Sphinctomyrmex

Species of Sphinctomyrmex are specialist predators of other ants. They primarily forage 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, in downed wood and under stones. They may contain several hundred workers and up to 20 or more ergatoid queens. Some species from Australia seem to be comparatively army-ant like and have more or less dichthadiiform queens; these species perform mass raids on other ants and are presumably nomadic (Brown, 1975; Buschinger et al., 1990).

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.

Keys

 * Key to Malagasy and Afrotropical Cerapachyini genera
 * Key to Sphinctomyrmex of the Neotropics

Distribution
Sphinctomyrmex occurs in the tropics of the New and Old World. Most species occur in Australia (Brown, 1975; Bolton, 2012).

Species richness
Species richness by country based on regional taxon lists (countries with darker colours are more species-rich). View Data



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.