Three new species of Olivierus from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

 

Victor Fet and co-workers published this summer an article describing three new species of Olivierus Farzanpay, 1987 (Buthidae) from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. These species were previously classified as Olivierus gorelovi (Fet et al., 2018). The latter species is now restricted to Turkmenistan and southern Uzbekistan.

Oliverius mikhailovi Fet, Kovarik, Gantenbein & Graham, 2021 (Southern Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan)

Oliverius tarabaevi Fet, Kovarik, Gantenbein & Graham, 2021 (Kazakhstan)

Oliverius voldemari Fet, Kovarik, Gantenbein & Graham, 2021 (Uzbekistan)

The new species were discovered mainly due to genetic analysis. They are very cryptic and identification based on morphological characters is very difficult.

Abstract:
Following Graham et al. (2019), the recently described desert species Olivierus gorelovi (Fet et al., 2018) from Central Asia is herein restricted to Turkmenistan and southern Uzbekistan. In this contribution, we described other populations formerly included in O. gorelovi as three new species: O. mikhailovi sp. n. (southern Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan), O. tarabaevi sp. n. (Kazakhstan) and O. voldemari sp. n. (Uzbekistan: Ferghana Valley).

Reference:
Fet V, Kovak F, Gantenbein B, Graham MR. Three new species of Olivierus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Zootaxa. 2021;5006(1):54-72. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Professor Fet for sending me their article!

Family Buthidae