A review of Androctonus in Iran with four new species

 

 

Ersen Yagmur and co-workers recently published a review of the members of the genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828  (Buthidae) in Iran. Previously, most populations were assigned to the species A. crassicauda (Olivier, 1807), but this turned out to be a species complex with several hidden taxa. The current article have a redescription of the true A. crassicauda. 

Four new species are described from Iran:

Androctonus azerianus Yagmur & Kovarik, 2025.

Androctonus barahoeii Kovarik & Yagmur, 2025.

Androctonus caspius Kovarik, Yagmur, Fet & Lowe, 2025.

Androctonus transcaucasicus Kovarik, Yagmur, Fet & Lowe, 2025 (this species occurs in Armenia and Azerbaijan in addition to Iran).

Androctonus orientalis (Birula, 1900) is raised to species status from subspecies status (Prionurus crassicauda orientalis Birula, 1900).

Androctonus rostami Barahoei et al., 2025 is synonymized with Androctonus orientalis (Birula, 1900).

The article has an identification key for the confirmed species in Iran. A distribution map is also included. 

Abstract:
Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) is redescribed, based on the male neotype hereby designated, and a female topotype. Prionurus crassicauda orientalis Birula, 1900 is removed from synonymy, and elevated to species status as A. orientalis (Birula, 1900) stat. n., based on the lectotype, hereby designated, a paralectotype and newly collected specimens. A. rostami Barahoei et al., 2025 is synonymized with A. orientalis (Birula, 1900) stat. n., syn. n. In addition, four new species are described: A. azerianus sp. n. (Iran), A. barahoeii sp. n. (Iran), A. caspius sp. n. (Iran), A. transcaucasicus sp. n. (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran). All species are described and illustrated, and a map showing the confirmed distribution of the Androctonus species in Iran is provided.

Reference:
Yagmur EA, Kovarik F, Fet V, Lowe G, Moradi M, Kalami F. Review of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 in Iran, with redescription of A. crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) and A. orientalis (Birula, 1900) stat. n., and descriptions of four new species (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2025(422):1–69. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A revision of the Mesobuthus caucasicus complex with 10 new or restored species from Central Asia

Victor Fet and several co-workers have recently published a major review of the widespread Central Asian species complex Mesobuthus caucasicus (Nordmann, 1840) (Buthidae). Here are the main taxonomical conclusions:

Mesobuthus caucasicus (Nordmann, 1840), s.str. is now restricted to the Caucasus Moutnains. Its is distributed in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Russia (northern Caucasus), Turkey, Ukraine (unclear if this population is native or introduced).

New species:

Mesobuthus brutus Fet, Kovarik, Gantenbein, Kaiser, Stewart & Graham, 2018 (Iran),
Mesobuthus elenae Fet, Kovarik, Gantenbein, Kaiser, Stewart & Graham, 2018 (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan)
Mesobuthus gorelovi Fet, Kovarik, Gantenbein, Kaiser, Stewart & Graham, 2018 (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan)
Mesobuthus kreuzbergi Fet, Kovarik, Gantenbein, Kaiser, Stewart & Graham, 2018 (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan)
Mesobuthus mischi Fet, Kovarik, Gantenbein, Kaiser, Stewart & Graham, 2018 (Afghanistan)
Mesobuthus nenilini Fet, Kovarik, Gantenbein, Kaiser, Stewart & Graham, 2018 (Uzbekistan).

Species status after restoration from synonymy:

Mesobuthus fuscus (Birula, 1897) (Tajikistan)
Mesobuthus intermedius (Birula, 1897) (Tajikistan)
Mesobuthus kaznakovi (Birula, 1904) (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan)
Mesobuthus parthorum (Pocock, 1889) (Afghanistan, Iran, Turkmenistan).

Synonymizations:

Afghanobuthus Lourenço, 2005 is synonymized with Mesobuthus Vachon, 1950
Afghanobuthus naumanni Lourenço, 2005 is synonymized with Mesobuthus parthorum (Pocock, 1889)

The article has an identification key to the Mesobuthus complexes and species (excluding taxa from China, Mongolia and Korea).

Abstract:
A widespread Mesobuthus caucasicus complex, which includes some of the most common scorpions found from the Caucasus to China, is revised for the first time based on new extensive collections from Central Asia, using both morphological and DNA marker data. Mesobuthus caucasicus (Nordmann, 1840), s.str. is restricted to the Caucasus Mts. Four taxa are elevated to species rank: M. fuscus (Birula, 1897) (Tajikistan), M. intermedius (Birula, 1897) (Tajikistan), M. kaznakovi (Birula, 1904) (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan), and M. parthorum (Pocock, 1889) (Afghanistan, Iran, Turkmenistan). Six new species are described: M. brutus sp. n. (Iran), M. elenae sp. n. (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan), M.gorelovi sp. n. (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan), M. kreuzbergi sp. n. (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan), M. mischi sp. n. (Afghanistan), and M. nenilini sp. n. (Uzbekistan). The most common species in Central Asia is a psammophilic Mesobuthus gorelovi sp. n., widespread through lowland sand deserts across Turkmenistan (Karakum),Uzbekistan (Kizylkum), and Kazakhstan (north to Baigakum and Moyinkum). A key to all studied species isprovided. A DNA phylogeny based on COI and 16S rRNA markers is presented including nine Central Asian species (M. elenae sp. n., M. fuscus, M. gorelovi sp. n., M. intermedius, M. kaznakovi, M. kreuzbergi sp. n., M.mischi sp. n., M. nenilini sp. n., and M. parthorum) and M. caucasicus from Turkey. A deep phylogenetic diversity across Central Asia is revealed. Historical biogeographic scenarios for this scorpion group are discussed, including fragmentation in mountain valleys and expansion across sand deserts in Central Asia. The monotypic scorpion genus Afghanobuthus Lourenço, 2005 and its single species A. naumanni Lourenço, 2005, from Afghanistan, are demonstrated to be junior synonyms, respectively, of Mesobuthus Vachon, 1950, and M. parthorum (Pocock, 1889) from the same area.

Reference:
Fet V, Kovarik F, Gantenbein B, Kaiser RC, Stewart AK, Graham MR. Revision of the Mesobuthus caucasicus Complex from Central Asia, with Descriptions of Six New Species (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2018(255):1-77. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A new species of Compsobuthus from Armenia

Wilson Lourenco and Elise Ann-Leguin have recently discovered a new species of Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949 from Armenia.

Compsobuthus armenicus Lourenco & Leguin, 2015

Abstract:
Two buthid species previously recorded from Armenia are confirmed: Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) and Mesobuthus eupeus (C. L. Koch, 1839). Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880), is recorded for the first time for this country. A new species of Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949 is described on the basis of two adult females and three juveniles. From the absence of outer denticles on the movable finger of the pedipalps, the new species is placed in the acutecarinatus group. The new species of Compsobuthus represents the first record of this genus for Armenia.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Leguin E-A. A new species of Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Armenia. Zoology in the Middle East. 2015:1-5. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to professor Lourenco for sending me this article!

Family Buthidae