A new species of Buthus from Ghana

Andrea Rossi has recently published a paper discussing the distribution of the genus Buthus Leach, 1815 (Buthidae) in the basin countries of the Gulf of Guinea, West Africa. A new species from Ghana is also presented.

Buthus danyii Rossi, 2017

Abstract:
The presence of the genus Buthus Leach, 1815 in the basin countries of the Gulf of Guinea was reported almost seventy years ago, but the precise identity of the species remained for a long time unknown. Up to now only three species of the genus Buthus are recorded in such region: Buthus prudenti Lourenço & Leguin, 2012 from Cameroon, Buthus elizabethae Lourenço, 2005 from Guinea (but also present in Senegal) and Buthus elhennawyi Lourenço, 2005 from Niger (but also present in Senegal). A fourth species, Buthus danyii sp. n., is now described from Ghana.

Reference:
Rossi A. The genus Buthus Leach, 1815 in the basin countries of the Gulf of Guinea with the description of a new species from Ghana (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Onychium. 2017;13:9-15. [Open Access]

Thanks to Dr. Rossi for sending me his article!

Family Buthidae

A new species of Androctonus from Niger

A new species of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Buthidae) has recently been described by Wilson Lourenco from the Aïr Massif in Niger.

Androctonus santi Lourenco, 2015

Abstract:
A new species of scorpion belonging to the genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Family Buthidae C.L. Koch, 1837) is described on the basis of one male specimen collected in the Aïr Massif in Niger. This population was previously associated with Androctonus hoggarensis (Pallary, 1929), originally described from the Hoggar Mountains in Algeria. A more precise analysis of several morphological characters from these rare Androctonus populations, attests for some important differences between the two species. As in previous studied cases, these Saharan Massifs prove to be very important endemic centres within the Sahara desert.

Reference:
Lourenco WR. A new species of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 from the Aïr Massif in Niger (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Serket. 2015;14(4):167-75. [Open Access]

Thanks to Dr. Hisham El-Hennaway for sending me the latest issue of the journal Serket.

Family Buthidae

A new species of Scorpio from Niger

The previous monotypic genus Scorpio Linnaeus, 1758 (Scorpionidae) in Africa has been under investigation for some time. Lourenco & Cloudsley-Thompson has now discovered a new species from Niger.

Scorpio niger Lourenco & Cloudsley-Thompson, 2012

This is the first record of Scorpio from Niger and the third species to be reported beyond the Saharan region of Africa (the two other species being S. savanicola Lourenco, 2009 from Cameroon and S. occidentalis Werner, 1936 from Senegal).

Abstract:
For almost a century, Scorpio maurus L., 1758 (Scorpiones, Scorpionidae) has been considered to be no more than a widespread and presumably highly polymorphic species. Recent investigation of the ancient classifications by Birula (1910) and Vachon (1952) have led to the consideration of several African populations at the rank of species. Two new species have also been described from Cameroon (Lourenço, 2009) and Sudan Lourenço & Cloudsley-Thompson, 2009), countries not previously recorded as containing members of the genus Scorpio. In the present paper, the enigmatic presence of the genus Scorpio in Congo has been tentatively clarified, and this record is attributed to mislabelling. A new species is also described from Niger. It is the first confirmed record of a species of Scorpio from that country.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Cloudsley Thompson JL. About the enigmatic presence of the genus Scorpio Linnaeus, 1758 in Congo with the description of a new species from Niger (Scorpiones, Scorpionidae). Serket. 2012;13(1/2):1-7.

Thanks to professor Lourenco for sending me his article!

Family Scorpionidae

How to treat scorpion sting pain

Amucheazi and Umeh have recently published a paper discussing the use of Chloroquine as a potential pain medicine in scorpion sting cases with severe and/or sustained local pain. Interestingly, Chloroquine is a common anti-malaria drug.

Abstract:
The objective of reporting this case is to highlight the clinical usefulness of chloroquine in the management of scorpion sting pain with the hope of stimulating interest and research, especially in areas where local anesthetic agents may not be available. In this case reported here, lidocaine failed to provide sustained analgesia for pain relief following scorpion sting. Two milliliters of parenteral chloroquine was injected intradermally around the bite site. Chloroquine provided immediate pain relief within 3 minutes of injection. The pain relief was sustained beyond 24 hours. The use of local anesthetic agents should be continued while other agents such as chloroquine, which may also have relevant clinical usefulness, should be considered.

Reference:
Amucheazi AO, Umeh BU. Scorpion sting pain: Which way to treat? Niger J Clin Pract. 2012;15(1):93-4. [Free full text]