Aphaenogaster swammerdami

Aphaenogaster swammerdami is a common and abundant species known to have an omnivorous diet consisting of arthropods and seeds (Boehing-Gaese et al., 1996, 1999; Fisher, 2003). Their underground nests can be large and have been found to be shared with the snakes Madagascarophis colubrinus (Schlegel, 1837) and Leioheterodon modestus (Günther, 1863); it is an important secondary seed disperser of Commiphora guillaumini (Burseraceae) (Böhning-Gaese et al. 1999).

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Malagasy Region: Madagascar.

Biology
The type specimens of Tetramorium tsingy, an ant only known known from a few individuals, were collected from a nest of A. swammerdami..

Castes
Additional images can be found on the Aphaenogaster swammerdami'' category page.

Nomenclature

 *  swammerdami. Aphaenogaster (Ischnomyrmex) swammerdami Forel, 1886c: cvi (w.) MADAGASCAR. Forel, 1891b: 168 (q.m.); Wheeler, G.C. & Wheeler, J. 1977: 584 (l.). Combination in Stenamma (Ischnomyrmex): Forel, 1907e: 14; in Aphaenogaster (Deromyrma): Forel, 1913b: 350. Current subspecies: nominal plus clara, curta, spinipes.