Taxonomy of the ant genus Nesomyrmex Wheeler (Formicidae, Myrmicinae) in the Afrotropical region, with a review of current species groups and description of a new species of the N. angulatus group from Mozambique Author Garcia, Francisco Hita B7ADF56F-935D-4BD8-ADB3-50E96F8BB463 Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Onna-son, Okinawa, Japan. & urn: lsid: zoobank. org: author: B 7 ADF 56 F- 935 D- 4 BD 8 - ADB 3 - 50 E 96 F 8 BB 463 & Corresponding author: fhitagarcia @ gmail. com fhitagarcia@gmail.com Author Mbanyana, Nokuthula 157A51ED-7C85-4CA3-84E4-B7BD1E2A7E8F Iziko South African Museum, Cape Town, South Africa. & Email: nmbanyana @ iziko. org. za & urn: lsid: zoobank. org: author: 157 A 51 ED- 7 C 85 - 4 CA 3 - 84 E 4 - B 7 BD 1 E 2 A 7 E 8 F nmbanyana@iziko.org.za Author Audisio, Tracy Lynn C821F482-744F-467A-A480-1E353001A51F Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Onna-son, Okinawa, Japan. & Email: tracy @ troglophile. com & urn: lsid: zoobank. org: author: C 821 F 482 - 744 F- 467 A-A 480 - 1 E 353001 A 51 F tracy@troglophile.com Author Alpert, Gary D. 5BD71BB5-1EDA-4E05-84E1-FE71EA366767 Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, U. S. A. & Email: garydalpert @ gmail. com & urn: lsid: zoobank. org: author: 5 BD 71 BB 5 - 1 EDA- 4 E 05 - 84 E 1 - FE 71 EA 366767 garydalpert@gmail.com text European Journal of Taxonomy 2017 2017-01-06 258 1 31 journal article 22478 10.5852/ejt.2017.258 35792d9c-db1a-45f1-b983-f52105f8d004 2118-9773 3776244 Nesomyrmex cataulacoides species group Definition Antennae with 11 segments; anterior clypeal lobe conspicuously convex and rounded, without a small median triangular projection; frontal carinae absent; propodeal spines very well developed, long and spiniform; petiole and postpetiole each with a pair of large and conspicuous lateral spines; all dorsal surfaces of body without standing pilosity. Comments The N. cataulacoides species group holds only one morphologically bizarre and extraordinary species, which is impossible to confuse with any other Nesomyrmex species from the Afrotropical or any other region. The 11-segmented antennae, lack of standing pilosity on all dorsal surfaces, and the extreme spinosity render N. cataulacoides immediately recognizable. The possession of spines/teeth on the anterior pronotal corners, the anterior and posterior propodeum, and on both waist segments is unique within the genus. The affinities of N. cataulacoides to other Nesomyrmex are difficult to ascertain, mostly due to the extreme morphological specializations. So far it is not possible to associate it closely with any other Nesomyrmex species or species group. Currently, the species is known only from Cameroon and Kenya . Based on the few collections available, this species is strictly arboreal. The observed disjunctive distribution is most likely a sampling artefact due to the scarcity of collecting in Central African canopies, and we expect that N. cataulacoides will be collected in intermediate countries in the future.