A new species of Iomachus from Mozambique

 

Wilson Lourenco has recently published a new species of Iomachus Pocock, 1893 (Hormuridae) from Mozambique. 

Iomachus ineichi Lourenco, 2020

Iomachus borana (Di Caporiacco, 1939) from Ethiopia is restored from synonymy with I. politus Pocock, 1896.

In addition, a new subgenus, Africanoiomachus Lourenco, 2020 is created for to accommodate the African members of the genus. 

Abstract:
The study of some new scorpion specimens belonging to the genus Iomachus Pocock, 1893, which will be deposited in the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in Paris, leads to splitting it into two subgenera: Iomachus, comprising the Indian species, and Africanoiomachus subgen. n., created to accommodate the African species. A new species, presenting a distinct trichobothrial pattern, is also described from Mozambique and brings further elements to support the proposition of the new subgenus.

Reference:
Lourenco WR. Nouvelles considérations taxonomiques sur le genre Iomachus Pocock, 1893 (Scorpiones: Hormuridae), et en particulier sur les espèces africaines. Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2020(37):205–11. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Michiel Cozijn for helping me to get this article!

Family Hormuridae

A hypothesis for the evolution and diversification of the Asian forest scorpions

 

Stephanie Loria and Lorenzo Prendini published last fall an interesting article on the evolution and diversification of the Asian forest scorpions (subfamily Heterometrinae of Scorpionidae). There are several hypothesis for explaining explain patterns of distribution among Southeast Asian animal taxa. The authors concludes that the "out of India" hypothesis is the most probable for the Asian forest scorpion. What does this mean:

1. Scorpionid taxa originated in Africa and the Heterometrinae diverged from other Scorpionidae on the African continent after the Indian subcontinent became separated in the Cretaceous period. 

2. A mass extinction event with subsequent environmental stress restricted Heterometrinae to refugia in southern India (the Western Ghats) and Sri Lanka (the Central Highlands).

3. Heterometrinae dispersed to Southeast Asia three times during India’s collision with Eurasia ("Out of India").

4.  Indian Heterometrinae, confined to southern India and Sri Lanka during the mass extinction mentioned above, recolonized the Deccan Plateau and northern India, diversifying into new, more arid habitats after environmental conditions stabilized.

This article confirms previous suggestions that the ‘Out of India’ hypothesis best explains the origin of Southeast Asian Heterometrinae, given their sister-group relationship with the African Pandininae, and the absence of Heterometrinae or Pandininae between the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent.

Abstract:
The ‘Out of India’ hypothesis is often invoked to explain patterns of distribution among Southeast Asian taxa. According to this hypothesis, Southeast Asian taxa originated in Gondwana, diverged from their Gondwanan relatives when the Indian subcontinent rifted from Gondwana in the Late Jurassic, and colonized Southeast Asia when it collided with Eurasia in the early Cenozoic. A growing body of evidence suggests these events were far more complex than previously understood, however. The first quantitative reconstruction of the biogeography of Asian forest scorpions (Scorpionidae Latreille, 1802: Heterometrinae Simon, 1879) is presented here. Divergence time estimation, ancestral range estimation, and diversification analyses are used to determine the origins, dispersal and diversification patterns of these scorpions, providing a timeline for their biogeographical history that can be summarized into four major events. (1) Heterometrinae diverged from other Scorpionidae on the African continent after the Indian subcontinent became separated in the Cretaceous. (2) Environmental stresses during the Cretaceous–Tertiary (KT) mass extinction caused range contraction, restricting one clade of Heterometrinae to refugia in southern India (the Western Ghats) and Sri Lanka (the Central Highlands). (3) Heterometrinae dispersed to Southeast Asia three times during India’s collision with Eurasia, the first dispersal event occurring as the Indian subcontinent brushed up against the western side of Sumatra, and the other two events occurring as India moved closer to Eurasia. (4) Indian Heterometrinae, confined to southern India and Sri Lanka during the KT mass extinction, recolonized the Deccan Plateau and northern India, diversifying into new, more arid habitats after environmental conditions stabilized. These hypotheses, which are congruent with the geological literature and biogeographical analyses of other taxa from South and Southeast Asia, contribute to an improved understanding of the dispersal and diversification patterns of taxa in this biodiverse and geologically complex region.

Reference:
Loria SF, Prendini L. Out of India, thrice: diversification of Asian forest scorpions reveals three colonizations of Southeast Asia. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):22301.[Open Access]

Family Scorpionidae

Predation of Ananteris spp. by ants and a social wasp in Panama

 

Scorpions are fierce predators that catch and eat many animal groups, but scorpions them self are also on the menu of other predators. In a recent article, Roberto Miranda and co-workers report about a social wasp and ants in Panama that seem to be a predator on Ananteris scorpions.

Abstract:
Two events of predation on Ananteris spp. were observed in the Parque Nacional Darién, Darién Province, Panama. The first case involved the social wasp Agelaia centralis (Cameron, 1907) (Vespidae); the second one, a ponerine ant Leptogenys cf. cuneata Lattke, 2011 (Formicidae). This is the first time that predation by a social wasp on a scorpion is observed. They also represent the first recorded predators for Panamanian Ananteris species.

