Zasphinctus ndouri Hita Garcia & Gomez 2025, sp. nov.
Creators: name: Hita Garcia, Francisco
name: Gómez, Kiko
name: Keller, Roberto A.
name: Schurian, Bernhard
name: Economo, Evan P.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2025
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Formicidae
Zasphinctus
Zasphinctus ndouri

description: Zasphinctus 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, 28
Type 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.
description: Published as part of Hita Garcia, Francisco, Gómez, Kiko, Keller, Roberto A., Schurian, Bernhard & Economo, Evan P., 2025, A never-ending story: updated 3 D cyber-taxonomic revision of the ant genus Zasphinctus Wheeler (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Dorylinae) for the Afrotropical region, pp. 1-55 in ZooKeys 1223 on pages 1-55, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1223.131238