A new species of Androctonus from Iraq

 

 Ersen Yagmur and co-workers recently published a new species of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Buthidae) from Iraq. The new species has previously been misidentified as A. crassicauda (Olivier, 1807).

Androctonus ishtar Yagmur, Kachel, Al-Khazali, Al-Jubouri & Ali 2025

Abstract:
A new species, Androctonus ishtar sp. n., is described and illustrated from the Dohuk and Nineveh provinces of Iraq. This new species was previously misidentified as A. crassicauda Olivier. Androctonus sumericus Al-Khazali and Yağmur, and A. turkiyensis Yağmur, are distributed in territories close to those of A. ishtar sp. n. The new species differs from A. crassicauda in the morphology of the fifth metasomal segment, from A. sumericus in its elongate chela, and from A. turkiyensis in the trichobothrial arrangement on the fixed fingers of the chela.

Reference:
Yağmur EA, Saeid KH, Mohammed A-KA, Karim A-JMA, and Ali FR. Androctonus ishtar sp. n. from Dohuk and Nineveh provinces, Iraq (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Journal of Natural History. 2025;59(25-28):1757–73. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Ersen for sending me their new article!

Family Buthidae

A new species of Mesobuthus from southeastern Turkey

 

Ersen Yagmur and co-workers have recently published a new species of Mesobuthus Vachon, 1950 (Buthidae) from southeastern Turkey. This population has previously been classified as M. mesopotamicus Penther, 1912.

Mesobuthus faiki Yagmur, Kovarik & Fet, 2024

Abstract:
New locality records for Mesobuthus mesopotamicus (Penther, 1912) are given from Iraq. The populations from southeastern Turkey, earlier identified as M. mesopotamicus by Kovařík et al. (2022) are examined and compared with the specimens from type locality of M. mesopotamicus. These populations are described as a new species, Mesobuthus faiki sp. n. Detailed illustrations of both species and a map are given.

Reference:
Yagmur EA, Kovarik F, Fet V, Hussen FS, Kurt R, Al-Khazali AM, et al. New records of Mesobuthus mesopotamicus (Penther, 1912) in Iraq and Mesobuthus faiki sp. n. from Turkey (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2024(388):1-22. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

Detailed morphology description and images of the medical important scorpion Hemiscorpius lepturus

 

Fenik Sherzad Hussen and co-workers recently published a study with a detailed description of the morphology of Hemiscorpius lepturus Peters, 1861 (Hemiscorpiidae). The article also includes detailed morphological images taken by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). 

Abstract:
Hemiscorpius lepturus Peters, 1861 is redefined in both sexes. The detailed external morphologies of chelae, pectinal organs, chelicerae, telsons, and legs I–IV were surveyed with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) in both sexes of H. lepturus for the first time. The constellation arrays, batlike shaped peg sensilla, trichobothria, and the other sensillar and epicuticular structures were described, and their functional morphologies were interpreted considering the species’ habitat and other climatic preferences. The constellation arrays, basiconic sensilla, function as a chemoreceptor (hygro-reception or/and thermo-reception) by its location on the pedipalp in the habitat. The shape of the peg sensilla is remarkably bat-like in both sexes and this shape has not been observed or recorded in any scorpion species, functioning as mechanoreception and contact chemoreception. There are three slit sensilla as single slit, dual and triple slit sensilla on I–IV walking legs, being mechanoreceptors as proprioceptors detecting strain and substrate vibrations during movement. Isolated single slit sensillum was recorded on the chelicerae surface of a scorpion species for the first time.

Reference:
Hussen FS, Erdek M, Yagmur EA. External morphology of Hemiscorpius lepturus Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Hemiscorpiidae). Arthropoda Selecta. 2023;32(4):419-37. [Open Access]

Thanks to Ersen for sending me their article!

A new species of Androctonus from Iraq

 

Azhar Mohammed Al-Khazali and Ersen Aydın Yağmur just published an article presenting a new species of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Buthidae) from the Dhi Qar Province in Iraq. 

Androctonus sumericus Al-Khazali & Yagmur, 2023

We have to assume that the new species is medical important as its relative A. crassicauda (Olivier, 1807).

Abstract:
A new species Androctonus sumericus sp. nov. is described and illustrated from the Dhi Qar Province of Iraq, based on the material previously misidentified as A. crassicauda (Olivier, 1807). Therefore, the new species were compared particularly with that species, as well as with all species of Androctonus distributed in the Middle East, using their published descriptions.

Reference:
Al-Khazali AM, Yagmur EA. Androctonus sumericus sp. nov., a new scorpion from Dhi Qar Province, Iraq (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Zoology in the Middle East. 2023;Published Online 17.11.23. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Ersen for sending me their new article!

Family Buthidae

A new species of Leiurus from Iraq

 

Wilson Lourenco has recently published a description of a new species of Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Buthidae) from the Al-Anbâr Province in Iraq.

Leiurus maculatus Lourenco, 2022.

