The first chromosome study of genera in the family Iuridae

 

Cytogenetic analysis can be important in understanding scorpion taxonomy and evolution. So far, most studies have been on taxa in the family Buthidae. Ersen Yagmur and co-workers have now published a study on the chromosomes in the iurid genera Calchas Birula, 1899 and Neocalchas Yağmur, Soleglad, Fet & Kovařík, 2013. This is the first chromosome study of taxa in the family Iuridae.

Abstract:
The chromosomes of two species belonging to the scorpion family Iuridae are studied for the first time. Both analysed species displayed achiasmatic meiosis and no morphologically differentiated sex chromosomes; these features are typical for all scorpions. Both species possessed monocentric chromosomes, a characteristic specific to the entire parvorder Iurida. The karyotype of Calchas nordmanni Birula, 1899 is composed of 82 chromosomes, and the diploid number of chromosomes in Neocalchas gruberi is 40. Despite this conspicuous difference in 2n chromosome morphology is mainly acrocentric. Both species possess two pairs of the 18S rDNA clusters identified by FISH. A higher number of rDNA loci may represent an ancestral state for the parvorder Iurida.

Reference:
Aydın Yağmur E, Koç H, Yeşílyurt F, Šťáhlavský F. The first chromosome study of the genera Calchas Birula, 1899 and Neocalchas Yağmur, Soleglad, Fet & Kovařík, 2013 (Scorpiones: Iuridae). Zoology in the Middle East. 2023:1-7. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Ersen for sending me this article!

Family Iuridae

A phylogenetic study of the family Iuridae reveals three new genera

 

The family Iuridae are mainly found in Turkey and Greece and contains some of the largest scorpions in Europe. There have been some studies of this family in the recent years, but in a recent article Aristeidis Parmakelis and co-workers have conducted a phylogenetic analysis of the family and based on this suggested several taxonomic decisisons.

The subfamily Calchinae Birula, 1917 is raised from synonymy with Iurinae Thorell, 1876.

The three new genera are described (listed with the taxa assiciated with them):

Anatoliurus Parmakelis, Dimitriadou, Gkigkiza, Karampatsou, Stathi, Fet, Yağmur & Kovařík, 2022.

A. kraepelini (von Ubisch, 1922 (Turkey: Antalya, Isparta, Konya, Karaman, Mersin, and Muğla Provinces; Greece: Megisti (Kastelorizo) Island.

A. kumlutasi (Yagmur, Soleglad, Fet & Kovarik 2015) (Turkey: Hıdırellez Cave in Antalya).

Letoiurus Parmakelis, Dimitriadou, Gkigkiza, Karampatsou, Stathi, Fet, Yağmur & Kovařík, 2022.

L. rhodiensis (Soleglad, Fet, Kovarik & Yagmur, 2012) (Greece: Rhodes Island; Turkey: Muğla Province.

Metaiurus Parmakelis, Dimitriadou, Gkigkiza, Karampatsou, Stathi, Fet, Yağmur & Kovařík, 2022.

M. kadleci (Kovarik, Fet, Soleglad & Yagmur, 2010) (Turkey: Antalya and Mersin Provinces).

M. stathiae (Soleglad, Fet, Kovarik & Yagmur, 2012) (Greece: Karpathos Island). 

Abstract:
Iuridae is a family of scorpions that exhibits a highly complex biogeographic and taxonomic history. Iuridae taxa are mainly found in Turkey and Greece, whereas a single species is found in northern Iraq. Several taxonomic revisions have been conducted on this family that initially comprised two genera. The latest taxonomic review, based on morphological and anatomical features, raised the number of Iuridae genera to four, and the number of species to 14.

Sequence data from three molecular markers (COX1, 16S rDNA, ITS1) originating from numerous Iuridae taxa were analyzed within a phylogenetic framework. Divergence time-estimate analyses, species delimitation approaches and estimation of ancestral areas were implemented in order to: (1) reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships of the Iuridae taxa, (2) evaluate the morphological classifications, and (3) obtain insights into the biogeographic history of the family in the East Mediterranean.

