Afrotropical Tetramorium species groups

NOTE: this page is benefiting from the invaluable comments of Paco Hita-Garcia, and reflect some unpublished points of view about the genus structure.

The following species groups are defined according to Bolton (1980) with the following modifications:


 * Species groups from the former genus Triglyphothrix according to Bolton (1976) are kept as valid species groups. Exception to this rule are Tetramorium arnoldi, placed under the simillimum group by Bolton (1980), and Tetramorium rothschildi moved to solidum species group following Bolton (1985)


 * A new globulinode group is created with the former Rhoptromyrmex species


 * A new decem  group is defined following Hita-Garcia & Fischer (2014)


 * weitzeckeri group structure follows Hita-Garcia et al (2010)

Although Bolton (1980) consistently defined the species groups, some species belong to a species group but are best identified in another. The full list for these species is: You may also be interested in:

Key to Afrotropical species groups

aculeatum group (former Macromischoides genus)
Key to species


 * Tetramorium aculeatum (Mayr, 1866)
 * Tetramorium africanum (Mayr, 1866)
 * Tetramorium rimytyum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium rotundatum (Santschi, 1924)

angulinode group
Key to species
 * Tetramorium angulinode Santschi, 1910
 * Tetramorium calinum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium chloe (Santschi, 1920)
 * Tetramorium legone Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium minusculum (Santschi, 1914)
 * Tetramorium sudanense (Weber, 1943)
 * Tetramorium zapyrum Bolton, 1980

bicarinatum group
Key to species

bicarinatum species complex cristatum species complex emeryi species complex
 * Tetramorium amentete Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium bicarinatum (Nylander, 1846)
 * Tetramorium peutli Forel, 1916
 * Tetramorium phasias Forel, 1914
 * Tetramorium pullulum Santschi, 1924
 * Tetramorium cristatum Stitz, 1910
 * Tetramorium gazense Arnold, 1958
 * Tetramorium notiale Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium emeryi Mayr, 1901
 * Tetramorium erectum Emery, 1895

caespitum group

 * Tetramorium nautarum Santschi, 1918

camerunenese group
Diagnosis, Key to species

camerunense species complex
 * Tetramorium boehmei Hita Garcia & Fisher, 2010
 * Tetramorium browni Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium camerunense Mayr, 1895
 * Tetramorium gegaimi Forel, 1916
 * Tetramorium hapale Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium ictidum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium luteipes Santschi, 1910
 * Tetramorium miserabile Santschi, 1918
 * Tetramorium ubangense Santschi, 1937
 * Tetramorium amissum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium lucayanum Wheeler, W.M., 1905
 * Tetramorium tychadion Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium versiculum Bolton, 1980

capense group
Key to species
 * ''Tetramorium arnoldi (Forel, 1913) (Doubtful placement in this group)
 * Tetramorium amatongae Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium capense Mayr, 1865
 * Tetramorium dominum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium lobulicorne Santschi, 1916

convexum group
Key to species
 * Tetramorium convexum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium wadje Bolton, 1980

decem group
Diagnosis, Key to species
 * Tetramorium decem Forel, 1913
 * Tetramorium raptor Hita Garcia, 2014
 * Tetramorium uelense Santschi, 1923
 * Tetramorium ultor Forel, 1913
 * Tetramorium venator Hita Garcia, 2014

dumezi group
Diagnosis, Key to species

dumezi species complex jauresi species complex meressei complex
 * Tetramorium candidum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium dumezi Menozzi, 1942
 * Tetramorium elidisum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium isipingense Forel, 1914
 * Tetramorium pialtum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium jauresi Forel, 1914
 * Tetramorium nodiferum (Emery, 1901)
 * Tetramorium qualarum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium meressei Forel, 1916
 * Tetramorium psymanum Bolton, 1980

ericae group
Key to species
 * Tetramorium antrema (Bolton, 1976)
 * Tetramorium crypticum (Bolton, 1976)
 * Tetramorium distinctum (Bolton, 1976)
 * Tetramorium ericae Arnold, 1917
 * Tetramorium menkaura (Bolton, 1976)
 * Tetramorium minimum (Bolton, 1976)
 * Tetramorium muscorum Arnold, 1926