A new subgenus is also created to accomodate the new species that has characteristics both from Leiurus and Buthus Leach, 1815.

Iraquioleiurus Lourenco, 2022

Abstract:
A new species of buthid scorpion belonging to the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg is described based on one female collected in the Al-Anbâr Province in Iraq. Since the early 2000s, the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 (family Buthidae) started to be the subject of several new studies. Some of the populations previously considered as subspecies were raised to the rank of species, but also many new species have been described. Nevertheless, although the important number of modifications brought to the composition of the genus Leiurus, no attempt was done to divide it in sub generic units. The study of an atypical new species of Leiurus from Iraq, suggests the creation of a new subgenus to accommodate it. Further investigations should bring more precise conclusions about the status of this particular population. The type locality of the new species represents the first confirmed record of the genus Leiurus for Iraq.

Reference:
Lourenco WR. A new subgenus and species of Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 from Iraq (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Serket.18(4):421-7. [Open Access]

Thanks to Hisham El-Hennawy for informing me about this article!

Family Buthidae

Six new species of Orthochirus from Iran

As a part of an ongoing field study of the scorpion fauna of Iran, Frantisek Kovarik and Shahrokh Navidpour has publish and article describing six new species of Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 (Buthidae) from Iran.

Orthochirus hormozganensis Kovarik & Navidpour, 2020

Orthochirus kermanensis Kovarik & Navidpour, 2020

Orthochirus kucerai Kovarik & Navidpour, 2020 

Orthochirus masihipouri Kovarik & Navidpour, 2020

Orthochirus semnanensis Kovarik & Navidpour, 2020 

Orthochirus vignolii Kovarik & Navidpour, 2020

The article provides several color pictures of the new taxa and their habitat.  An identification key for the genus Orthochirus in Iran, Iraq and Turkey is also provided.

Abstract:
Six new scorpion species from Iran, Orthochirus hormozganensis sp. n. (Hormozgan Province), O. kermanensis sp. n. (Kerman Province), O. kucerai sp. n. (Kerman Province), O. masihipouri sp. n. (Bushehr Province), O. semnanensis sp. n. (Semnan Province), and O. vignolii sp. n. (Yazd Province) are described, compared with other Iranian Orthochirus species, and fully illustrated with color photographs. A key and a distribution map of Orthochirus of Iran, Turkey, and Iraq (18 species) are included.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Navidpour S. Six new species of Orthochirus Karsch, 1892 from Iran (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2020(312):1-42. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

New Orthochirus species from The Middle East

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers have recently published a revision of the genus Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 (Buthidae) from Turkey, Iraq and Iran. Three new species are described and one species is elevated from subspecies status.

Orthochirus fomichevi Kovarik, Yagmur, Fet & Hussen, 2019 (New species from Turkey & Iraq)

Orthochirus gantenbeini Kovarik, Yagmur, Fet & Hussen, 2019 (New species from Iran)

Orthochirus navidpouri Kovarik, Yagmur, Fet & Hussen, 2019 (New species from Iran)

Orthochirus mesopotamicus Birula, 1918 (Elevated to species status. Previous status: Orthochirus scrobiculosus mesopotamicus Birula, 1918)

The article has an identification key for the species in the region.

Abstract:
Three new species, Orthochirus fomichevi sp. n. from Turkey and Iraq, O. gantenbeini sp. n. from Iran (Khoozestan Province), and O. navidpouri sp. n. from Iran (Khoozestan and Lorestan Provinces) are described, compared with other Orthochirus species from the region, and fully illustrated with color photos. Lectotype of O. mesopotamicus Birula, 1918 stat. n. from Iran (Khoozestan Province) is designated. Emended diagnoses are given for O. iranus Kovařík, 2004, O. iraqus Kovařík, 2004, O. mesopotamicus Birula, 1918 stat. n., and O. zagrosensis Kovařík, 2004. A key and a distribution map are included.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Yagmur EA, Fet V, Hussen FS. A review of Orthochirus from Turkey, Iraq, and Iran (Khoozestan, Ilam, and Lorestan Provinces), with descriptions of three new species (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2019(278):1-31. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

Two new species of Razianus from Pakistan

Correction: Publication date for this article has been corrected to 2014.

T. Muhammad Tahir and co-workers published an article on the little known genus Razianus Farzanpay, 1987 (Buthidae) in Iraq, Iran and Pakistan last summer. In addition to a redescription of Razianus zarudnyi (Birula, 1903), the paper describes two new species from Pakistan.

Razinaus birulai Tahir, Navidpour & Prendini, 2014

Razinaus farzanpayi Tahir, Navidpour & Prendini, 2014

An identification key for the four species known from Iraq, Iran and Pakistan is presented.

