Dorylus (Typhlopone) oraniensis (Lucas) - revived status

Type location Algeria (Typhlopone oraniensis, Luc.", Lucas, 1849: 302, illustrated, worker, synonymy by Emery, 1888b: 350) from Western Algeria, in neighbourhood of Oran) - no images on Antweb (June 2014).

New synonymy here:
crosi (Dorylus (Typhlopone) fulvus var. crosi nov. var., Santschi, 1926e: 230, worker & male) from Algeria, Mascara, Dr A Cros, viii.1925 - see below
saharensis (Dorylus (Typhlopone) fulvus var. saharensis nov. var., Santschi, 1926e: 231, illustrated, worker & male) from "Sahara" = Algeria, Laghouat, 8.viii.1919, Surcouf - see below.

Lucas's (1849) description of oraniensis is at .
The illustration is unavailable on HNS but Nylander (1856b) gave the details shown right

Santschi's (1926e) revisionary note, with descriptions and illustrations of crosi, punicus, saharensis and ruficeps is at .

The photomontage is of the type major worker of saharensis collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0911365.

The photomontage is of the type worker of crosi collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0911356.

This is very similar to the media 1 worker from Tunisia (below).

The photomontage is of the type minor worker of saharensis collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0911366.

This is identical to the minima 1 worker from Senegal (below).

Oxford University Museum specimens

Dorylus (Typhlopone) oraniensis B Taylor det.	Tunisia T Lackner	16-17.iii.2003 Tozeur 33°55'14" N 8°7'60" E	.	7
Dorylus (Typhlopone) oraniensis B Taylor det.	Benin J-F Vayssieres RVA 2961	2.xi.2012 Korobourou 09°22'13'' N 02°40'16'' E	Mangifera indica orchard Quadrat 2, tube 1, variété: Kent Ground nesting Range of workers	3

The specimen shown in the photomontage is a major, from Southern Tunisia, Tozeur, collector T. Lackner, 16-17.iii.2003; and appears to match the (Emery 1915g) description of D. (D.) fulvus variety oraniensis, from Tunisia. The lower photograph is of three morphs from the Tunisia collection. The longitudinal groove on the propodeum, mentioned by Lucas as a differentiating feature, is clearly visible. Compared with the fulvus type redescription (W C Crawley for Santschi, 1928d) the metanotal groove is noticeably impressed rather than being "slightly indicated"; also the head does not narrow significantly at the occiput.