New cases of anatomical malformations in scorpions

  

There have been quite a few articles documenting anatomical malformations in scorpions (teratology). In a recent article, Danniella Sherwood and co-workers document three more cases of anatomical malformations in a Lychas C.L. Koch, 1845 species from Australia and Parabuthus raudus (Simon, 1888) from Botswana (both Buthidae).

Abstract:
Three cases of tergite malformation are described: two in Parabuthus raudus (Simon, 1888) from Botswana and one in Lychas sp. from Australia. One adult female P. raudus had tergite IV almost split into two parts, an anomaly that also affected tergites II–III. In another female P. raudus, a longitudinal depression presented across tergites I–IV. In Lychas sp., tergites I–II are strongly constricted transversely, exposing the adjacent pleural membrane dorsally.

Reference:
Sherwood D, Jessnitz V, Tang V. Three more cases of tergite malformation in two buthid scorpion species revealed from citizen science data (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2025(46):135–7. [Full text available by authors]

Thanks to Danniella for sending me their article!

A new species of Parabuthus from Ethiopia

 

Frantisek Kovarik and Hassan Elmi published this week a new species in my favorite genus Parabuthus Pocock, 1890 (Buthidae) from Ethiopia.

Parabuthus qaraaf Kovarik & Elmi, 2025

A map showing the distribution of the 19 known Parabuthus species from The Horn of Africa is also presented.

Abstract:
A new species Parabuthus qaraaf sp. n. from Ethiopia is described. Combination of six characters: metasoma V black; pectine teeth number 33–42 in both sexes; pedipalp chela length/ width ratio 3.3 in male and 4.2 in female; pedipalp patella length/ wide ratio 2.36–2.38 in both sexes; fingers of pedipalp of male with inner side of base smooth, no trace of tubercle; metasoma V length/ wide ratio is 1.50 in male distinguish P. qaraaf sp. n. from all other species in the region. Included is also a map of distribution of Parabuthus species in Horn of Africa, with newly confirmed localities for Parabuthus granimanus Pocock, 1895 and P. robustus Kovařík et al., 2019.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Elmi HSA. Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part XLII. Parabuthus qaraaf sp. n. from Ethiopia (Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2025(419):1–11. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

The medical importance of Tityus trivittatus in Brazil and its expanding distribution

 

As mentioned in several other posts, the expanding distribution of medical important Tityus C. L. Koch, 1836 (Buthidae) species in Brazil and other South American countries has had an increasing attention, especially because many of these species are also spreading into urban habitats.

 Paulo André Margonari Goldoni and co-workers have recently published an article looking into the epidemiology and expanding urban range distribution of Tityus trivittatus Kraepelin, 1898 (Buthidae) in Parana in Brazil.

The study confirms the need to map the distribution of medical important scorpions in the region and initiate public education programs related to the potential health consequences of scorpion stings. Fortunately, the sting cases examined involved local symptoms only (pain) and no serious cases.

Abstract:
The scorpion genus Tityus Koch, 1836, (Buthidae) includes most of the medically significant species in South America. Tityus trivittatus Kraepelin, 1898 occurs in urban areas and remnants of wet Chaco, Cerrado, and Atlantic Forest in Paraguay and Brazil. Despite a low overall risk of mortality, its wide distribution, parthenogenesis, and synanthropy, pose potential public health concerns. In Brazil, the envenomation cases remain largely unknown. Here we present the first epidemiological reports of this species in Brazil (municipality of Foz do Iguaçu), including new occurrences in the state of Paraná. In addition, we also estimate the spatial factors influencing the records of T. trivittatus in Paraná based on the examined material. A total of 355 specimens were recorded and examined, with proximity to populated areas being the main factor influencing the species sampling bias. For the epidemiological reports, all sting cases involved local pain and occurred typically in feet, hands or legs. All cases were considered successfully treated by the local medical professionals These findings highlight the need for enhanced surveillance of T. trivittatus in southern Brazil.

Reference:
Goldoni PAM, Iniesta LFM, Cequinel JC, Marques-da-Silva E, Brescovit AD. First epidemiological reports and urban range extension of Tityus trivittatus Kraepelin, 1898 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Paraná, Brazil. Studies in Environmental and Animal Sciences. 2025;6(2):e18435. [Open Access]

Thanks to Paulo for sending me their article!

