A case of wound healing in Hottentotta saulyci

 

Various types of body part abnormalities have been reported for scorpions, but there are very few reported cases of wound healing. Fatih Yeşilyurt & Ersen Aydın Yağmur have recently reported an example of this in a specimen of Hottentotta saulyci (Simon, 1880) (Buthidae) from the central district of Hakkari Province in Turkey.

Abstract:
A new case of injury healing on the carapace is reported in a female Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880). An asymmetrical indentation was observed on the anterior part of the carapace, resulting from the healing of an old injury. The indentation is relatively deep, with muscle tissue visible inside it. Scar tissue is present at the end of indentation and healing tissue is present along its margins.

Reference:
Yeşilyurt F, Yagmur EA. An injury healing on the carapace of Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880) (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2025(410):1–3. [Open Access]

A new species of Microcharmus from Madagascar

 

Wilson Lourenco and Lucienne Wilmé have recently described a new species of Microcharmus Lourenço, 1995 (Buthidae) from Central-West Madagascar.

 Microcharmus aridus Lourenco & Wilme, 2025

The authors have placed this genus in the family Microcharmidae Lourenco, 1996. The family status of this taxa is under discussion. Lowe & Kovarik, 2022 placed it back in synomy with Buthidae, which is the current status in The Scorpion Files.

The new species was found in a humicolous habitat (animals living in or on soil). This is quite rare in scorpions and the article discuss adaptions to this kind of habitat.

Abstract:
A new species of humicolous buthoid scorpion belonging to the genus Microcharmus is described on the basis of a single specimen collected in a dry bush formation in the region of Cap Saint André, Central-West Madagascar. The habitat of the new species represents one of the driest environments documented for the genus. New considerations are proposed on the ecology and biogeography of this endemic Malagasy group of scorpions, which appears to be restricted to dry and wet forest formations in the northern and northwestern portions of the island. Some comments are also added about their possible evolution of these scorpions from endogenous to epigean environments.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Wilme L. A new species of Microcharmus Lourenço, 1995 (Scorpiones: Microcharmidae) from extremely dry areas of Central-West Madagascar. Serket. 2025;20(4):373–82. [Open Access]

Thanks to Hisham E-Hennaway for making this article available to me!

Family Buthidae

A new species of Compsobuthus from Saudi Arabia

 

Eric Ythier and Alex Ullrich recently described a new species of Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949 (Buthidae) from Saudi Arabia. 

Compsobuthus henrii Ythier & Ullrich, 2025

Abstract:
A new species of Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949 is described on the basis of one female and three males collected in Al Buraikah, Al Ula Governorate, north of Al Madinah Province, in north-western Saudi Arabia. This new scorpion taxon represents the 57th known species of the genus Compsobuthus and the 8th reported from Saudi Arabia. A geographical distribution map of the type localities of the Compsobuthus species occurring in the region is presented.

Reference:
Ythier E, Ullrich A. A new species of Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949 from Saudi Arabia (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Serket. 2025;20(4):383–92. [Open Access]

Thanks to Eric, Alex and Hisham El-Hennaway for making this article available to me!

Family Buthidae

A new species in the medical important genus Hemiscorpius from Southern Iran

 

Esmaeil Amiri Ghanat Saman and co-workers have recently described a new species of Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861 (Hemiscorpiidae) based on genetic and morphological evidence from Southern Iran.

Hemiscorpius jiroftensis Saman, Barahooei, Dehghan, Oshaghi, Rafinejad, Azarm & Prendini, 2025

Abstract:
Seven species of Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861 have been recorded in Iran. Due to the medical importance of this genus, the scorpion populations of southern Kerman Province, in the south of Iran, were studied. Scorpion specimens were collected in 2023 and 2024 from mountainous areas in Bam and Jiroft counties. Morphological, morphometric, and molecular data revealed a new species, described herein as Hemiscorpius jiroftensis sp. n. The genetic distances between the new species and other species of Hemiscorpius varied from 0.105 with samples of H. lepturus from Iran to 0.138 with samples of H. enischnochela. The Jebal Barez Mountains appear to have provided a geographical barrier, separating the new species from its closest relative, Hemiscorpius acanthocercus Monod & Lourenço, 2005. It is important to understand the geographical distributions and morphological differences among the species of Hemiscorpius to implement appropriate medical responses to envenomation by these scorpions.

Reference:
Saman EAG, Barahoei H, Dehghan H, Oshaghi MA, Rafinejad J, Azarm A, et al. A New Species of the Medically Important Scorpion Genus, Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861 (Hemiscorpiidae), from Southern Iran. Diversity. 2025;17(5):321. [Open Access]

Thanks to Gerard for sending me this article!

Family Hemiscorpiidae

A new species of Alpiscorpius from The Murat Mountain in Turkey

 

Ersen Yagmur has just published an article describing a new species of Alpiscorpius Gantenbein et al., 1999 (Euscorpiidae) from The Murat Mountain in Turkey.

Alpiscorpius victori Yagmur, 2025

This species was found at quite high altitudes ranging from 1354 to 2073 meters. 

Abstract:
A new scorpion species, Alpiscorpius victori sp. n., is described from Mount Murat, located in Kütahya and Uşak Provinces in the Aegean Region of western Turkey, based on morphological evidence. The species is classified within the genus Alpiscorpius Gantenbein et al., 1999, due to the presence of three trichobothria in the em series on the external surface of the pedipalp patella. With the addition of this species, the number of known species in the family Euscorpiidae rises to 23, while the genus Alpiscorpius now includes seven species in Turkey.

Reference:
Yagmur EA. Alpiscorpius victori sp. n. from the Murat Mountain, Kütahaya and Usak Provinces, Turkey (Scorpiones, Euscorpiidae). Zoodiversity. 2025;59(2):101-12. [Open Acces, but issue is not available yet]

Thanks to Victoria for informing me about this article!

Species status for Leiurus libycus from western Egypt after redescription

 

Ersen Yagmur and co-workers have recently published an article where they have studied and redescribed the taxa formerly known as Buthus quinquestriatus libycus Birula, 1908 (Buthidae). The species is elevated to species status in the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828.

Leiurus libycus (Birula, 1908)

In the article the authors synonymize Leiurus aegyptiacus Lourenço & El-Hennawy, 2021 with L. libycus as the former was described from the same area and is morphologically very similar.

Abstract:
Buthus quinquestriatus libycus was described by Birula (1908) from the Libyan Desert, based on a subadult male specimen. This taxon was later synonymized with Leiurus quinquestriatus (Ehrenberg, 1828) by Vachon (1949). In this study, we re-evaluate this taxon and recognize it as Leiurus libycus (Birula, 1908), stat. n., providing a redescription based on the holotype. The type locality of this species is clarified as western Egypt (between Alexandria and Fayum). We synonymize Leiurus aegyptiacus Lourenço & El-Hennawy, 2021 with L. libycus, stat. n., syn. n.

Reference:
Yagmur EA, Kovarik F, Fet V. A redescription of Leiurus libycus (Birula, 1908), stat. n. (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2025(413):1-08. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A new species of Centruroides from Honduras

 

Luis de Armas and  Alex Cubas-Rodríguez have recently published an article describing a new species of Centruroides Marx, 1890 (Buthidae) from the Pacayita Volcano Biological Reserve in southwestern Honduras.

Centruroides lenca Armas & Cubas-Rodríguez, 2025

Abstract:
A new species of striped bark scorpions, Centruroides lenca sp. n. is described, based on both sexes, from the Pacayita Volcano Biological Reserve (2,385 m a. s. l.), Ocotepeque Department, in the southwestern Honduras. By its general pattern, the new species resembles C. thorellii (Kraepelin, 1891), from which it clearly differs by having stronger and very darker pedipalp chelae, minute subaculear tubercle and basal pectinal plate with a large central pit in the female, among other diagnostic characters. Also, Centruroides tapachulaensis Hoffmann, 1932 is recorded for the first time from Honduras, on the basis of two observed or collected specimens in the Ocotepeque Department. There are currently 12 species of Centruroides known from Honduras, of which three are known only from this Central American country (two other endemic species are C. terueli Armas & Cubas- Rodríguez, 2023, from Guanaja Island, Islas de la Bahía Archipelago, and C. hirsuticauda Teruel, 2011, from Comayagua and Yoro Departments).

Reference:
de Armas LF, Cubas-Rodriguez AM. A new Centruroides species and first record of C. tapachulaensis Hoffmann, 1932 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Honduras. Euscorpius. 2025(412):1-12. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae