Key to Acanthomrymrex
This worker key is based on: Moffett, M.W. 1986. Revision of the myrmicine genus Acanthomyrmex. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 151:55-89. [15.viii.1986.] PDF
There is a key to minors and majors.
This key is dated, as the genus has almost doubled in size since its publication. Pecies missing from the key as of May, 2020: Acanthomyrmex glabfemoralis, Acanthomyrmex humilis, Acanthomyrmex malikuli, Acanthomyrmex minus, Acanthomyrmex mizunoi, Acanthomyrmex padanensis, Acanthomyrmex sulawesiensis and Acanthomyrmex thailandensis.
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Minor Workers
The minor workers of Acanthomyrmex dusun and Acanthomyrmex foveolatus are unknown.
1
- Head convex across posterior margin, with at most a feeble medial concavity in full-face view . . . . . 2
- Head distinctly concave across posterior margin . . . . . 4
2
return to couplet #1
- Petiole without long, cylindrical spines laterally on apex of node . . . . . Acanthomyrmex notabilis
- Such spines are present . . . . . 3
3
return to couplet #2
- Head with conspicuous alveolate sculpture . . . . . Acanthomyrmex ferox
- Head virtually free of sculpture, smooth . . . . . Acanthomyrmex laevis
4
return to couplet #1
- Head deeply concave across posterior margin . . . . . 5
- Head feebly concave across posterior margin in full face view . . . . . 7
5
return to couplet #4
- Propodeal spines in profile with a wide basal portion abruptly narrowing to shaft of spine . . . . . Acanthomyrmex basispinosus
- Propodeal spines lack a distinct wide base . . . . . 6
6
return to couplet #5
- Gaster with numerous long erect to suberect hairs; from Sri Lanka . . . . . Acanthomyrmex luciolae
- Gaster virtually bare; from Sarawak . . . . . Acanthomyrmex concavus
7
return to couplet #4
- Propodeal spines somewhat laterally compressed, appearing blade-like in lateral view; from Taiwan (Lanyu Island) . . . . . Acanthomyrmex crassispinus
- Propodeal spines, cylindrical, not at all blade-like . . . . . 8
8
return to couplet #7
- Well-developed small projecting lobes immediately on each side of medial hair on anterior margin of clypeus; funicular scrobes present . . . . . Acanthomyrmex mindanao
- Medial clypeal lobes poorly developed; scrobes for scapes present, but these not bent down posteriorly to form funicular scrobes above eyes . . . . . Acanthomyrmex careoscrobis
Major Workers
The major workers of Acanthomyrmex careoscrobis, Acanthomyrmex concavus, and Acanthomyrmex laevis are unknown.
1MA
- Posterior margin of head conspicuously bilobed when head viewed in full-face (luciolae group) . . . . . 2MA
- Posterior margin of head not strongly bilobed, at most slightly emarginate mesad (notabilis group) . . . . . 6MA
2MA
return to couplet #1
- Propodeal spines somewhat laterally compressed, appearing blade-like in lateral view; from Taiwan (Lanyu Island) . . . . . Acanthomyrmex crassispinus
- Propodeal spines, cylindrical, not at all blade-like . . . . . 3MA
3MA
return to couplet #2
- Propodeal spines in profile with a wide basal portion abruptly narrowing to shaft of spine . . . . . Acanthomyrmex basispinosus
- Propodeal spines lack a distinct wide base . . . . . 4MA
4MA
return to couplet #3
- Node of petiole with long lateral spines at apex . . . . . Acanthomyrmex ferox
- Without long spines on petiole . . . . . 5MA
5MA
return to couplet #4
- Head costate across frons; from Sri Lanka . . . . . Acanthomyrmex luciolae
- Head lacking costae; from Borneo . . . . . Acanthomyrmex dusun
6MA
return to couplet #1
- Postpetiole wide, less than 60% as long as it is wide in dorsal view . . . . . Acanthomyrmex notabilis
- Postpetiole about as wide as it is long in dorsal view . . . . . 7MA
7MA
return to couplet #6
- Dorsum of head with tiny, shallow foveae except for large foveae bordering antennal scrobes . . . . . Acanthomyrmex foveolatus
- Foveae larger . . . . . Acanthomyrmex mindanao
