Sphinctomyrmex rufiventris Santschi

Type location Benin (Santschi, 1915c: 244, illustrated, male), from Djougou, Kouandé (by Desanti), also from Kika (by Ribot) (in Wheeler, 1922; see Bolton, 1995); male only described .

NOTE - Bolton (1990a and 1990c) provided an illustration of the lateral alitrunk and gaster of what is labelled as this species and is a worker. Where it came from and who determined it without any description was not explained. In the first paper he writes of there being two species from Africa, so perhaps it can be assumed that the forms described below as from Gabon and Ivory Coast are of this species!

Sanstchi's (1915c) description was - MALE; TL 4.5 mm; head, excluding the eyes, rectangular, a quarter longer than wide, with a straight posterior border. Eyes very convex, occupying anterior three-quarters of the sides of the head; interval between the eye and the lateral ocellus equal to the ocellus diameter. Clypeus border tranverse medially, raised centrally in a rounded lobe and carina of a fine median lamella in its posterior half. Frontal carinae lamellate, arcuate, strongly convergent posteriorly where they form a slightly raised median ridge reaching the near to the median ocellus and on each side delimiting a shallow antennal scrobe. Scape reaching the median ocellus, as long, with the condylar bulb, as the second and third funiculus segments combined; first funiculus segment no longer than the scape width; following segments subequal and three times longer than wide. Mandibles without teeth, internal angle very rounded, external border feebly concave in the basal half and slightly convex apically. Mesonotal suture impressed. Mayr's notch distinct. Propodeal dorsum convex, declivity concave and distinctly edged, longer than dorsum, smooth. Wings hyaline with veins and fringe pale yellow; closed cubital cell, radial cell incomplete. Petiole as high as long, node globulose, as wide as long; with subpetiolar appendage a truncated forward pointing tooth. Postpetiole with a small ventral anterior tooth, node as high as other gastral segments, but clearly slimmer, distinctly longer than wide and not more constricted posteriorly. Genitalia hidden. Colour reddish brown; appendages and gaster reddish yellow; dorsum of gaster a little darker brown. Head and thorax with large irregular puncturations, more or less confluent on a smooth ground; puncturation of gaster finer and more spaced; sides of propodeum rugulo-reticulate. Fine long, decumbent pilosity, more erect on gaster; legs and antennae pubescent, latter very finely.

Specimens from Djougou, Kouandé, Benin [Dahomey], by Desanti, 2 males; Kika, Benin, by Lt. Ribot, 2 males; Sikasso [Sikosso], Mali [French Sudan], by Chevalier, 1900, 2 males.