Common toxin components among different Tityus species in the Amazon region may lead to a common therapeutic strategy

 

Scorpionism is a major problem in many parts of the world, and for the Amazon Region in South America several Tityus C. L. Koch, 1836 species (Buthidae) are known to cause severe morbidity or even deaths. The problem is that there is no effective antivenom currently available in this region.

Identifying the different toxin components of the venom of different Tityus species may lead to the development of new therapeutics.Yan Kalapothakis and co-workers have recently published a study analysing the venom of the medical important species Tityus cisandinus Lourenço & Ythier, 2017 and comparing it to the venom of another medical imprtant species T. obscurus (Gervais, 1843).

Interestingly, they found a high similarity between T. cisandinus and T. obscurus venoms. This is important knowledge that can be used to create a "common therapeutic strategy (i.e production of a region-specific antivenom) to tackle the increasing burden of scorpionism in Amazonia" [Adolfo Borges, personal communication].

Abstract:
Tityus cisandinus, a neglected medically important scorpion in Ecuadorian and Peruvian Amazonia, belongs to a complex of species related to the eastern Amazon endemic Tityus obscurus, spanning a distribution of ca. 4000 km. Despite high morbidity and mortality rates, no effective scorpion antivenom is currently available in the Amazon region. Knowledge of the structural/functional relationships between T. cisandinus venom components and those from related Amazonian species is crucial for designing region-specific therapeutic antivenoms. In this work, we carried out the first venom gland transcriptomic study of an Amazonian scorpion outside Brazil, T. cisandinus. We also fingerprinted its total venom through MALDI-TOF MS, which supported our transcriptomic findings. We identified and calculated the expression level of 94 components: 60 toxins, 25 metalloproteases, five disulfide isomerases, three amidating enzymes, one hyaluronidase, and also uncovered transcripts encoding novel lipolytic beta subunits produced by New World buthid scorpions. This study demonstrates the high similarity between T. cisandinus and T. obscurus venoms, reinforcing the existence of a neglected complex of genetically and toxinologically related Amazonian scorpions of medical importance. Finally, we demonstrated the low recognition of currently available therapeutic sera against T. cisandinus and T. obscurus venoms, and concluded that these should be improved to protect against envenomation by Amazonian Tityus spp.

Reference:
Kalapothakis Y, Miranda K, Molina DAM, Conceição I, Larangote D, Op den Camp HJM, et al. An overview of Tityus cisandinus scorpion venom: Transcriptome and mass fingerprinting reveal conserved toxin homologs across the Amazon region and novel lipolytic components. Int J Biol Macromol. 2022. [Subscritpion required for full text]

Thanks to Adolfo Borges for informing me about this article!

Paruroctonus marksi is most active when it is warm and humid

 

Scorpion surface activity is influenced by several factors, both biotic (e.g. prey or mate availability or predator risk) and abiotic (e.g. weather or illumation). Zia Nisani and co--workers have recently published a study on seasonal variations of Paruroctonus marksi Haradon, 1984 (Vaejovidae) activity in the Mojave Desert in California, US.

Their main finding was that the scorpions were mostly active in warm and humid nights, but that soil temperature also seemed to have a small impact on the activity.

Abstract:
Many environmental factors may influence the activity pattern of scorpions in arid ecosystems. We investigated the seasonal variations of Paruroctonus marksi scorpion activity in the Mojave Desert (California, USA). Black light surveys were carried out within two 100 ×100 m plots from August 2017 to September 2018. The majority (85%) of scorpions were found in open areas compared with being in vegetation. The presence of P. marksi was positively correlated with both water vapor pressure and soil temperature, while moon illumination had no significant effect on P. marksi foraging behavior. Scorpions might be using humidity as an indicator of prey abundance and since they are not visual hunters, and moonlight does not affect their surface activity possibly due to lack of visual hunters in the study site.

Reference:
Nisani Z, Frederick D, Garcia-Plascencia A, Lopez D, Miller R, Trinh-Nguyen L. Influence of environmental factors on surface activity of Paruroctonus marksi (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae) in the Mojave Desert. Euscorpius. 2022(364):1-5. [Open Access]

A new species of Hottentotta from Iran

 

Mohammad Moradi and co-workers have recently described a new species of Hottentotta Birula, 1908 (Buthidae) from Khuzestan Province in Iran.

Hottentotta pooyani Moradi, Yagmur & Akbari, 2022

Abstract:
A new species, Hottentotta pooyani sp. nov. is described and illustrated using two female specimens collected from the Khuzestan Province in Iran. This species is compared with the closely species including H. khoozestanus Navidpour, Kovařík, Soleglad & Fet, 2008; H. pellucidus Lowe, 2010 and H. saxinatans Lowe, 2010 that were previously described in Iran and Oman.

