In a recent paper by Fatemeh Salabi and co-workers, a new species of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Buthidae) is described from the Khuzestan Province in Iran.
Androctonus nazarii Salabi, Zangi, Forouzan, Jahan-Mahin & Kazemi, 2025
Abstract:
Recent research has clarified the historically complex taxonomy of the
medically significant scorpion genus Androctonus in Iran, chiefly by
resolving the A. crassicauda Olivier, 1807 species complex and
describing numerous new species. However, the taxonomic status of
certain populations in Khuzestan Province (south-western Iran) has
remained unsettled. Here, we describe a new species, Androctonus nazarii
sp. nov., from Baghmalek in the Zagros Mountains of Khuzestan Province,
Iran. The new scorpion species, Androctonus nazarii sp. nov., is
described from two male specimens based on a suite of distinct
morphological features. Its key diagnostic traits include a
brownish-yellow coloration, a light brown carapace without ocular black
patches and with fine granulation, uniformly yellow legs, and a specific
yellowish-brown, finely granulated chela manus. The species is distinguished via detailed comparison with its closest relatives (A.
crassicauda, A. zagrosensis, A. sumericus, and A. barahoeii). Its discovery fills an important taxonomic gap in south-western Iran and
carries significant implications for public health and conservation. The
new species is most similar to A. sistanus in overall light coloration
but can be separated by the lack of black patches on the carapace and
the uniformly yellowish-brown metasoma and telson, contrasting with the
black metasomal segments IV–V and telson in A. sistanus. The
combination of coloration (uniformly brownish-yellow carapace, metasoma,
and chela manus), granulation (densely and finely granulated carapace
and internal chela manus, smooth intercarinal surface of tergite VII), and morphological features (smooth sixth sternite lacking carinae)
serves to unequivocally diagnose A. nazarii sp. nov. from all other
known species in the genus. This discovery highlights the ongoing
taxonomic diversity within Androctonus and underscores the importance of
detailed morphological analysis for species delineation.
Reference:
Salabi F, Zangi B, Forouzan A, Jahan-Mahin MH, Mahdi Kazemi S. Androctonus nazarii, a new species of scorpions from Khuzestan Province, Iran 1 (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Archives of Razi Institute. 2025;In Press:1–26. [Open Access]
Thanks to Gerard for informing me about this article!
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