum in dorsal view rounded anteriorly between anterior surface and dorsum, not transversely marginate nor carinate; propodeum marginate or carinate between dorsum and declivity, even if only weakly so. 12 Mesopleuron with a strongly developed transverse sulcus. 13 Mesotibia without spurs (a setiform vestige is usually visible). 14 Metatibia with a single, pectinate spur. 15 Metatibial gland present, its orifice usually small and indistinct. 16 Metabasitarsus ventrally without a longitudinal glandular groove. 17 Pretarsal claws of at least the metatarsus with a single, small, preapical tooth on the inner surface of each claw. 18 Propodeal lobe in profile small, rounded apically. 19 Propodeal spiracle orifice small, circular. 20 AII (petiole) not marginate laterally in dorsal view. 21 AIII not postpetiolate, in dorsal view more voluminous than AII but only a little smaller than AIV. 22 Tergite of AIII with a pair of subovate glandular patches on the posterior half. Posterior margin of segment with a transverse band of pale cuticle, or a pair of pale patches, that subtend the glands. 23 Prora of AIII a small, simple, convex cuticular boss or prominence, not delimited by a sharp curved carina that separates the anterior face of the poststernite from the lateral and ventral surfaces. 24 Pretergite of AIV in dorsal view not strongly constricted with respect to posttergite of AIV. 25 Cinctus of AIV either with or without cross-ribs. 26 Pygidial denticles sparse, restricted to a short apical arc along a narrow prominence at the extreme apex of the sclerite.