Predator and prey - Scorpions vs. centipedes

 

Centipedes are known to catch and eat scorpions, but the role is also reversed sometimes. Both are known to be fierce predators that hunt a diversity of prey types, and it is not surprising that they sometimes hunt each other.

Danniella Sherwood and co-workers have recently published an article documenting 14 new cases of predation of centipedes by scorpions from several regions of the world. Most cases involved species in the family Buthidae, but one case involved the diplocentrid Nebo hierichonticus (Simon, 1872).

Abstract:
Fourteen new cases of centipede predation by scorpions is presented based on four records made by coauthors and ten provided by citizen scientists. Records span from Guinea, Israel, and South Africa to the United States.

Reference:
Sherwood D, Hernández HD, Henrard A, Waysman D. A feast of a thousand legs starts with a single sting: fourteen new cases of predation of centipedes (Myriopoda: Chilopoda) by scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2025(46):109–13. [Article provided by authors]

Thanks to Dannielle for sending me their article!

Sex may be risky in Leiurus abdullahbayrami (clickbait title ;)

 

Mating is sometimes risky in many arachnids, also in scorpions. Often, the female may kill and devour the male in stead of mating with him. Scorpions have an advanced mating dance which sometimes includes sexual stings to reduce the risk of cannibalism, but in some cases mating attempts do not result in a happy ending for the male.

Rami Khashab published earlier this summer a case report with the first observation of sexual cannibalism in the medical important buthid Leiurus abdullahbayrami Yağmur, Koç & Kunt, 2009.

Abstract:
This study presents the first report of sexual cannibalism in the medically significant scorpion Leiurus abdullahbayrami Yağmur, Koç & Kunt, 2009, that was recorded during a herpetological field trip to the semi-desert area in northern Lebanon. It broadens the understanding of sexual cannibalism in scorpions and adds a new prey item to the dietary spectrum of the scorpion.

Reference:
Khashab R. First case of sexual cannibalism in Leiurus abdullahbayrami Yağmur, Koç & Kunt, 2009 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Lebanon. Euscorpius. 2025(416):1–4. [Open Access]

New records of Androctonus from Iran

 

Hossein Barahoei and co-workers recently published an article presenting new records of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Buthidae) from the East Azarbaijan Province in Iran. The article also provides an identification key to the species of Androctonus known from Iran.

Abstract:
Limited studies have been conducted on the scorpions of East Azarbaijan Province, resulting in the identification of seven Buthid species. The examination of Androctonus specimens collected from East Azarbaijan Province between 2021–2023 resulted in the identification of two new records, Androctonus kunti Yağmur, 2023 and Androctonus turkiyensis Yağmur, 2021. These two species were collected and described from east and south of Turkey respectively and recorded here for the first time from Iran. With the identification of A. kunti and A. turkiyensis, which before reported as Androctonus crassicauda, the total number of reported scorpion species in East Azarbaijan Province raised to eight, while the number of Androctonus species documented in Iran rose to six. Diagnostic characters of the two species and an identification key to Iranian Androctonus were provided.

Reference:
Barahoei H, Farmani M, Shahi M, Yousefi S, Rahmani F, Abbasi M. New records of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 from East Azarbaijan Province, Iran (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Iranian Journal of Animal Biosystematics. 2025;21(1):1–7. [Open Access]

The Scorpion Files News Blog has reached more than 2 000 000 visits!

 

 

The Scorpion Files News Blog has reach another milestone with more than two million visits since its start in 2008 (2 050 041)! The first post was published 08.02.08, and since there have been 1498 posts. It is great that the blog still is a source for information for the scorpion community.

A big thanks to all of you for supporting and using The Scorpion Files and The Scorpion Files News Blog! This wouldn't have been possible without your support and help.

When will we reach three million visits? :)

PS! Yes, I know the scorpion in the picture is missing a pair of legs, but I wasn't able to convince ChatGPT to change this. So no bulling and trolling because of this, please ;)

Jan Ove Rein
Editor