Trends in species richness and abundance in Central Algerian Sahara during a 10 year period

 

Getting data on changes in biodiversity of scorpions and other arthropods in a region over time is important. These data can be related to factors like climate and human impact. Salah Eddine Sadine and co-workers have recently published a study of the trends in scorpion richness, abundance and community structure in Central Algerian Sahara during 10 years.

Interestingly, the scorpion richness increased significantly during the observation period. The authors do not believe that this is a result of increased biodiversity, but rather reflects the increased and improved taxonomical research in the last decades that has revealed several new, but already existing taxa. 

Total abundance showed strong variability between the years in the study period, but without a clear temporal trend. The authors concludes that this may indicate  indicating a decoupling between richness and overall population size. See abstract and article for more information and details.

Abstract:
Understanding long-term temporal dynamics of desert arthropod communities is essential for evaluating ecosystem responses to environmental variability. This study investigates decadal changes (2014–2024) in species richness, abundance, diversity, and assemblage composition of scorpions in the central Algerian Sahara. Annual species abundance data were analyzed using diversity indices and multivariate approaches. Temporal turnover in species composition was assessed using Bray–Curtis dissimilarity, linear regression, and SIMPER analysis to identify species contributing to assemblage change. Species richness increased substantially over the study period, rising from four species in 2014 to eleven species in 2024, but this rise likely reflects improved taxonomic knowledge and more complete inventories rather than a recent ecological colonization. In contrast, total abundance showed strong interannual variability without a clear temporal trend, indicating a decoupling between richness and overall population size. Diversity indices increased progressively, with higher Shannon and Simpson values in later years, reflecting reduced dominance and greater evenness, although both indices reached minimum values in 2019. Temporal β-diversity revealed moderate interannual turnover (mean dissimilarity = 0.22) and a non-significant decline through time, suggesting gradual assemblage reorganization. SIMPER analysis indicated that temporal change was mainly driven by shifts in dominance, particularly the decline of Androctonus amoreuxi and changes in secondary species such as Buthacus samiae and Lissothus chaambi. Overall, scorpion assemblages exhibited increasing richness and diversity with moderate turnover, driven primarily by changes in species dominance rather than widespread species replacement.

Reference:
Sadine SE, Zebsa R, Bensakhri Z, Souilem Z, Rouari L, Houhamdi M, et al. A Decade of Change: Trends in Scorpion Richness, Abundance, and Community Structure in Central Algerian Sahara. Diversity. 2026;18(7). [Open Access]

Thanks to André for informing me about their study.  

New location and DNA barcoding of Euscorpius vailatii from Trizonia Island in Greece)

 

 Konstantinos Kalaentzis and co-workers recently published a new, insular location of Euscorpius vailatii Tropea & Fet, 2015 (Euscorpiidae) from Trizonia Island in Greece. Molcular data was also collect from the species and a phylogenetic analysis is presented.

Abstract:
Euscorpius vailatii Tropea & Fet, 2015 (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae), originally described from Aitoloakarnania and Fokida (Greece), is herein reported from Trizonia Island in the Gulf of Corinth, representing the first insular record for the species. The examined specimens are consistent with the diagnostic morphology of E. vailatii. The first molecular data for the species are provided, based on both mainland and insular populations. Comparative analyses further highlight the distinctiveness of E. vailatii from geographically close congeners, while phylogenetic results indicate a sister-taxon relationship with E. erymanthius, supporting a Quaternary biogeographic history shaped by the evolution of the Gulf of Corinth system.

Reference:
Kalaentzis K, Frigioni F, Panagiotopoulos A, Tzoras E, Minoudi S, Triantafyllidis A. First insular record and DNA barcoding of Euscorpius vailatii Tropea & Fet, 2015 from Trizonia Island (Fokida, Greece). Euscorpius. 2026;2026(439):1–6. [Open Access]

Family Euscorpiidae 

Delayed Cannibalism in the Brazilian Scorpion Mesotityus pusillus

 

The life as young scorpions are risky and the death rate of young scorpions are quite high. Cannibalism is common in scorpions and it seems that also mother scorpion will prey on their own offspring.  

Lizbeth Sarai Rodríguez‑Medina and co-workers have recently published a study on female cannibalism in the litter-dwelling scorpion  Mesotityus pusillus (Pocock, 1893) (Buthidae) from Brazil. [The genus name for the species is based on Prendini (2026), and the current use name of this taxa in The Scorpion Files is Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893.]

The study tested if there were differences in offspring discrimination in females (own offspring vs. non-related offspring). Interestingly, there were no differences in predation occurrence and the proportion
of juveniles consumed in the two groups. 

One interesting difference was observed. When females were together with their own offspring, it took longer time for any cannibalism occurred. Even though this difference was quite small, the authors suggest that kin recognition could be one of the explanations for the observed delay.

