Ancyridris

Ancyridris
Ancyridris polyrhachioides
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Ancyridris Wheeler, W.M., 1935
Type species
Ancyridris polyrhachioides
Diversity
2 species (Species Checklist, Species by Country) Ancyridris polyrhachioides Specimen Label

Evolutionary Relationships

Cardiocondyla Ocymyrmex Nesomyrmex Xenomyrmex Terataner Atopomyrmex Cataulacus Carebara Diplomorium Melissotarsus Rhopalomastix Calyptomyrmex Tetramorium Cyphoidris Dicroaspis Aretidris Vollenhovia Dacetinops Indomyrma Crematogaster Meranoplus Lophomyrmex Adlerzia Recurvidris Stereomyrmex Trichomyrmex Eutetramorium Royidris Malagidris Vitsika Huberia Podomyrma Liomyrmex Metapone Kartidris Mayriella Tetheamyrma Dacatria Proatta Dilobocondyla Secostruma Acanthomyrmex Myrmecina Perissomyrmex Pristomyrmex some Lordomyrma Propodilobus Lasiomyrma [some Lordomyrma Ancyridris some Lordomyrma Paratopula Poecilomyrma Romblonella Rotastruma Gauromyrmex Vombisidris Temnothorax Harpagoxenus Formicoxenus Leptothorax

Based on Ward et al. (2014) and Blaimer et al. (2018).

Beyond the two taxonomic publications that detail the two species in this genus (Ancyridris polyrhachioides and Ancyridris rupicapra), nothing is known about these ants.

Identification

The hooked end of the long propodeal spines, curved towards the head, and the rearward bending elongate petiole spines are a distinctive feature of both species of this genus. Beyond this the genus is similar to Aphaenogaster or certain worker forms of Pheidole.

See images of species within this genus

 

Morphology

Worker Morphology

• Antennal segment count: 12
• Antennal club: 2-3
• Palp formula: 3,2; 2,2
• Total dental count: 7-9
• Eyes: present
• Scrobes: absent
• Sting: present

Male Morphology

 • Caste unknown

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• ANCYRIDRIS [Myrmicinae: Stenammini]
  • Ancyridris Wheeler, W.M. 1935a: 1. Type-species: Ancyridris polyrhachioides, by original designation.
  • [Ancyridris provisional junior synonym of Lordomyrma: Brown, 1973b: 178 (unconfirmed).]

Unless otherwise noted the text for the remainder of this section is reported from the publication that includes the original description.

Description

Worker: Monomorphic (?), with hard, thick, smooth integument. Mandibles subtriangular, with distinct and rather long masticatory border bearing a graduated series of about 10 teeth. Palpi short, maxillary pair 4-, labial pair 3-jointed. Head broadly subelliptical, eyes well developed, in front of the middle of its sides; ocelli absent. Clypeus very short laterally, with subobsolete posterior suture, its median portion produced backward triangularly between the frontal carinae, its anterior border with a large, median triangular tooth. Frontal carinae rather closely approximated, feebly lobular in front, straight and subparallel behind; frontal area absent; frontal groove interrupted, subobsolete. Antennae long, 12-jointed; first funicular joint somewhat enlarged, second longer than the third, the tip enlarged, forming an indistinct three- to four- jointed club. Thorax long and narrow, shaped somewhat as in Aphaenogaster, with long and pronounced mesoepinotal impression; promesonotal suture distinct only on the sides, mesoepinotal suture obsolete; pronotum with strong humeral protuberances; mesosternum with a rectangular, laterally projecting tooth near the base of its ventral border; epinotum bearing two long, flattened, hooked spines resembling those of Polyrhachis bamata Drury; epinotal spiracle circular, borne on a distinct crateriform eminence; metasterna swollen, apparently containing voluminous metasternal glands. Petiole long, with well-developed anterior peduncle, its node rather high and bearing a pair of backwardly and outwardly directed spines. Postpetiole short, with rounded-subconical node. Gaster broadly oval, consisting for the most part of the enlarged first segment; sting not exserted, apparently vestigial. Legs long; coxae large and swollen; middle and hind tibiae spurless; tarsal claws simple.

References

• Bolton, B. 1994. Identification guide to the ant genera of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 222 pp. (page 106, page 90, Ancyridris as genus)
• Bolton, B. 1995b. A new general catalogue of the ants of the world. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 504 pp. (page 63, Ancyridris in Myrmicinae, Stenammini)
• Bolton, B. 2003. Synopsis and Classification of Formicidae. Mem. Am. Entomol. Inst. 71: 370pp (page 202, Ancyridris as genus)
• Brown, W. L., Jr. 1973b. A comparison of the Hylean and Congo-West African rain forest ant faunas. Pp. 161-185 in: Meggers, B. J., Ayensu, E. S., Duckworth, W. D. (eds.) Tropical forest ecosystems in Africa and South America: a comparative review. Wash (page 178, Ancyridris provisional junior synonym of Lordomyrma (unconfirmed))
• Stitz, H. 1938. Neue Ameisen aus dem indo-malayischen Gebiet. Sitzungsber. Ges. Naturforsch. Freunde Berl. 1938: 99-122.
• Wheeler, W. M. 1935a. Two new genera of myrmicine ants from Papua and the Philippines. Proc. N. Engl. Zool. Club 15: 1-9 (page 1, 5, Ancyridris in Myrmicinae, Pheidolini)