A never-ending story: updated 3 D cyber-taxonomic revision of the ant genus Zasphinctus Wheeler (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Dorylinae) for the Afrotropical regionAuthorHita Garcia, Francisco0000-0003-4709-3083Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Berlin, Germany & Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna-son, JapanAuthorGómez, Kiko0000-0003-4748-157XGarraf, Barcelona, SpainAuthorKeller, Roberto A.0000-0003-2751-9761Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência and CE 3 C - Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes and CHANGE - Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, PortugalAuthorSchurian, Bernhard0000-0001-6855-9941Center for Integrative Biodiversity Discovery, Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, Berlin, GermanyAuthorEconomo, Evan P.0000-0001-7402-0432Biodiversity and Biocomplexity Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University, Onna-son, JapantextZooKeys20252025-01-061223155journal article10.3897/zookeys.1223.131238974E3C3D-A08E-42CB-B75E-D7A329B1B715Zasphinctus ndouri
Hita Garcia & Gómez
sp. nov.Figs 3 E
,
4 E
,
5 E
,
6 E
,
7 E
,
8 E
,
10 E
,
11 E
,
12 E
,
13 E
,
14 E
,
15 E
,
16 E
,
17 E
,
18 E
,
19 E
,
20 E
,
21 E
,
28Type material examined.Holotype
• Pinned
worker
,
Senegal
,
Kedougou
,
Neménick
,
Niokolo Koba 10 Km W
(
Niokolo Koba NP
),
savannah
,
Winkler
,
13.0764
,
- 12.78196
, collection code KG 05413,
1. - 30. IV. 2018
(
A. Diallo
) (
RBINS
:
KGCOL 01883
)
.
Paratypes
• Eight pinned
workers
with same data as holotype (
CASC
:
KGCOL 02264
;
KGAC
:
KGCOL 02258
;
MNHNC
:
KGCOL 02259
;
NHMUK
:
KGCOL 02262
;
RBINS
:
KGCOL 02260
;
SAMC
:
KGCOL 02263
;
ZMHB
:
KGCOL 02261
)
.
Cybertype
• Dataset of the
holotype
(
KGCOL 01883
) consists of the volumetric raw data (in DICOM format), 3 D surface model (in PLY format), still images of multiple body parts from surface volume renderings of 3 D models, stacked digital colour images illustrating head in full-face view, profile and dorsal views of the body. The data is deposited at Zenodo (
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12593275
) and can be freely accessed as virtual representation of the physical
holotype
. In addition to the data on Zenodo, we also provide a freely accessible 3 D surface model at Sketchfab (
https://skfb.ly/p7MpY
).
Differential worker diagnosis.
With characters of the
Z. sarowiwai
group plus the following: body size significantly larger (
HL
0.73–0.77;
WL
0.98–1.05); torular – posttorular complex in profile comparatively lower and funnel – shaped (Fig.
5 E
); vertexal margin very weak and dorsum smoothly rounding onto posterior face of head (Figs
6 E
,
7 E
); lateral arms of hypostomal carina strongly diverging anteriorly, relatively thick, and strongly angulate at widest points (Fig.
8 E
); postgenal sulcus weakly impressed and running halfway to occipital margin (Fig.
8 E
); posterodorsal margin of mesosoma continuous across its entire length (Figs
11 E
,
12 E
); subpetiolar process of petiole (
AS
II) in profile only weakly thickened anterior and ventral margins, weak concavity and no conspicuous fenestra (Fig.
13 E
); petiolar tergum in dorsal view relatively thicker: ~ 1.2 × broader than long (
DPI
116–123) (Fig.
14 E
); abdominal sternum III in ventral view campaniform, comparatively broad and short, sides strongly rounded (Fig.
16 E
); posterior end of abdominal segment III in ventral view with transverse groove weak to absent, instead with irregular groves and rugosity (Fig.
16 E
); prora in anteroventral view well-developed with sharply and very regularly shaped lateroventral margins (Fig.
16 E
); abdominal segment VI in dorsal view moderately sized: around 1.7–1.8 × broader than long (
DA 6 I
168–179) (Fig.
17 E
); girdling constrictions between abdominal segments IV, V, VI cross-ribbed (Fig.
18 E
); surface sculpture on cephalic dorsum and genae completely smooth and very shiny with moderately dense, deep, and moderately sized to large piliferous foveae (Figs
4 E
,
5 E
,
19 E
,
20 E
); general surface sculpture on mesosoma and metasoma almost completely smooth and very shiny with scattered, piliferous foveae (Figs
20 E
,
21 E
).
Measurements and indices.
Morphometric data is based on
eight workers
from
Senegal
and can be seen in Table
2
, Suppl. material
3
.
Etymology.The species epithet is a Latinised noun in the genitive case, dedicated to the Senegalese activist, composer, and musician Youssou N’Dour.Distribution and biology.
Currently,
Z. ndouri
is only known from its type locality, the Niokolo Koba National Park in
Senegal
. Unlike the other species treated herein,
Z. ndouri
was found in a tropical savanna habitat.
Shaded surface display volume renderings of 3 D models of
Z. ndourisp. nov.
holotype (
KGCOL 01883
)
A
full body in profile
B
full body in dorsal view
C
head in full-face view (with antennae)
D
head in full-face view (without antennae)
E
head in ventral view
F
abdominal segment II (petiole) in profile
G
abdominal segment II (petiole) in dorsal view
H
tergum of AS III in dorsal view
I
sternum of AS III in ventral view.