A new species of Androctonus from Niger

A new species of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Buthidae) has recently been described by Wilson Lourenco from the Aïr Massif in Niger.

Androctonus santi Lourenco, 2015

Abstract:
A new species of scorpion belonging to the genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Family Buthidae C.L. Koch, 1837) is described on the basis of one male specimen collected in the Aïr Massif in Niger. This population was previously associated with Androctonus hoggarensis (Pallary, 1929), originally described from the Hoggar Mountains in Algeria. A more precise analysis of several morphological characters from these rare Androctonus populations, attests for some important differences between the two species. As in previous studied cases, these Saharan Massifs prove to be very important endemic centres within the Sahara desert.

Reference:
Lourenco WR. A new species of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 from the Aïr Massif in Niger (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Serket. 2015;14(4):167-75. [Open Access]

Thanks to Dr. Hisham El-Hennaway for sending me the latest issue of the journal Serket.

Family Buthidae