A congress on scorpion (and snake) envenomations in the Mediterranean region in May 2013

Dr. Oulaid Touloun at the Université Cadi Ayyad in Morocco has asked me to inform you about a new congress in May next year focusing on scorpion and ophidian envenomations in the Mediterranean region:

Dear Colleague,

We are pleased to remember  that The Laboratory of Ecology & Environnment L2E organize with the collaboration of Moroccaon Society of Herpetology the First Mediterranean Congress on Scorpion and Ophidian Envenomations (CMESO 1) in Marrakech, Morocco (May 20-23 2013).
This congress will be an opportunity for researchers, experts and the various operators in the domain of envenomations to take stock of the various research topics and to increase the exchange of know-how in zoological research, biochemical, toxicological, Treatment of envenomations and the management of poisoned persons.
CMESO1 has a particular interest because it presents the results of research that have direct impact on the socio-economic and biomedical. It is also the first meeting devoted to scorpion and ophidian envenomations in the Mediterranean region and present also an opportunity to influence policy makers in the countries concerned to pay more attention to this scourge and to respond effectively to this serious problem.
We kindly ask you to link the Congress (www.cmeso1.uca.ma) on your website to ensure wide dissemination. Thank in advance for your collaboration.

Cordialy

Dr. Oulaid TOULOUN
Équipe de Recherche "Écologie Animale & Environnement"
Laboratoire " Écologie & Environnement "
Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences Semlalia BP 2390,
Université Cadi Ayyad, Marrakech 40000, Maroc

Three new species of Compsobuthus from Africa and The Middle East

Frantisek Kovarik has published three new species of Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949 from East Africa and The Middle East.

Compsobuthus krali Kovarik, 2012 (Yemen)
Compsobuthus levyi Kovarik, 2012 (Jordan and Israel)
Compsobuthus somalilandus Kovarik, 2012 (Somaliland)

An identification key for the genus is supplied.

Abstract:
Compsobuthus krali sp. n. of the werneri group from Yemen, C. levyi sp. n. of the werneri group from Jordan and Israel, and C. somalilandus sp. n. of the acutecarinatus group from Somaliland are described. A key to all species of the genus Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949 is presented.

References:
Kovarik F. Three New Species of Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949 from Yemen, Jordan, Israel, and Somaliland (Scorpiones:Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2012 (150):1-10. [Free full text]

Family Buthidae

Five new species of Chaerilus from Asia

Frantisek Kovarik have recently published five new species of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Chaerilidae) from Asia.

Chaerilus cimrmani Kovarik, 2012 (Thailand)
Chaerilus seiteri Kovarik, 2012 (Philippines)
Chaerilus solegladi Kovarik, 2012 (Malaysia and Borneo, Indonesia)
Chaerilus terueli Kovarik, 2012 (Vietnam)
Chaerilus wrzecionkoi Kovarik, 2012 (Tibet, China)

A identification key for the genus is supplied.

Abstract:
Chaerilus cimrmani sp. n. from Thailand, C. seiteri sp. n. from Philippines (Negros Island), C. solegladi sp. n. from Indonesia and Malaysia (Borneo Island), C. terueli sp. n. from Vietnam (Côn Son Island), and C. wrzecionkoi sp. n. from China (Tibet) are described. A key to all species of the genus Chaerilus Simon, 1877 is also presented.

Reference:
Kovarik F. Five New Species of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam (Scorpiones: Chaerilidae). Euscorpius. 2012 (149):1-14.[Free full text]

Family Chaerilidae

Size (or age) influence activity and habitat use in Centruroides vittatus

Earlier this Fall, Neal McReynolds published a study on ontogenetic shifts in microhabitat use, foraging and temporal activity for Centruroides vittatus (Say, 1821) (Buthidae). I haven't had the time to read the paper until now, so sorry for late blogging.The abstract sums the study up pretty well.

Abstract:
Ontogenetic shifts in activity and habitat use by the scorpion Centruroides vittatus in Laredo, Texas can occur with shifts in microhabitat use, the height of the scorpion in vegetation and seasonal and lunar activity among different sizes of C. vittatus but not taxa of prey in the diet. The microhabitat use by the different size classes was significantly different with significant associations among the cacti with a high frequency of larger scorpions on prickly pear cactus and strawberry cactus and between grass and other vegetation with a high frequency of smaller scorpions on grass. A comparison of the mean height of scorpion on blackbrush among the size classes was not significant but height on grass was significant. The activity of the size classes was significantly different among months and lunar cycle. Temperature had a significant effect on the activity of scorpions by different size classes and in different microhabitats. Caterpillar availability did not have a significant association with either scorpion size class or microhabitat use by scorpions. The taxa of prey captured by the different size classes were not significantly different including no notable difference in scorpions feeding on caterpillars. The size classes of C. vittatus show microhabitat and temporal shifts in activity. The results suggest that smaller scorpions can possibly be avoiding the larger scorpions by reducing activity in the preferred microhabitat (prickly pear and strawberry cactus) of larger scorpions.

Reference:
McReynolds CN. Ontogenetic Shifts in Microhabitat Use, Foraging and Temporal Activity for the Striped Bark Scorpion Centruroides vittatus (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2012 (144):1-19. [Free full text]

A new Vaejovis from Mexico

Vaejovis bandido Graham, Ayrey & Bryson, 2012 from Mexico (Photo: Rob Bryson)

Matthew Graham, Richard Ayrey and Robert Bryson have recently published a description of a new species of Vaejovis C. L. Koch, 1836 (Vaejovidae) from the Sierra de los Ajos in Mexico.

Vaejovis bandido Graham, Ayrey & Bryson, 2012

Abstract:
Multivariate analyses of morphological characters provide strong evidence that a highland Vaejovis from the Sierra de los Ajos, a Madrean ‘sky island’ in northern Sonora, Mexico, represents a distinct new species of the V. vorhiesi group. This new species is described and compared to other geographically adjacent species of the V. vorhiesi group, named V. bandido, and brief notes on ecology are provided. Results from this study provide evidence that multivariate analysis of morphological characters is a powerful tool to delimit small and otherwise cryptic scorpion species.

Reference:
Graham MR, Ayrey RF, Bryson Jr RW. Multivariate methods support the distinction of a new highland Vaejovis (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae) from the Sierra de los Ajos, Mexico. Journal of Arachnology. 2012;40:281-90. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Dr. Graham for sending me this paper and to Rob Bryson for sharing a picture of the new species with The Scorpion Files!

Family Vaejovidae