flabellum group
Key to species

coloreum species complex flabellum species complex granulatum species complex pylacum species complex
 * Tetramorium coloreum Mayr, 1901
 * Tetramorium invictum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium postpetiolatum Santschi, 1919
 * Tetramorium ataxium Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium flabellum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium geminatum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium kestrum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium sigillum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium bellicosum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium granulatum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium pylacum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium saginatum Bolton, 1980

gabonense group
Key to species
 * Tetramorium agna (Santschi, 1935)
 * Tetramorium baufra (Bolton, 1976)
 * Tetramorium brevispinosum (Stitz, 1910)
 * Tetramorium constanciae Arnold, 1917
 * Tetramorium dedefra (Bolton, 1976)
 * Tetramorium eminii (Forel, 1894)
 * Tetramorium gabonense (André, 1892)
 * Tetramorium monardi (Santschi, 1937)
 * Tetramorium pulcherrimum (Donisthorpe, 1945)
 * Tetramorium sericeum Arnold, 1926
 * Tetramorium surrogatum Bolton, 1985
 * Tetramorium thoth (Bolton, 1976)

globulinode group
Key to species
 * Tetramorium caritum (Bolton, 1986)
 * Tetramorium critchleyi (Bolton, 1976)
 * Tetramorium globulinode (Mayr, 1901)
 * Tetramorium opacum (Emery, 1909)
 * Tetramorium transversinode (Mayr, 1901)

grassii group
Key to species


 * Tetramorium grassii Emery, 1895
 * Tetramorium plumosum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium regulare Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium titus Forel, 1910
 * Tetramorium vexator Arnold, 1926

inezulae group
Key to species
 * Tetramorium desertorum (Forel, 1910)
 * Tetramorium furtivum (Arnold, 1956)
 * Tetramorium gestroi (Menozzi, 1933)
 * Tetramorium imbelle (Emery, 1915)
 * Tetramorium inezulae (Forel, 1914)
 * Tetramorium microps (Mayr, 1901)
 * Tetramorium talpa (Bolton, 1976)
 * Tetramorium tenebrosum Arnold, 1926
 * Tetramorium trimeni (Emery, 1895)

osiris group
Key to species
 * Tetramorium osiris (Bolton, 1976)
 * Tetramorium reptana (Bolton, 1976)
 * Tetramorium yarthiellum (Bolton, 1976)

quadridentatum group
Diagnosis, Key to species
 * Tetramorium longoi Forel, 1915
 * Tetramorium magnificum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium quadridentatum Stitz, 1910
 * Tetramorium simulator Arnold, 1917
 * Tetramorium unicum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium viticola Weber, 1943

sericeiventre group
Diagnosis, Key to species

bequaerti species complex sericeiventre species complex
 * Tetramorium bequaerti Forel, 1913
 * Tetramorium bulawayense Forel, 1913
 * Tetramorium hortorum Arnold, 1958
 * Tetramorium xuthum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium asetyum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium gladstonei Forel, 1913
 * Tetramorium khyarum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium longicorne Forel, 1907
 * Tetramorium microgyna Santschi, 1918
 * Tetramorium petersi Forel, 1910
 * Tetramorium sepositum Santschi, 1918
 * Tetramorium sericeiventre Emery, 1877

setigerum group
Diagnosis, Key to species

perlongum species complex youngi species complex doriae species complex setigerum species complex
 * Tetramorium dolichosum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium perlongum Santschi, 1923
 * Tetramorium metactum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium youngi Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium doriae Emery, 1881
 * Tetramorium gracile Forel, 1894
 * Tetramorium praetextum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium agile Arnold, 1960
 * Tetramorium avium Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium frenchi Forel, 1914
 * Tetramorium laevithorax Emery, 1895
 * Tetramorium parasiticum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium setigerum Mayr, 1901

shiloense group
Key to species

somniculosum species group shilohense species complex dysderke species group subcoecum species group
 * Tetramorium somniculosum Arnold, 1926
 * Tetramorium diomandei Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium intonsum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium jugatum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium shilohense Forel, 1913
 * Tetramorium termitobium Emery, 1908
 * Tetramorium dysderke Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium amaurum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium subcoecum Forel, 1907
 * Tetramorium traegaordhi Santschi, 1914
 * Tetramorium typhlops Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium warreni Arnold, 1926

