Diagnostic Features - All species polymorphic, with four or five worker classes, the largest usually functioning as soldiers. Eyes absent. Mandibles with the apical tooth long and acute (although the point is often worn away in older individuals), at least one other tooth on inner margin, usually more but larger workers with fewer teeth. Clypeus reduced so that antennal insertions are very close to the anterior margin of the head. Frontal carinae raised leaving the condylar bulbs of antennae exposed in dorsal view. Propodeum with its spiracle situated high on the side and far forward. Promesonotal suture present, mobile, metanotal groove absent. Pedicel of a single segment, but first gastral segment smaller than second. Pygidium impressed and armed at each side with a tooth or spine.

The male "sausage fly" form of the genus are remarkable and those of Anomma driver ants are reputed to be the largest of all known ant morphs. Similarly, the special large "dichthadiigyne" special form of queens, which are wingless, without ocelli, and capable of periodic egg production on a very large scale are particularly characteristic.

Key to males of African subgenera - after Emery (1910b) and J van Boven (1975: 197, see , which includes genus level separation of males and queens): All with 13-segmented antennae, the scape about one-third as long as the funiculus; clypeus short extending back between the short frontal carinae; mandibles without teeth; mesonotum a flattened dome in profile; all legs with flattened femora, tibiae narrow.