Season's Greetings and a Happy New Year

More comments on Pandinus and Pandinurus and a new species

Andrea Rossi has published another article on the scorpionid scorpions of West-, Central- and East-Africa in the genera Pandinus Thorell, 1876 and Pandinurus Fet, 1997. A new subgenus in Pandinurus and a new species is described from Somalia.

Pandipavesius Rossi, 2015 (new subgenus)

Pandinurus cianferonii Rossi 2015

The article provides updated identification keys for Pandinus and Pandinurus.

Abstract:
 New comments on the taxonomy of the genera Pandinus and Pandinurus are discussed. A new subgenus, Pandipavesius subgen. n., is proposed to accommodate three species of the genus Pandinurus from East Africa. A new species, Pandinurus (Pandinurus) cianferoni sp. n., is described from Somalia. An identification key for all subgenera and species of the genera Pandinus and Pandinurus is given.

Reference:
Rossi A. Ulteriori commenti sulla tassonomia dei generi Pandinus e Pandinurus, con la definizione di un nuovo sottogenere ed una nuova specie di Pandinurus dalla Somalia. Arachnida - Rivista Aracnologica Italiana. 2015;1(4):41-55.

Thanks to Dr. Rossi for sending me his article!

Family Scorpionidae

New data on Iurus dufoureius distribution in Greece

Sotiris Alexiou & Giannis Kofinas have recently published an article with new locations for Iurus dufoureius (Brullè, 1832) (Iuridae) in Peloponissos, Greece, expanding the known distribution of this large scorpion.

Abstract:
Iurus dufoureius is reported as new for Eparchia Mantinias and Eparchia Epidaurou Limiras. The habitus is imaged, habitats are discussed and an updated map of distribution is provided. A female specimen from Pigaza Cave raises questions about the taxonomic status of the scorpion populations of SE Peloponnisos and Kithira.

Reference:
Alexiou S, Kofinas G. Closing the gaps: New remote localities of Iurus dufoureius (Scorpiones: Iuridae) from Peloponissos, Greece. Parnassiana Archives. 2015;3:19-24. [Open Access]

Thanks to Diego Facheris for sending me this article!

Family Iuridae

Two new species of Cicileus from Hoggar Mountains, Algeria

Wilson Lourenco and Andrea Rossi have described two new species of Cicileus Vachon, 1948 (Buthidae) from Hoggar Mountains in Algeria.

Cicileus hoggarensis Lourenco & Rossi, 2015

Cicileus montanus Lourenco & Rossi, 2015

Abstract:
Following the recent results published on the genus Cicileus Vachon, 1948 (Scorpiones, Buthidae), an intensive research in the collections of the Museum in Paris led to the characterization of two more new species, Cicileus hoggarensis sp. n. and Cicileus montanus sp. n., collected in the Hoggar Mountains in the south of Algeria. At present, the number of species is raised to five. With the description of two more new species, the distribution pattern of the genus is confirmed as associated with the Saharian Massifs. Moreover, an altitudinal pattern of speciation seems to take place in the Hoggar Mountains.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Rossi A. Two new species of Cicileus Vachon, 1948 from Hoggar Mountains in Algeria. Arachnida - Rivista Aracnologica Italiana. 2015;1(4):2-12.

Thanks to Dr. Rossi for sending me this article!

Family Buthidae

Two new Chaerilus species from Vietnam

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers have recently published a new article with the description of two new species of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Chaerilidae) from Vietnam.

Chaerilus granulatus Kovarík, Lowe, Hoferek, Forman & Král, 2015

Chaerilus longimanus Kovarík, Lowe, Hoferek, Forman & Král, 2015

Abstract:
Chaerilus granulatus sp. n. and C. longimanus sp. n. from Vietnam are described and compared with other species of the genus. Both species are characterized by: median eyes present; movable finger of pedipalp with 7–9 rows of granules; total length of adults under 30 mm; male differing from female in having pedipalp chela much narrower and longer. The two new species are differentiated by: ventral sides of sternite VII are smooth in C. longimanus sp. n. and granulated in C. granulatus sp. n. Adults of both sexes of C. granulatus sp. n. and C. hofereki Kovařík et al., 2014 were raised from birth and their exuviae were retained and compared to the mature adults. Hemispermatophores of C. granulatus sp. n. and C. hofereki were extracted and illustrated. Karyotype of male holotype of C. granulatus sp. n. consists of high number of chromosomes (2n=96).