Reference:
Moradi M, Yagmur EA, Akbari A. Hottentotta Pooyani sp. nov. (Scorpiones, Buthidae) from the Khuzestan Province, Iran. Bull Iraq nat Hist Mus. 2022;17(2):251-66. [Open Access]

Thanks to Ersen for sending me their article!

Family Buthidae

Scorpion mimicry observed in a Brazilian gecko

 

Avoid being killed and eaten is one of the central tasks for most animals. There is a host of anti-predator strategies around and one popular strategy is to mimic the look and/or the behavior of another dangerous animal (Batesian mimicry).  

Scorpions can be classified as a dangerous animal because of the venomous sting. They are also very characteristic with their tail with a stinger clearly displayed above the body. So it is not surprising that other animals may try to mimick scorpions in appearance and behavior to scare off potential predator. E. g., this can be seen in many stick insects where they curve the posterior part of their body above the rest of the body mimicking a scorpion's tail.

Matheus Feitosa and co-workers have recently published an article describing scorpion mimicry in the sphaerodactylid gecko Coleodactylus meridionalis (Boulenger, 1888) from Brazil, that share their habitat with Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 (Buthidae).

Abstract:
No abstract.

Reference:
Feitosa MLB, da Silva Júnior AO, da Justa Ximenes RE, Lins AHA, Moura GJ, de Araújo Lira AF. Scorpion mimicry behavior in Coleodactylus meridionalis (Squamata: Sphaerodactylidae) in the northeastern Atlantic forest. Herpetology Notes. 2022;15:829-31. [Open Access]

A new species of Tarsoporosus from the Colombian Caribbean region

 

Edwin Bedoya-Roqueme and André F.A. Lira have described a new species of Tarsoporosus Francke, 1978 (Diplocentridae) from the Colombian Caribbean region.

Tarsoporosus tizopedrosoi Bedoya-Roqueme & Lira, 2022

The total number of species in the genus is now six and the article has an identification key for all known species.

Abstract:
We describe the novel species Tarsoporosus tizopedrosoi sp. n., based on two individuals collected from a humid forest in the south of Córdoba in the Colombian Caribbean region. This new species is distinguished by its smooth, shiny surface without granules, pectinal tooth counts, telotarsi spiniform macrosetae formula, and measurements of its morphological structures. A distribution map, ecological comments, and taxonomic key are described.

Reference:
Bedoya-Roqueme E, Lira AFA. A new Tarsoporosus Francke, 1978 (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae) species from the south of the Cordoba department in the Colombian Caribbean region. Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2022(41).

Thanks to Andre Lira for sending me their new article!

Family Diplocentridae

A new species of Scorpiops from China

 

Heyu Lv and Zhiyong Di have studied new materials of Scorpiops Peters, 1861 (Scorpiopidae) from China and have published a few taxonomical updates.

Scorpiops lourencoi Lv & Di, 2022 (New species from China)

Scorpiops atomatus Qi, Zhu & Lourenço, 2005 (restored from synonymy with Scorpiops tibetanus Hirst, 1911)

Scorpiops tibetanus Hirst, 1911 is redescribed.

The article also have an updated identification key for the Scorpiops species of China.

Abstract:
Scorpiops lourencoi sp. nov. is described from Shigatse, Xizang. Scorpiops atomatus Qi, Zhu & Lourenço, 2005 and Scorpiops pococki Qi, Zhu & Lourenço, 2005 were synonymized by Kovařík et al. (2020) as two junior synonyms of Scorpiops tibetanus Hirst, 1911 but based on several field surveys in Xizang in recent years, and a careful survey of the literature, S. atomatus is reaffirmed as a valid species and S. tibetanus is redescribed, both based on newly collected specimens. This brings the total number of species of Scorpiops recorded in China to 32.

Reference:
Lv H-Y, Di Z-Y. Scorpiops lourencoi sp. nov., the revalidation of Scorpiops atomatus Qi, Zhu & Lourenço, 2005, and the redescription of Scorpiops tibetanus Hirst, 1911 (Scorpiones, Scorpiopidae) from China. ZooKeys. 2022(1132):189-214. [Open Access]

Thanks to Gerard Dupre and Matt Simon for sending me this article!

