Courtship behavior of the parthenogenetic scorpion Tityus stigmurus from Brazil

 

Most scorpions have sexual reproduction, but a few species seem to have parthenogensis as the main method for reproduction and in these species males are rare. We know very little about the courtship behavior in the species that can reproduce by either method.

Stênio Foerster and co-workers have recently published a study of the courtship repertoire of the Brazilian, parthenogenetic scorpion Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) (Buthidae), which have sexual populations distributed throughout northeastern Brazil.

Overall, the reproductive repertoire of T. stigmurus was similar to that of other non-parthenogentic scorpions.

Abstract:
Scorpions can adopt different reproductive strategies (e.g., sexual or parthenogenesis) depending on the environmental conditions. In this study, we described the courtship repertoire of the parthenogenetic scorpion Tityus stigmurus, a species with inconspicuous sexual populations distributed throughout northeastern Brazil. Specimens of both sexes (10 male, 10 female) were obtained from field expeditions in three locations in northeastern Brazil and were paired under laboratory conditions in an intrapopulation design. All observations were conducted at night using red light positioned above an experimental arena. From the 10 courtship interactions observed in this study, only one pair successfully completed the reproductive repertoire that included the insemination process. The incomplete interactions were abruptly terminated by the females immediately after deposition of the spermatophore. Overall, the reproductive repertoire of T. stigmurus was similar to that of other scorpions, especially its congeners, possibly because this reproductive behavior emerged at a basal point in the evolution of scorpions. The acquisition of new insights into the reproductive biology of different scorpion species may improve the theoretical background for applications ranging from evolutionary biology to public health strategies.

Reference:
Foerster SIA, Dionisio-da-Silva W, dos Santos AB, de Albuquerque CMR, de Araújo Lira AF. Notes on the courtship behavior of the parthenogenetic scorpion Tityus stigmurus. Acta Arachnologica. 2021;70(2):83-6. [Open Access]

Thanks to Andre Lira for sending me their article!

A study of the defensive behavior of Tityus pusillus in relation to sex and threat level

 

Scorpions have a range of tactics to avoid being caught and eaten by predators. Some are passive like camouflage, while others are active like using the stinger and inject venom. Strategies chosen vary both between species and within species, and even between the sexes. 

Kamila Bento Cavalcanti de Albuquerque and Andre Felipe de Araujo Lira have recently published a study on the defensive behavior chosen by male and female Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 (Buthidae) in relation to threat level. One of their main findings was that  the scorpions, independently of sex, stung more often under high threat compared to low threat treatments. But there was no difference in female and male defensive behavior in respons to the threat intensity.

It is well known that scorpion use their venom with care as venom production is costly and this study is another confirmation of this.

Abstract:
Scorpion venom is composed mainly of peptides and proteins and has high metabolic cost. Thus, individuals need to be economic in its use. This study aimed to evaluate the reactions of Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 scorpion to threats of different intensities. For the experiments, 28 males and 26 females were used; animals were gently touched five times on their mesosoma at different time intervals. Touches with five second intervals were considered as the highintensity threats, while those with five-minute intervals were considered as the low-intensity threats. We found that scorpions, independently of sex, stung more often under high threat compared to low threat treatments. However, no significant differences in the defensive behavior of males and females were observed according to threat intensity. We can thus infer that regardless of sex, T. pusillus uses its stings and consequently venom only in situations of high threat.

Reference:
de Albuquerque KBC, de Araujo Lira AF. Sex-based defensive behavior influenced by threat level in the scorpion Tityus pusillus (Scorpiones: Buthidae). J Arachnol. 2021;49(3):402-6. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Andre Lira for sending me their article!

A new species of Lanzatus from Somaliland

 

Frantisek Kovarik and Graeme Lowe have recently discovered a new species of Lanzatus Kovarik, 2001 (Buthidae).

Lanzatus huluul Kovarik & Lowe, 2021

Abstract:
The rare Horn of Africa buthid genus Lanzatus Kovařík, 2001 was newly collected in Somaliland in two localities. We describe a new species Lanzatus huluul sp. n. fully illustrated with color photos showing its morphology, habitus, hemispermatophore and collection areas.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Lowe G. Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part XXVII. Lanzatus huluul sp. n. from Somaliland (Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2021(344):1-12. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A revision of the genus Odontobuthus with three new species from Iran

 

Members of the clay-loving genus Odontobuthus Vachon, 1950 (Buthidae) are distributed from central-eastern Iraq to north-western India. Hossein Barahoei and co-workers have recently published a review article with a morphometric and phylogenetic analysis of the genus. The validity of the current known species (six) are confirmed and three new species from Iran are described.

Odontobuthus baluchicus Barahoei, Prendini, Navidpour, Tahir, Aliabadian & Siahsarvie, 2021 

Odontobuthus chabaharensis Barahoei, Prendini, Navidpour, Tahir, Aliabadian & Siahsarvie, 2021 

Odontobuthus kermanus Barahoei, Prendini, Navidpour, Tahir, Aliabadian & Siahsarvie, 2021 

The article has an updated identification key for the genus.   

