On the behavior, ecology and distribution of the buthid Buthus apiatus in Algeria

 

Noureddine Benali and co-workers have recently published a study on the behavior, ecology, distribution and habitat preferences of Buthus apiatus Lourenço, El Bouhissi & Sadine, 2020 (Buthidae) in Algeria. One main takeaway from this study is that this species has a larger flexibility in habitat preferences and distribution in Algeria than previously known.

Abstract:
Buthus apiatus Lourenço, El Bouhissi & Sadine, 2020 is an endemic scorpion species in Algeria, first discovered in the Sidi Bel Abbès region in the northwest of the country. It was previously thought to have a restricted distribution limited to Sidi Bel Abbès, Tissemsilt and Tiaret in western Algeria. However, recent field survey has revealed a wider range than previously assumed, with confirmed occurrence in several additional areas of western Algeria that extend to the central-eastern regions, including Tlemcen, Naama, Mascara, Saïda, Laghouat, Bayadh and M'Sila. These new records suggest a substantial expansion of the species known range, highlighting its broader ecological tolerance and potentially redefining its distribution limits. Furthermore, B. apiatus has been observed across diverse habitats in Algeria, demonstrating considerable ecological flexibility.

Reference:
Benali N, Hammou MA, Dahmani W, El Bouhissi  M, Mohdeb S, Chedad A, et al. Ethology, ecology and distribution of Buthus apiatus Lourenço, El Bouhissi & Sadine, 2020 in Algeria (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Serket. 2026;21(2):175–83. [Open Access]

Thanks to Hisham  El-Hennaway for sharing the full text of this article with me! 

Distribution, hybridisation and morphology of two species of Androctonus from Algeria

 

 Mohammed Ait Hammou and co-workers have recently published an article on the distribution and morphology of Androctonus liouvillei (Pallary, 1924) and A. aeneas C. L. Koch, 1839 (Buthidae) from Algeria. The study also looks into potential hybrid forms of the two species. Habitat differences and biogeography are also discussed.

Abstract:
This study updates the geographic distribution and examines the morphometric differentiation of Androctonus liouvillei, A. aeneas, and their putative hybrids in Algeria. By combining historical records with field surveys conducted between 2021 and 2024, several new localities for A. liouvillei in western Algeria were identified. Morphometric analyses of 12 adult females using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), revealed key morphological differences and as well as intermediate forms. The results indicate that A. liouvillei has a restricted, and fragmented distribution, primarily associated with mid-altitude steppe habitats, whereas A. aeneas occupies a broader ecological range. Putative hybrids were recorded in sympatric zones, particularly in El Bayadh, Naâma, Béchar, and Tiaret, providing new insights into their biogeography and ecological differentiation.

Reference:
Hammou MA, Benali N, Dahmani W, Chedad A, El Bouhissi M, Rebbas K, et al. Geographical distribution, potential hybridisation, and comparative morphometric analysis of Androctonus liouvillei Pallary, 1924 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Algeria. Serket. 2026;21(2):184–208. [Open Access]

Thanks to Hisham  El-Hennaway for sharing the full text of this article with me!

DNA barcoding and distribution of euscorpiid scorpions from Kosovo

 

Donard Geci and co-workers have recently published a study of the little known scorpion fauna of Kosovo. A DNA barcoding together with morphological characters confirmed for the first time the presence of Alpiscorpius dinaricus (Di Caporiacco, 1950) (Euscorpiidae) in Kosovo. Illustrations to facilitate the identification of this species is provided. The distribution of Euscorpius hadzii Caporiacco, 1950 in Kosovo is expanded.

Abstract:
This study presents DNA barcoding data for Alpiscorpius dinaricus (Di Caporiacco) and Euscorpius hadzii Caporiacco. Barcode sequences were compared with publicly available reference data to support species identification, together with the evaluation of diagnostic morphological characters. Alpiscorpius dinaricus is recorded from Kosovo for the first time, representing a new national record and contributing to the knowledge of euscorpiid diversity in the region. Diagnostic illustrations of A. dinaricus are provided to facilitate reliable identification and to support future faunistic, taxonomic, and biogeographic studies. Euscorpius hadzii, previously known only from Prizren district, is now reported also from Bjeshkët e Nemuna Mountains (Western Kosovo).