Family Scorpiopidae

Examples of intraguild predation in scorpions

 

Scorpions prey on a diveresity of different preys including members of their own order. In addtion, several scorpion species live in the same habitat and therefore may compete for the same resources (e. g. prey). In settings like this, intraguild predation may occur (that is "the killing and sometimes eating of a potential competitor of a different species" [Wikipedia]).

In a recent article, Şahin Toprak and co-workers reports of three cases of intraguild predation, involving the species Mesobuthus mesopotamicus (Penther, 1912), Compsobuthus matthiesseni (Birula, 1905) and Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880) in Turkey (all family Buthidae).

Abstract:
Scorpions are predators of a wide range of invertebrates even including other scorpions. Larger species commonly prey on smaller species or juveniles. Here, we report three cases of intraguild predation of Mesobuthus mesopotamicus (Penther, 1912) and Compsobuthus matthiesseni (Birula, 1905) by Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Şırnak Province, Turkey. These are the first cases reporting antagonistic interactions among scorpions in Turkey.

Reference:
Toprak Ş, Kurt R, Yagmur EA. First report of intraguild predation in scorpions (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Turkey. Euscorpius. 2022(363):1-4. [Open Access]

A new species in the little known genus Spinochactas from French Guiana

 

Wilson Lourenco and co-workers have recently described a second species in the endemic genus Spinochactas Lourenço, 2016 (Chactidae) from French Guiana.

Spinochactas camopi Lourenco, Chevalier & Ythier, 2022 

This is the smallest known chactid with a total lengt of 13-15 mm.

Abstract:
A new species of scorpion belonging to the genus Spinochactas Lourenço, 2016 (Chactidae) is described from the commune of Camopi, located close to the Eastern border of French Guiana with Brazil. The new species, Spinochactas camopi n. sp., is the second species belonging to the genus Spinochactas found in French Guiana, which remains endemic to this French overseas department. The description of the new species brings further evidence to the validity of the genus Spinochactas and to its biogeographic pattern of distribution which is now confirmed both for Inselberg formations and lowland rainforests of French Guiana. With the description of this new species, the number of known scorpion species occurring in French Guiana is increased to 40, of which 31 are endemic.

Reference:
Lourenço WR, Chevalier J, Ythier É. Second record of the genus Spinochactas Lourenço, 2016 in French Guiana and description of a new species (Scorpiones: Chactidae). Annales de la Société Entomologique de France (NS). 2022:1-7. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Eric for sending med the article!

Family Chactidae

A new species of Orthochirus from Saudi Arabia

 

Frantisek Kovarik and Pavel Just have recently described a new species of Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 (Buthidae) from Saudi Arabia.

Orthochirus katarinae Kovarik & Just, 2022

Abstract:
We describe a new species Orthochirus katerinae sp. n. from Saudi Arabia, previously cited as Orthochirus innesi Simon 1910, ssp. ?, the name many years used as an ‘umbrella’ for various Orthochirus from North Africa and Arabia. The new species is described based on males characterized mainly by: total length 26–30 mm; pectinal teeth number 16–20; movable finger of pedipalps with 7–8 rows of denticles, 8–9 ID and 7 OD; tarsomere I of legs I–III with 3–5 long setae; ratio length/width of metasoma V 1.13–1.16; pedipalp femur length/width ratio 3.30–3.32.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Just P. Orthochirus katerinae sp. n. (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Saudi Arabia. Euscorpius. 2022(362):1-9. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

On the distribution of two buthids in Panama

 

Ramy Jhasser Martínez and co-workers have recently published an article with new data on the distribution of Centruroides edwardsii (Gervais, 1843) and Tityus ocelote Francke & Stockwell, 1987 (both Buthidae) in Panama. 

Abstract:
Centruroides edwardsii (Gervais, 1843) (Buthidae C. L. Koch, 1837) is recorded for the first time in Panama upon three females collected in Chilibre (northern Panama). Additionally five females and one male of Tityus ocelote Francke & Stockwell, 1987 were collected in a small farm in Capira (Western Panama) being the first record of this species in the Pacific side of Panama. This contribution provides additional information on geographic distribution of these species.

Reference:
Martínez RJ, Villegas-Guzmán GA, Mendoza L, Moreno E, Emmen D, Quirós DI. First Record of Centruroides edwardsii (Gervais, 1843) and New Geographic Distribution of Tityus ocelote Francke & Stockwell, 1987 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Panama. Entomol News. 2022;130(3):260-4, 5. [Subscription required for full text]

Additional information about the recently described species Compsobuthus khaybari from Saudi Arabia

 

Compsobuthus khaybari Abu Afifeh, Aloufi & Al-Saraireh, 2021 (Buthidae) was described from one male specimen in 2021. Abdulhadi Aloufi and co-workers have discovered new specimens of this species and have recently published an article with addition information about this buthid.

