Genus Psalidomyrmex André (1890: 314)

In Tribe PONERINI. Plectroctena group

Diagnostic Features - Medium to large ants. Basic sculpture of large shallow foveolae or pits, from each of which a single seta arises, interspaces between the foveolae usually finely striate. Mandibles edentate to weakly toothed, varying in shape from subtriangular to falcate, always with the apex prolonged into a long, acute point. Basal mandibular groove distinct. Promesonotal suture distinct and mobile. Middle and hind tibiae with a single pectinate spur, claws simple. André's (1890) genus description is at .

Genus revised by Bolton (1975b), the genus members were described as rare and restricted to the forest zones (Bolton, 1973a).

Bernard (1952), whose findings included foveolatus from savanna, also described a queen of what he took to be a new species - "clavicornis" - but this was reassigned to the status of junior synonym of Pachycondyla talpa (by W.L. Brown, unpublished?, in Bolton, 1975b). Bolton & Brown (2002) have added a few extra findings.

Antennal variation as illustrated by Bernard (1952).

Key to African species (adapted from Bolton, 1975b):

1	Mandibles falcate, masticatory margin concave and with a number of short teeth	2
--	Mandibles subtriangular, with an elongate apical tooth, otherwise without teeth	4
2	In dorsal view the first gastral tergite strongly narrowed anteriorly; large species (HW > 2.50 PW > 1.70); mature adult black; TL 14.8-15.8 mm	West Africa, Congo Basin, east into Uganda - reichenspergeri
--	In dorsal view first gastral tergite not narrowed anteriorly; smaller species (HW < 2.50 PW < 1.70); adult colour red-brown	3
3	Spaces between foveolae on pronotal dorsum and first gastral tergite densely striate; antennal scapes relatively short (SI < 75); eyes small diameter > 0.26; TL 8.5 mm; dark red-brown, shiny	West Africa - foveolatus
--	Spaces between foveolae mostly smooth and shining; antennal scapes relatively long (SI > 80); eyes larger, diameter > 0.26; TL 9.6-11.4 mm; deep red-brown	Ghana - sallyae
4	Antennal scapes relatively long (SI 90-102); head relatively narrow; petiole longer than broad; TL 13.6-14.6 mm; black	Cameroun & Congo Basin - wheeleri
--	Antennal scapes shorter (SI 79-88); head relatively broad; petiole broader than long	5
5	Lobes of frontal carinae smooth and shining at level of antennal insertions. Median clypeus smooth or with transverse striations; TL 10.8-12.2 mm	Principé & Cameroun - feae
--	Lobes of frontal carinae uniformly striate. Median clypeus longitudinally striate; TL 11.4-16.2 mm; black	West Africa & Congo Basin - procerus