Cataglyphis tartessica facts for kids

Cataglyphis tartessica is a special type of ant. It belongs to the Cataglyphis group, which are often called "desert ants" because many of them live in hot, dry places. This particular ant species is found only in Spain. You can mostly find it in the western part of Andalucia, in areas like Huelva, Seville, and Cadiz.

About Cataglyphis tartessica

Cataglyphis tartessica is part of a small group of ants that includes another species called Cataglyphis floricola. Scientists study these groups to understand how different ant species are related to each other.

What Does This Ant Look Like?

This ant species looks a lot like another ant called Cataglyphis velox. Both have a reddish-orange head and a black body part called the gaster. The gaster is the large, rounded part at the end of an ant's body.

However, there are some small differences. Cataglyphis tartessica is usually more orange in color. Cataglyphis velox tends to be more brownish.

One important way to tell them apart is by looking at their petiole. The petiole is a narrow waist-like segment that connects the thorax (middle body part) to the gaster. The shape of this part is unique for each species. Scientists use these tiny details to identify different ant types.