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
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