A redescription of Buthacus ahaggar from Algeria

 

Ersen Yagmur and co-workers have recently published a redescription of Buthacus ahaggar Lourenço, Kourim & Sadine, 2017 (Buthidae) from Algeria based on new materials. The female is described for the first time.

Abstract:
Buthacus ahaggar Lourenço, Kourim & Sadine, 2017 was originally described based on a male holotype specimen from the Tamanrasset Region, Algeria. In this study, the morphology of the species is redescribed based on additional specimens collected from the same region, including both sexes. We describe the female morphology here for the first time. A detailed color illustration is also provided.

Reference:
Yağmur EA, Benali N, Derradj L. First Description of the Female and Morphological Analysis of Buthacus ahaggar Lourenço, Kourim & Sadine, 2017 (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Commagene Journal of Biology. (1):1–5. [Open Access]

Thanks to Noureddine Benali for informing me about their new article!

Family Buthidae 

New study on the genus Auyantepuia and two new species from French Guiana

 

The status of the genus Auyantepuia (Gonzalez-Sponga, 1978) (Chactidae) is controversial and some authors have synonymized the genus with other genera. In the recent years, several authors have accepted the validity of this genus, and The Scorpion Files has now listed the genus and the species originally placed within the genus.

Recently, Eric Ythier and co-workers have published a phylogenomic analysis of the genus Auyantepuia in French Guiana. Current species are diagnosed and two new species are described.

Auyantepuia kwata Ythier, Chevalier, Moreau & Murienne, 2025  

Auyantepuia mammandian Ythier, Chevalier, Moreau & Murienne, 2025 

The article has an identification key for the nine known species in French Guiana.

Abstract:
A review of the scorpions of the genus Auyantepuia (Scorpiones, Chactidae) in French Guiana is conducted using an integrative taxonomic approach combining molecular analysis performed on the mitochondrial genome of most species occurring in the territory and more traditional morphological analyses, leading to the descriptions of two new species, Auyantepuia kwata sp. nov. and Auyantepuia manmandinan sp. nov. Diagnoses are presented for all Auyantepuia species occurring in French Guiana and an identification key is proposed. The total number of recognized species in the genus Auyantepuia species is raised to 15.

Reference:
Ythier E, Chevalier J, Moreau L, Murienne J. A phylogenomic analysis of the genus Auyantepuia (Scorpiones: Chactidae) in French Guiana with the descriptions of two new species. European Journal of Taxonomy. 2026(1034):31–57. [Open Access]

Thanks to Eric for sending me this article!

Family Chactidae 

Sexual stings in scorpions - knock-out drug or love potion?

 

I have taken the liberty to steal the title of Yuqi Reitsema-Wang and co-workers very interesting review article on sexual stings in scorpion that was published recently. Scorpions use their venom and sting for several purposes like defense and prey capturing. Less known is the sexual stings that have been observed as a part of the courtship for several species of scorpions.

The authors give an introduction to this fascinating behavior in scorpions and discuss what is known about the composition of the venom used in sexual stings (venom metering, prevenom, venom heterogeneity and venom plasticity), how do males control the delivery of venom during sexual stings and how do sexual stings affect the females (are they drugged into submission or is the venom a "love potion" encouraging the females to mate?). In addition, the authors also discuss the evolution of sexual stings in scorpions.

The article is open about not having the answers to the mystery of sexual stings and suggest how to further investigate this special behavior in the future.

Abstract:
Conspecific male to female envenomation, though rare, has been documented across venomous taxa. While traditionally interpreted as a coercive mating strategy to enhance male reproductive success and to avoid cannibalism, this explanation may not fully account for the behaviour in scorpions, which exhibit minor sexual size dimorphism and complex courtship rituals. This review explores the possibly multifaceted roles of sexual stinging in scorpions. We highlight potential adaptive strategies, such as venom metering and compositional plasticity, that allow males to subdue females without causing lethal harm. We discuss hypotheses on the evolution of sexual stings, ranging from sexual coercion to chemical seduction and cooperative signalling. Finally, we propose future research directions, including comparative venomics, behavioural assays, and ecological studies, to shed light on the selective pressures that shape this enigmatic behaviour. By integrating insights from physiology, ecology, and evolution, this review advances our understanding of sexual envenomation as a dynamic interplay between conflict and cooperation in scorpion reproductive strategies.