Reference:
Miranda RJ, de Armas lF, Cambra RA. Predation of Ananteris spp. (Scorpiones: Buthidae) by ants and a social wasp (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Vespidae) in Panama, Central America. Euscorpius. 2021(329):1-4. [Open Access]

A new species of Hottentotta from the Democratic Republic of the Congo

 

Eric Ythier and Gerard Dupre have recently published a new species of Hottentotta Birula, 1908 (Buthidae) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Hottentotta lacroixi Ythier & Dupre, 2021

Abstract:
A new species belonging to the genus Hottentotta Birula, 1908 (Buthidae C. L. Koch, 1837) is described on the basis of three females and three males collected in Likasi, Katanga province, in the south of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This new scorpion taxon represents the 56th known species of the genus Hottentotta and the 22nd reported from Africa.

Reference:
Ythier E, Dupre G. Description of a new species of Hottentotta Birula, 1908, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Faunitaxys. 2021;9(5):1-5. [Open Access]

Thanks to Eric for sending med their article!

Family Buthidae

Distribution and habitat characteristics of two scorpion species in Miyako Islands, Japan

 

 Kawai Kazusa has recently published the results of a scorpion survey conducted in five Japanese islands. Two species, Liocheles australasiae (Fabricius, 1775) (Hormuridae) and Isometrus maculatus (DeGeer, 1778) (Buthidae) were found. Data on distribution, habitat and climate are presented. 

Abstract:
Scorpion surveys were conducted in the five islands: Miyakojima, Ikemajima, Kurimajima, Irabujima, and Shimojishima (Miyako Islands, part of Nansei/Ryukyu Islands of Japan). Eight individuals of Liocheles australasiae (Hormuridae) and 16 individuals of Isometrus maculatus (Buthidae) were observed in a total of 10 points on four islands, except Ikemajima. The localities of both species are recorded in this survey, focusing on altitude, distance from the nearest coast, and sunlight. The lowest temperatures in the habitat are also examined, and the cold tolerance of the species is discussed.

References:
Kawai K. Habitat characteristics of two scorpion species, Liocheles australasiae (Fabricius, 1775) and Isometrus maculatus (De Geer, 1778) in Miyako Islands, Japan. Euscorpius. 2021(331):1-17. [Open Access]

Thanks to Kawai for informing me about his article!

A review of the scorpions the Arab Countries of the Middle East and their medical importance

 

Zuhair Amr and co-workers have recently published a review on the scorpions of the Arab countries of the Middle East. The article presents a list of scorpions known from the different countries and species of medical importance, treatment and epidemiological data are also given. This is a nice update to the knowledge of the scorpion fauna of this region and its impact on the human population.

Abstract:
The twelve Arab countries of the Middle East are inhabited by 117 species of scorpions of varying medical importance within six families. Scorpion stings are a very common occurrence throughout the region. Twentytwo scorpion species are considered to be dangerously venomous, causing potentially life threatening stings. Accessible literature in English and Arabic on scorpions, scorpion stings and available antivenoms was reviewed to document the scorpion fauna and scorpion stings in each country. Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Jordan report the highest numbers of stings and envenomings. Clinically, the most important toxins in Old World scorpion venoms are α-toxins that target voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels at neurotoxin binding site 3, causing sympathetic excitation and the endogenous release of catecholamines that is responsible for transient, but life-threatening myocardial damage. Most victims of scorpion stings suffer severe local pain, but a few, especially children, develop systemic envenoming which, in the case of most Middle Eastern buthid species, such as Androctonus and Leiurus species, is dominated by the cardiovascular and respiratory consequences of hypercatecholinaemic myocarditis. Other syndromes include paralysis (Parabuthus leiosoma), coagulopathy (Nebo hierichonticus and Hemiscorpius species), and local tissue damage, haemolysis and acute kidney injury (H. lepturus). Early antivenom treatment is recommended but its value remains controversial. However, intensive care, with the ancillary use of vasoactive drugs such as prazosin and dobutamine, has proved effective.

Reference:
Amr Z, Abu Baker M, Al-Saraireh M, Warrell D. Scorpions and scorpion sting envenoming (scorpionism) in the Arab Countries of the Middle East. Toxicon. 2021;191:83-103. [Subscription required for full text]

Two new species of Hottentotta from Somaliland

 

Frantisek Kovarik and Graeme Lowe have recently published a new article in their Scorpions of the Horn of Africa series. This time, two new species of Hottentotta Birula, 1908 (Buthidae) are described from Somaliland.

Hottentotta haudensis Kovarik & Lowe, 2021

Hottentotta nigrimontanus Kovarik & Lowe, 2021

Abstract:
The distribution of Hottentotta polystictus (Pocock, 1896) is summarized according to recently confirmed records. Two new species, Hottentotta haudensis sp. n. and H. nigrimontanus sp. n. from the Somaliland, are described, compared with H. polystictus, and fully illustrated with color photos showing their morphology, habitus and collection areas. H. haudensis sp. n. is the smallest known species of the genus Hottentotta Birula, 1908, while H. nigrimontanus sp. n. is larger than H. polystictus.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Lowe G. Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part XXVI. Records of Hottentotta polystictus (Pocock, 1896), with descriptions of H. haudensis sp. n. and H. nigrimontanus sp. n. (Buthidae) from Somaliland. Euscorpius. 2021(330):1-28. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae