Identification resources for Afrotropical Ants

The Arabian Peninsula is excluded fron this analysis, and species and genera cited only from this area are not incuded here. The genera cited only from this area are Aphaenogaster, Emeryopone and Iridomyrmex

Comoros is also excluded, as its fauna is more consistent with the Malagasy region. The genera cited only from this area are Eutetramorium, Ooceraea

Related information:
 * Afrotropical Region Species List

Acropyga
ID status is very good for this genus, mainly due to the works by LaPolla (2004), and LaPolla and Fisher (2005)

Antwiki keys are updated and cover all the species for the region

Afrotropical species

Aenictogiton
Males and workers (Borowiec, 2016) are known for this genus. There are seven valid species, all Afrotropical. The taxonomy can be regarded as unsatisfactory since it was never revised after the initial species descriptions. There are no keys available.

Afrotropical species

Aenictus
There is no modern revision available for the Afrotropical Region. A summary of the current castes described for every species can be found here: Afrotropical Aenictus summary

Afrotropical species

Agraulomyrmex
Prins (1983) described the genus and the two species belonging to it. No new species have been added since then.

Afrotropical species

Anillomyrma
Fisher & Bolton(2016) cite two undescribed species from Tanzania and South Africa.

Afrotropical species

Ankylomyrma
Monospecific genus: Ankylomyrma coronacantha Afrotropical species

Anochetus
Brown (1978) revision is valid, and no new species has been added since then.

Antwiki keys are updated and cover all the species for the region

Afrotropical species

Anoplolepis
Prins (1982) partially revises the genus for South Africa.

Afrotropical species

Aphomomyrmex
Monospecific genus: Aphomomyrmex afer Afrotropical species

Apomyrma
Single species genus Apomyrma stygia Afrotropical species

Asphinctopone
Hawkes (2010) modified Bolton & Fisher (2008) and covers all species for this genus

Antwiki key is based on that reference

Afrotropical species

Atopomyrmex
Species identification can be easily performed with the species key from Bolton (1981) and the diagnostic notes in Snelling (1992), who described a third species.

Afrotropical species

Axinidris
Snelling (2007) revision is valid, and no new species has been added since then.

Antwiki keys are updated and cover all the species for the region

Afrotropical species

Baracidris
Fernandez (2003) contains a key to the valid species described.

Antwiki key is based on that reference

Afrotropical species

Boloponera
Monospecific genus: Boloponera vicans Afrotropical species

Bondroitia
Only two species are known. The three castes of Bondroitia lujae are described, but the worker of Bondroitia saharensis remains unknown.

Bolton (1987) revises the genus.

Afrotropical species

Bothroponera
Joma & MacKay (2015) defines the Afrotropical species complexes and revises the pumicosa complex

For the rest of the species, the best available key for the Afrotropical species in this genus is Wheeler (1922). Although still interesting, the key is outdated and misses more than half the species and subspecies present in the Afrotropical Region.

Afrotropical species

Brachymyrmex
One species has been recorded for the Afrotropical Region as Brachymyrmex cordemoyi, although its identification needs to be confirmed. Afrotropical species

Brachyponera
Although no key is available for the afrotropical species, identification should be quite straightforward as only one introduced species (Brachyponera sennaarensis) and two subspecies (Brachyponera sennaarensis decolor, Brachyponera sennaarensis ruginota) have been cited for the region.

Afrotropical species

Calyptomyrmex
Revision of the the Afrotropical species by Bolton (1981) is still valid as no new species has been cited for the region.

Afrotropical species

Camponotus
This genus is in dire need of a profound revision, and the Afrotropical region is no exception to the rule. There are more than 250 described currently valid forms, but this number will increase probably by the dozens in the future.

A list of the Afrotropical species by subgenus can be found here

There is a comprehensive list of Afrotropical camponotus worker images, mainly types here

There are no recent valid keys, except for some minor species group (Robertson & Zachariades, 2007 )

Afrotropical species

Cardiocondyla
Key in Rigato (2002) offers ID for the Afrotropical Cardiocondyla except for Cardiocondyla zoserka, known from the queen caste only, and Cardiocondyla venustula. See also Seifert (2003)

Antwiki key is based on that reference

Afrotropical species

Carebara
There's ongoing work for the Afrotropical region, and some revisionary studies are being published as Fischer et al (2014) for the C. polita species group or Fischer et al (2015) for the Afrotropical C. phragmotica species group.

