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Ocymyrmex

{{Short description|Genus of ants}}

{{Automatic taxobox

|image = Ocymyrmex ankhu casent0173611 profile 1.jpg

|image_caption = Ocymyrmex ankhu ergatoid queen

|display_parents = 2

|taxon = Ocymyrmex

|authority = Emery, 1886

|type_species = Ocymyrmex barbiger

|type_species_authority = Emery, 1886

|diversity_link = #Species

|diversity = 37 species

|diversity_ref = {{AntCat|429831|Ocymyrmex|2014|accessdate=4 July 2014}}

}}

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

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References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{cite web |url=http://www.antweb.org/description.do?name=Ocymyrmex&rank=genus&project=allantwebants |title= Genus: Ocymyrmex |website=antweb.org |publisher=AntWeb |access-date=23 September 2013}}

{{cite journal |last1=Bolton |first1=B. |author-link=Barry Bolton |last2=Marsh|first2=A. C. |date=1989 |title=The Afrotropical thermophilic ant genus Ocymyrmex (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). |journal=Journal of Natural History |volume=23 |issue= 6|pages=1267–1308 |doi=10.1080/00222938900770681|bibcode=1989JNatH..23.1267B }}

{{Cite journal | doi = 10.2982/028.101.0201| title = The Ants of Kenya (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)—Faunal Overview, First Species Checklist, Bibliography, Accounts for All Genera, and Discussion on Taxonomy and Zoogeography| journal = Journal of East African Natural History| volume = 101| issue = 2| pages = 127| year = 2013| last1 = Hita Garcia | first1 = F. | last2 = Wiesel | first2 = E. | last3 = Fischer | first3 = G. | s2cid = 84797311}}

}}

External links

  • {{commonscat-inline|Ocymyrmex|Ocymyrmex}}

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Category:Myrmicinae

Category:Ant genera

Category:Hymenoptera of Africa

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