Acanthomyrmex ferox

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Indo-Australian Region: Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia. Oriental Region: Thailand.

Biology
Soldiers have specialized morphological traits that allow two distinct functions: (1) trophic eggs are produced in ovaries (6 ovarioles) that are the same as in queens (Gobin & Ito 2000); (2) mandibles are modified in shape to crush fig seeds, just as in queens. A. ferox colonies (n=49) have 25±11 workers and 2.6±1.5 soldiers (Gobin & Ito 2000).

Ito, Gobin and Hashim (2017) - Foragers can be found on the forest floor and on low vegetation, typically in gaps and forest edges where sunlight reaches the ground (Ulu Gombak field station, Peninsular Malaysia). Nests occur in small dead twigs and accumulated dead leaves. Fig seeds were collected by the workers with field observations revealing the source of these seeds were from bird droppings. In the laboratory workers would also harvest fig seeds when offered, suggesting the seeds would be collected if found independent of bird feces.

Nomenclature

 *  ferox. Acanthomyrmex ferox Emery, 1893f: 245 (footnote), pl. 6, fig. 11 (w.) WEST MALAYSIA. Moffett, 1986c: 72 (s.q.m.). Senior synonym of dyak: Moffett, 1986c: 70. See also: Moffett, 1985a: 165.
 * dyak. Acanthomyrmex dyak Wheeler, W.M. 1919e: 86 (s.w.) BORNEO. Junior synonym of ferox: Moffett, 1986c: 70.