The multi-locus phylogeny clearly confirms an ancient division into two clades, Calchinae and Iurinae. Ancient patterns of isolation and dispersal are revealed. Both subfamilies are largely confined to the Anatolian peninsula and its few coastal islands; only the most derived genus Iurus has dispersed westward to Crete and Peloponnese. Based on our findings, three new genera of Iurinae (Metaiurus, Anatoliurus, and Letoiurus) are established. The genus Neocalchas emerges as one of the most ancient scorpion clades, with divergence time about 27 mya.

Reference:
Parmakelis A, Dimitriadou D, Gkigkiza E, Karampatsou L, Stathi I, Fet V, et al.  The evolutionary history of the relict scorpion family Iuridae of the eastern Mediterranean. Mol Phylogenet Evol. 2022:107622. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Gerard Dupre for sending me this article!

Family Iuridae

A review of the scorpion fauna of Greece

Since Aristoteles first mentioned the presence of scorpions in Greece, the number of taxa belonging to this country have increased very much in the last decade thanks to more studies and better taxonomical and phylogentic tools.

Victor Fet and co-workers have written av chapter in book published last Fall summing up the current knowledge of the scorpion fauna in Greece.

Abstract:
A remarkable diversity of scorpion fauna and its distribution in Greece is discussed. The current list of Greek scorpions includes 32 confirmed species belonging to three families (one of Buthidae, seven of Iuridae, and 24 of Euscorpiidae), as well as a number of unassigned euscorpiid taxa. Uncovered only in the last decade, mainly through the use of DNA markers, ‘cryptic’ scorpion fauna of Greece is the most diverse in Europe and rivals that of many other countries.

Reference:
Fet V, Parmakelis A, Stathi I, Tropea G, Kotsakiozi P, Kardaki L, et al. Fauna and zoogeography of scorpions in Greece. In: Sfenthourakis S, Pafilis P, Parmakelis A, Poulakakis N, Triantis KA, editors. Biogeography and Biodiversity of the Aegean In honour of Prof Moysis Mylonas. Nicosia: Broken Hill Publishers Ltd; 2018. p. 123-34. [Full text available on Victor Fet's Research gate profile]

Two new species of Calchas from Turkey and a new genus

In 2009, Fet et al studied the rare genus Calchas Birula, 1899 (Iuridae) from Greece and Turkey and described two new species. Ersen Yagmur has now sampled specimens from many new populations in Turkey, especially from locations in southeastern Turkey. In Yagmur et al., 2013, the new material is described and a new genus and two new species are presented.

Neocalchas Yagmur, Soleglad, Fet & Kovarik, 2013: New genus distributed in Antalya and Mersin provinces in Turkey and on the islands of Megisti and Samos in Greece.

Neocalchas gruberi (Fet, Soleglad & Kovarik, 2009): New combination. Previous name Calchas gruberi  Fet, Soleglad & Kovarik, 2009. Distributed in Antalya and Mersin provinces in Turkey and on the islands of Megisti and Samos in Greece.

Calchas anlasi  Yagmur, Soleglad, Fet & Kovarik, 2013: Turkey: Hakkari Province; Iraq: Arbil Prov-ince (not verified).

Calchas kosswigi  Yagmur, Soleglad, Fet & Kovarik, 2013:Turkey: Siirt and Şırnak Provinces.

The paper has an updated identification key for Neocalchas and Calchas.

This paper is a feast for the eye having some beautiful color pictures showing the described taxas natural habitats, which are stunning!

Abstract:
Several new Calchas populations are studied from Turkey, including specimens from Hakkari Province, which borders the northern edge of Iraq. A new genus, Neocalchas, gen. nov., and two new species, Calchas anlasi, sp. nov. and C. kosswigi, sp. nov., are described. The two genera, Calchas and Neocalchas, are diagnosed by their hemispermatophore structure, chelal finger dentition, telson morphometrics and setation, and trichobothrial topology of the pedipalp chela. Genus Calchas Birula, 1899 includes four species: C. anlasi, sp. nov., C. birulai, C. kosswigi, sp. nov., and C. nordmanni; genus Neocalchas, gen. nov., includes one species, N. gruberi, comb. nov. New diagnoses for genera Calchas and Neocalchas are provided as well as a key to the species of Calchas.

Reference:
Yagmur EA, Soleglad ME, Fet V, Kovarik F. Etudes on iurids, vi. Further revision of Calchas birula, 1899 (Scorpiones: Iuridae), with a description of a new genus and two new species. Euscorpius. 2013 (159):1-37. [Free full text]

Family Iuridae