Тaxonomic position of Orthochirus olivaceus from Egypt and Sudan

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers have studied the taxonomic position of the species Orthodactylus olivaceus Karsch, 1881 (Buthidae). This taxa has been considered a synonym of O. scrobiculosus (Grube, 1873) for a long time. This study shows that Orthochirus olivaceus (Karsch, 1881) is a valid species. The study also concludes that Orthochirus aristidis (Simon, 1882) is a junior synonym of O. olivaceus (Karsch, 1881).

Abstract:
We address the taxonomic position of Orthodactylus olivaceus Karsch, 1881, the type species of the genus Orthochirus Karsch, 1892. For over a century, this taxon was considered a synonym of Orthochirus scrobiculosus (Grube, 1873); however, the latter was recently limited to Central Asia (Turkmenistan) (Kovařík et al., 2020). Analysis of Karsch’s holotype confirmed that Orthochirus olivaceus (Karsch, 1881), is a valid species. Its type locality published as “Sicily” is clearly incorrect. It is a senior synonym of Butheolus aristidis Simon, 1882, syn. n., described from Sudan (Nubia). We confirm its distribution in northern Sudan and southern Egypt.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Fet V, Siyam M. Тaxonomic position of Orthochirus olivaceus (Karsch, 1881), the type species of the genus Orthochirus Karsch, 1892 (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2020(319):1-15. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae