A new species of Androctonus from Iran

 

 In a recent paper by Fatemeh Salabi and co-workers, a new species of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Buthidae) is described from the Khuzestan Province in Iran.

Androctonus nazarii Salabi, Zangi, Forouzan, Jahan-Mahin & Kazemi, 2025

Abstract:
Recent research has clarified the historically complex taxonomy of the medically significant scorpion genus Androctonus in Iran, chiefly by resolving the A. crassicauda Olivier, 1807 species complex and describing numerous new species. However, the taxonomic status of certain populations in Khuzestan Province (south-western Iran) has remained unsettled. Here, we describe a new species, Androctonus nazarii sp. nov., from Baghmalek in the Zagros Mountains of Khuzestan Province, Iran. The new scorpion species, Androctonus nazarii sp. nov., is described from two male specimens based on a suite of distinct morphological features. Its key diagnostic traits include a brownish-yellow coloration, a light brown carapace without ocular black patches and with fine granulation, uniformly yellow legs, and a specific yellowish-brown, finely granulated chela manus. The species is distinguished via detailed comparison with its closest relatives (A. crassicauda, A. zagrosensis, A. sumericus, and A. barahoeii). Its discovery fills an important taxonomic gap in south-western Iran and carries significant implications for public health and conservation. The new species is most similar to A. sistanus in overall light coloration but can be separated by the lack of black patches on the carapace and the uniformly yellowish-brown metasoma and telson, contrasting with the black metasomal segments IV–V and telson in A. sistanus.  The combination of coloration (uniformly brownish-yellow carapace, metasoma, and chela manus), granulation (densely and finely granulated carapace and internal chela manus, smooth intercarinal surface of tergite VII), and morphological features (smooth sixth sternite lacking carinae) serves to unequivocally diagnose A. nazarii sp. nov. from all other known species in the genus.  This discovery highlights the ongoing taxonomic diversity within Androctonus and underscores the importance of detailed morphological analysis for species delineation.

Reference:
Salabi F, Zangi B, Forouzan A, Jahan-Mahin MH, Mahdi Kazemi S. Androctonus nazarii, a new species of scorpions from Khuzestan Province, Iran 1 (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Archives of Razi Institute. 2025;In Press:1–26. [Open Access]

Thanks to Gerard for informing me about this article!

Family Buthidae 

A new species of Tityus from Ecuador

 

Wilson Lourenco and Elise-Anne Leguin have recently described a new species of Tityus C. L. Koch, 1836 (Buthidae) from Ecuador.

Tityus cuyabeno Lourenco & Leguin.

The article also comments on the distribution of a few other Tityus species in Eucador and the scorpion diversity in this country. 

Abstract: 
A new species of Tityus, subgenus Atreus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) is described from the Province of Sucumbíos in the Ecuadorian Amazonia. Although a noticeable number of studies have been produced on the Ecuadorian scorpion fauna in recent years, many regions of this country remain unexplored. Comments about the remarkable diversity present in Ecuador are addressed and discussed.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Leguin E-A. New comments on the scorpion diversity of Ecuador and descrption of a new species of Tityus C. L. Koch, 1836 (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2025(46):27–32. [No full text available]

Thanks to Michiel Cozijn for sending me this article!

Family Buthidae 

Niche partitioning in scorpions across neotropical dry-wet forests in Brazil

 

Species inhabiting the same ecosystem usually tries to find their own niche to avoid competition and predation. A ecosystem with high heterogeneity will probably provides more niches and thereby contribute to a higher diversity.

Andre Felipe de Araujo Lira have recently published an article looking into "spatial niche dynamics of a scorpion assemblage along a dry-wet bioclimatic gradient characterized by sharp transitions in precipitation and humidity regimes" in an area in Brazil.

The study concludes that "spatial niche dynamics of scorpion assemblages along the dry-wet bioclimatic gradient in Brazilian forests are strongly influenced by both microhabitat availability and species ecological specificity". Check out the article for further details.

Abstract:
Understanding spatial niche partitioning can provide useful insights into habitat use, especially in predator assemblages. This study investigated the spatial niche partitioning of scorpion assemblages along a dry-wet bioclimatic gradient in northeastern Brazil, encompassing the Atlantic Forest and two types of Caatinga ecosystems. Using microhabitat presence-absence data from 2692 specimens collected at 20 sites, were quantified niche volumes and overlaps through principal component analysis and kernel density estimation. Results showed that dominant species such as Ananteris mauryi and Tityus pusillus exhibit large niche volumes in the Atlantic Forest, while species distributions and niche breadth vary notably between hypoxerophytic and hyperxerophytic Caatinga. Intraspecific niche overlap was generally high for widely distributed species, reflecting behavioral plasticity and ecological adaptability. Conversely, species with specialized microhabitats exhibited lower niche overlap, indicating niche differentiation. Interspecific overlap varied with ecosystem complexity; high overlaps likely facilitate coexistence through spatial segregation and avoidance of intraguild predation. These findings emphasize the role of microhabitat availability and species ecological traits in shaping niche dynamics, contributing to species coexistence along environmental gradients. The study underscores the importance of habitat heterogeneity for maintaining scorpion diversity and informs conservation efforts aimed at protecting Neotropical dry and wet forest ecosystems.

Reference: 
de Araujo Lira AF. Niche partitioning in scorpions across neotropical dry-wet forests: an intra- and interspecific analysis. Acta Oecologica. 2025;129:104134. [Subscription required for full text]

An observation of scorpion predation on a gecko in Greece

 

Scorpions prey on a wide variety of invertebrate prey and generally you can say that they will catch and eat any prey they can subdue without to much risk.  As most of you probably know, they can catch and eat vertebrate prey too as long as the can subdue them. Cases of predation on amphibians, reptiles and even small mammals have been reported. 

In a recent paper, Noureddine Benali and Guillaume Gomard have described a case of vertebrate predation from Greece where an Aegaeobuthus gibbosus (Brullé, 1832) (Buthidae) was seen eating on a juvenile gecko Tarentola mauritanica (Linnaeus, 1758). 

The authors think that this is not an isolated case and that opportunistic scorpions will catch and eat any prey they can subdue.

Abstract:
We report a natural case of predation on the gecko Tarentola mauritanica (Linnaeus, 1758) by Aegaeobuthus gibbosus (Brullé, 1832) in Western Peloponnese, Greece. The event was recorded during a nocturnal survey in a sandy habitat. The scorpion was observed grasping the gecko with its pedipalps and feeding on it. This observation provides new insights into the trophic interactions of A. gibbosus.

Reference:
Benali N, Gomard G. Predation on the gecko Tarentola mauritanica (Linnaeus, 1758) (Squamata: Phyllodactylidae) by the scorpion Aegaeobuthus gibbosus (Brullé, 1832) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in western Peloponnese, Greece. Serket. 2025;21(1):60–3. [Full text supplied bu authors] 

Thanks to Noureddine Benali and Hisham El-Hennaway for sending me this article!  

First record of Lissothus occidentalis from Algeria

 

Mayssara El Bouhissi and co-workers recently published the first findings of Lissothus occidentalis Vachon, 1950 (Buthidae) from Algeria. This is a rare genus and new information about its distribution is very interesting. The article sums up the genus' distribution in North Africa. 

Abstract:
This note concerns a new record of Lissothus occidentalis Vachon, 1950 in Tindouf region of western Algeria. This discovery represents a significant eastward extension of the known distribution range of this species. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of the biological richness of the southern Saharan zones which is still poorly documented in terms of scorpions. The number of confirmed species of Lissothus in Algeria is raised to three.

Reference:
El Bouhissi  M, Hammou MA, Mohdeb S, Dahmani W, Cheddad A, Benali N, et al. First record of Lissothus occidentalis Vachon, 1950 from Algeria (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Serket. 2025;21(1):54–9. [Article supplied by authors]

Thanks to Noureddine Benali and Hisham El-Hennaway for sending me this article! 

A new species of Androctonus from Jordan

 

Bassam Abu Afifeh and co-workers recently published an article with the description of a new species of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Buthidae) from southern Jordan. 

Androctonus minaeus Abu Afifeh, Al-Saraireh & El-Hennaway, 2025 

The distribution of relevant species from Jordan and Egypt is also presented and discussed.

Abstract:
A new buthid scorpion species, Androctonus minaeus sp. n., is described from the Ma’an governorate in southern Jordan. This study provides a detailed morphological description, morphometric analysis, and diagnostic comparison with closely related species, particularly Androctonus bicolor and A. tenuissimus, using comparative material of these species from Egypt, along with ecological and distributional notes for each. Historical records of A. bicolor, A. amoreuxi, and A. australis from Jordan are reviewed and considered unverified due to the absence of supporting morphological data, and are therefore excluded from the confirmed scorpion fauna of Jordan pending further evidence. A distribution map of all examined specimens, along with previous records of related species from Egypt, is also provided to enhance our understanding of the geographic range and biogeography of this genus. The new species is distinguished by a unique combination of characters, including colouration, carinal development, and pedipalp proportions. The results contribute to a refined understanding of Androctonus diversity in the Levant and underscore the importance of critical reevaluation of regional scorpion records.

Reference:
Abu Afifeh B, Al-Saraireh M, El-Hennawy HK. A new Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 species from southern Jordan with implications for regional taxonomy and distribution (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Serket. 2025;21(1):12–32. [Open Access]

Thanks to Hirsham El-Hennaway for sending me scorpion articles published in Serket!

Family Buthidae 

 

An update on the description and the distribution of the endemic scorpion Orthochirus soufiensis in Algeria

 

Noureddine Benali and co-workers recently published an article on the endemic scorpion Orthochirus soufiensis Lourenço & Sadine, 2021 (Buthidae) from Algeria. 

The article reports of new findings of the scorpion and expanding the species' range in Algeria. In addition, the study presents an updated description of the species' morphology.

Abstract:
Orthochirus soufiensis Lourenço & Sadine, 2021 is an endemic scorpion of Algeria, recently discovered from El-Oued region (North-eastern Algeria) in desert area. This note concerns the distribution range update of this species with two new district localities; the first, over 265 km to the south, in the palm grove of Ouargla region (Eastern Algeria); and the second, more than 1000 km to the west, very close to the herbaceous Tamarix in Tindouf region (Southwest Algeria). These new localities may suggest a significant extension of the distribution area of this species to the detriment of the Orthochirus innesi. This work aims to reconsider the distribution of all scorpions in this vast country (Algeria), as well as the proposal of a condense field work, for a better knowledge of distribution of the scorpion fauna, especially in poorly or little prospected areas.

Reference:
Benali N, Boulila I, Meziane R, Menad FZ, El Bouhissi M, Hammou MA, et al. Distribution range and morphological update of Orthochirus soufiensis Lourenço & Sadine, 2021 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Algeria. Serket. 2025;21(1):44–53. [Article supplied by authors]

Thanks to Noureddine for sending me their article!

Family Buthidae