Other revisionary studies deal with genera now synonymyzed with Carebara
 * Aeromyrma: Weber (1952)
 * Carebara: Santschi (1914), Wheeler (1922)
 * Oligomyrmex: Santschi (1913), Weber(1950)
 * Paedalgus: Bolton & Belshaw(1993)

Afrotropical species

Cataglyphis
Four species and four subspecies have been reported for the region. There's no recent review for the Afrotropical Region

Afrotropical species

Cataulacus
Bolton (1982) revises the Afrotropical species. No new species have been described since then.

Antwiki key is based in this revision and covers all the Afrotropical species except Cataulacus voeltzkowi, cited from Comoros

Afrotropical species

Centromyrmex
Bolton & Fisher (2008) revise this genus. No new species have been added to the Afrotropical region since then.

Antwiki key is based in that reference and covers all the Afrotropical species

Afrotropical species

Crematogaster
Extremely diverse genus in the Afrotropical region, with more than 300 described species and subspecies. No revision is available

Afrotropical species

Cryptopone
Only one species has been cited for the Afrotropical region Cryptopone hartwigi Arnold, 1948 from South Africa

Afrotropical species

Cyphoidris
Bolton (1981) revises the genus. No species have been described since then

Antwiki keys are based on this reference, are valid and cover all the species for the Afrotropical Region.

Afrotropical species

Dicroaspis
The genus revision by Bolton (1981) is still valid as no new species has described.

Antwiki key is based on that reference

Afrotropical species

Diplomorium
One species recorded for the Afrotropical Region: Diplomorium longipenne Afrotropical species

Discothyrea
No revision is available for the genus in the Afrotropical region

Afrotropical species

Dolioponera
Monospecific genus: Dolioponera fustigera Afrotropical species

Dorylus
The taxonomy of this genus is in very poor state, and no reliable keys to species are available.

A list of the taxons described and images available can be found here

Afrotropical species

Eburopone
One species described for the Afrotropical region: Eburopone wroughtoni Forel, 1910 Afrotropical species

Ecphorella
Monospecific genus: Ecphorella wellmani Afrotropical species

Erromyrma
Monospecific genus: Erromyrma latinodis Afrotropical species

Euponera
No revision is available for the Afrotropical region

Afrotropical species

Feroponera
Monospecific genus: Feroponera ferox Afrotropical species

Fisheropone
Monospecific genus: Fisheropone ambigua Afrotropical species

Hagensia
Afrotropical species

Hypoponera
Bolton & Fisher (2011) revise the genus for the Afrotropical region. No new species has been described since then.

Afrotropical species

Lepisiota
Complex genus, with more than 70 species and subspecies described. No revision is available

Afrotropical species

Leptanilla
Baroni Urbani (1977) offers a key that covers the Afrotropical species known from workers (Leptanilla boltoni). The other two species (Leptanilla africana and Leptanilla australis) are known only from males

Afrotropical species

Leptogenys
Bolton (1975) revises the genus for the Afrotropical and Malagasy regions. No new species has been described since then.

Afrotropical species

Linepithema
One species recorded for the Afrotropical Region: Linepithema humile Afrotropical species

Lioponera
All the Afrotropical species have been transferred from Cerapachys (Borowiec 2016).

Brown (1975) revises the Afrotropical species as part of Cerapachys.

Antwiki key includes all the Afrotropical species except the three described only for males: Lioponera decorsei, Lioponera nigra, Lioponera similis

Afrotropical species

Loboponera
Bolton & Brown (2002) revises the genus and Fisher (2006) adds the species Loboponera nobiliae

Antiwiki key covers all the species for the genus

Afrotropical species

Megaponera
One species (Megaponera analis) and four subspecies (Megaponera analis crassicornis, Megaponera analis rapax, Megaponera analis subpilosa, Megaponera analis termitivora) are cited for the Afrotropical region.

No revision is available for the genus in the Afrotropical region, and the only key available is Santschi (1930) as Megaloponera

Afrotropical species

Melissotarsus
Bolton (1982) revises the Afrotropical species.

Antwiki key is based on that reference, and does not cover Melissotarsus insularis from Comoros Islands

Afrotropical species

Meranoplus
Revision of the the Afrotropical species by Bolton (1981) is still valid as no new species has been cited for the region. Afrotropical species

Mesoponera
No revision is available for the genus in the Afrotropical region. Santschi (1935) revises the Afrotropical species, and Bernard (1953) offers a key for the subgenus Xyphopelta.