Abstract:
Compsobuthus khaybari was described by Abu Afifeh et al. (2021) based on a single male collected form Ain El-Hamah, Khaybar, Saudi Arabia. Recently more specimens were collected from Mughera’a including males and one female. The female of this species is fully described and illustrated.

Reference:
Aloufi A, Afifeh BA, Al-Saraireh M, Amr ZS. Complementary information on Compsobuthus khaybari Abu Afifeh, Aloufi & Al-Saraireh, 2021, with the description of an adult female (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Serket. 2022;19(1):7-14. [Open Access]

Thanks to Thanks to Hisham K. El-Hennawy for informing me about this article!

Family Buthidae

A new species of Buthus from Kenya

 

The distribution of the genus Buthus Leach, 1815 (Buthidae) in Africa has been expanded for the last decade. Eric Ythier and Wilson Lourenco have recently described a new species, which is the first in the genus reported from Kenya.

Buthus turkana Ythier & Lourenco, 2022

Abstract:
A new species of scorpion, Buthus turkana sp. n. (Scorpiones: Buthidae), is described from the northwest of Kenya, in the Turkana County nearby Lake Turkana, in the Kenyan Rift Valley. This is the first record of a Buthus species in Kenya, enlarging the pattern of distribution of the genus.

Reference:
Ythier E, Lourenco WR. First record of the genus Buthus Leach, 1815 from Kenya (Scorpiones: Buthidae) and description of a new species. Serket. 2022;19(1):1-6. [Open Access]

Thanks to Hisham K. El-Hennawy and Eric Ythier for informing me about this article!

Family Buthidae

Fitness differences between parthenogenetic litters of the parthenogenetic scorpion Tityus stigmurus

 

We often think that parthenogenetic reproduction produces clones that are identical in most ways. But there are non-genetical factors that may cause variations even though the organism is living in the same, stable environment. One example of this is maternal age's impact on different parthenogenetic litters.

Welton Dionisio-da-Silva and co-workers have recently pulished a study on non-Mendelian variation on parthenogenetic litters in the medical important species Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) (Buthidae). Their results indicate that T. stigmurus females allocated nutrient resources to maximize litter size rather than developmental fitness in subsequent litters. See abstract and article for more details.

I can add that knowledge of reproduction and life history of this scorpion is important as it is a medical important species that thrive in urban areas with high risk of human contact. 

Abstract:
Clonal lineages in similar environments may be influenced by non-Mendelian inheritance, such as maternal age effects and developmental instabilities. These mechanisms may affect the developmental fitness of parthenogenetic litters. In this study, the scorpion Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) was used to analyze the effects of non-Mendelian variation on parthenogenetic litters. A total of 75 juveniles from five females were reared under the same controlled conditions, while their development was observed and evaluated through differences in offspring fitness traits (litter size, prosoma size, developmental time, and mortality) between the litters. First and second litters had a similar litter size, although second litters exhibited longer developmental time in the early instar stages (second and third) than first litters. These results indicate that T. stigmurus females allocated nutrient resources to maximize litter size rather than developmental fitness in subsequent litters. Differences in developmental time found in early instars but not in late instars may have occurred as a result of stochastic developmental variations in young individuals. Such variation in duration of development has the potential to influence survival of juveniles in natural environments because individuals that grow faster may avoid large predators and consume larger prey, compared to those that do not.

Reference:
Dionisio-da-Silva W, Albuquerque CMR, Lira AFA. Fitness differences between parthenogenetic litters of the synanthropic scorpion Tityus stigmurus (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Animal Biology. 2022;72:435-46. [Subscription required for full text]

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

Has male Euscorpius scorpions "date drugs" in their venom?

 

Differences in the venom composition of scorpions have been reported for many tears, both within the same species and between species. In addition, different venom types have been related to different purposes (e.g. the findings of prevenom in some species). 

Sex-specific differences in venom composition have been demonstrated for several arthropod taxa(e.g. in spiders where males of the infamous Sydney funnel web spider has a venom lethal to humans, while the female venom is not dangerous). Less is known about this in scorpions, but many species use sexual stings during courship and it has been suggested that the male venom used for this may sedate females to make them less aggressive.

Jonas Krämer and co-workers have recently published an interesting study analyzing the venom composition of male, female and juvenile Euscorpius italicus (Herbst, 1800) (Euscorpiidae). This species uses sexual sting during courtship. Their study shows that the male venom has marked differences in venom composition from females and juveniles. The authors suggest that this may cause a reduced toxic effect on females during the sexual sting. Other suggested effects may be a reduced agggressivity in females and also physiological effects that improove the success of the mating.

