Cataglyphis auratus Menozzi

Iran list Type location Sudan/Egypt (Myrmecocystus albicans Rog. subsp. lividus Er. André var auratus nova., Karavaiev, 1911: 10, worker; Cataglyphis albicans var. aurata Karaw., Menozzi, 1932c: 95; raised to species by Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 378) collected in the desert at Shallal near Assuan (Aswan, in Egypt, 24°03'489" N 32°54'50" E, late March 1910), also from Omdurman near Khartoum (31.iii.1910), nesting in the sand, and Port Sudan, iv.1910).

Menozzi (1932c) simply noted having seen two workers from the oasis of Ghat, Fezzan, collected by Prof. Eduard Zavattari, 1931 (possibly a finding of Cataglyphis lividus fezzanensis). Karavaiev's (1911) description is at .

Collingwood & Agosti (1996) noted this as a member of the albicans-complex.  C. auratus is golden brown in colour; the head and alitrunk have fine reticulate sculpture; decumbent pubescence is well developed on the occiput and on the dorsum and sides of the propodeum; the gaster is brilliant with no hairs or pubescence; reported from Saudi Arabia, workers collected at Kudhm Dibi, 10.v.1981, by W. Büttiker.

The photomontage of the type worker is collated from http://www.antweb.org/specimen.do?name=casent0911100. Essentially the same size and form as the media 1 worker from Sudan, shown below.

Oxford University Museum specimens

Cataglyphis auratus B Taylor det.	Sudan Z Mahmoud 2009-70	23.iii.2010 Um Sayed 14°66'37.54" N 35°34'36.65" E	Hand collected	4
Cataglyphis auratus B Taylor det.	Sudan Awatif Omer 14	2012 El-Rawakeeb 15°36' N 32°10' E	El-Rawakeeb Research Station alt 390 m Media 2 worker	1
Cataglyphis auratus ? B Taylor det. Queen	Sudan Awatif Omer 48	2012 Al Musawart 16°32.66' N 33°46.71'  E		1

The photomontage is of a range of workers from Sudan, Um Sayed; hand collected by Prof. Zuheir Nour el Dayem Mahmoud.

Polymorphism link page

The photomontage is of a surmised queen from Sudan, Al Musawart; hand collected by Awatif Omer (Sudan 2013-48).