New information on Euscorpius feti from the Balkans

Gioele Tropea and Roman Ozimec have recently published an article with new information on Euscorpius feti Tropea, 2013 (Euscorpiidae). The adult male is described for the first time. In addition, the occurrence of E. feti in cave habitats (especially the habitat of cave entrance) is discussed.

Abstract:
The adult male of Euscorpius feti Tropea, 2013 (Euscorpiidae) is described for the first time. A large series (45 specimens including the type material) has been studied, most of the material previously unpublished. E. feti has been found in as many as 17 caves in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, including the Adriatic islands, which makes it the most common Euscorpius species so far found in caves. Ecological notes on this species are presented.

Reference:
Tropea G, Ozimec R. Description of the adult male of Euscorpius feti Tropea, 2013 (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae), with notes on cave ecology of this species. Euscorpius. 2019(291):1-10. [Open Access]

Family Euscorpiidae

The daily activity of two intraguild predators, Tityus pusillus and Ananteris mauryi

How to eat and how to avoid being eaten naturally have a great impact on the behavior of scorpions, especially if two or more species inhabit the same habitat/niche (intraguild predation).

Welton Dionisio-da-Silva and co-workers have now published a study on the daily activity of two intraguild predators, Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 and Ananteris mauryi Lourenço, 1982 (both Buthidae), and looked for differences in behavior in the presence and absence of each other. Not surprisingly, the presence of a potential predator in the habitat changed the behavior of a potential prey, and vica versa. See abstract and full article for further details.

Abstract:
Intraguild predators can have behavioral mechanisms to maximize foraging and/or avoid predation. However, there is a lack of information about the influence of such prey-predator interactions on the daily activity of the species involved. Therefore, we investigated the daily activity of two intraguild predators, Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 and Ananteris mauryi Lourenço, 1982, in the presence and absence of each other. Animals were observed in three experimental conditions, containing individuals of T. pusillus (control 1), A. mauryi (control 2), and both species (treatment). In addition, we evaluated the correlation between the number of active individuals with air temperature and humidity. Our results showed that T. pusillus and A. mauryi have similar daily activity between 18:00 and 05:00 h. However, T. pusillus was more active and shifted from a sit-and-wait hunting mode to actively hunting when in the presence of A. mauryi. In contrast, under predation risk, A. mauryi did not change its level of activity but became more vigilant by reducing the frequency of rest, hydration, and mating attempts. Activity of A. mauryi was positively correlated with air humidity whereas activity of T. pusillus was negatively correlated. This work highlights the influence of intraguild predators in the behavioral decisions during daily activities of each other, indicating adaptive behaviors in both prey and predator.

Reference:
Dionisio-da-Silva W, de Araujo Lira AF, de Albuquerque CMR. Prey-predator interactions between two intraguild predators modulate their behavioral decisions. Acta Ethologica. 2019:1-7 (Published online 12. September 2019).

Thanks to Welton Dionisio-da-Silva for sending me their article!

Five new Parabuthus species from Somaliland and Ethiopia

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers recently published part 21 in their ongoing article series on the scorpion fauna in the Horn of Africa. In their latest article, they look further into Parabuthus heterurus Pocock, 1897 (Buthidae) and conclude that this is actually a species complex consisting of four species (three new species). In addition, two more new species are described from Somaliland.

Parabuthus erigavoensis Kovarik, Lowe, Elmi & Stahlavsky, 2019 (new species from Somaliland).

Parabuthus kabateki Kovarik, Lowe, Elmi & Stahlavsky, 2019 (new species from Somaliland).

Parabuthus mazuchi Kovarik, Lowe, Elmi & Stahlavsky, 2019 (new species from Somaliland).

Parabuthus robustus Kovarik, Lowe, Elmi & Stahlavsky, 2019 (new species from Ethiopia and Somaliland).

Parabuthus somalilandus Kovarik, Lowe, Elmi & Stahlavsky, 2019 (new species from Somaliland).

Parabuthus terzanii Rossi, 2017 is synonymized with Parabuthus hamar Kovařík et al., 2016. The former was never listed in The Scorpion Files.

New data on the distribution of Parabuthus of the Horn of Africa are given and an identification key for the genus in the same area is available.