More studies are necessary to understand more about this fascinating connection between venom and courtship behavior.

Abstract:
In the animal kingdom, intraspecific variation occurs, for example, between populations, different life stages, and sexes. For venomous animals, this can involve differences in their venom composition. In cases where venom is utilized in the context of mating, the differences in composition might be driven by sexual selection. In this regard, the genus Euscorpius is a promising group for further research, as some of these scorpions exhibit a distinct sexual dimorphism and are known to perform a sexual sting during mating. However, the venom composition of this genus remains largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that Euscorpius italicus exhibits a male-specific venom composition, and we identify a large fraction of the substances involved. The sex specificity of venom peptides was first determined by analyzing the presence/absence patterns of ion signals in MALDI-TOF mass spectra of venom samples from both sexes and juveniles. Subsequently, a proteo-transcriptomic analysis provided sequence information on the relevant venom peptides and their corresponding precursors. As a result, we show that several potential toxin precursors are down-regulated in male venom glands, possibly to reduce toxic effects caused to females during the sexual sting. We have identified the precursor of one of the most prominent male-specific venom peptides, which may be an ideal candidate for activity tests in future studies. In addition to the description of male-specific features in the venom of E. italicus, this study also includes a general survey of venom precursors in this species.

Reference:
Kramer J, Pommerening R, Predel R. Equipped for Sexual Stings? Male-Specific Venom Peptides in Euscorpius italicus. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23(19). [Open Access]

A new species of Scorpiops from China

 

Victoria Tang has recently published a study on a population of Scorpiops kubani (Kovařík, 2004) (Scorpiopidae) in China and has revealed that these have been misidentified. A new species is described based on new materials from the Yunnan Province in China.

Scorpiops lowei Tang, 2022

Abstract:
The Yunnan population of Scorpiops kubani (Kovařík, 2004) is reassessed based on recently collected specimens from this region. A misidentification of that species is revealed, which leads to a description of a new species, Scorpiops lowei sp. n.

Reference:
Tang V. Reanalysis of the Yunnan population of Scorpiops kubani with a description of a new species, Scorpiops lowei sp. n. (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae). Euscorpius. 2022(361):1-22. [Open Access]

Family Scorpiopidae

A new species of Buthus from France

 

Studies of the genus Buthus Leach, 1815 (Buthidae) in Europe and North Africa the last decade have revealed many micro-endemic species that previously were included in the species-complex Buthus occitanus (Amoreux, 1789) Sensu lato. Eric Ythier and Leo Laborieux have now published a new species in the genus from the mountain crest of the Sainte-Baume Massif, in the South of France.

Buthus balmensis Ythier & Laborieux, 2022

The article has an indentification key for the three French species of Buthus.

Abstract:
A new species of Buthus is described on the basis of three specimens collected on the mountain crest of the Sainte-Baume Massif, in the South of France. Buthus balmensis sp. n. is mainly characterized by a general coloration yellowish with a dark univittate pattern on tergites, chela fingers with lobe/notch combination obsolete, a size slightly larger than other species occurring in France (B. occitanus (Amoreux, 1789) and B. pyrenaeus Ythier, 2021), the male slightly smaller than female but with metasoma longer and heavier than in female, pedipalp chela manus swollen and wider than patella in both sexes, metasomal segment I as wide as long in male and longer than wide in female, and a reduced granulation on body and metasoma. The new species shows affinities with B. pyrenaeus (most similar species) and B. occitanus but can be easily distinguished from these two species by a combination of several key characters. This new scorpion taxon represents the 3rd known species of the genus Buthus reported from France and the 18th reported from Western Europe. Maps of the geographical distribution of Buthus species in France is presented and a key for their identification is provided. The presence of B. pyrenaeus in Spain is also herewith confirmed.

Reference:
Ythier E, Laborieux L. The genus Buthus Leach, 1815 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in France with description of a new species from the Sainte-Baume Massif. Faunitaxys. 2022;10(47):1-13. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

I play dead

 

Thanatosis, or "playing dead" is a known anti-predator behavior both in scorpions and other invertebrates. This behavior, which is also know as tonic immobility, is often associated with cryptic coloration. In a recent paper, Felipe Triana and co-workers describe and discuss this special behavior in the two buthids Tityus ocelote Francke & Stockwell, 1987 and Ananteris platnicki Lourenço, 1993 from Central America. 

