The Ants of Africa
Genus Tetraponera
Tetraponera prelli (Forel)

Tetraponera prelli (Forel)

return to key {link to the Hymenoptera Name Server} Type location Tanzania (Sima Prelli n. sp., Forel, 1911d: 365, worker; in Tetraponera, Wheeler, 1922: 800) Monga, Prell - see below
new status junior synonym usambarensis (Sima natalensis Sm. var. usambarensis n. var., Forel, 1911d: 367, worker; Santschi, 1914b: 70, queen) from Tanzania, Monga, collector Prell - see below
worker & queen only described .


Forel's (1911d) description is at {original description}. Forel's (1911d) description of usambarensis, is at {original description} Santschi's (1914b) description of the usambarensis queen is at {original description}.


Tetraponera prelliThe photomontage of the type worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0907474.


Tetraponera prelli usambarensisThe photomontage of the type worker of usambarensis is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0907452.


Oxford University Museum specimens

Tetraponera prelli
B Taylor det.
Tanzania
G McGavin
tree 2-25

9.iv.1995
Mkomazi
3°54.75' S
37°48.50' E
pkd collection from Combretum molle

1
{album}
Tetraponera prelli
B Taylor det.
Tanzania
G McGavin
tree 3-64
15.i.1996
Mkomazi
3°54.74' S
37°48.49' E
pkd collection from Combretum molle
2

Tetraponera prelli
B Taylor det.
Tanzania
G McGavin
tree 3-66
16.i.1996
Mkomazi
3°57.996' S
37°48.128' E
pkd collection from Lannea schweinfurthii
1

Tetraponera prelli
B Taylor det.
Tanzania
G McGavin
tree 3-67
16.i.1996
Mkomazi
3°57.996' S
37°48.128' E
pkd collection from Lannea schweinfurthii
1
{album}

{Tetraponera prelli}The photomontage is of a worker from Tanzania, Mkomazi Game Reserve; collector McGavin (Tree 2-25).

This is somewhat larger, TL ca 6.5 mm, than Forel (1911d) gave for prelli but has all the described characters. What is puzzling is why, in the same paper, Forel separated usambarensis from Tanzania as a new variety of Tetraponera natalensis (Forel, 1911d: 367, worker). His description has - "TL 5.7-7.3 mm; differing from natalensis by the petiole which is more than twice as long as wide, much less enlarged behind, less bordered (the border a little obtuse), and less convex below; the suture between the mesonotum and the intermediary segment [metanotum] is much less distinct but concave posteriorly; the propodeum is a little less enlarged; the rest identical; from Monga, Tanzania (Prell); also running alone at the base of a tree at Moschi, (Zimmer)". From Arnold's illustration of natalensis it is obvious that the head is much more ovoid in full face view, whereas prelli has the near rectangular head shape of Tetraponera mocquerysi. All the differences from natalensis appear to hold for usambarensis which comes from the same north-east Tanzania geographical area.


{Tetraponera prelli}The photomontage is of a worker from Tanzania, Mkomazi Game Reserve; collector G McGavin (Tree 3-67).

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