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 conditions in parts of the Afrotropics. They seem to be restricted to Southern and Eastern Africa, with no species occurring in West and Central Africa, or the sub-Saharan Sahelian 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 <small>Bolton & Marsh, 1989</small>
- Ocymyrmex alacer <small>Bolton & Marsh, 1989</small>
- Ocymyrmex ankhu <small>Bolton, 1981</small>
- Ocymyrmex barbiger <small>Emery, 1886</small>
- Ocymyrmex cavatodorsatus <small>Prins, 1965</small>
- Ocymyrmex celer <small>Weber, 1943</small>
- Ocymyrmex cilliei <small>Bolton & Marsh, 1989</small>
- Ocymyrmex cursor <small>Bolton, 1981</small>
- Ocymyrmex dekerus <small>Bolton & Marsh, 1989</small>
- Ocymyrmex engytachys <small>Bolton & Marsh, 1989</small>
- Ocymyrmex flavescens <small>Stitz, 1923</small>
- Ocymyrmex flaviventris <small>Santschi, 1914</small>
- Ocymyrmex foreli <small>Arnold, 1916</small>
- Ocymyrmex fortior <small>Santschi, 1911</small>
- Ocymyrmex gariepensis <small>Bolton & Marsh, 1989</small>
- Ocymyrmex gordoni <small>Bolton & Marsh, 1989</small>
- Ocymyrmex hirsutus <small>Forel, 1910</small>
- Ocymyrmex ignotus <small>Bolton & Marsh, 1989</small>
- Ocymyrmex kahas <small>Bolton & Marsh, 1989</small>
- Ocymyrmex laticeps <small>Forel, 1901</small>
- Ocymyrmex micans <small>Forel, 1910</small>
- Ocymyrmex monardi <small>Santschi, 1930</small>
- Ocymyrmex nitidulus <small>Emery, 1892</small>
- Ocymyrmex okys <small>Bolton & Marsh, 1989</small>
- Ocymyrmex phraxus <small>Bolton, 1981</small>
- Ocymyrmex picardi <small>Forel, 1901</small>
- Ocymyrmex resekhes <small>Bolton & Marsh, 1989</small>
- Ocymyrmex robecchii <small>Emery, 1892</small>
- Ocymyrmex robustior <small>Stitz, 1923</small>
- Ocymyrmex shushan <small>Bolton, 1981</small>
- Ocymyrmex sobek <small>Bolton, 1981</small>
- Ocymyrmex sphinx <small>Bolton, 1981</small>
- Ocymyrmex tachys <small>Bolton & Marsh, 1989</small>
- Ocymyrmex turneri <small>Donisthorpe, 1931</small>
- Ocymyrmex velox <small>Santschi, 1932</small>
- Ocymyrmex weitzeckeri <small>Emery, 1892</small>
- Ocymyrmex zekhem <small>Bolton, 1981</small>
References
External links