Reference:
Geci D, Ibrahimi H, Bilalli A, Musliu M, Strohmeier T, Koblmüller S, et al. DNA barcoding of scorpions from Kosovo, with the first record of Alpiscorpius dinaricus (Di Caporiacco) (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae). Journal of Natural History. 2026;60(21-24):1243–58. [Subscription required for full text]

Family Euscorpiidae 

Is “Tityus” tenuimanus Banks, 1910 actually a member of the genus Leiurus?

 

There are quite a few taxa in the scorpion world with unclear or unsolved status. “Tityus” tenuimanus Banks, 1910 (Buthidae) is one of these. Originally, labelled as collected in California, USA, but later this was changed to Morocco, and the species was synonymized with Buthus atlantis Pocock, 1889.

Mohamed Mousaid and co-workers have recently published a redescription of this taxa after examining the holotype. Their conclusion is that this species probably belongs to the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg,
1828. The absence of adult specimens makes it impossible to further conclude abut the status.

The authors remove “Tityus” tenuimanus from synonymy with B. atlantis, and consider it nomen dubium.

Abstract:
This study re-examines the holotype of “Tityus” tenuimanus Banks, 1910, previously synonymized with Buthus atlantis Pocock, 1889 by Lourenço & Francke (1984). Our results indicate that the specimen is a misidentified representative of Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828, as it exhibits the diagnostic characters of this genus: the central lateral and posterior median carinae of the carapace fused into a lyre-shaped configuration, and tergites I–II bearing five granular carinae (a character absent in the genus Buthus Leach, 1815). Moreover, the holotype lacks one of the most distinctive characters of the genus Tityus Koch, 1836, namely the presence of a subaculear tubercle. The holotype shares several morphological features with two species described from Egypt (especially trichobothrial configuration on the fixed finger of pedipalp), Leiurus libycus (Birula, 1908) and L. aegyptiacus Lourenço & El- Hennawy, 2021, both of which are only known from immature material. The absence of adult specimens for these two species, as well as the lack of a clear assessment of their intraspecific morphological variation, leads us to consider “T.” tenuimanus as a
nomen dubium for the time being, and to remove it from synonymy with B. atlantis.

Reference:
Mousaid M, Yagmur EA, Flores Z, Rivera A, Lansari A, Bouazza A. A reassessment of “Tityus” tenuimanus Banks, 1910, as a misidentified Leiurus sp. (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2026(431):1–7. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae 

Cave and subterranean dwelling scorpions in Brazil

 

As many other invertebrates, som scorpions have adapted to a life in caves and/or in subterrean habitats. A few are true troglobites, adapted to cave life only (often with several troglomorphic adaptions). Others are troglophiles or trogloxenes, living both inside and outside the subterranean realm. 

Jonas Gallao and co-workers have recently published a review summing up the knowledge of cave and subterranean scorpions in Brazil. They found that three families and at least 33 species have been reported from these kinds of habitats. 

Abstract:
Arachnids have successfully colonized subterranean environments. Compared to spiders, harvestmen, and pseudoscorpions, scorpions have a moderate number of subterranean species, including troglophiles and troglobites. Among the four families and 184 species and three subspecies of scorpions found in Brazil, three families and at least 33 species and one subspecies have been documented in subterranean habitats. This study presents a faunistic list of scorpion occurrences in caves and other types of subterranean habitats in Brazil, along with distribution maps and an attempt to classify species based on their use of and dependence on subterranean environments.

Reference:
Gallao JE, Lenhare BD, Oliveira-Neto M, Bichuette ME. Scorpions in Brazilian caves and other subterranean habitats. Euscorpius. 2026(430):1–12. [Open Access] 

A review of the genus Nebo in Oman and the description of three new species

 

Graeme Lowe has published a review of the genus Nebo Simon, 1878 (Diplocentridae) in Oman. Three new species were identified.

