Cataglyphis aurata

Identification
Salata et al. (2021) - Whole body yellow, only gaster sometimes with indistinctly infuscated apex; mesosoma, posterior head and coxa covered with a layer of silvery hair.

Cataglyphis aurata was separated from Cataglyphis livida based on the presence of a thick layer of silvery hair on its body. Probably, Karavaiev, during his work on C. aurata, was unaware of the existence of Cataglyphis arenaria'', another species described from the North African region characterized by the same feature. Study on type specimens and descriptions of both C. arenaria and C. aurata did not provide any characters useful separating these two species. Thus, we conclude that they could be conspecific. However, this hypothesis requires verification based on larger material collected from the whole area of their distribution, supported with studies on male genitalia, and genetic analyses. See also note in Cataglyphis argentata.

Distribution based on Regional Taxon Lists
Afrotropical Region: Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates. Palaearctic Region: Iran, Oman.

Nomenclature

 * . Cataglyphis albicans var. aurata Menozzi, 1932c: 95.
 * [First available use of Myrmecocystus albicans subsp. lividus var. auratus Karavaiev, 1911: 10 (w.) SUDAN; unavailable (infrasubspecific) name (Agosti, 1990b: 1491).]
 * As unavailable (infrasubspecific) name: Emery, 1925b: 262; Menozzi, 1927g: 380; Santschi, 1929b: 62 (in key); Stitz, 1932b: 737; Menozzi, 1934: 166; Finzi, 1936: 192; Bernard, 1953a: 201.
 * Subspecies of albicans: Menozzi, 1934: 157; Agosti, 1990b: 1491; Bolton, 1995b: 134.
 * Status as species: Collingwood & Agosti, 1996: 378; Collingwood, et al. 2011: 454; Borowiec, L. 2014: 52.

References based on Global Ant Biodiversity Informatics

 * Agosti D. 1990. Review and reclassification of Cataglyphis (Hymenoptera, Formicidae). Journal of Natural History 24: 1457-1505.
 * Bernard F. 1953. Les fourmis du Tassili des Ajjer. Pp. 121-250 in: Bernard, F. (ed.) 1953. Mission scientifique au Tassili des Ajjer (1949). Volume I. Recherches zoologiques et médicales. Paris: P. Lechevalier, 302 pp.
 * Borowiec L. 2014. Catalogue of ants of Europe, the Mediterranean Basin and adjacent regions (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Genus (Wroclaw) 25(1-2): 1-340.
 * Collingwood C. A., D. Agosti, M. R. Sharaf, A. Van Harten, 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod Fauna of the UAE 4: 405-474
 * Collingwood C.A., D.Agosti, M.R. Sharaf, and A. van Harten. 2011. Order Hymenoptera, family Formicidae. Arthropod fauna of the UAE, 4: 405474
 * Collingwood, C. A. and D. Agosti. 1996. Formicidae (Insects: Hymenoptera) of Saudi Arabia (Part 2) Fauna of Saudi Arabia 15: 300-385.
 * Karavaiev V. 1911. Ameisen aus Aegypten und dem Sudan. Rus. Entomol. Obozr. 11: 1-12.
 * Menozzi C. 1927. Risultati zoologici della Missione inviata dalla R. Società Geografica Italiana per l'esplorazione dell'Oasi di Giarabub (1926-1927). Formicidae (Hymenoptera).. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria. 52: 379-382.
 * Menozzi C. 1932. Spedizione scientifica all'Oasi di Cufra (marzo-luglio 1931). Formiche.. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale Giacomo Doria. 55: 451-456.
 * Menozzi C. 1934. Reperti mirmecofaunistici raccolti dal Prof. L di Caporiacco nelle oasi di Cufra e in altre localita del deserto Libico. Atti della Societa dei Naturalisti e Matematici di Modena (6)13(65): 153-166
 * Stitz H. 1932. Formicidae der Deutschen Limnologischen Sunda-Expedition. Arch. Hydrobiol. Suppl.-Bd. 9(Tropische Binnengewässer 2 2: 733-737