Sphinctomyrmex

Species of Sphinctomyrmex are specialist predators of other ants. They forage primarily below ground, only rarely on the surface. Most species lack fully winged queens and have, instead, worker-like (ergatoid) queens. Workers have a relatively heavy integument with angles and teeth for protection during raids. Nests are in soil and under stones and contain several hundred workers and up to 20 or more ergatoid queens.

Identification
Sphinctomyrmex can be separated from Cerapachys by the shape of the gaster. Its shape is unique to Sphinctomyrmex and should allow ready identification of members of this genus.

Nomenclature

 *  SPHINCTOMYRMEX [Cerapachyinae: Cerapachyini]
 * Sphinctomyrmex Mayr, 1866b: 895. Type-species: Sphinctomyrmex stali, by monotypy.
 * Sphinctomyrmex senior synonym of Aethiopopone: Bolton, 1973a: 341; Brown, 1975: 31.
 * Sphinctomyrmex senior synonym of Eusphinctus, Nothosphinctus, Zasphinctus: Brown, 1975: 31.
 * AETHIOPOPONE [junior synonym of Sphinctomyrmex]
 * Aethiopopone Santschi, 1930a: 49. Type-species: Sphinctomyrmex rufiventris, by monotypy.
 * Aethiopopone junior synonym of Sphinctomyrmex: Bolton, 1973a: 341; Brown, 1975: 31.
 * EUSPHINCTUS [junior synonym of Sphinctomyrmex]
 * Eusphinctus Emery, 1893a: cclxxv. Type-species: Eusphinctus furcatus, by monotypy.
 * Eusphinctus subgenus of Sphinctomyrmex: Emery, 1895k: 456.
 * Eusphinctus revived status as genus: Wheeler, W.M. 1918a: 219.
 * Eusphinctus junior synonym of Sphinctomyrmex: Brown, 1975: 31.
 * NOTHOSPHINCTUS [junior synonym of Sphinctomyrmex]
 * Nothosphinctus Wheeler, W.M. 1918a: 219 [as subgenus of Eusphinctus]. Type-species: Sphinctomyrmex froggatti, by subsequent designation of Donisthorpe, 1943f: 675.
 * Nothosphinctus junior synonym of Sphinctomyrmex: Brown, 1975: 31.
 * ZASPHINCTUS [junior synonym of Sphinctomyrmex]
 * Zasphinctus Wheeler, W.M. 1918a: 219 [as subgenus of Eusphinctus]. Type-species: Sphinctomyrmex turneri, by monotypy.
 * Zasphinctus junior synonym of Sphinctomyrmex: Brown, 1975: 31.

Additional References

 * Brown, W. L., Jr. (1975). Contributions toward a reclassification of the Formicidae. V. Ponerinae, tribes Platythyreini, Cerapachyini, Cylindromyrmecini, Acanthostichini, and Aenictogitini. Search. Agriculture (Ithaca, New York). 5 (1): 1–115 [taxonomy]
 * [[Media:Feitosa et al 2012.pdf|Feitosa, R.M., C.R.F. Brandão, F. Fernández and J.C.H. Delabie. 2012. The Ant Genus Sphinctomyrmex Mayr (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Cerapachyinae) in the Neotropical Region, with the Description of Two New Species. Psyche Volume 2012, Article ID 342623, 9 pages PDF]]
 * Emery, C. (1893). [Untitled. Introduced by: ""M. C. Emery, de Bologne, envoie les diagnoses de cinq nouveaux genres de Formicides"".]. Bulletin Bimensuel de la Société Entomologique de France. 1892 : cclxxv–cclxxvii.
 * Mayr, G. (1866). Diagnosen neuer und wenig gekannter Formiciden. Verhandlungen der Kaiserlich-Königlichen Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien. 16 : 885–908.
 * Wheeler, W. M. (1918). The Australian ants of the ponerine tribe Cerapachyini. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. 53 : 215–265.