Abstract:
The complex of Parabuthus heterurus Pocock, 1897 is split into four species: P. heterurus Pocock, 1897 s. str. whose type locality and real distribution are discussed and corrected, and three herein described species, P. kabateki sp. n., P. robustus sp. n. and P. somalilandus sp. n. In the species complex of Parabuthus liosoma (Ehrenberg, 1828), P. erigavoensis sp. n. from Somaliland is described. Also described are P. mazuchi sp. n., sympatric with P. cimrmani Kovařík, 2004 and P. eritreaensis Kovařík, 2003 from Somaliland. New data are presented on the distribution of the genus Parabuthus Pocock, 1890 in the Horn of Africa, mainly in Somaliland, acquired during expeditions in 2017–2019. Information is provided about Parabuthus species from Somaliland, their taxonomy, distribution, and ecology, fully complemented with color photos of live and preserved specimens, as well as their habitats. The hemispermatophores of P. kabateki sp. n., P. mazuchi sp. n., P. robustus sp. n. and P. somalilandus sp. n. are illustrated and described. In addition to the analyses of external morphology and hemispermatophores, we also described the karyotypes of P. kabateki sp. n., P. robustus sp. n., and P. somalilandus sp. n. All three species have karyotypes with 2n=16 and chromosomes gradually decreasing in length. Included is a key to Parabuthus Pocock, 1890 in the Horn of Africa. Parabuthus terzanii Rossi, 2017 is synonymized with Parabuthus hamar Kovařík et al., 2016 syn. n. as a junior synonym because the description dated July 2016 was in reality published/accessible in March 2017.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Lowe G, Elmi HSA, Stahlavsky F. Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part XXI. Parabuthus (Buthidae) (Part II), with description of five new species from Somaliland and Ethiopia. Euscorpius. 2019(290):1-63. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

Description of the female of Diplocentrus lachua from Guatemala

Rony E. Trujillo and co-workers have recently published a description of the adult female of the species  Diplocentrus lachua  (Diplocentridae) from Guatemala. Information of the known distribution of all described Guatemalan Diplocentrus species is also presented.

Abstract:
The female of the scorpion Diplocentrus lachua Armas, Trujillo & Agreda, 2011 is herein described, on the basis of a single specimen collected at Parque Nacional Laguna Lachuá, Alta Verapaz Department, Guatemala, type locality for this species. An emended diagnosis is provided and the known distribution of all described Guatemalan Diplocentrus species is graphically presented.

Reference:
Trujillo RE, de Armas LF, Gaitan CA. Description of the adult female of Diplocentrus lachua (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae: Diplocentrinae) from northeastern Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Euscorpius. 2019(289):1-9. [Open Access]

Family Diplocentridae

A revision of the buthid genera Lychas, Mesobuthus, and Olivierus with several taxonomic changes

Frantisek Kovarik has published a revision of the genus-level taxonomy of Lychas C.L. Koch, 1845 (sensu lato) and Mesobuthus Vachon, 1950 (sensu lato) (Buthidae). This study presents the following taxonomical changes:

New genera:

Aegaeobuthus Kovarik, 2019 (4 species transferred from Mesobuthus Vachon, 1950).

Afrolychas Kovarik, 2019 (2 species transferred from Lychas C. L. Koch, 1845).

Janalychas Kovarik, 2019 (7 species transferred from Lychas C. L. Koch, 1845).

Spelaeolychas Kovarik, 2019 (1 species transferred from Lychas C. L. Koch, 1845).

See the Buthidae family page for information about which species that belongs to the different genera.

Olivierus Farzanpay, 1987 (Raised from synonymy with Mesobuthus. 18 species transferred from Mesobuthus. See the Buthidae family page for information about which species that belongs this genus).

Olivierus hainanensis (Birula, 1904) (Raised from synonymy and transferred from Mesobuthus).

New species:

Mesobuthus afghanus (Pocock, 1889) (Previous status M. eupeus afghanus Pocock, 1889).

Mesobuthus bogdoensis (Birula, 1896), (Previous status M. eupeus bogdoensis Birula, 1896).

Mesobuthus haarlovi Vachon, 1959, (Previous status M. eupeus haarlovi Vachon, 1959).

Mesobuthus iranus (Birula, 1917), (Previous status M. eupeus iranus Birula, 1917).

Mesobuthus mongolicus (Birula, 1912), (Previous status M. eupeus mongolicus Birula, 1912).

Mesobuthus persicus (Pocock, 1899), (Previous status M. eupeus persicus Pocock, 1899).

Mesobuthus thersites (C. L. Koch, 1839), (Previous status M. eupeus thersites C. L. Koch, 1839).

See article for more details.

Abstract:
The diagnostic characters are reassessed and defined for the genera Lychas C. L. Koch, 1845, Mesobuthus Vachon, 1950, and Olivierus Farzanpay, 1987 (the latter is restored from synonymy with Mesobuthus). Four new genera are described: Aegaeobuthus gen. n. (type species Buthus gibbosus Brullé, 1832), Afrolychas gen. n. (type species Isometrus burdoi Simon, 1882), Janalychas gen. n. (type species Lychas srilankensis Lourenço, 1997), and Spelaeolychas gen. n. (type species Isometrus hosei Pocock, 1891). Type species are designated for subgenera Lychas (Distotrichus) Tikader & Bastawade, 1983 (type species Isometrus nigristernis Pocock, 1899), Lychas (Alterotrichus) Tikader & Bastawade, 1983 (type species Scorpio mucronatus Fabricius, 1793), and Lychas (Endotrichus) Tikader & Bastawade, 1983 (type species Isometrus scaber Pocock, 1893). All these three subgenera are now in synonymy with Lychas C. L. Koch, 1845. Lychas kaimana Lourenço, 2011 is synonymized with Lychas shelfordi (Borelli, 1904). Taxonomic position of Lychas timorensis Lourenço, 2018, which is a member of Lychas variatus (Thorell, 1876) complex, is discussed. The species and subspecies of Mesobuthus Vachon, 1950 are discussed, with seven subspecies elevated to species level: Mesobuthus afghanus (Pocock, 1889), stat. n., M. bogdoensis (Birula, 1896), stat. n., M. haarlovi Vachon, 1959, stat. n., M. iranus (Birula, 1917), stat. n., M. mongolicus (Birula, 1912), stat. n., M. persicus (Pocock, 1899), stat. n., and M. thersites (C. L. Koch, 1839), stat. n. Taxonomic changes are supported by 182 figures including the first published photographs of the syntypes of Olivierus hainanensis (Birula, 1904), stat. n., comb. n. and O. przewalskii (Birula, 1897), comb. n.

