Key to Acanthomyrmex

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.]

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