Afrotropical species

Messor
Bolton (1982) revises the Afrotropical species.

This key is dated but can be useful for identifying many Messor specimens collected in the Afrotropical region, covering all the species cited (excluding Arabian Peninsula), except Messor ferreri decribed by Collingwood in 1993, and Messor incisus and Messor ruginodis whose types are lost.

Antwiki key is based in this revision and covers all the Afrotropical species

Afrotropical species

Metapone
Genus revised worlwide by Taylor & Alpert (2016). One species present in the Afrotropical region Metapone africana Taylor & Alpert 2016

Afrotropical species

Microdaceton
Genus revised in Bolton (2000). No new species has been described since then

Afrotropical species

Monomorium
No new species has been decribed since Bolton (1987), who revises the genus for the Afrotropics.

Antwiki key is based on that reference.

Afrotropical species

Myrmicaria
Diverse genus, with round 50 species and subspecies described for this region.

No revision is available for the genus in the Afrotropical region

Afrotropical species

Mystrium
Only one species is found in the African continent: Mystrium silvestrii, and two more for the Comoros Islands

Afrotropical species

Nesomyrmex
Hita garcia et al (2016) revises the genus, defining four species groups and revising one of them.

The South African species were revised by Mbanyana & Robertson(2008)

Antwiki key mixes both references offering a complete key for all the Afrotropical species.

Afrotropical species

Nylanderia
Lapolla, Hawks & Fischer (2011) revision is valid, and no new species has been added since then.

Antwiki keys are updated and cover all the species for the region

Afrotropical species

Ocymyrmex
Bolton & Marsh (1989) revision is valid, and no new species has been added since then.

Antwiki keys are updated and cover all the species for the region

Afrotropical species

Odontomachus
Brown 1976 revises the genus. His key is modified to include the introduced species Odontomachus simillimus.

Antwiki key covers the three reported species for the Afrotropical Region

Afrotropical species

Oecophylla
One species present (Oecophylla longinoda) with seven subspecies. There's no recent revision available for the genus.

Afrotropical species

Ophthalmopone
No revision is available for this region

Afrotropical species

Paltothyreus
One species present (Paltothyreus tarsatus) with six subspecies described. There's no recent revision available for the genus.

Afrotropical species

Paraparatrechina
Lapolla & Fisher (2104) revise the genus for the Afrotropical and Malagasy regions.

Antwiki key is based on that reference and covers all the species present.

Afrotropical species

Paratrechina
LaPolla & Fisher (2014) revises the genus.

Antwiki key is based on that reference and covers all the species for the Afrotropical region.

Afrotropical species

Parasyscia
All the Afrotropical species have been recently transferred from Cerapachys (Borowiec 2016)

Brown (1975) revises the Afrotropical species as part of Cerapachys.

Antwiki key includes the Afrotropical species except those belonging to the cribrinodis group

Afrotropical species

Parvaponera
One widespread species present (Parvaponera darwinii) with one subspecies (Parvaponera darwinii africana).

Afrotropical species

Petalomyrmex
Monospecific genus: Petalomyrmex phylax Afrotropical species

Pheidole
No revision is available for the Afrotropical region. A list of Afrotropical Pheidole by species group following Fischer et al (2012) can be found HERE

Fischer et al (2012)also offer a revision of the pulchella group

Afrotropical species

Phrynoponera
No revision is available for the Afrotropical region

Afrotropical species

Plagiolepis
No revision is available for the Afrotropical region

Afrotropical species

Platythyrea
Brown (1975) revises the genus, covering all the species for the region but Platythyrea matopoensis and Platythyrea viehmeyeri.

Afrotropical species

Plectroctena
Bolton & Brown (2002) revises the genus and Fisher (2006) adds the species Plectroctena thaui

Antiwiki key covers all the species for the genus

Afrotropical species

Polyrhachis
Rigato (2016) revises the genus. Antwiki valid key is based on that reference.

The key appearing in the former revision by Bolton (1973) is conserved as OUTDATED

Afrotropical species

Ponera
The key present in Taylor (1967) covers the three species reported for the Afrotropical Region

Afrotropical species

Prionopelta
No revision is available for the Afrotropical region

Afrotropical species

Pristomyrmex
Wang (20003) revises the genus.