simillinum goup
Diagnosis, Key to species

oculatum species complex simillimum species complex
 * Tetramorium argenteopilosum Arnold, 1926
 * Tetramorium berbiculum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium bevisi Arnold, 1958
 * Tetramorium incruentatum Arnold, 1926
 * Tetramorium krynitum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium luteolum Arnold, 1926
 * Tetramorium oculatum Forel, 1913
 * Tetramorium altivagans Santschi, 1914
 * Tetramorium caldarium (Roger, 1857)
 * Tetramorium ghindanum Forel, 1910
 * Tetramorium intextum Santschi, 1914
 * Tetramorium mossamedense Forel, 1901
 * Tetramorium nefassitense Forel, 1910
 * Tetramorium nigrum Forel, 1907
 * Tetramorium pauper Forel, 1907
 * Tetramorium poweri Forel, 1914
 * Tetramorium pusillum Emery, 1895
 * Tetramorium zambezium Santschi, 1939
 * Tetramorium anxium Santschi, 1914
 * Tetramorium bothae Forel, 1910
 * Tetramorium buthrum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium delagoense Forel, 1894
 * Tetramorium rhetidum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium simillimum (Smith, F., 1851)

solidum group
Diagnosis, Key to species


 * Tetramorium aisha Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia 2018
 * Tetramorium barbigerum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium brigitteae Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia 2018
 * Tetramorium clunum Forel, 1913
 * Tetramorium dichroum Santschi, 1932
 * Tetramorium duncani Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia 2018
 * Tetramorium galoasanum Santschi, 1910
 * Tetramorium glabratum Stitz, 1923
 * Tetramorium grandinode Santschi, 1913
 * Tetramorium jordani Santschi, 1937
 * Tetramorium lerouxi Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia 2018
 * Tetramorium margueriteae Mbanyana, Robertson & Hita Garcia 2018
 * Tetramorium peringueyi Arnold, 1926
 * Tetramorium pogonion Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium rothschildi (Forel, 1907)
 * Tetramorium rufescens Stitz, 1923
 * Tetramorium setuliferum Emery, 1895
 * Tetramorium signatum Emery, 1895
 * Tetramorium solidum Emery, 1886

squaminode group
Diagnosis, Key to species

repentinumspecies complex squaminode species complex
 * Tetramorium repentinum Arnold, 1926
 * Tetramorium sitefrum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium akermani Arnold, 1926
 * Tetramorium do Forel, 1914
 * Tetramorium dogieli Karavaiev, 1931
 * Tetramorium flaviceps Arnold, 1960
 * Tetramorium frigidum Arnold, 1926
 * Tetramorium jejunum Arnold, 1926
 * Tetramorium matopoense Arnold, 1926
 * Tetramorium nube Weber, 1943
 * Tetramorium platynode Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium squaminode Santschi, 1911
 * Tetramorium umtaliense Arnold, 1926

tortuosum group
Diagnosis and world species complexes

This is a large group overall but it is not diverse in the Afrotropical region. The three species from this group in this region are grouped together in the:

capillosum species complex

Key to species


 * Tetramorium capillosum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium hecate Hita Garcia & Fisher, 2013
 * Tetramorium tabarum Bolton, 1980

weitzeckeri group
Diagnosis and key to species complexes, Key to species

T. edouardi species complex
 * Tetramorium edouardi Forel, 1894
 * Tetramorium mkomazi Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010
 * Tetramorium philippwagneri Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010
 * Tetramorium pinnipilum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium robertsoni Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010
 * Tetramorium rogatum Bolton, 1980
 * Tetramorium rubrum Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010
 * Tetramorium schoutedeni Santschi, 1924
 * Tetramorium zonacaciae (Weber, 1943)

T. muralti species complex T. weitzeckeri species group
 * Tetramorium akengense (Wheeler, W.M., 1922)
 * Tetramorium flavithorax (Santschi, 1914)
 * Tetramorium intermedium Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010
 * Tetramorium kakamega Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010
 * Tetramorium muralti Forel, 1910
 * Tetramorium occidentale (Santschi, 1916)
 * Tetramorium susannae Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010
 * Tetramorium trirugosum Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010
 * Tetramorium bendai Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010
 * Tetramorium boltoni Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010
 * Tetramorium guineense (Bernard, 1953)
 * Tetramorium humbloti Forel, 1891
 * Tetramorium mpala Hita Garcia & Fischer, 2014
 * Tetramorium renae Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010
 * Tetramorium snellingi Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010
 * Tetramorium tanaense Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010
 * Tetramorium weitzeckeri Emery, 1895

incertae sedis
Doubtful ID. Indian species cited from Nigeria, needs review
 * Tetramorium belgaense Forel, 1902