The Ants of Africa
Genus Cataglyphis
Cataglyphis auratus Menozzi
albicans-group

Cataglyphis auratus Menozzi

return to key return to listIran list{link to the Hymenoptera Name Server} 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 {original description}.

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.


{Cataglyphis auratus type}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
{album}
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
{album}
Cataglyphis auratus ?
B Taylor det.
Queen
Sudan
Awatif Omer
48
2012
Al Musawart
16°32.66' N
33°46.71'  E

1
{album}

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

Polymorphism link page


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

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© 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 - Brian Taylor CBiol FRSB FRES
11, Grazingfield, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7FN, U.K.

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