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.

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 Alaopone 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)		lamottei-group lamottei & ueharae
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, kohli & militaris
7	Small, TL ca 8 mm-10 mm; head fairly rectangular but narrowing somewhat after the mid-point; with quite long mandibles and legs		gerstaeckeri-group gerstaeckeri, indocilis & quadratus

Subgenus Anomma introduction

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

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