# The Ant Genus Oxyopomyrmex Wheeler (Formicidae, Myrmicinae) from the Peninsula Iberica: Two New Species and New Distributional Data

## TL;DR

This paper describes two new ant species in the genus Oxyopomyrmex from Spain, expanding the known diversity of this poorly studied group.

## Contribution

The study introduces two new Oxyopomyrmex species using advanced morphological analysis and SEM techniques.

## Key findings

- Two new Oxyopomyrmex species were identified in southern Spain.
- SEM provided detailed morphological insights for species differentiation.
- The Iberian Oxyopomyrmex species count increased from two to four.

## Abstract

Some ant species remain poorly studied due to characteristics such as low population density and cryptic behavior. This is the case for the genus Oxyopomyrmex in the Iberian Peninsula. Through a detailed biometric analysis incorporating scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and novel morphological variables, we were able to describe two new species. One of the key advantages of SEM is its ability to produce images with exceptional depth of field, surpassing that of conventional optical microscopy.

Two new species of the genus Oxyopomyrmex are described from Spain (Iberian Peninsula). The first belongs to the magnus group—characterized by a head more wide than long—and is distinguished by strongly developed cephalic striations, pale coloration (light brown) and a relatively small body size. To date, it has been recorded in the provinces of Jaén and Granada. The second species is even smaller in size, with very faint cephalic striations and short, triangular propodeal spines—morphological features that clearly set it apart from all previously known species. Its current distribution appears to be restricted to the province of Huelva, near the Atlantic coast, including the iconic Doñana National Park. With these additions, the number of Oxyopomyrmex species known from Spain increases from two to four. To date, sampling efforts have only focused on the southern part of the country, suggesting that additional, undiscovered species may still exist.