''Ocymyrmex'' is an African
genus of
ants in the
subfamily
In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
Myrmicinae
Myrmicinae is a subfamily of ants, with about 140 extant genera; their distribution is cosmopolitan. The pupae lack cocoons. Some species retain a functional sting. The petioles of Myrmicinae consist of two nodes. The nests are permanent and ...
, also commonly known as hotrod ants.
Distribution and habitat
Species are
thermophilic (thrives at relatively high temperatures) and live in dry
savanna to extreme
desert
A desert is a barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to denudation. About on ...
conditions in parts of the
Afrotropics
The Afrotropical realm is one of Earth's eight biogeographic realms. It includes Africa south of the Sahara Desert, the majority of the Arabian Peninsula, the island of Madagascar, southern Iran and extreme southwestern Pakistan, and the island ...
.
They seem to be restricted to Southern and Eastern Africa, with no species occurring in West and Central Africa, or the
sub-Sahara
Sub-Saharan Africa is, geographically, the area and regions of the continent of Africa that lies south of the Sahara. These include West Africa, East Africa, Central Africa, and Southern Africa. Geopolitically, in addition to the African co ...
n
Sahel
The Sahel (; ar, ساحل ' , "coast, shore") is a region in North Africa. It is defined as the ecoclimatic and biogeographic realm of transition between the Sahara to the north and the Sudanian savanna to the south. Having a hot semi-arid c ...
ian Zone.
Their nests are located deep in the ground, usually in sandy soil, with colonies consisting of 200 to 1000 individuals.
Adapted to arid climates, they move remarkably fast during the day. They feed mainly on corpses of heat-stricken animals, living
termites and seeds.
Species
*''
Ocymyrmex afradu
''Ocymyrmex'' is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, also commonly known as hotrod ants.
Distribution and habitat
Species are thermophilic (thrives at relatively high temperatures) and live in dry savanna to extreme desert ...
''
Bolton & Marsh, 1989
*''
Ocymyrmex alacer
''Ocymyrmex'' is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, also commonly known as hotrod ants.
Distribution and habitat
Species are thermophilic (thrives at relatively high temperatures) and live in dry savanna to extreme desert ...
''
Bolton & Marsh, 1989
*''
Ocymyrmex ankhu''
Bolton, 1981
*''
Ocymyrmex barbiger
''Ocymyrmex'' is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, also commonly known as hotrod ants.
Distribution and habitat
Species are thermophilic (thrives at relatively high temperatures) and live in dry savanna to extreme desert ...
''
Emery, 1886
*''
Ocymyrmex cavatodorsatus
''Ocymyrmex'' is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, also commonly known as hotrod ants.
Distribution and habitat
Species are thermophilic (thrives at relatively high temperatures) and live in dry savanna to extreme desert ...
''
Prins, 1965
*''
Ocymyrmex celer
''Ocymyrmex'' is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, also commonly known as hotrod ants.
Distribution and habitat
Species are thermophilic (thrives at relatively high temperatures) and live in dry savanna to extreme desert ...
''
Weber, 1943
*''
Ocymyrmex cilliei
''Ocymyrmex'' is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, also commonly known as hotrod ants.
Distribution and habitat
Species are thermophilic (thrives at relatively high temperatures) and live in dry savanna to extreme desert ...
''
Bolton & Marsh, 1989
*''
Ocymyrmex cursor
''Ocymyrmex'' is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, also commonly known as hotrod ants.
Distribution and habitat
Species are thermophilic (thrives at relatively high temperatures) and live in dry savanna to extreme desert ...
''
Bolton, 1981
*''
Ocymyrmex dekerus
''Ocymyrmex'' is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, also commonly known as hotrod ants.
Distribution and habitat
Species are thermophilic (thrives at relatively high temperatures) and live in dry savanna to extreme desert ...
''
Bolton & Marsh, 1989
*''
Ocymyrmex engytachys
''Ocymyrmex'' is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, also commonly known as hotrod ants.
Distribution and habitat
Species are thermophilic (thrives at relatively high temperatures) and live in dry savanna to extreme desert ...
''
Bolton & Marsh, 1989
*''
Ocymyrmex flavescens
''Ocymyrmex'' is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, also commonly known as hotrod ants.
Distribution and habitat
Species are thermophilic (thrives at relatively high temperatures) and live in dry savanna to extreme desert ...
''
Stitz, 1923
*''
Ocymyrmex flaviventris
''Ocymyrmex'' is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, also commonly known as hotrod ants.
Distribution and habitat
Species are thermophilic (thrives at relatively high temperatures) and live in dry savanna to extreme desert ...
''
Santschi, 1914
*''
Ocymyrmex foreli
''Ocymyrmex'' is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, also commonly known as hotrod ants.
Distribution and habitat
Species are thermophilic (thrives at relatively high temperatures) and live in dry savanna to extreme desert ...
''
Arnold, 1916
*''
Ocymyrmex fortior
''Ocymyrmex'' is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, also commonly known as hotrod ants.
Distribution and habitat
Species are thermophilic (thrives at relatively high temperatures) and live in dry savanna to extreme desert ...
''
Santschi, 1911
*''
Ocymyrmex gariepensis''
Bolton & Marsh, 1989
*''
Ocymyrmex gordoni''
Bolton & Marsh, 1989
*''
Ocymyrmex hirsutus''
Forel, 1910
*''
Ocymyrmex ignotus''
Bolton & Marsh, 1989
*''
Ocymyrmex kahas
''Ocymyrmex'' is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, also commonly known as hotrod ants.
Distribution and habitat
Species are thermophilic (thrives at relatively high temperatures) and live in dry savanna to extreme desert ...
''
Bolton & Marsh, 1989
*''
Ocymyrmex laticeps''
Forel, 1901
*''
Ocymyrmex micans''
Forel, 1910
*''
Ocymyrmex monardi
''Ocymyrmex'' is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, also commonly known as hotrod ants.
Distribution and habitat
Species are thermophilic (thrives at relatively high temperatures) and live in dry savanna to extreme desert ...
''
Santschi, 1930
*''
Ocymyrmex nitidulus''
Emery, 1892
*''
Ocymyrmex okys''
Bolton & Marsh, 1989
*''
Ocymyrmex phraxus''
Bolton, 1981
*''
Ocymyrmex picardi''
Forel, 1901
*''
Ocymyrmex resekhes
''Ocymyrmex'' is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, also commonly known as hotrod ants.
Distribution and habitat
Species are thermophilic (thrives at relatively high temperatures) and live in dry savanna to extreme desert ...
''
Bolton & Marsh, 1989
*''
Ocymyrmex robecchii''
Emery, 1892
*''
Ocymyrmex robustior''
Stitz, 1923
*''
Ocymyrmex shushan''
Bolton, 1981
*''
Ocymyrmex sobek''
Bolton, 1981
*''
Ocymyrmex sphinx''
Bolton, 1981
*''
Ocymyrmex tachys''
Bolton & Marsh, 1989
*''
Ocymyrmex turneri
''Ocymyrmex'' is an African genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae, also commonly known as hotrod ants.
Distribution and habitat
Species are thermophilic (thrives at relatively high temperatures) and live in dry savanna to extreme desert ...
''
Donisthorpe, 1931
*''
Ocymyrmex velox''
Santschi, 1932
*''
Ocymyrmex weitzeckeri''
Emery, 1892
*''
Ocymyrmex zekhem''
Bolton, 1981
References
External links
*
Myrmicinae
Ant genera
Hymenoptera of Africa
{{myrmicinae-stub