Goniomma

Granivorous ants with small colonies. Some species are known to have specialzed diets that focus on particular seeds.

Identification
Fossils

Jessen (2020) - Extant Goniomma gyne are smaller, BL about 4–5 mm (Espadaler 1986), and their funiculus is significantly shorter, not extending the occipital margin of head. The fossil specimens have not been assigned to the genera Aphaenogaster or Paraphaenogaster because of their combination of a CI well over 100, their wing venation pattern, their weak veining and their unarmed (most likely) or slightly armed propodeum. They are not assigned to the genus Messor, since the head in this genus narrows towards the front (clearly visible in the paratype). In most extant Messor species, the head width is not reduced towards the front and the outer margins of the mandibles are not strongly curved.

Fossils
Fossils are known from:.

Nomenclature

 *  GONIOMMA [Myrmicinae: Pheidolini]
 * Goniomma Emery, 1895c: 298 [as subgenus of Stenamma]. Type-species: Aphaenogaster blanci, by subsequent designation of Wheeler, W.M. 1911f: 164.
 * Goniomma subgenus of Oxyopomyrmex: Wheeler, W.M. 1910g: 140.
 * Goniomma raised to genus: Emery, 1908e: 460; Forel, 1917: 241.

Fossils
Queen

Jessen (2020) - For fossil Goniomma only: BL 7–8 mm. Head wider than long, it becomes narrower towards the front. Antenna 12-segmented with weak 4-segmented club. Scape hardly bended at base, clearly extending occipital margin. Mandibles triangular, with 6–7 triangular-shaped teeth. Apical tooth bigger and curved. Eyes located below heads mid length. Anterior clypeal margin fairly straight; it shows no distinct convex line. Alitrunk large, wide and arched. Propodeal spines unclear. Wing venation with closed cell mcu, and 1+2r. Cell mcu barely trapezoid, almost square. Vein 1RS remarkably short. Veins rs-m, 2RS+M, 2-3RS and 5RS and 3M are thin and weakly sclerotized. Therefore cell rm is strongly reduced. Sclerotization of veins in general weak. Legs brown. Body darker than legs. Petioles anterior face is continuously ascending, posteriorly it is steeply descending. Top of petiolar node is not rounded. Helcium low, postpetiole wide, only slightly constricted towards gaster. First gastral tergite distinctly longer than the others.