Cyphoidris

Cyphoidris
Cyphoidris spinosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Hymenoptera
Family:	Formicidae
Subfamily:	Myrmicinae
Tribe:	Crematogastrini
Genus:	Cyphoidris Weber, 1952
Type species
Cyphoidris spinosa
Diversity
4 species (Species Checklist, Species by Country) Cyphoidris spinosa Specimen Label

Evolutionary Relationships

Rostromyrmex Cardiocondyla Ocymyrmex Nesomyrmex Xenomyrmex Terataner Atopomyrmex Cataulacus Carebara Diplomorium Melissotarsus Rhopalomastix Calyptomyrmex Tetramorium Cyphoidris Dicroaspis Aretidris Vollenhovia Dacetinops Indomyrma Crematogaster Meranoplus Lophomyrmex Adlerzia Recurvidris Stereomyrmex Trichomyrmex Eutetramorium Royidris Malagidris Vitsika Huberia Podomyrma Liomyrmex Metapone Kartidris Mayriella Tetheamyrma Dacatria Proatta Dilobocondyla Secostruma Acanthomyrmex Myrmecina Perissomyrmex Pristomyrmex some Lordomyrma Propodilobus Lasiomyrma [some Lordomyrma Ancyridris some Lordomyrma Paratopula Poecilomyrma Romblonella Rotastruma Gauromyrmex Vombisidris Temnothorax Harpagoxenus Formicoxenus Leptothorax

Based on Ward et al. (2014) and Blaimer et al. (2018).

Of the known species of Cyphoidris, Cyphoidris exalta and Cyphoidris spinosa are of Central African origin and inhabit the leaf litter layer; Cyphoidris parissa originates in West Africa, and Cyphoidris werneri is the only known East African representative of the genus. All of these species have been found in the leaf litter but details about their biology are not known.

Identification

An easily defined genus, Cyphoidris is the only African representative of a group of genera centring on Lordomyrma, most of which have an Indo-Australian or Neotropic distribution. Cyphoidris is close to Lordomyrma itself but differs as the latter has 12-segmented antennae, a reduced palpomere count, and has the propodeal spiracle set well forward from the margin of the declivity. (Bolton 1981)

See images of species within this genus

 

Keys to Species in this Genus

• Key to Cyphoidris

Morphology

Worker Morphology

• Antennal segment count: 11
• Antennal club: 3
• Palp formula: 4,3
• Total dental count: 9-12
• Spur formula: 0, 0
• Sting: present

Male Morphology

 • Antennal segment count 10 • Antennal club 0 • Palp formula 4,3 • Total dental count 7 • Spur formula 0, 0

Nomenclature

The following information is derived from Barry Bolton's Online Catalogue of the Ants of the World.

• CYPHOIDRIS [Myrmicinae: Stenammini]
  • Cyphoidris Weber, 1952: 26. Type-species: Cyphoidris spinosa, by original designation.
• CYPHOMANNIA [junior synonym of Cyphomyrmex]
  • Cyphomannia Weber, 1938b: 183 [as subgenus of Cyphomyrmex]. Type-species: Cyphomyrmex (Cyphomannia) laevigatus, by original designation.
  • Cyphomannia subgenus of Cyphomyrmex: Weber, 1938b: 183; Weber, 1966: 166.
  • Cyphomannia junior synonym of Cyphomyrmex: Kempf, 1962b: 29; Kempf, 1972a: 92.

Worker

Bolton (1981) - Monomorphic myrmicine ants. Mandibles triangular with an elongate apical (masticatory) margin bearing 10-14 small teeth or denticles which decrease in size from apex to base. Palp formula 4, 3. Median portion of clypeus narrow and raised, bicarinate above and narrowly inserted between the frontal lobes. Lateral portions of clypeus unmodified, not forming a shield-wall or raised ridge in front of the antennal insertions. Frontal lobes not strongly expanded but covering the antennal insertions, prolonged posteriorly as a pair of strongly developed frontal carinae which form the dorsal margins of a pair of strong and conspicuous broad scrobes; the scrobes run back almost to the occiput. Ventral margin of scrobe a longitudinal ridge or ruga running above the eye, the latter of moderate size and situated in front of the midlength of the sides. Antennae II-segmented, with a conspicuous 3-segmented club apically. Alitrunk in profile with promesonotum fused and swollen, the dorsum dome-like and strongly convex in outline, much elevated above the level of the propodeum. Propodeum bispinose; the spiracle close to the margin of the declivity, the orifice circular and directed posteriorly. Metapleural lobes low and triangular. Petiole with an elongate anterior peduncle and well developed node. Sting terminating in a narrow spatulate appendage apically.

References

• Bolton, B. 1981. A revision of six minor genera of Myrmicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the Ethiopian zoogeographical region. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology. 43:245-307. PDF (page 257, Cyphoidris valid genus, and revision of genus)
• Brown, W. L., Jr. 1973b. A comparison of the Hylean and Congo-West African rain forest ant faunas. Pp. 161-185 in: Meggers, B. J., Ayensu, E. S., Duckworth, W. D. (eds.) Tropical forest ecosystems in Africa and South America: a comparative review. Wash (page 179, Cyphoidris as junior synonym of Lordomyrma [provisional])
• Weber, N. A. 1952a. Studies on African Myrmicinae, I (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Am. Mus. Novit. 1548: 1-32 (page 26, Cyphoidris as genus)