Reference:
Kovarik F. Taxonomic reassessment of the genera Lychas, Mesobuthus, and Olivierus, with descriptions of four new genera (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2019(288):1-27. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A large revision of parts of the genus Euscorpius with two new genera

The genus Euscorpius Thorell, 1876 (Euscorpiidae) has turned out two be very complex with many cryptic and hidden taxa that has only been revealed after genetical analysis. A large number of new species have been described in the last decade.

Less attention have been on the complex Alpiscorpius complex containing the old taxa Euscorpius germanus C. L. Koch, 1837 and E. mingrelicus Kessler, 1874. Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers have now published a major study investigating this species complex in Italy, Austria and Slovenia. The study has resulted in the following taxonomical changes:

Alpiscorpius Gantenbein et al., 1999 is raised from subgenus status. The following species are included in this genus (New comb. = Transfered from genus Euscorpius):

A. alpha (Caporiaco, 1950). New comb.

A. beroni (Fet, 2000). New comb.

A. beta (Di Caporiacco, 1950). New status. Previously part of E. alpha.

A. delta Kovarik, Stundlova, Fet & Stahlavsky, 2019. New species from Italy.

A. gamma (Caporiaco, 1950). New comb.

A. germanus (C.L. Koch, 1837). New comb.

A. kappa Kovarik, Stundlova, Fet & Stahlavsky, 2019. New species from Slovenia.

A. lambda Kovarik, Stundlova, Fet & Stahlavsky, 2019. New species from Slovenia and Italy (?).

A. mingrelicus (Kessler, 1874). New comb.

A. omega Kovarik, Stundlova, Fet & Stahlavsky, 2019. New species from Slovenia.

A. omikron Kovarik, Stundlova, Fet & Stahlavsky, 2019. New species from Slovenia.

A. phrygius (Bonacina, 1980). New comb.

A. sigma Kovarik, Stundlova, Fet & Stahlavsky, 2019. New species from Italy and Slovenia.

A. uludagensis (Lacroix, 1995). New comb.

A. ypsilon Kovarik, Stundlova, Fet & Stahlavsky, 2019. New species from Austria and Slovenia.

The authors inform that the populations of Euscorpius (Alpiscorpius) spp. in the major part of the Balkan Peninsula remain unrevised. This means that there may be further changes in the future.

Tetratrichobothrius Birula, 1917 is raised from subspecies status and the genus' only species is Tetratrichobothrius flavicaudis (DeGeer, 1778), which is transfered from Euscorpius.

The article has a identification key for the new genus Alpiscorpius.

Abstract:
Two subgenera of Euscorpius Thorell, 1876 (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) are elevated to the genus status: Alpiscorpius Gantenbein et al., 1999, stat. n. and Tetratrichobothrius Birula, 1917, stat. n. Seven new Alpine scorpion species are described and illustrated: Alpiscorpius delta sp. n. (Italy) from the “alpha group” (“germanus complex”); A. kappa sp. n. (Slovenia) and A. lambda sp. n. (Slovenia) from the “germanus group” (“germanus complex”); A. omega sp. n. (Slovenia), A. omikron sp. n. (Slovenia), A. sigma sp. n. (Italy, Slovenia), and A. ypsilon sp. n. (Austria, Slovenia) from the “gamma group” (“mingrelicus complex”). The taxonomic validity of these cryptic species is confirmed through cytogenetic and DNA analysis (Štundlová et al., 2019). Alpiscorpius beta (Di Caporiacco, 1950), comb. n., stat. n. (Italy, Switzerland) is restored from synonymy and elevated to species level within the “alpha group”. Euscorpius germanus marcuzzii Valle et al., 1971 (Italy), recently elevated to species level, is synonymized with Alpiscorpius germanus (C. L. Koch, 1837), comb. n. (which is found in Austria, Italy, and Switzerland but not in Slovenia). The genus Alpiscorpius currently includes 15 valid species (6 in “germanus complex” and 9 in “mingrelicus complex”). Many populations of Alpiscorpius spp. from the Balkan Peninsula, formerly listed under Euscorpius gamma or E. mingrelicus, remain unassigned.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Stundlova J, Fet V, Stahlavsky F. Seven new Alpine species of the genus Alpiscorpius Gantenbein et al., 1999, stat. n. (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae). Euscorpius. 2019(287):1-19. [Open Access]

Family Euscorpiidae