Atopomyrmex cryptoceroides

Strongly polymorphic arboreal ants that nest in the wood of standing trees. Atopomyrmex cryptoceroides forage arboreally, frequently coming down the trunk but only rarely venturing onto the ground. This species is confined to the rain-forest zones of west of central Africa, where it is sympatric with Atopomyrmex mocquerysi. (Bolton 1981)

Identification
Bolton (1981) - Answering to the description of Atopomyrmex mocquerysi and falling into the size range noted there; differing from mocquerysi as follows:

cryptoceroides - Sides of head behind eyes smooth and shining between widely scattered pits, not blanketed by reticulate-punctate sculpture and never with rugulae in this area; Propodeal dorsum strongly rugose, without or only with vestiges of punctate sculpture; Pronotal dorsum closely and coarsely rugose, without dense punctate ground-sculpture; Propodeal spines in dorsal view with their basal portions projecting outwards before angling backwards, the projecting portion concealing the spiracle which is not at all visible from above; Propodeal spiracle large and relatively close to the margin of the declivity below the spine; diameter of spiracle equal to or greater than the distance separating the spiracular hind margin from the edge of the declivity at its closest point.

mocquerysi - Sides of head behind eyes blanketed by dense reticulate punctate sculpture; sometimes rugulae may also occur in this area; Propodeal dorsum predominantly or entirely reticulate-punctate, if rugulae occur they are secondary to the punctuation; Pronotal dorsum usually with rugae present but with punctate ground-sculpture which is usually conspicuous and dense; Propodeal spines in dorsal view directed more or less evenly backwards, not projecting outwards basally; the spiracle (or at least its annulus) clearly visible from above; Propodeal spiracle smaller and some distance away from the margin of the declivity below the spine; diameter of spiracle less than the distance separating the spiracular hind margin from the edge of the declivity at its closest point.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe.

Nomenclature

 *  cryptoceroides. Atopomyrmex cryptoceroides Emery, 1892d: 561, pl. 15, figs. 5, 6 (q.) IVORY COAST. Subspecies of mocquerysi: Forel, 1913b: 336; Forel, 1915c: 343; Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 886. Revived status as species: Emery, 1924d: 240; Santschi, 1925h: 163 (in key). Senior synonym of deplanatus: Emery, 1899e: 477; of curvispina: Emery, 1912d: 273; Emery, 1924d: 240; of melanoticus: Bolton, 1995b: 75.
 * deplanatus. Atopomyrmex deplanatus Mayr, 1895: 113 (w.) SIERRA LEONE. Junior synonym of cryptoceroides: Emery, 1899e: 477.
 * curvispina. Atopomyrmex mocquerysi var. curvispina Forel, 1911c: 311 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. Arnold, 1916: 192 (q.). Junior synonym of cryptoceroides: Emery, 1912d: 273; Emery, 1924d: 240.
 * melanoticus. Atopomyrmex cryptoceroides var. melanoticus Santschi, 1925h: 153 (w.) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO. [First available use of Atopomyrmex mocquerysi subsp. cryptoceroides var. melanoticus Wheeler, W.M. 1922a: 182; unavailable name.] Junior synonym of cryptoceroides: Bolton, 1995b: 75. [Material of unavailable name formerly referred to cryptoceroides by Bolton, 1981b: 250.]

Type Material
Bolton (1981):

Holotype female, IVORY COAST: Assinie (c. Alluaud) (, Genoa) [examined].

Atopomyrmex deplanatus Holotype worker, Sierra Leone: 'Riv. N' Gamie, Chutes de Samlia (A. Mocquerys) (IRSNB, Brussels).

Atopomyrmex mocquerysi var. curvispina Syntype workers, Zaire: Kondue (E. Luja) (, Geneva) [examined].

Atopomyrmex mocquerysi subsp. cryptoceroides var. melanoticus Syntype workers, Zaire: between Lukolela and Basoko (H. O. Lang) [examined].