Two new species from the Arabian Peninsula

Wilson Lourenco and Bernard Duhem have recently described two new species from the Khatan Al'Atash Ridge in the border area between the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

Butheolus pallidus Lourenco & Duhem, 2012 (Buthidae)
Compsobuthus lowei Lourenco & Duhem, 2012 (Buthidae)

Abstract:
Two new species of scorpion belonging to the genera Butheolus Simon, 1882 and Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949 are described from the region of Khatan Al'Atash Ridge in the border area between the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Species of Compsobuthus have already been cited from UAE, but this is the first record of the genus Butheolus from this country.

Reference:
Lourenço WR, Duhem B. Two new species of scorpions from the Arabian Peninsula belonging to the genera Butheolus Simon and Compsobuthus Vachon. Zoology in the Middle East. 2012;55:121-6.

Thanks to professor Wilson Lourenco for sending me this paper!

Family Buthidae

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]

A new species discovered in California, USA

Most of you probably already know, as there have been an unusual amount of news buzz on the Internet, about the discovery of an ultra-rare species in the elusive genus Werneri Soleglad & fet, 2008 (Vaejovidae) in the Inyo Mountains in California by Webber, Graham & Jaeger.

Werneri inyoensis Webber, Graham & Jaeger, 2012

Interestingly, the authors have a new theory on why the members on this genus is so rare. This may be because they are mainly subterranean in their habitats and not because they exist in low densities.

Abstract:
A new scorpion species is described from the Inyo Mountains of California (USA). The presence of a strong subaculear spine, along with other characters, places the new species within Wernerius, an incredibly rare genus that until now consisted of only two species. Wernerius inyoensis sp. n. can be most easily distinguished from the other members of the genus by smaller adult size, femur and pedipalp dimensions, and differences in hemispermatophore morphology. Previous studies have suggested that the elusive nature of this genus may be attributed to low densities and sporadic surface activity. Herein, we provide another hypothesis, that Wernerius are primarily subterranean. Mitochondrial sequence data are provided for the holotype.

Reference:
Webber M, Graham M, Jaeger J. Wernerius inyoensis, an elusive new scorpion from the Inyo Mountains of California (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae). ZooKeys. 2012;177:1-13. [Free full text]

Thanks to Gerard Dupre for sending me this paper!

Family Vaejovidae

A new troglobitic Vietbocap species described from caves in Laos

Vietnam and Laos have cave system with enigmatic scorpion fauna with cave adaptions (troglobites). Previously, two species have been described in the genus Vietbocap Lourenco & Pham, 2010 (Pseudochactidae). In a forthcoming paper Wilson Lourenco describes a new species from the Tham Nam Lot cave in Laos.

Vietbocap lao Lourenco, 2012

A new subfamily, Vietbocapinae Lourenco, 2012 is suggested to accommodate the species in the genus Vietbocap.

Abstract:
A new species of scorpion belonging to the family Pseudochactidae and the genus Vietbocap is described from the Tham Nam Lot cave, located in the Laotian part of the Khammouan-Ke Bang karst in Southeast Asia. Like the previously described species of the genus, Vietbocap lao sp. n. is a true troglobiont, but presents an even greater degree of adaptation to cave life, with a total lack of pigmentation and a very weak sclerotization of the tegument. This is the third troglobitic element known for the family Pseudochactidae. It represents the fifth known species of pseudochactid, four of which are from the Khammouan-Ke Bang karst system. Taking into account some marked differences between Vietbocap and the other two pseudochactid genera, a new subfamily, Vietbocapinae subfam. n., is proposed to accommodate this genus.

Reference:
Wilson R L. The genus Vietbocap Lourenço & Pham, 2010 (Scorpiones: Pseudochactidae); proposition of a new subfamily and description of a new species from Laos. Comptes Rendus Biologies. 2012. 335:232-237. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to professor Lourenco for informing me about this paper!

Family Pseudochactidae

Autopsy diagnosis of deaths due to scorpion stinging

Lavlesh Kumar and co-workers are publishing a paper in a forthcoming issue of Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine presenting a case report of an autopsy after a scorpion induced death. The paper also discuss the problems and challenges connected to post-mortem investigation after suspected scorpion induced deaths.

Abstract:
Post-mortem diagnosis of envenomation by a scorpion with or without a reliable history is a herculean task for any forensic pathologist. The challenge is compounded when stinging occurs at night, with the history remaining unreliable. The autopsy diagnosis is further complicated when the inflicted wound is small, and the mark is obliterated by healing within few days. As the venom of a scorpion is a mixture of enzymes, most of the forensic science laboratories in India fail to diagnose the poisoning. We present a case in which there was no external evidence of stinging, but the internal post-mortem findings along with histology of the organ systems pointed towards the diagnosis and were corroborated by the history. We reemphasise the importance of pathological sampling of organ systems, whenever there is death due to a suspicious, unknown insect bite.

Reference:
Kumar L, Naik SK, Agarwal SS, Bastia BK. Autopsy diagnosis of a death due to scorpion stinging - A case report. Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. 2012;In Press. [Subscription required for full text]

New scorpion book in Portuguese

Tania Kobler Brazil and Tiago Porto have recently published a small book in Portuguese entitled "Os Escorpioes". This is a popular science book dealing mainly with Brazilian scorpions. Main topics are:

Scorpions in general
How to collect and keep scorpions
Scorpion diversity in Brazil
Medical important scorpions in Brazil
Studies and research on Brazilian scorpions

Reference:
Brazil TK, Porto TJ. Os Escorpioes. Salvador: EDUFBA; 2011.

A big thanks to Tiago Porto for sending me a copy of his book!

Taxonomic emendations in Liocheles - Three new species

Lionel Monod has recently published an article on the genus Liocheles Sundevall, 1833 (Hemiscorpiidae). Two species are revalidated and one species is restored from synonymy.

Liocheles boholiensis (Kraepelin, 1914) - Philippines
Liocheles longimanus (Werner, 1939) - Indonesia (north-western Sumatra)
Liocheles neocaledonicus (Simon, 1877) - New Caledonia

In addition, Liocheles australasiae brevidigitatus Werner, 1936 is synonymized with Liocheles australasiae (Fabricius, 1775).

The new species are redescribed and illustrated.

Abstract:
Examination of an extensive material that includes the type series and recently collected specimens enable a precise reassessment of the status of several taxa belonging to the genus Liocheles Sundevall, 1833 (Scorpiones, Liochelidae). Two species previously in synonymy, i. e. Liocheles boholiensis (Kraepelin, 1914) and Liocheles neocaledonicus (Simon, 1877), are revalidated. Liocheles australasiae longimanus (Werner, 1939) is elevated to species rank and Liocheles australasiae brevidigitatus Werner, 1936 is synonymized with Liocheles australasiae (Fabricius, 1775). L. boholiensis (Kraepelin, 1914), L. neocaledonicus (Simon, 1877) and L. longimanus (Werner, 1939) are thoroughly redescribed, diagnosed and illustrated, and their distribution ranges are accurately mapped.

Reference:
Monod L. Taxonomic emendations in the genus Liocheles Sundevall, 1833 (Scorpiones, Liochelidae). Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 2011;118(4):723-58.

Family Hemiscorpiidae