05 May, 2017

A new species of Buthacus from Algeria


Wilson Lourenco and co-workers have recently discovered a new species of Buthacus Birula, 1908 (Buthidae) from the Algerian Saharan Desert. The presence of microendemic populations in the region is also discussed.

Abstract:
For almost 20 years now, the genus Buthacus Birula, 1908 (family Buthidae) has been the subject of an important number of studies. Most of the species considered in these studies come from North Africa and more recently from Algeria. At present, one more new species of Buthacus is described from the Algerian Saharan Desert, raising the number of confirmed known species in Algeria to eight. This new discovery attests to a considerable degree of diversity found in the Algerian Saharan Desert but in particular suggests the presence in these deserts of microendemic populations.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Sadine SE, Bissati S, Houtia A. The genus Buthacus Birula, 1908 in Northern and Central Algeria; description of a new species and comments on possible microendemic populations (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Arachnida - Rivista Aracnologica Italiana. 2017;3(XII):18-30.

Thanks to Dr. Sadine for sending me their article!

Family Buthidae

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