The study concludes that this behavior may be more common than previously known and that it may have a basis in American buthids (but more studies are necessary to confirm the latter).

Abstract:
Thanatosis, or tonic immobility, is a behavior where animals adopt a motionless posture after a physical contact or very close proximity of a predator. This behavior has been described in a wide range of taxa, from invertebrates to vertebrates. For scorpions, tonic immobility has been reported in two buthids, Tityus pusillus and Tityus cerroazul, one hormurid, Liocheles australasiae, and one scorpiopsid, Scorpiops jendeki. Here we report other cases of this thanatosis for two buthid scorpions from lower Central America: Tityus ocelote and Ananteris platnicki. Thanatosis in these species were observed in wild, but was better documented in the laboratory. After human handling, several individuals for both species rolled over and laid on their back, adopting a distinctive rigid position, where they did not respond to external mechanical stimuli. As tonic immobility might be associated with other defense strategies, such as cryptic colorations, it is hypothesized that this behavior is used as a strategy in both species only if there is physical contact that simulated by a predator. On the other hand, the observations of thanatosis we reported here and the ones reported in other Tityus scorpions suggest that this behavior may have a phylogenetic basis in American buthids and that it could be more widespread than initially thought. However, more observations of tonic immobility in buthids would allow the evaluation of this hypothesis.

Reference:
Triana F, Bonilla F, Alfaro-Chinchilla A, Víquez C, Díaz C, Sasa M. Report of thanatosis in the Central American scorpions Tityus ocelote and Ananteris platnicki (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2022;(359):1-5. [Open Access]

A new species of Scorpiops from China

 

Victoria Tang has recently published a new article on the scorpion fauna of China and this time a new species of Scorpiops Peters, 1861 (Scorpiopidae) from Yunnan Province has been described.

Scorpiops tongtongi Tang, 2022

Updated data on several other Scorpiops species are given and based on these Scorpiops validus (Di et al., 2010) is raised to species status from synonymy with S. vachoni (Qi et al., 2005).

Abstract:
A new species of Scorpiops Peters, 1861, Scorpiops tongtongi sp. n., is described from Yingjiang, Yunnan Province, China, based on a single adult female. The morphology of the new species is fairly distinguishable from other congeners in Yunnan even with unaided eye; it is characterized by the following combination of characters in female: a pair of moderately robust pedipalp chelae without proximal lobes, small median ocular tubercle, short superciliary carinae, less granulated tergites, proportionally elongate metasoma and relatively short and bulbous vesicle. The coloration of the new species also differs from other congeners in Yunnan by being brownish in tergites and telson vesicle. The number of known species of Scorpiops from China is raised to 29 (22 endemic) and that of Yunnan is raised to 10 (9 endemic). The previously described congeners from Yunnan are also revisited, by complementing some missing data of several species, and providing new comparative data for the following species based on recently collected topotypes: S. puerensis (Di et al., 2010), S. shidian (Qi et al., 2005), S. vachoni (Qi et al., 2005), S. validus (Di et al., 2010), and S. zhangshuyuani (Ythier, 2019), as well as the Yunnan population of S. kubani (Kovařík, 2004). Finally, Scorpiops validus (Di et al., 2010) stat. rev. is restored from its synonymy with S. vachoni (Qi et al., 2005).

Reference:
Tang V. A new species of Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Yunnan Province, China, with a preliminary review of its congeners in Yunnan (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae). Euscorpius. 2022(360):1-44. [Open Access]

Family Scorpiopidae

A new species of Opisthacanthus from southern Madagascar

 

Eric Ythier has recently described a new species of Opisthacanthus Peters, 1861 (Hormuridae) from a dry savannah biotop in southern Madagascar.

Opisthacanthus lourencoi Ythier, 2022

Abstract:
A new species of Opisthacanthus Peters, 1861, subgenus Monodopisthacanthus Lourenço, 2001, is described on the basis of six specimens collected in the dry savannah formations of Beraketa, Androy region, in the south of Madagascar. The new species is mainly characterized by a moderate size with a total length of 45-47 mm, a general coloration brownish with some dark variegated zones on the body and metasoma, two vestigial carinae on sternite VII, a genital operculum with an almost oval shape in female, without any incision as its base, leg tarsi with two lateral rows of spines and trichobothrium em2 distal to em1 on patella. The new taxon described here raises the number of known species for the genus Opisthacanthus (Monodopisthacanthus) in Madagascar to 14, and the total number of currently recognized species for the genus to 36.

