The Ants of Africa SUBFAMILY DORYLINAE - Subgenus Anomma comparative study and revision 2002, amended 2007
Subgenus Anomma introduction

This page deals with the sources of information on the subgenus Anomma and gives a suggested separation of the described species into species-groupings - a key to separate the species is linked at Subgenus Anomma key to species; also examined are the Subgenus Anomma comparison of the gastral apices.

Note - At the time of writing, December 2007, Caspar Schöning and Daniel Kronauer, are preparing a fresh analysis of Dorylus taxonomy. I anticipate that may show some of my interpretations of the species to be incorrect. In April (2008) Schöning et al. have synonymized D. gerstaeckeri and lamottei under Dorylus gribodoi, note they decline to separate it as in Anomma or Dorylus - http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2008/f/zt01749p052.pdf.

Species known only from sexual stages

Dorylus (Anomma) bishyiganus van Boven - queen
Dorylus (Anomma) funereus Emery - male; junior synonyms acherontus Santschi, pardus Santschi, stygis Santschi and zumpti Santschi
Dorylus (Anomma) niarembensis van Boven - queen
Dorylus (Anomma) nigricans Illiger - male (but see below)
Dorylus (Anomma) stanleyi Forel - male

The overall size, TL ca 19 mm, and mandible shape would appear to place Dorylus atratus Smith in subgenus Dorylus and not Anomma as given by Emery (1895j: 723).

I have tried to separate what is known of the males on MALES.

Time line of Anomma forms

New key to species-groups 2007 - grouping derived from original descriptions and relationships

See also the Subgenus Anomma comparison of the gastral apices

.	Major or soldier	Minima	Grouping
.	Long-legged with petioles longer than they are wide	.
1	Head widest mid-length, near parallel sided forward of that point, with rounded posterior angles; mandibles moderate; scapes relatively long & slender; in profile head depth ca 0.75 of HW and HL; TL max ca 12.5 mm		burmeisteri-group burmeisteri, molestus, nigricans & rubellus
2	Large, TL ca 13 mm; head widest at about the one-fifth point, with smoothly convex sides and sharp posterior angles; in profile head bulbous much deeper than other groups; mandibles very long and sharp; scapes relatively long & slender; generally more robust than burmeisteri-gp. Apart from the elongated processes at the postero-lateral extremities of the head wilverthi generally fits with the other arcens-group species		arcens-group arcens, mayri, terrificus & wilverthi
3	Characterised by the head being widest at the anterior end and narrowing significantly from front to back, with almost straight sides and sharp posterior angles; the latter never produced into distinct teeth (unlike wilverthi)		sjoestedti-group rufescens, sjoestedti & victoriae
.	Short-legged with petioles shorter than they are wide	.
4	Relatively large, TL to 13 mm; head near square, rectangular; characterised by the short domed petiole, which seen from above is straight-sided and near square		emeryi-group emeryi, opacus & titan
5	Small less than 8 mm; head square, petiole short and domed/globular - possible link to Dorylus (Dorylus)		gribodoi-group gribodoi, ueharae and Gabon species
6	Head near rectangular distinctly longer than wide and narrower posteriorly; petiole short in profile generally domed (some with a flat top); generally not more than TL 10 mm (congolensis to 12.5 mm)		kohli-group congolensis, indocilis, kohli & militaris & quadratus

Subgenus Anomma introduction

© 2007, 2008, 2009 - Brian Taylor CBiol FIBiol FRES 11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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