Cerapachysii

The known species of Cerapachyinae are placed in  genera, two of which (Cerapachys and Sphinctomyrmex) occur in Australia. Species are known from throughout the world in tropical and subtropical areas although they are best represented in the Australian region and are rare in North and South America. They are noteworthy in that workers are specialist predators of other ants.

Identification
Species of Cerapachyinae can be separated from those belonging to other subfamilies by having the upper surface of the tip of the gaster (the pygidium) flattened and with a row of small spines or peg-like teeth along its outer and trailing edge. No other ants have this configuration of the tip of the gaster.

Regional Key
Australian Cerapachyinae Genera

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



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



Nomenclature
CERAPACHYINAE [subfamily of Formicidae]
 * Cerapachysii Forel, 1893a: 162 [as tribe of Ponerinae]. Type-genus: Cerapachys.
 * Cerapachyinae: Wheeler, W.M. 1920: 53 [as subfamily of Formicidae]; Clark, 1951: 15 (in key).
 * Junior synonym of Ponerinae: Brown, 1975: 14.
 * Revived from synonymy: Bolton, 1990a: 66.