Reference:
Ythier E. A new species of Opisthacanthus Peters, 1861 from the dry savannah formations of southern Madagascar (Scorpiones: Hormuridae). Faunitaxys. 2022;10(45):1-7. [Open Access]

Family Hormuridae

An updated list of scorpion taxa in Europe and their distribution

 

The scorpion fauna of Europe has grown very much in the last 15 years with new taxa being described every year. An overview of all species and their distribution has not been published for several years, but Gerard Dupre has recently done this in the latest issue of the journal Arachnides.

The article is in French.

Abstract:
La faune des scorpions d’Europe a connu ces dernières années d’importantes modifications tant sur le plan systématique que sur le plan géographique. L’étude la plus récente est celle de Fet en 2010 qui étudie les modifications à cette date mais sans faire de bilan détaillé. Nous présentons une proposition faunistique tout en étant bien conscient que certaines ombres demeurent encore.

References:
Dupre G. Proposition pour une faunistique des scorpions d'Europe. Arachnides. 2022(106):1-14. [Open Access]

Thanks to Gerard for sending me the article, which can be downloaded from The Scorpion Files!

A new species of Teuthraustes from Brazil

 

Wilson Lourenco and Eric Ythier have recently described a new species of Teuthraustes Simon, 1878 (Chatcidae) the State of Amazonas, Brazil.

Teuthraustes japura Lourenco & Ythier, 2022

Abstract:
A new species of scorpion, Teuthraustes japura sp. n. (Scorpiones: Chactidae), is described from the State of Amazonas, Brazil. This is the fourth species of the genus to be collected in the lowlands of South America, and the third record of a species of Teuthraustes from the Brazilian Amazonia. The total number of species of Teuthraustes is now raised to 28. The distribution patterns of the genus are commented upon, and its known geographical distribution is also extended.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Ythier E. The genus Teuthraustes Simon, 1878 (Scorpiones: Chactidae) in Brazil with description of a new species. Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2022(40):119-25.

Thanks to Nicolas Machiavel for informing me about this article!

Family Chactidae

Research on the impact of constipation on scorpion sex life win The 2022 Ig Nobel Prize in biology

 

Do you remember my blog post in June about articles on the costs of autotomy (tail loss) in scorpions? The authors behind these articles, Solimary García-Hernández and Glauco Machado, have now won The 2022 Ig Nobel Prize in biology. 

 According to the price homepage, "The Ig Nobel Prizes honor achievements that make people LAUGH, then THINK. The prizes are intended to celebrate the unusual, honor the imaginative — and spur people’s interest in science, medicine, and technology".

Studying how constipation affects the sex life of scorpions has probably raised a few eye browes and I understand why they got this world famous prize. I guess this is probably the first Ig Nobel Prize to scorpion researchers.

Congratulations!

Reference:
Ig® Nobel Prize Winners 2022. Available from: https://improbable.com/ig/winners/ [Cited: 20.09.22]

A short horror story for the weekend: "Monster-Katydid ate scorpion alive!"

 

Scorpions have many predators, including members of their own family. The soft-bodied members in Orthoptera (grashoppers and katydids) have traditionally been considered frequent members on the scorpion menu. But in a recent article,  Marllus Rafael Negreiros Almeida and co-workers report of a reversal of roles: Predation of a Chactopsis sp. scorpion (Chactidae) by a Hyperomerus sp. katydid. Large katydids are fierce predators with a powerful and painful bite, but this is the first report of predations on scorpions by this invertebrate group.

Abstract:
Orthopterans are an important component of the food chain. The species belonging to the order Orthoptera are herbivores or predators, and several behave as opportunistic predators. However, their predatory habits are not well understood. Here we report the predation of a Chactopsis sp. scorpion by a Hyperomerus sp. katydid in a fragment of terra firme forest in the western Brazilian Amazon. The specimens were found on a 60-cm tall bush. The scorpion showed spasmodic motions of the metasoma while it was being devoured by the katydid. This is the first report of a predator–prey interaction between an orthopteran and a scorpion in the Amazon biome. We believe that records of this type are important to allow a better understanding of predator-prey interactions in tropical invertebrate communities.

Reference:
Almeida MRN, Nascimento JAdF, Machado EO, Lira AFdA. Once a prey, now a predator: an unusual record of a scorpion (Scorpiones: Chactidae) predated by a katydid (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) in the western Brazilian Amazon. Acta Amazonica. 2022;52(3):229-31. [Open Access]

Longevity of the medical important scorpion Tityus bahensis in captivity

 

José Brites-Neto and Felipe S. Figueiredo have recently published an article presenting data for the longevity of the medical important scorpion Tityus bahensis (Perty, 1833) (Buthidae) from Brazil in captivity. 

