Ocymyrmex turneri

Marsh (1986b) says that turneri is a diurnally foraging scavenger, primarily seeking out dead insects. Its nests are inconspicuous and have a single entrance hole. O. turneri is widespread on the Namib gravel plains and occurs across the entire width of the desert (Marsh, 1986a).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Namibia, South Africa.

Nomenclature

 *  turneri. Ocymyrmex turneri Donisthorpe, 1931b: 499 (w.) NAMIBIA. Bolton & Marsh, 1989: 1278 (q.). See also: Bolton, 1981b: 279; Bolton & Marsh, 1989: 1305.

Worker
Bolton and Marsh (1989) - TL 5.5-5.8, HL 1.38-1•40, HW 1.24-1.28, CI 89-91, SL 1.37-1.40, SI 109-111, PW 0.75-0.80, AL 1.70-1.80. Maximum diameter of eye is 0.26-0.28 x HW (10 measured).

In the new series the sides of the pronotum are somewhat more extensively sculptured than in the holotype, and their dense dorsal pilosity indicates that earlier conjecture regarding abrasion of the holotype was correct. Similarly, the dorsal alitrunk of the new series is feebly sculptured, this area being mostly smooth in the holotype. Hamish Robertson (University of the Witwatersrand) collected a single specimen at the same locality. This matches the preceding but has the median clypeal prominence somewhat flattened and inconspicuous, truncated rather than bluntly triangular at its apex.