Nebo feulneri Lowe, 2026 

Nebo masirahensis Lowe, 2026 

Nebo nebulicola Lowe, 2026 

The existence of the three previously reported species in Oman is confirmed, and redescriptions are provided. The article also includes an identification key for the genus in Oman.

Regarding the major Prendini revision of all scorpion taxa that I recently blogged about, I have started mapping all the changes and their justification. There are several hundred changes, and this work will take some time. I also awaits reactions from the scorpion research community about the changes. The first line in the paper uses the work "consensus" about the content, but that is not in accordance with the reactions I have gotten so far. Many of the suggested changes are accepted, but others are refuted. So I will not update The Scorpion Files until I get some real consensus about the results (to avoid using a lot of time changing The Scorpion Files, and then have to change a lot back again after a few months because new papers will change Prendini's suggested changes. So please be patient and check the Prendini paper if you want to learn more about the changes he has suggested.

Abstract:
The taxonomy of the genus Nebo in Oman is revised based on an analysis of 427 samples from 135 localities spanning the length of the country. All three previously known species, N. franckei Vachon, 1980, N. omanensis Francke, 1980, and N. whitei Vachon, 1980, were found and are redescribed. Three new species, N. feulneri sp. n., N. masirahensis sp. n., and N. nebulicola sp. n. from the Arabian Sea coast are described, and a new record of N. henjamicus is reported from the Musandam Peninsula. Species diagnoses are based on coloration, morphometric ratios, multivariate analyses of sclerite dimensions, scalloping of male pedipalp fingers, and granulation of female carapace and pedipalp movable fingers. The populations of Nebo comprise a series of allopatric or sympatric species distributed over four local centers of endemism on coastal regions of Oman: Al Hajar mountains, northern Central Coast, southern Central Coast, and Dhofar mountains.

Reference:
Lowe G. The genus Nebo Simon, 1878 (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae) in Oman. Euscorpius. 2026(429):1–139.

Family Diplocentridae 

 

Discovery of an unknown cave-dwelling scorpion from Australia

 

It is always interesting to read about new, cave dwelling scorpions. Some of these are just troglophiles without any special morphological adaptions, while others are true troglobites with adaptions like lack of pigments and reduced or no eyes.

In a recent article, Michael Curran and co-workers describe a new scorpion discovered in caves the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The taxonomic status of the scorpion will be treated in a future article, but preliminary analysis place it in the family Bothriuridae. The new species has distinct troglomorphic traits. It lacks eyes and pigmentation, and has weakened/diminished appendages.

It will be interesting to read the follow-up study on the taxonomy of this scorpion and another unknown bothriurid fra the same area. These two specimens represent the first reported troglobitic members of the family Bothriuridae.

Abstract:
We report the first troglobitic members of the scorpion family Bothriuridae from Australia, discovered in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, and provide a brief review of Australian troglofaunal scorpions. Scorpions are rare in subterranean ecosystems, with only 28 species recorded globally. Two described and two undescribed subterranean scorpion species were previously known from Australia. The Pilbara specimen documented herein exhibit pronounced troglomorphic traits, including complete loss of ocelli and pigmentation and weakened/diminished appendages, consistent with obligate subterranean adaptation. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses place the specimen within Bothriuridae. Photographs, collection details, and molecular data are provided. Together with a previously collected undescribed bothriurid from the Pilbara, this discovery represents the first documented troglobitic Bothriuridae globally. Formal taxonomic treatment will follow in a subsequent dedicated study.

Reference:
Curran M, Rodman S, Huey J, Floeckner S, Gunawardene N, Lythe M, et al. First record of troglobitic Bothriuridae (Scorpiones) in Australia from the Pilbara. Subterr Biol. 2026;56:85–101. [Open Access]

Thanks to Matt Simon and Francesco Frigioni for sending me this article!