rare genus ants consisting single species ants small size inhabit leaf litter forests mexico brazil workers colored dark red present distinctive morphology consisting shield like head broad turned heavy overlap closure unique ants antenna apparatus sitting upside little known biology ants likely nocturnal specialist predators described initially placed tribe fossil genera original description systematic status tribe focus debate taxonomy species genus extant genera subfamily new species described relegated junior synonym based extent morphological encountered broad geographic range analysis dna indicated pattern genetic isolation distance suggesting presence single species undergoing described based workers collected sample el_salvador morphological similarities considered primitive placed tribe ants known early baltic amber late bears superficial resemblance extant genera similarities considered evolution similarities linked genus currently junior synonym concluded analysis similarities indicates based close phylogenetic relationship work explored similarities brown taxa share characteristics including expanded head deep compact similarities deemed original description systematic status tribe focus debate suggest taxonomic instability raised genus level new subfamily suggesting sister taxon subfamily rank assessed attempt include terminal taxon morphological analysis study identified morphological shared inclusion genus addition differently shaped eyes close apex separated extant genera included study unlike phylogenetic studies based morphological traits molecular analyses internal phylogeny ants given strong evidence ants closely related reconstructed phylogenetic trees inside group close gave support exclusion genus subfamily located inside clade given early appearance record similarities ants represent convergence retention forms means common species comes portuguese word specific epithet single described species old generic distribution rare broadly distributed ants inhabit leaf litter forests mexico french central brazil collections known caribbean islands specimens collections currently known occur west collections tending occur central_america mexico collections come pre areas mid elevations usually meters altitude collections lowland published records advent litter extraction popular method collecting rare abundant frequent litter reliably found rican wet forests description workers present distinctive morphology consisting shield like head broad upper surface head turned heavy overlap closure deep impression receives parts antenna eyes close apex compact fused antenna segment directed unique ants antenna apparatus sitting upside roof expanded frontal lobe body worker short compact colored dark red thick rigid external skin body covered hairs variable length head pear shaped small eyes queens similar workers yellow colored paler wings longer total body length males similar workers head darker wings longer body eyes queens males larger workers size small millimeters total length specimens vary greatly size larger specimens twice large smaller ones size trap catches possibly colonies considerable example workers collection catch nicaragua varied size unclear colony size variation presence morphological worker minor major continuous size principal component analysis revealed specimens related size shape explaining little total variation patterns patterns hair like known occur collections pattern consists mix long short common pattern resembles type specimens el_salvador ecuador pattern characterized short fully regular spaced head pattern characterized dense looking pattern consists short uniform strongly inclined fully scattered body eyes relative position eyes highly variable species example eye location ranges completely completely outside cases eye located outside eye marked specimens ridge extending dorsal region lies straight eyes specimens nicaragua strongly impressed present specimens eye area lies eye lies depression forms sides depth depression varies specimens tends deepest larger specimens biology biology poorly known male female reproductive described time genus known mainly isolated workers found samples workers peculiar powerful sting led speculate specialist predators active slippery prey observations live specimens registered details collection event small live colony workers mid elevation forest southeastern ecuador suggest highly specialized predator colonies kept captivity accept food item offered food items rejected ants included live dead insect parts sugar water live dead fruit flies live live live dead small live spiders small live small egg piece cotton wool soaked fresh egg larvae live workers potential food items taken soil samples samples collected site determined present observations suggest sit wait predator observed workers moved slowly clumsy remained tens seconds minutes disturbed handling contact observations mainly performed night suggesting nocturnal hypothesis supported collection patterns example forest specimens tend fall traps instead traps usually work generally uses litter day ants nocturnal habits samples small eyes species provide support hypothesis
Tatuidris