Afrotropical Tetramorium species groups

NOTE: this page is benefiting from the unvaluable comments of Paco Hita-Garcia, and reflect some unpublished points of view about the genus structure.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

 * ''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 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium invictum Bolton, 1980 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium postpetiolatum Santschi, 1919 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium ataxium Bolton, 1980 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium flabellum Bolton, 1980 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium geminatum Bolton, 1980 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium kestrum Bolton, 1980 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium sigillum Bolton, 1980 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium bellicosum Bolton, 1980 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium granulatum Bolton, 1980 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium pylacum Bolton, 1980 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium saginatum Bolton, 1980 Endemic to this region

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

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

grassii group

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

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

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

quadridentatum group

 * Tetramorium longoi Forel, 1915 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium magnificum Bolton, 1980 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium quadridentatum Stitz, 1910 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium simulator Arnold, 1917 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium unicum Bolton, 1980 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium viticola Weber, 1943 Endemic to this region

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

setigerum group
Diagnosis

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

shiloense group
Key to species

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

simillinum goup
Diagnosis, Key to species

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

solidum group
peringueyi species complex setuliferum species complex solidum species complex
 * Tetramorium dichroum Santschi, 1932 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium peringueyi Arnold, 1926 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium clunum Forel, 1913 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium galoasanum Santschi, 1910 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium rothschildi (Forel, 1907)
 * Tetramorium setuliferum Emery, 1895 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium barbigerum Bolton, 1980 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium glabratum Stitz, 1923 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium grandinode Santschi, 1913 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium jordani Santschi, 1937 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium pogonion Bolton, 1980 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium rufescens Stitz, 1923 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium signatum Emery, 1895
 * Tetramorium solidum Emery, 1886 Endemic to this region

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

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 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium hecate Hita Garcia & Fisher, 2013 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium tabarum Bolton, 1980 Endemic to this region

weitzeckeri group
Diagnosis and key to species complexes

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

T. muralti species complex
 * Tetramorium akengense (Wheeler, W.M., 1922) Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium flavithorax (Santschi, 1914) Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium intermedium Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium kakamega Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium muralti Forel, 1910 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium occidentale (Santschi, 1916) Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium susannae Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium trirugosum Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010 Endemic to this region

T. weitzeckeri species group
 * Tetramorium bendai Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium boltoni Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium guineense (Bernard, 1953)
 * Tetramorium humbloti Forel, 1891
 * Tetramorium mpala Hita Garcia & Fischer, 2014 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium renae Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium sepultum Bolton, 1980 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium snellingi Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium tanaense Hita Garcia, Fischer & Peters, 2010 Endemic to this region
 * Tetramorium weitzeckeri Emery, 1895

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