Season's Greetings from The Scorpion files

A new species of Buthacus from Morocco and a review of the species from Northwestern Africa

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers have recently published a review of the Buthacus Birula, 1908 (Buthidae) from Northwestern Africa. These are the main taxonomical decisions:

New species:

Buthacus stockmanni Kovarik, Lowe & Stahlavsky, 2016 (Morocco and Western Sahara)

Synonymization:

Buthacus huberi Lourenço, 2001 is synonymized with Buthacus occidentalis Vachon, 1953.

Buthacus mahraouii Lourenço, 2004 is synonymized with Buthacus ziegleri Lourenço, 2000.

Buthacus leptochelys algerianus Lourenço, 2006 is synonymized with Buthacus ziegleri Lourenço, 2000.

The paper has color pictures of species and their habitats.

Abstract:
Northwestern African Buthacus species are revised. Buthacus stockmanni sp. n. from Morocco and Western Sahara is described and fully complemented with color photos of live and preserved specimens, as well as their habitat. The hemispermatophore of B. stockmanni sp. n. is illustrated and described. In addition to morphology and hemispermatophores, we also describe the karyotypes of B. stockmanni sp. n. (2n=20). B. stockmanni sp. n. is compared with B. occidentalis Vachon, 1953 and B. ziegleri Lourenço, 2000. Both these species are differentiated from B. stockmanni sp. n. geographically and morphologically. The male of B. stockmanni sp. n. has fingers of pedipalp chela strongly twisted proximally and males of the other two species have fingers straight or almost straight. Buthacus huberi Lourenço, 2001 is synonymized with Buthacus occidentalis Vachon, 1953; Buthacus mahraouii Lourenço, 2004 and Buthacus leptochelys algerianus Lourenço, 2006 are synonymized with Buthacus ziegleri Lourenço, 2000.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Lowe G, Stahlavsky F. Review of Northwestern African Buthacus, with Description of Buthacus stockmanni sp. n. from Morocco and Western Sahara (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2016(236):1-18. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A new, psammophilic scorpion from Algeria

Wilson Lourenco and co-workers have recently published a new species of Buthacus Birula, 1908 (Buthidae) from the region of Ghardaïa, Algeria.

Buthacus spinatus Lourenco, Bissati & Sadine, 2016

Abstract:
Following the very recent description of Buthacus samiae Lourenco et Sadine, 2015 from the region of Ghardaïa, in central Algeria, a second new species belonging to this genus is described at present. This confirms the existence of two sympatric Buthacus in the central Algerian Saharan deserts. The total number of confirmed Buthacus in Algeria is raised to seven. This new discovery brings further evidence about the complexity of this genus, and also attests to a considerable degree of diversity found in the Algerian Saharan deserts.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Bissat S, Sadine SE. One more new species of Buthacus Birula, 1908 from the region of Ghardaïa, Algeria (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Aracnida - Rivista Arachnologica Italiana. 2016;2(8):2-11.

Thanks to Salah Sadine for sending med their article!

Family Buthidae

On the enigmatic troglobitic scorpion Troglorhopalurus translucidus and comments on troglobitic buthids

Gallão and Bichuette have recently published an article with a description of the adult female of the troglobitic scorpion Troglorhopalurus translucidus Lourenço Baptista & Giupponi, 2004 from Brazil. The article also present new data on distribution and life history. The situation for Rhopalurus lacrau Lourenço & Pinto-da-Rocha, 1997 and other buthid troglobites is also discussed.

Abstract:
We describe for the first time the adult female of the troglobitic scorpion Troglorhopalurus translucidus Lourenço Baptista & Giupponi, 2004, and broaden its known distribution to other sandstone caves at Chapada Diamantina’s region. The life history of T. translucidus is reconstructed through morphometric measurements, with a multivariate analysis applied on a set of 16 specimens in all stages (including the holotype) and biological notes. The ontogeny of T. translucidus has seven stages and the litter size is 43 (n = 1). We discuss the isolation of T. translucidus and Rhopalurus lacrau Lourenço & Pinto-da-Rocha, 1997 in caves of Chapada Diamantina, and discuss their troglomorphisms (autapomorphies) among other species related with Rhopalurus. Both species must be considered fragile due their restricted endemism at Chapada Diamantina.

Reference:
Gallao JE, Bichuette ME. On the enigmatic troglobitic scorpion Troglorhopalurus translucidus: distribution, description of adult females, life history and comments on Rhopalurus lacrau (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Zoologia. 2016;33(6):e20150193. [Open Access]

Thanks to Dr. Andre Felipe de Araujo Lira for sending me this article!

New data on distribution and biology of the North African Lissothus occidentalis

Mark Stockmann and co-workers recently published an article with new data on the North African buthid Lissothus occidentalis Vachon, 1950. See abstract for a summary of the new data. The article has several color photos, showing both live specimens and their natural habitats.

Abstract:
Genus Lissothus Vachon, 1948 represented by L. occidentalis Vachon, 1950 is reported for the first time from four localities in Morocco and the Western Sahara. We provide a revised diagnosis of L. occidentalis, fully com-plemented with color photos of live and preserved specimens. Hemispermatophore is also illustrated and described in detail. Furthermore, we describe aspects of the ecology of this species, and provide photos of collection sites and habitats. We also report on the reproductive biology of this species based on captive breeding and rearing. and provide the first envenomation report for the species.

Reference:
Stockmann M, Turiel C, Althoff F, Lowe G, Kovarik F. First report of Lissothus occidentalis Vachon, 1950 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Morocco and Western Sahara, with notes on ecology and captive breeding. Euscorpius. 2016(235):1-12. [Open Access]