Abstract:
The ‘tooth-tailed’ scorpions of the buthid genus Odontobuthus comprises six species with an allopatric or parapatric pattern of distribution in the Middle East, but the diversity of Odontobuthus in Iran appears to be underestimated, with the limits of several species remaining unclear. In the present contribution, an integrative approach to the systematics of Odontobuthus was applied, to determine the taxonomic validity and phylogenetic relationships among its species. Statistical analyses of five meristic characters, 38 morphometric characters and 21 morphometric ratios, combined with molecular phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, were conducted. All previously described species of Odontobuthus were found to be well supported, and new morphological diagnoses are here presented. Additionally, three new species: Odontobuthus baluchicus sp. nov. from the Makkoran Mountains, Odontobuthus chabaharensis sp. nov. from the coast of the Gulf of Oman (Sistan and Baluchistan Provinces) and Odontobuthus kermanus sp. nov. from Kerman Province, are described, raising the total number of Odontobuthus species to nine, six of which are endemic or subendemic to the Iranian Plateau. A distribution map and identification key to the species of Odontobuthus are also provided.

Reference:
Barahoei H, Prendini L, Navidpour S, Tahir HM, Aliabadian M, Siahsarvie R, et al. Integrative systematics of the tooth-tailed scorpions, Odontobuthus (Buthidae), with descriptions of three new species from the Iranian Plateau. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 2021;XX:1-44. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Dr. Hossein Barahoei for sending me their article!

Family Buthidae

 

The genus Hottentotta may have become established in Spain

 

Non-native species have been reported from many countries, but most of these are introduced and usually have not become established a a viable population. Spain are known for several introduced species, most notable the buthid Centruroides gracilis (Latreille, 1804) in the island Tenerife that seems to be an established population.

Rolando Teruel and Carlos Turiel now report of several findings of the African species Hottentotta hottentotta (Fabricius, 1787) (Buthidae) from northwestern Spain. The independent findings of three live, female specimens from two different locations may suggest that this species have become established in this part of Spain. 

Hottentotta hottentotta is an ideal candidate for colonization as its widespread distribution in tropical West Africa indicates a species with high ecological plasticity. In addition, the species is known for the ability to asexual reproduction by parthenogenesis.

It will be interesting to see if there will be further findings that can confirm the occurrence of this genus in Spain and in Europe.

Abstract:
The present note reports on the occurrence of the buthid scorpion Hottentotta hottentotta (Fabricius, 1787) at two localities in north-western Spain: Nieves (Galicia) and Gijon (Asturias). This species is markedly synanthropic and native to western Africa, where it is widespread and consists largely of parthenogentic populations. The finding of three live adult females independently at two different localities , but within the same geographical region (The Iberian northwest), suggests that this species could have successfully become established here. Spain now harbours four introduced species: one confirmed as established and two others seemingly so as well.

Reference:
Teruel R, Turiel C. "New kid on the block": The West African scorpion Hottentotta hottentotta (Frabricius, 1787) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) may have become established in Spain. Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2021(39):107-9.

Thanks to Rolando, Carlos and Luis for all sending me this article!

A new species of Buthus from Central Spain

 

Happy New Year!

I have received quite a few new articles during the last month, but due to a long and well-deserved holiday I now have a long queue of interesting articles waiting. Please be patient, I will blog about them soon. :)

The Iberian scorpion fauna have exploded in the last year with the description of many new species with limited distribution. Now Rolando Turiel and Carlos Turiel have discovered another one from Serrania de Cuenca in central Spain.

Buthus pedrosousai Teruel & Turiel, 2021

The articles presents also updated distributional data for nine other Buthus Leach, 1815 (Buthidae) species in the region.

Abstract:
The present paper represents the third contribution to our taxonomic revision to the genus Buthus Leach, 1815 in the Iberian Peninsula. Herein, we describe a new species from the Serrania de Cuenca (central Spain) and present additional locality records to complement to known geographical distribution of a further nine species: Buthus alacanti Teruel & Turiel, 2020, Buthus baeticus Teruel & Turiel, 2020, Buthus delafuentei Teruel & Turiel, 2020, Buthus elongatus Rossi, 2012, Buthus ibericus Lourenco & Vachon, 2004, Buthus manchego Teruel & Turiel, 2020, Buthus montanus Lourenco & Vachon, 2004, Buthus occitanus (Amoreux, 1789) and Buthus serrano Teruel & Turiel, 2020. The West European diversity of Buthus now reaches 15 species, all of them being local endemics.

Reference:
Teruel R, Turiel C. The genus Buthus Leach, 1815 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in the Iberian peninsula. Part 3: A new species from central Spain and new records. Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2021(39):3-11.

Thanks to Rolando, Carlos and Luis for all sending me this article!

Family Buthidae

Season's Greetings from The Scorpion Files

 
Picture: The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, https://twitter.com/USCPSC/status/1464238132023504900 (Public domain).

I'm illustrating this Christmas holiday greeting with a tweet from The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, using a Heterometrus scorpion as an example of a "dangerous" Christmas present for children. Even though the purpose is well meant, this doesn't improve the image of scorpions in the general public. But it is also a little funny as I guess quite a few of you reading this blog would have loved to get a scorpion gift! :)

Thanks to Matt Simon for sending me the tweet!

I wish you all Merry Chistmas and a Happy New Scorpion Year!

Best wishes

Jan Ove Rein
Editor