title: The ant genus Polyrhachis F. Smith in sub-Saharan Africa, with descriptions of ten new species. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).
abstract: Ten new sub-Saharan species of the ant genus Polyrhachis are described: P. gibbula n. sp. and P. omissa n. sp. belonging in the viscosa-group; P. brevipilosa n. sp., P. dubia n. sp., P. longiseta n. sp., P. luteipes n. sp., P. submarginata n. sp., and P. terminata n. sp. in the revoili-group; P. doudou n. sp. and P. fisheri n. sp. in the militaris-group. Also, P. epinotalis Santschi and P. kohli Forel are revived from synonymy with P. militaris (Fabr.) and P. volkarti Forel respectively. The type of P. cubaensis Mayr is described, changing the interpretation of the taxon and revalidating two of its synonyms, P. gerstaeckeri Forel and P. wilmsi Forel stat. n.. The examination of the type of Polyrhachis revoili André has proved this taxon to be different from previous interpretations; its position is reviewed and all of its synonyms are transferred to P. weissi Santschi. In addition, the first description of the worker of P. andrei Emery is provided, as well as some new records and taxonomic and morphological notes concerning other species. Finally, a synonymic list of the 61 currently known sub-Saharan species, a key to species-groups and an updated key to the workers are given.
authors.affiliation: Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Corso Venezia 55, 20121 Milano, Italy.; Email: Fabrizio.Rigato@comune.milano.it.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rigato
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D063147:Animal Distribution; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D001000:Ants / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development; D049628:Body Size; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size