title: A new species of Simopelta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae) from Brazil and Costa Rica.
abstract: The genus Simopelta consists of 21 described species restricted to Central America and South America. The present study describes a new cryptobiotic species, Simopelta anomma sp. nov.. The new species is blind, possesses a 3-segmented antennal club, and has the midtibia with several stout setae, a combination of characters unique within the genus. Moreover, some traits of this species require broadening the definition of the genus. The discovery of S. anomma sp. nov. suggests that many undiscovered species, some of which may be important for understanding ant evolution, remain hidden below ground in Neotropical rainforests.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia-INPA. Coordenação em Biodiversidade CBio. Av. André Araújo, 2936. Petrópolis, 69011-970, C. P. 2223. Manaus-AM. Brazil. Fone/Fax: +55 (92) 3643-3305.; Email: itanna.fernandes@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Itanna O
authors.initials: IO
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia-INPA. Coordenação em Biodiversidade CBio. Av. André Araújo, 2936. Petrópolis, 69011-970, C. P. 2223. Manaus-AM. Brazil. Fone/Fax: +55 (92) 3643-3305.; Email: FernandesI@si.edu.
authors.forename: Jorge L P
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 30 No. 45 - 03, Bogotá D.C., Colombia; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fernández C
authors.affiliation: Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau-CEPEC, Laboratório de Mirmecologia UESC / CEPLAC, Rod. Ilhéus / Itabuna, 45600-000, C. P. 7, Ilhéus-BA, Brazil; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Jacques H C
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Delabie
authors.affiliation: Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Entomology. P.O. Box 37012, MRC 188, CE516, Washington DC, 20013-7012; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Ted R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Schultz
mesh_terms: D063147:Animal Distribution; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development; D005075:Biological Evolution; D049628:Body Size; D001938:Brazil; D003364:Costa Rica; D009929:Organ Size; D065947:Rainforest