The Ants of Africa

The Ants of Africa
Genus Camponotus subgenus Tanaemyrmex
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) sarmentus Emery - new status

maculatus species group
TL 8-10-12 mm plus; alitrunk profile convex in a smooth elongated curve, propodeal declivity not or poorly separable from dorsum, if the latter always much shorter than dorsum; petiole scale of major cuneiform, with convex anterior face and quite sharp dorsal margin; mostly bicoloured with alitrunk lighter and distinct light areas on gaster; dimorphic (?) minors with head narrowed posteriorly but not dramatically so and without any "neck".

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) sarmentus Emery - new status

Type location Uganda (Camponotus (Myrmoturba) maculatus F., subsp. sarmentus n., Emery, 1920c: 14, illustrated, major & minor workers) Nssororo (Fort Wavertree); type location wrongly given as Tanzania in Bolton (1995: 122)

{Camponotus sarmentus} Emery's (1920c) description is at . Major TL 13 mm; black, mandibles ferruginous; funiculi, coxae and base of femur reddish-fulvous. Karewia, base of Mt Ruwenzori, collector Stuhlmann. 0.80º N 30.40º E

The specimens shown below from Uganda and Sudan have the morphology described by Emery, although apparently with rather less black areas. They certainly are distinct from the Camponotus maculatus type form but may be C. maculatus contaminatus see link for variation page.

The major has the flattened but not channeled tarsi mentioned by Emery; also the narrower more curved mandibles and the rounded corners to the anterior margin of the clypeus (sharp right angles in the type maculatus). The scapes are distinctly shorter and the hind femora and tibiae have coarse seta that are absent in the type maculatus.The minor head shape is much shorter behind the eyes. Not obviously very different to the variety cluisoides - see the Camponotus maculatus variation page

Camponotus sarmentus major The photomontage of the type (?) major worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0905270.

Camponotus sarmentus minor The photomontage of the minor worker from the type collection is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0905271.

Oxford University Museum specimens

Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) sarmentus B Taylor det. minor	Uganda C A Wiggins	18.v.1912 Entebbe 0°02'40"N 32°27'57"E	ca 4000' asl ca. 2 m NE of, E slope of Kitabi Hill Forest	1
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) sarmentus B Taylor det. major	Uganda C A Wiggins	19.vi.1909 Entebbe 0°02'40"N 32°27'57"E	ca 3800' asl open & woodland by lake	1
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) sarmentus B Taylor det.	Sudan Z Mahmoud 2009-21	Khartoum 15°35'003" N 32°32'05" E	Hand collected	5
Camponotus (Tanaemyrmex) sarmentus B Taylor det.	Sudan Awatif Omer 2013.02.04	2013 Abu Hijar 12˚52' N 34˚0' E	minor worket	1

{Camponotus sarmentus major} The photomontage is of a major worker collected in Uganda, Entebbe; collector C A Wiggins

{Camponotus sarmentus major} The photomontage is of a major worker from Sudan, Khartoum; collector Z Mahmoud.

{Camponotus sarmentus minor} The photomontage is of a minor worker from Uganda, Entebbe; collector C A Wiggins.

{Camponotus sarmentus minor} The photomontage is of a minor worker from Sudan, Khartoum; collector Z Mahmoud.

{Camponotus sarmentus minor} The photomontage is of a minor worker from Sudan, Abu Hijar; collector Awatif Omer.

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