Reference:
Reitsema-Wang Y, Simone Y, Jenner R, Lüddecke T, Herzig V, Krämer J. Sexual stings in scorpions-knock-out drug or love potion? Frontiers in Arachnid Science. 2025;4:1688532. [Open Access]

A new species of Ananteris from northeastern Brazil

 

Wilson Lourenco and Eric Ythier recently published an article describing a new species of Ananteris Thorell, 1891 (Ananteridae) from the state of Maranhão in Brazil.

Ananteris penitente Lourenco & Ythier, 2025

Abstract:
A new species of the genus Ananteris Thorell, 1891 is described from the South of the state of Maranhão in Brazil. Ananteris penitente sp. n. is described based on one male specimen collected in the region of the Serra do Penitente, nearby the Rio Panela, in a transitional zone between Gallery Forests and Cerrados. This is the third Ananteris species recorded from this Brazilian state. The number of Ananteris species described from the Northeast region of Brazil is raised to nine, while the number of Ananteris species known for the scorpion fauna of Brazil is now raised to 32.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Ythier E. A new synthesis for the genus Ananteris Thorell, 1891 (Scorpiones: Ananteridae) for the northeast region of Brazil and description of a new species. Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2025(47):19–24. [Full text supplied by authors]

Thanks to Eric for informing me about their new article!

Family Ananteridae 

The discovery of the genus Uroplectes on Madagascar and the Comoros Islands and some taxonomical decisions

 

In a recent article, Wilson Lourenco and co-workers present some taxonomic analysis on the genus Uroplectes Peters, 1861 (Buthidae) after discovering the presence of this genus on Madagascar. Here are the main findings/decisions:

Uroplectes nigrimanus (Pocock, 1890) from Kenya and Tanzania is revalidated to species status after been in synonymy with  Uroplectes fischeri (Karsch, 1879).

Uroplectes nigrimanus nigrocarinatus (Kraepelin, 1913) is reserved for the populations in Madagascar. The subspecies Uroplectes fischeri nigrocarinatus Kraepelin, 1913, which was used for the population from Tanzania, is synonymized with Uroplectes nigrimanus typicus (Pocock, 1890).

Uroplectes nigrimanus maore Lourenco, Wilme & Ythier, 2025. New subspecies used for the populations in the island of Mayotte.

Uroplectes xanthogrammus Pocock, 1897 from Tanzania is synonymized with Uroplectes nigrimanus (Pocock, 1890). 

Abstract:
A taxonomic analysis is proposed for the species of the genus Uroplectes Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) present in Oriental Africa and associated with Uroplectes nigrimanus (Pocock, 1890), species originally known from Kenya. U. nigrimanus is revalidated at present and two subspecies namely Uroplectes nigrimanus nigrocarinatus (Kraepelin, 1913), a priori described from Madagascar and Uroplectes nigrimanus maore ssp. nov., described here from specimens collected in Mayotte, are defined here as subspecies of U. nigrimanus. Comments are also added about the possible ways of dispersion of Uroplectes species from African coast to Madagascar and Mayotte.

Reference:
Lourenço WR, Wilmé L, Ythier E. A propos de la présence du genre Uroplectes Peters, 1861 à Madagascar et aux Comores: caractérisation de deux populations avec la définition de deux sous-espèces distinctes (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Revue Arachnologique. 2025;Serie 2(12):42–9.

Thanks to Gerard and Eric for sending me this article and for answering my questions! 

Family Buthidae

A new species of Opisthacanthus from Madagascar

 

Wilson Lourenco and co-workers have recently described a new species of Opisthacanthus Peters, 1861 (Hormuridae) from the Baie d’Antongil, located in the North-East portion of Madagascar.

Opisthacanthus antongil Lourenco, Wilme & Ythier, 2025

The distribution and biogeography of the genus is also discussed.