Abstract:
The brown scorpion Tityus bahiensis is a species of medical importance to the state of São Paulo. Citizens who encounter scorpions in their homes bring them alive to our public health vivarium. The age of the scorpions was unknown at the time of delivery, but the time was recorded as the start of their longevity in our terrarium. All scorpions were juveniles or adult when brought to us. Some were removed from the study and transferred to another facility for venom extraction and anti-venom production. For scorpions continuing in this study, handling was minimized, and no venom extraction was done. This survival time to death is considered important because dangerous scorpions are often maintained in public health vivaria for possible venom extraction. Data collection was within the time period from 2015 to 2021, with the distinguishing features of each scorpion used for identification. The survival time for males ranged from 42 and 503 days and for females 69 and 365 days. The halflife in captivity of the received scorpions was 285 (Confidence Interval: 203 to 365) days.

Reference:
Brites-Neto J, Figueiredo FS. Longevity of Tityus bahiensis (Perty, 1833) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in a public health vivarium in Brazil. Arachnology. 2022;19(2):547-50. [Subscription required for full text]

A phylogenetic study of the family Iuridae reveals three new genera

 

The family Iuridae are mainly found in Turkey and Greece and contains some of the largest scorpions in Europe. There have been some studies of this family in the recent years, but in a recent article Aristeidis Parmakelis and co-workers have conducted a phylogenetic analysis of the family and based on this suggested several taxonomic decisisons.

The subfamily Calchinae Birula, 1917 is raised from synonymy with Iurinae Thorell, 1876.

The three new genera are described (listed with the taxa assiciated with them):

Anatoliurus Parmakelis, Dimitriadou, Gkigkiza, Karampatsou, Stathi, Fet, Yağmur & Kovařík, 2022.

A. kraepelini (von Ubisch, 1922 (Turkey: Antalya, Isparta, Konya, Karaman, Mersin, and Muğla Provinces; Greece: Megisti (Kastelorizo) Island.

A. kumlutasi (Yagmur, Soleglad, Fet & Kovarik 2015) (Turkey: Hıdırellez Cave in Antalya).

Letoiurus Parmakelis, Dimitriadou, Gkigkiza, Karampatsou, Stathi, Fet, Yağmur & Kovařík, 2022.

L. rhodiensis (Soleglad, Fet, Kovarik & Yagmur, 2012) (Greece: Rhodes Island; Turkey: Muğla Province.

Metaiurus Parmakelis, Dimitriadou, Gkigkiza, Karampatsou, Stathi, Fet, Yağmur & Kovařík, 2022.

M. kadleci (Kovarik, Fet, Soleglad & Yagmur, 2010) (Turkey: Antalya and Mersin Provinces).

M. stathiae (Soleglad, Fet, Kovarik & Yagmur, 2012) (Greece: Karpathos Island). 

Abstract:
Iuridae is a family of scorpions that exhibits a highly complex biogeographic and taxonomic history. Iuridae taxa are mainly found in Turkey and Greece, whereas a single species is found in northern Iraq. Several taxonomic revisions have been conducted on this family that initially comprised two genera. The latest taxonomic review, based on morphological and anatomical features, raised the number of Iuridae genera to four, and the number of species to 14.

Sequence data from three molecular markers (COX1, 16S rDNA, ITS1) originating from numerous Iuridae taxa were analyzed within a phylogenetic framework. Divergence time-estimate analyses, species delimitation approaches and estimation of ancestral areas were implemented in order to: (1) reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships of the Iuridae taxa, (2) evaluate the morphological classifications, and (3) obtain insights into the biogeographic history of the family in the East Mediterranean.

The multi-locus phylogeny clearly confirms an ancient division into two clades, Calchinae and Iurinae. Ancient patterns of isolation and dispersal are revealed. Both subfamilies are largely confined to the Anatolian peninsula and its few coastal islands; only the most derived genus Iurus has dispersed westward to Crete and Peloponnese. Based on our findings, three new genera of Iurinae (Metaiurus, Anatoliurus, and Letoiurus) are established. The genus Neocalchas emerges as one of the most ancient scorpion clades, with divergence time about 27 mya.

Reference:
Parmakelis A, Dimitriadou D, Gkigkiza E, Karampatsou L, Stathi I, Fet V, et al.  The evolutionary history of the relict scorpion family Iuridae of the eastern Mediterranean. Mol Phylogenet Evol. 2022:107622. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Gerard Dupre for sending me this article!

Family Iuridae