Reference:
Kovarik F, Lowe G, Hoferek D, Forman M, Kral J. Two New Chaerilus from Vietnam (Scorpiones, Chaerilidae), with Observations of Growth and Maturation of Chaerilus granulatus sp. n. and C. hofereki Kovařík et al., 2014. Euscorpius. 2015 (213):1-21. [Open Access]

Family Chaerilidae

Two new species of Pseudouroctonus from Arizona, USA

Richard Ayrey and Michael Soleglad have published an analysis of the genus Pseudouroctonus Stahnke, 1974 (Vaejovidae) and described two new species from southeastern USA.

Pseudouroctonus kremani Ayrey & Soleglad, 2015

Pseudouroctonus santarita Ayrey & Soleglad, 2015

Abstract:
Two new species of Pseudouroctonus are described from southeastern Arizona, USA, Pseudouroctonus santarita, sp. nov. from the Santa Rita Mountains and P. kremani, sp. nov. from the Santa Catalina Mountains. These new species are closely related to P. apacheanus (Gertsch et Soleglad, 1972). A combination of morphological differences in the hemispermatophore, the mating plug, and several morphometric-based characters are identified as diagnostic. New substructures are identified for the mating plug.

Reference:
Ayrey RF, Soleglad ME. New Analysis of the Genus Pseudouroctonus with the Description of Two New Species (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Euscorpius. 2015 (211):1-53. [Open Access]

Family Vaejovidae

A revision of the genus Pandinus with a description of two new species from Ethiopia

In a recently published article, Andrea Rossi has made a prelimnary revision of the genus Pandinus Thorell, 1876 (Scorpionidae). These are the main conclusion of the article:

New species:

Pandinus bottegoi Rossi, 2015 (Ethiopia)

Pandinus riccardoi Rossi, 2015 (Ethiopia)

New combination:

Pandinops boschisi (Caporiacco, 1937) (Previously nomen dubium in the genus Pandinus)

New subspecies:

Pandinoriens Rossi, 2015 (including the following species in Pandinus: P. bottegoi, P. mazuchi, P. phillipsii, P. riccardoi, P. smithi & P. trailini).

The article is in Italian with an English abstract. An identifcation key for the new subgenus is provided.

Abstract:

Reference:
Rossi A. Una revisione preliminare del genere Pandinus Thorell, 1876 con la descrizione di un nuovo sottogenere e due nuove specie dall'Etiopia (Scorpiones, Scorpionisae). Arachnida - Rivista Aracnologica Italiana. 2015;1(3):37-52.

Thanks to Dr. Rossi for sending me his articles.

Family Buthidae

A new species in the enigmatic genus Chiromachetes from India

I'm a great fan of the scorpions in the family Hormuridae after having kept a colony of parthenogenetic Liocheles australasiae (Fabricius, 1775) for more than 15 years. It is therefore great to see new species described in this special family. Zeeshan Mirza and co-workers have recently described a new species in the enigmatic genus Chiromachetes Pocock, 1899 (Hormuridae) from Western Ghats in India.

Chiromachetes sahyadriensis Mirza, Sanap & Zambre, 2015

The article has an unpdated identification key for the genus.

Abstract:
A new species of hormurid scorpion is described from the Western Ghats of India. Chiromachetes sahyadriensis sp. nov. differs from other members of this genus in the following set of characters: medium sized scorpions, total length reaching 62.9 mm, carapace flat, three pairs of lateral eyes, manus length/width ratio in males 4.6–4.8 and 3.4 in females, tarsi of leg ventrally with three spinoid setae at the base of tarsi. Dentate margin of pedipalp manus finger with two rows of granules fused at base. Pectines 8–9 in males, 6–8 in females. Lamellar hook positioned distinctly in basal half of hemispermatophore in proximity to the lamellae.

Reference:
Mirza Z, Sanap R, Zambre A. A New Species of the Enigmatic Genus Chiromachetes Pocock, 1899 (Scorpiones: Hormuridae) from Western Ghats, India, with a Key to the Genus. Euscorpius. 2015 (212):1-10. [Open Access]

Family Hormuridae

A new Buthus species from Algeria

Salah Eddine Sadine and co-workers have recently described a new species of Buthus Leach, 1815 (Buthidae) from Algeria.

Buthus saharicus Saddine, Bissati & Lourenco, 2015

Abstract:
Since the early 2000s, the genus Buthus Leach, 1815 (family Buthidae) has been the subject of an important number of studies. These concerned particularly the species belonging to the ‘Buthus occitanus’ complex. A number of populations previously considered as subspecies or varieties of B. occitanus Leach were raised to the rank of species, but also many new species have been described. Most of the species considered in these studies come from North Africa, in particular from Morocco, Mauritania, Chad, Sudan and Egypt, but only two new species were recorded from Algeria. At present, one more new species of Buthus is described from the Algerian Saharan Desert, raising the number of confirmed Buthus in Algeria to five. Since most Buthus species from North Africa, and in particular those from Algeria, inhabit more mesic environments than the Saharan Central compartment, the new species appears as the first true deserticolous species found in this country.

Reference:
Sadine SE, Bissati S, Lourenco WR. The first true deserticolous species of Buthus Leach, 1815 from Algeria (Scorpiones: Buthidae); Ecological and biogeographic considerations. C R Biol. 2015 Nov 26. [Subscription required for full text]

Family Buthidae

Two new species of Pandinurus from the Horn of Africa

Andrea Rossi is working on Scorpionidae materials from Africa and has now published two new species in the subgenus Pandiborrellius Rossi, 2015 (Scorpionidae) from the Horn of Africa.

Pandinurus lanzai Rossi, 2015 (Somalia)

Pandinurus sabbadinii Rossi, 2015 (Eritrea)

The article has an identification key for the subgenus Pandiborrellius.

 Abstract:

Reference:
Rossi A. Due ulteriori nuove specie del sottogenere Pandiborellius Rossi, 2015 dal Corno d'Africa (Scorpiones, Scorpionidae). Arachnida - Rivista Aracnologica Italiana. 2015;1(2):2-36.

Thanks to Dr. Rossi for sending me his article!

Family Scorpionidae

Revision of the genus Gint in Somalia with two new species

Previously this year, Andrea Rossi published a revision of the little known genus Gint Kovarik, Lowe, Pliskova & Stahlavsky, 2013 (Buthidae) from Somalia. Two new species were described.

Gint marialuisae Rossi, 2015

Gint monicae Rossi, 2015

In addition, the only known specimen of Buthus insolitus Borelli, 1925 was re-examined and transferred to Gint as Gint insolitus (Borelli, 1925).

Abstract:
The genus Gint Kovarik, Lowe, Pliskova & Stahlavsky, 2013 in Somalia is revised. Two new speices, Gint marialuisae sp. n., and Gint monicae sp. .n., are described; the holotype, and the only known specimen, of Buthus insolitus Borelli, 1925 is re-examined and moved to the genus Gint. An identification key for the four present species in Somalia is given: Gint insolitus (Borelli, 1925) comb. n., Gint marialuisae sp. .n., Gint monicae sp. n. and Gint calviceps (Pocock, 1900).

Reference:
Rossi A. Revisione del genere Gint Kovarik, Lowe, Pliskova & Stahlavsky, 2013 in Somalia con la descrizione di due nuove specie (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Arachnida - Rivista Aracnologica Italiana. 2015;1(2):50-63.

Thanks to Dr. Rossi for sending me his article!

Family Buthidae