Antwiki key is based on that reference and covers all the Afrotropical species

Afrotropical species

Probolomyrmex
No revision is available for the Afrotropical region

Afrotropical species

Proceratium
Baroni Urbani & de Andrade (2003) revise the genus. Hita Garcia et al (2014) revises the genus in the Afrotropical region.

Afrotropical species

Promyopias
Monospecific genus: Promyopias silvestrii Afrotropical species

Psalidomyrmex
Bolton & Brown (2002) revises the genus and the keys are valid as no new species has been added since then

Afrotropical species

Santschiella
Monospecific genus: Santschiella kohli Afrotropical species

Simopone
Bolton & Fisher (2012) revises the genus, offering a key to all the species in the Afrotropical Region

Afrotropical species

Solenopsis
No revision is available for the Afrotropical region

Afrotropical species

Stigmatomma
No revision is available for the Afrotropical region, but separation beteween the two species belonging to this genus after Yoshimura & Fisher (2012) is offered in the Antwiki key

Afrotropical species

Streblognathus
The genus was revised by Robertson (2002). No species have been described since then

Antwiki key is based on that reference

Afrotropical species

Strumigenys
Bolton (2000) revises the tribe in a worldwide basis.

There are two keys available for the afrotropical region, one for the species treated as Strumigenys in the revision, and other for the species treated as Pyramica and transferred to Strumigenys after the revision

Afrotropical species

Syllophopsis
This genus was formerly part of Monomorium, and as such was revised for the Afrotropics by Bolton (1987).

The hildebrandti group is revised for the Afrotropics by Sharaf& Aldawood (2013)

Afrotropical species

Tapinolepis
No revision is available for the Afrotropical region

Afrotropical species

Tapinoma
No revision is available for the Afrotropical region

Afrotropical species

Technomyrmex
No revision is available for the Afrotropical region

Afrotropical species

Temnothorax
Prebus (2015) revision is valid, and no new species has been added since then.

Antwiki keys are updated and cover all the species for the region

Afrotropical species

Terataner
Bolton (1981) revises the genus. No species have been described since then.

Antwiki keys are based on this reference, are valid and cover all the species for the Afrotropical Region.

Afrotropical species

Tetramorium
Hyperdiverse genus which has now more than 250 described species, but future revisions will rise this number up to 500. The works by Bolton (1976), (1980) and (1985) are still valid fo identifying the afrotropical species, but recent revisions are adding new species constantly.

A provisional list of the species groups and species complexes can be found here:


 * Afrotropical Tetramorium species group key

The key to species groups is based on Bolton 1980 adding the decem group following Hita & Fisher (2014). Due to the constant revisionary work, this key is being updated to reflect the list cited above, and must be handled with care.

The species groups are detailed here:


 * Afrotropical Tetramorium species groups

And the current state of each group in Antwiki is as follows:


 * Groups with recent revisionary works and updated:
 * aculeatum: Key to species
 * decem: Diagnosis, Key to species
 * tortuosum (Afrotropical species under the capillosum species complex): Key to species
 * weitzeckeri: Diagnosis and key to species complexes; Key to species.


 * Groups not recently revised, but with keys based on the latest available reference:
 * angulinode: Key to species
 * bicarinatum: Key to species
 * caespitum: One species Tetramorium nautarum
 * camerunense: Key to species
 * capenseKey to species
 * convexum: Key to species
 * dumezi: Key to species
 * ericae: Key to species
 * flabellum: Key to species
 * gabonense: Key to species
 * globulinode: Key to species
 * grassi: Key to species
 * inezulae: Key to species
 * osiris: Key to species
 * quadridentatum: Key to species
 * shiloense: Key to species
 * simillimum: Key to species
 * Groups not recently revised and with keys under construction:


 * sericeiventre
 * setigerum
 * solidum
 * squaminode

Afrotropical species

Tetraponera
The only revision for the genus is Ward (2006) where he defined the species groups for the Afrotropical region and revised the ambigua group.

Afrotropical species

Trichomyrmex
This genus was formerly part of Monomorium, and as such was revised for the Afrotropics by Bolton (1987).

Afrotropical species

Vicinopone
Monospecific genus: Vicinopone conciliatrix Afrotropical species

Wasmannia
One species recorded for the Afrotropical Region: Wasmannia auropunctata Afrotropical species

Xymmer
Monospecific genus: Xymmer muticus Afrotropical species

Zasphinctus
The two Afrotropical species have been recently transferred from Sphinctomyrmex (Borowiec 2016). Both species are known only from males.

Afrotropical species