Abstract:
New comments are presented on the extraordinary diversity of the genus Opisthacanthus in Madagascar, with a similar number of species as in continental Africa, and a larger number of species than in Neotropical region. An African centre of origin can always be suggested for this group of scorpions, particularly in account of some associated Cretaceous fossil elements. The Gondwana model proposed equally suggests that the Madagascar Opisthacanthus could be closer to those of the New World, which is consistent with the affinities observed in morphological characters. A further new species, Opisthacanthus antongil sp. n., is described from the Baie d’Antongil, in a dense humid forest, located in the North-East portion of Madagascar. The new species shows particular affinities with Opisthacanthus piceus Lourenço & Goodman, 2006 known from the humid forests of the National Park of Andohahela, South of Vohibaka, located in the South-East portion of the island. The new species and O. piceus share similar external morphologies and in particular a blackish general coloration, with the exception of the telson’s coloration; however, the general chetotaxy is markedly different. The total number of species in Madagascar is now raised to 15. Hypotheses are also proposed about the species which inhabit humid formations in Madagascar.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Wilme L, Ythier E. On the Malagasy species of Opisthacanthus peters, 1861 distributed in rainforest formations (Scorpiones: Hormuridae). Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2025(47):73–81. [Full text supplied by authors]

Family Hormuridae 

New study on taxonomy, distribution and habitat of the medical important genus Hemiscorpius in Iran

 

The genus Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861 (Hemiscorpiidae) is the probably the main scorpion taxa outside the family Buthidae that can cause death and serious morbidity in humans. This genus is represented with eight species in Iran and information about taxonomy, distribution and habitat preferences is very information to prevent sting cases.

Hossein Dehghan and co-workers have recently published a study on morphology, genetics, and ecological niche modeling to clarify the taxonomy and distribution of Hemiscorpius in southern Iran. The study also resulted in a new species from the Kerman Province.  

Hemiscorpius aratta Barahoei & Prendini, 2025

Abstract:
Eight species of the medically important scorpion genus Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861 have been reported in Iran, three of which are responsible for most of the severe clinical cases of envenomation. However, morphological similarity complicates species delimitation in this genus, hindering the identification of species implicated in envenomations. The present study integrates morphology, DNA sequences, and ecological niche modeling to clarify the taxonomy and distribution of Hemiscorpius in southern Iran, providing taxonomic insights relevant to public health and biodiversity conservation. Morphometric analyses were performed to evaluate size and shape differences; molecular phylogenetic analyses were conducted on DNA sequences of the mitochondrial Cytochrome c Oxidase Subunit I gene; and species distribution models, based on occurrence records and bioclimatic variables, were developed. Morphometric analyses revealed significant interspecific differences and sexual dimorphism. A new species was identified and described as Hemiscorpius aratta sp. n. Molecular phylogenetic analysis confirmed the distinctiveness of the new species and revealed intraspecific variation in the type species, Hemiscorpius lepturus Peters, 1861, suggesting possible cryptic diversity. Southern Iran, particularly the coastline of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, represents a diversity hotspot for Hemiscorpius. Topographical barriers such as the Jebal Barez, Makkoran, and Zagros Mountain ranges promoted isolation and speciation, leading to high levels of endemism in the genus. Ecological niche models revealed that the distributions of Hemiscorpius species are strongly influenced by temperature and precipitation. Coastal species are restricted to thermally stable maritime habitats, whereas semi-arid species occupy regions with higher temperature seasonality. Range-restricted species are habitat specialists, vulnerable to environmental change. This study reinforces the importance of integrating morphological, molecular, and ecological data for resolving taxonomic ambiguity.

Reference:
Dehghan H, Amiri Ghanat Saman E, Madjdzadeh SM, Amiri M, Moeinadini A, Prendini L, et al. Molecules, Morphometrics and Modeling of the Medically Important Genus Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Hemiscorpiidae) in Iran Reveal New Species from Kerman. Insects. 2025;17(1):18. [Open Access]

Thanks to Gerard for informing me about this article!

Family Hemiscorpiidae