Abstract:
The small size and limited defensive capacity are factors responsible for the high mortality  of juveniles. Thus, offspring recognition is an important trait for juvenile survival, especially in generalist predators. In this study, we investigated aspects
related to offspring discrimination in females of the scorpion Mesotityus pusillus. A total of 172 juveniles from 32 females were divided into two groups: females with their own offspring and females with unrelated juveniles. Predation events were recorded
daily for 20 days. Predation occurrence and the proportion of juveniles consumed did not differ significantly between groups. Females with their own offspring tended to take longer to initiate predation than females exposed to unrelated juveniles, although this difference was not statistically significant. Our results reveal differences in the timing of cannibalistic behavior without providing clear evidence for consistent

Reference:
Rodríguez-Medina LS, de Araujo Lira AF, Pordeus LM. Delayed Cannibalism in the Litter-Dwelling Scorpion Mesotityus pusillus (Pocock, 1893)(Scorpiones, Buthidae): Evaluating Kin Recognition as a Possible Explanation. Journal of Insect Behavior. 2026;39(2):20. [Open Access]

A new species of Alpiscorpius from from Denizli Province in Turkey

 

Ersen Yagmur has described a new species of Alpiscorpius Gantenbein et al., 1999 (Euscorpiidae) from from Denizli Province in Turkey.

Alpiscorpius kaleensis Yagmur, 2026 

Abstract:
A new scorpion species, Alpiscorpius kaleensis sp. nov., is described from Denizli Province, in the Aegean Region of western Turkey, based on morphological characters. The species is assigned to the genus Alpiscorpius, based on the presence of three trichobothria in the em series on the external surface of the pedipalp patella. Alpiscorpius kaleensis sp. nov. can be readily distinguished from all congeners by its orange-yellow males and brownish-orange females, the presence of distinct ventrolateral carinae on metasomal segment V, six trichobothria in the Pv series, and five trichobothria in the et series. The new species is compared with Alpiscorpius akkayai, A. hakani, and A. honazicus, all of which occur in Denizli Province, as well as with A. huyukensis from Konya Province, its most similar congener. With the description of this new species, the number of recognised species of Euscorpiidae in Turkey increases to 27, and the genus Alpiscorpius is now represented by 14 species in the country.

Reference:
Yağmur EA. Alpiscorpius kaleensis sp. nov., a new scorpion species from Denizli Province, Turkey (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae). Zoology in the Middle East. 2026:1–18. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Ersen for sending me his new article!

Family Euscorpiidae 

A new species of Androctonus from Syria

 

Ersen Yagmur and Ahmad Aidek have recently published an article with a description of a new species in the medical important genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Buthidae) from The Deir ez-Zor Province in Syria.

Androctonus auzaricus Yagmur & Aidek, 2026

The article has an identification key for the genus Androctonus in Syria.

Abstract:
A new scorpion species, Androctonus auzaricus sp. n., is described and illustrated from Deir ez-Zor Province, Syria. This species represents the first record of the genus Androctonus from Deir ez-Zor Province and the first formally described species of the genus from Syria. The new species is compared with congeners from Iraq, Jordan and Turkey, particularly A. turkiyensis, which was recently described from nearby areas in Turkey.

Reference:
Yağmur EA, Aidek AE. Androctonus auzaricus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) a new scorpion species from Deir ez-Zor Province, Syria. Journal of Natural History. 2026;60(29-32):1663–80. [Subscription required for full text]

Family Buthidae 

Taxonomic comments on some species of Bothriurus from Brazil and one new species

 

Wilson Lourenco and co-workers have recently published an article with considerations of some species in Bothriurus Peters, 1861 (Bothriuridae) from the state of Paranà in Brazil. Main findings:

Bothriurus trifinium Lourenço, Wilme & Ythier, 2026 [New species from the Northwest of the state of Paraná in Brazil.]

Bothriurus semiellipticus Prado, 1934 [Raised to species status from synonymy with B. bonariensis (C.L. Koch, 1842).]

Abstract:
A new species, Bothriurus trifinium sp. n. is described from an area of Riparian wet-forests in the Northwest of the state of Paraná in Brazil. The new species can be associated with other species previously described from the nearby regions of Paraná but also from Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraguay. The description of this new species attests once again about the existence of micro-endemic populations within different groups of Bothriurus. Comments are also proposed on the taxonomic status of some previously described species, with one species revalidated and some synonymies suggested.

Reference:
Lourenço WR, Wilmé L, Ythier É. New considerations on the species of the genus Bothriurus Peters (Scorpiones: Bothriuridae) described or cited from the state of Paraná, Brazil and description of a new species. Faunitaxys. 2026;14(56):1–10. [Open Access]

Thanks to Eric for informing me about this article!

Family Bothriruidae 

A new species of Janalychas from India

 

Sudheer Kumar Jena and Pratyush Mohapatra have recently published an article describing a new species of Janalychas Kovarik, 2019 (Buthidae) from the Deccan Peninsula in India.

Janalychas fulvus Jena & Mohapatra, 2026

Abstract:
A novel buthid scorpion of the genus Janalychas Kovařík, 2019 is described from the Amrabad Tiger Reserve, Telangana, based on an integrative approach combining morphological and molecular data for South Asian representatives. Morphologically, the new species is most similar to J. farkasi (Kovařík, 1997) from Nepal, but can be distinguished by the presence of a single carina on the mesosomal tergites (vs. three in J. farkasi) and the presence of denticles on sternite V. It can also be readily differentiated from its Indian congeners by a unique combination of morphological traits and its characteristic yellow, patterned coloration.

Reference:
Jena SK, Mohapatra PP. A new species of Janalychas Kovařík, 2019 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from the Deccan Peninsula, India. Arthropoda Selecta. 2026;35(1):79–95. [Open Access]

Thanks to Victoria for informing me about the new species. 

Family Buthidae