Journal ArticleTaylor, R.W.; Lowery, B.B. (1972) The New Guinean species of the ant genus Orectognathus Fr. Smith (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), In: Australian Journal of Entomology, Vol.11 (4), 306-310, URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-6055.1972.tb01634.xnullThe dacetine ant genus Orectognathus Fr. Smith includes nine described species from eastern mainland Australia. One of these is found also on Tasmania and another on the North Island of New Zealand. New Caledonia and Lord Howe Island each carry an endemic species. One species, 0. csikii Szab6, has been previously described from New Guinea. A serviceable key to the genus was provided by Brown (1957) and an additional Australian species was described by Lowery (1967). Recent collections, mainly by the authors, have yielded several undescribed. Australian species and two from New Guinea, both collected by Lowery. The latter are described below as 0. hystrix sp. n. and 0. echinus sp. n. They are among the most bizarre and extraordinary of all ants. Through the courtesy of Dr. L. Moczar of the Hungarian National Museum, Budapest, we have been able to redescribe and figure a syntype of 0. csikii. Although Orectognathus species are relatively large and brightly coloured, they have eluded most collectors in New Guinea. Available evidence indicates that the genus (as well as the related Arnoldidris) frequents very wet and well sheltered areas in rain forest, especially the banks of creek beds and the floors of deep gullies, where they nest in rotting logs or in the soil. [Part of Introduction]nullAJE11_1972V11N4P306-310.pdfhttps://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-6055.1972.tb01634.x1.28 MB, PDF