Genus Crematogaster - Subgenus Oxygyne
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The Ants of
Africa Genus Crematogaster - Subgenus Oxygyne |
| Genus Crematogaster Introduction |
Diagnostic Features - Antennae 11-jointed, with 3-segmented club. Frontal carinae short. According to Santschi (1935) the workers are completely lacking in erect hairs on the dorsum of the body, save for some on the anterior of the head and on the femora.
Arnold (1920a: 542) gave a translation and comments, this is at 
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Worker diagnosis of Crematogaster
(Oxygyne) (Blainer, 2012)
1. In lateral view, median portion of clypeus more or
less prominently convex and in full-face view
medially protruding over mandibles.
2. Masticatory margin of mandibles with four teeth.
3. Fronto-clypeal suture [notch] impressed, often anterior
portion of frons (above suture) transversely concave.
4. Head usually rounded and equally long as wide or slightly
wider than long, cephalic index 0.97–1.18.
5. Promesonotal suture often complete and distinct.
6. Propodeal spines present.
7. Subpetiolar process absent.
8. Postpetiole with median impression.
9. Leg length variable, fairly long to moderately short,
leg–body index 1.10–1.43, length of hind tibia 0.59–1.25 mm.
10. Body size highly variable, small to very large, head width
0.73–1.26 mm and Weber’s length 0.80–1.40 mm.
Blaimer, B. B. 2012. Untangling complex morphological variation:
taxonomic revision of the subgenus Crematogaster
(Oxygyne) in Madagascar, with
insight into the evolution and biogeography of this enigmatic ant clade
(Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Systematic
Entomology, 37, 240–260.
Separation of species (based on historical descriptions)
| 1 | Propodeal spines short, reduced to sharp denticles | 2 |
| - | Propodeal spines relatively long and narrow | 3 |
| 2 |  TL 2.9-3.3 mm;
black-brown; shiny with sculpturation mostly of fine
shagreening |
Cameroun & Congo Basin - margaritae |
| -- |  TL 3.0-3.5 mm; black
to dark brown; very finely
reticulate, effaced in small individuals; head longer than wide rounded
behind the eyes; antennal club indistinct 4-segmented; propodeum
convex, spines, short and dentiform |
Zimbabwe - donisthorpei |
| -- |  TL 2.9-3.4 mm; dull
black-brown; noticeably sculptured with short scapes, SI (j syn brevarmata) |
Cameroun & Congo Basin - lujae |
| . | Propodeal spines relatively long and narrow | . |
| 3 |  TL 3.5-4.0 mm; black,
moderately shining; head finely but
densely striate, alitrunk more coarsely longitudinally striate; no
pilosity but sparse fine yellowish pubescence; mandibles narrow but
with four teeth; scape surpassing occiput by one-third its length, club
distinctly 3-segmented; propodeal spines very acute, as long as dorsum
of propodeum |
South Africa - oscaris |
| -- |  TL < 2.0 mm; black
to dark brown; almost unsculptured,
very shiny; HL = HW rounded behind the eyes; antennal club 4-segmented;
propodeum convex, spines relatively long and sharpJ syn trautweini |
Cameroun, Congo Basin & South Africa - santschii |
| -- |  TL 3.0 mm; dark brown,
failrly highly shiny; head finely and faintly striate, alitrunk near smooth |
Cameroun - trautweini |
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MYRMICINAE Introduction |
© 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 - Brian
Taylor CBiol
FRSB FRES 11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K. |
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