Cyphoidris

Cyphoidris Weber, 1952: 26. Type species (by monotypy): Cyphoidris spinosa Weber , 1952: 26 (Ituri Forest, 15 miles N of Beni, ZAIRE).

C. exalta (Bolton) , 1981: 258, fig. 17; Korup Reserve, CAMEROON.

C. parissa (Bolton) , 1981: 258; Gibi, LIBERIA.

C. spinosa (Weber) , 1952: 26, figs 7, 8; Ituri Forest, 15 miles N of Beni, ZAIRE.

C. werneri (Bolton) , 1981: 259; Rangiro, RWANDA.

Bolton (1981) suggested affinity between Lordomyrma and the Afrotropical genus Cyphoidris (Figs. 23, 24) Three characters putatively distinguishing the latter: (1) antennae 11- versus 12-merous; (2) palpal formula unreduced, maxillary 4: labial 3; and (3) propodeal spiracles close to the posterolateral margins of the declivity. The first feature remains characteristic of Cyphoidris versus Lordomyrma . The second is now known in at least one Asian Lordomyrma species ( L. azumai - see above), where others investigated here have reduced palpal formulae (3:3, 3:2 or 2:2). Bolton (2003) separately records palpal formulae 4:3, 3:3 and 3:2 for Lordomyrma . Character (3) is represented in some Indo-Australian species, while others have propodeal spiracles situated further forwards, towards the middle of the lateral wall of the sclerite. The character 'number of antennal segments', while still used with due discretion, is today accorded little of its former broad significance in myrmicine taxonomy and alone is insufficient to sustain Cyphoidris as a distinct genus. These African taxa are in fact quite close in habitus to the presumably conservative Lordomyrma species of Asia and Australia, and would perhaps have been assigned to Lordomyrma were they Indo-Australian.

Cyphoidris was comprehensively reviewed by Bolton (1981). C. parissa has been reported from West Africa, L. exalta and L. spinosa from Central Africa, and C. werneri from East Africa. C. spinosa was recorded by Bolton from Ituri Forest, Zaire (the type locality), Duque de Braganca Falls, Angola, and Agboville, Ivory Coast; the other species only from their type localities (see species list above). C. spinosa and C. exalta were well illustrated by Bolton (1981, figs 15-17) and the spinosa figures reproduced by Holldobler & Wilson (1990: 103).

TheANIC has specimens of C. exalta,C. spinosa and C. werneri , thanks to the generosity of Barry Bolton( BMNH ) and Dr C. Besuchet (Museum d'Histoire Naturelle, Geneva, Switzerland).

might constitute a biogeographically long-separated sister group to the Asian/Indo-Australian Lordomyrma species. Relevant phylogenetic investigations will need also to consider other, possibly related genera, including Bariamyrma Lattke, 1990, Dacetinops Brown & Wilson (see Taylor, 1985) Lachnomyrmex Wheeler (see Feitosa & Brandao, 2008) Lasiomyrma Terayama & Yamane, 2000, and Rogeria Emery (see Kugler, 1994; Lapolla & Sosa-Calvo, 2006).

Diagnosis of worker. 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 11 - 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.

An easily defined genus, Cyphoidris is the only African representative of a group of genera centring on Lordomyrma Emery, 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. Of the known species of Cyphoidris , exalta and spinosa are of Central African origin and inhabit the leaf litter layer; parissa originates in West Africa, and werneri is the only known East African representative of the genus.

Cyphoidris is a genus of ants in the subfamily Myrmicinae. The genus is known from Africa.