Key to Acanthomyrmex

This worker key is based on: [[Media:Moffet 1986c.pdf| Moffett, M.W. 1986. Revision of the myrmicine genus Acanthomyrmex. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology. 151:55-89. [15.viii.1986.]]]

There is a key to minors and majors.

This key is dated, as the genus has almost doubled in size since its publication. Pecies missing from the key as of May, 2020: Acanthomyrmex glabfemoralis, Acanthomyrmex humilis, Acanthomyrmex malikuli, Acanthomyrmex minus, Acanthomyrmex mizunoi, Acanthomyrmex padanensis, Acanthomyrmex sulawesiensis and Acanthomyrmex thailandensis.

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Minor Workers
The minor workers of Acanthomyrmex dusun and Acanthomyrmex foveolatus are unknown.

1

 * Head convex across posterior margin, with at most a feeble medial concavity in full-face view . . . . . 2


 * Head distinctly concave across posterior margin . . . . . 4

2
return to couplet #1
 * Petiole without long, cylindrical spines laterally on apex of node . . . . . Acanthomyrmex notabilis 


 * Such spines are present . . . . . 3

3
return to couplet #2
 * Head with conspicuous alveolate sculpture . . . . . Acanthomyrmex ferox


 * Head virtually free of sculpture, smooth . . . . . Acanthomyrmex laevis

4
return to couplet #1
 * Head deeply concave across posterior margin . . . . . 5


 * Head feebly concave across posterior margin in full face view . . . . . 7

5
return to couplet #4
 * Propodeal spines in profile with a wide basal portion abruptly narrowing to shaft of spine . . . . . Acanthomyrmex basispinosus


 * Propodeal spines lack a distinct wide base . . . . . 6

6
return to couplet #5
 * Gaster with numerous long erect to suberect hairs; from Sri Lanka . . . . . Acanthomyrmex luciolae


 * Gaster virtually bare; from Sarawak . . . . . Acanthomyrmex concavus

7
return to couplet #4
 * Propodeal spines somewhat laterally compressed, appearing blade-like in lateral view; from Taiwan (Lanyu Island) . . . . . Acanthomyrmex crassispinus


 * Propodeal spines, cylindrical, not at all blade-like . . . . . 8

8
return to couplet #7
 * Well-developed small projecting lobes immediately on each side of medial hair on anterior margin of clypeus; funicular scrobes present . . . . . Acanthomyrmex mindanao


 * Medial clypeal lobes poorly developed; scrobes for scapes present, but these not bent down posteriorly to form funicular scrobes above eyes . . . . . Acanthomyrmex careoscrobis

Major Workers
The major workers of Acanthomyrmex careoscrobis, Acanthomyrmex concavus, and Acanthomyrmex laevis are unknown.

1MA

 * Posterior margin of head conspicuously bilobed when head viewed in full-face (luciolae group) . . . . . 2MA


 * Posterior margin of head not strongly bilobed, at most slightly emarginate mesad (notabilis group) . . . . . 6MA

2MA
return to couplet #1
 * Propodeal spines somewhat laterally compressed, appearing blade-like in lateral view; from Taiwan (Lanyu Island) . . . . . Acanthomyrmex crassispinus


 * Propodeal spines, cylindrical, not at all blade-like . . . . . 3MA

3MA
return to couplet #2
 * Propodeal spines in profile with a wide basal portion abruptly narrowing to shaft of spine . . . . . Acanthomyrmex basispinosus


 * Propodeal spines lack a distinct wide base . . . . . 4MA

4MA
return to couplet #3
 * Node of petiole with long lateral spines at apex . . . . . Acanthomyrmex ferox


 * Without long spines on petiole . . . . . 5MA

5MA
return to couplet #4
 * Head costate across frons; from Sri Lanka . . . . . Acanthomyrmex luciolae


 * Head lacking costae; from Borneo . . . . . Acanthomyrmex dusun

6MA
return to couplet #1
 * Postpetiole wide, less than 60% as long as it is wide in dorsal view . . . . . Acanthomyrmex notabilis


 * Postpetiole about as wide as it is long in dorsal view . . . . . 7MA

7MA
return to couplet #6
 * Dorsum of head with tiny, shallow foveae except for large foveae bordering antennal scrobes . . . . . Acanthomyrmex foveolatus


 * Foveae larger . . . . . Acanthomyrmex mindanao