A new species of Buthus from the Eastern Pyrenees, France

 

Eric Ythier has discovered a new species of Buthus Leach, 1815 (Buthidae) from the Eastern Pyrenees, in the South of Franc.

 Buthus pyrenaeus Ythier, 2021

This species is probably a result of microendemism, as seen in other Buthus species in the Iberian Peninsula.

Abstract:
A new species of Buthus is described on the basis of six specimens collected in the Eastern Pyrenees, in the South of France. Buthus pyrenaeus sp. n. is mainly characterized by a general yellowish coloration with a dark univittate pattern on tergites, chela fingers with lobe/notch combination obsolete, male slightly larger than same size-class female with chela manus wider than patella and telson laterally compressed, and female with metasomal segment I as wide as long to wider than long. The new species shows affinities with B. alacanti Teruel & Turiel, 2020 (most similar species) and B. occitanus (Amoreux, 1789) but can be easily distinguished from these two species by a combination of several key characters. This new scorpion taxon represents the 2nd known species of the genus Buthus reported from France and the 15th reported from Western Europe.

Reference:
Ythier E. The genus Buthus Leach, 1815 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in France with description of a new species from the Eastern Pyrenees. Faunitaxys. 2021;9(38):1-10. [Open Access]

Thanks to Eric for sending me his new article!

Family Buthidae