09 September, 2019

New information on the super-rare scorpion Pectinibuthus birulai from Turkmenistan


Victor Fet and co-workers recently published an article on the very rare and enigmatic, psammophile scorpion Pectinibuthus birulai Fet, 1984 (Buthidae) from Turkmenistan. The original types of this species are probably lost and today the species is known from just one specimen. This specimen is designated as neotype.

The specimen is described and detailed pictures are provided. P. birulai is a psammohile scorpion and some aspects of the morphology of psammophile scorpions are discussed. The biogeography of this species is also discussed.

Abstract:
A neotype is designated for a very rare Central Asian scorpion, Pectinibuthus birulai Fet, 1984, the sole species of the genus Pectinibuthus Fet, 1984. It is the only currently known specimen, collected by Victor Fet in July 1985, and deposited in ZISP (St. Petersburg, Russia). The original types are considered lost. Detailed photographs of the neotype are provided, as well as comments on this unique psammophile buthid. We also discuss and compare pectinal tooth counts of psammophile scorpions relative to other scorpions.

Reference:
Fet V, Kovarik F, Lowe G. Neotype designation for Pectinibuthus birulai Fet, 1984 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Turkmenistan, with remarks on pectine teeth of psammophile scorpions. Euscorpius. 2019(286):1-14. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

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