Abstract:
The scorpion fauna of Pakistan, like that of the rest of the Indian subcontinent, is poorly known and many new species may await discovery. We describe two new species of the buthid genus Razianus Farzanpay, 1987, i.e., Razianus birulai, sp. nov., and Razianus farzanpayi, sp. nov., the first records of this genus from Pakistan, raising the number of species in the genus to four and extending its distribution southeast. In addition, we redescribe the type species, Razianus zarudnyi (Birula, 1903), report the first record from Iraq, extending the distribution of Razianus further west, plot the known locality records of the three species occurring in Iraq, Iran, and Pakistan, and provide a key to their identification.

Reference:
Muhammad Tahir H, Navidpour S, Prendini L. First reports of Razianus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Iraq and Pakistan, descriptions of two new species, and redescription of Razianus zarudnyi. American Museum Novitates. 2014(3806):1-26. [Open Access]

Thanks to Joel Hallan for informing me about these two missing species from The Scorpion Files!

Family Buthidae

The medical risk of Hottentotta saulcyi

Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1828) (Buthidae) is distributed in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and Turkey. Ersen Yagmur and co-workers have conducted a study to determinate if this species is potentially medical important in Turkey.

A LD50 value of 0.73 mg/kg was determinated, and based on the lethal potency in mice, it is concluded that H. saulcyi must be considered a risk for humans in the southeastern regions of Turkey.

Abstract:
Background: In this study, we investigated the lethal potency, electrophoretic protein pattern and in vivo effects of Hottentotta saulcyi scorpion venom in mice.
Methods: Scorpions were collected at night, by using a UV lamp from Mardin Province, Turkey. Venom was obtained from mature H. saulcyi scorpions by electrical stimulation of the telson. The lethality of the venom was determined by i.v. injections using Swiss mice. In vivo effects of the venom were assessed by using the intraperitoneal route (ip) injections into mice (20±1g) and monitored for 24 h. The protein profiles of the scorpion venom were analyzed by NuPAGE® Novex® 4–12 % gradient Bis-Tris gel followed by Coomassie blue staining.
Results: The lethal assay of the venom was 0.73 mg/kg in mice. We determined the electrophoretic protein pattern of this scorpion venom to be 4, 6, 9, 31, 35, 40, 46 and 69 kDa by SDS-PAGE. Analysis of electrophoresis indicated that H. saulcyi scorpion intoxicated mice exhibited autonomic nervous system symptoms (tachypnea, restlessness, hyperexcitability, convulsions, salivation, lacrimation, weakness).
Conclusions: Hottentotta saulcyi scorpion venom includes short-chain neurotoxins and long-chain neurotoxins according to the electrophoretic protein patterns. The stings of H. saulcyi scorpion must be considered of risk for humans in the southeastern region, Turkey.

Reference:
Yagmur EA, Ozkan O, Karaer KZ. Determination of the median lethal dose and electrophoretic pattern of Hottentotta saulcyi (Scorpiones, Buthidae) scorpion venom. Journal of Arthropod-Borne Diseases. 2015;9(2):238-45. [Open Access]

A review of the genus Calchas and the description of two new species

The enigmatic genus Calchas (Iuridae) has been of great interest among scorpion taxonomists due to its phylogenetic position. This rare scorpion has so far been known from parts of Turkey and from the two Greek islands Megesti and Samos.

In a major review of the genus, Fet, Soleglad & Kovarik conclude that three distinct, disjunct species exist rather than one widespread species (C. nordmanni) as previously thought. Based on morphological examinations, the authors describe two new species with limited distribution:

Calchas birulai Fet, Soleglad & Kovarik, 2009 with distribution in Southeastern Turkey & Northern Iraq. The author also mentioned a potential sighting in Syria, but a distribution here has not been verified.

Calchas gruberi Fet, Soleglad & Kovarik, 2009 with distribution in Southern Turkey and Greece (only islands Megisti & Samos).

The distribution of Calchas nordmanni Birula, 1899 is now restricted to notheastern Turkey.

The article presents many illustrations, updated distribution maps and an identification key for the genus.

Abstract:
The relict, phylogenetically important scorpion genus Calchas Birula, 1899 (Iuridae) remained monotypic since its description. Its sole species, Calchas nordmanni Birula, 1899, was known only from northeastern Turkey until Kinzelbach (1980) published first records from southern and southeastern Turkey. A few more localities have been reported from Turkey; the species was also found on two Greek islands, Samos and Megisti. We analyzed significant material (63 specimens, including a previously unpublished large series from Naturhistorisches Museum Wien), and concluded that three distinct, disjunct species exist rather than one widespread species as previously thought. Two new species are described: Calchas birulai sp. nov. (southeastern Turkey, northern Iraq; 30 specimens studied) and Calchas gruberi sp. nov. (southern Turkey; Megisti Island and Samos Island, Greece; 23 specimens studied). The type species Calchas nordmanni Birula, 1899 (10 specimens studied) is restricted to northeastern Turkey.

References:
Fet V, Soleglad ME, Kovarik F. Etudes on Iurids, II. Revision of the genus Calchas Birula, 1899, with the description of two new species (Scorpiones: Iuridae). Euscorpius. 2009; (82):1-72. [Free fulltext - large file (27 mb)]

Family Iuridae