A revision of the genus Odontobuthus with three new species from Iran

 

Members of the clay-loving genus Odontobuthus Vachon, 1950 (Buthidae) are distributed from central-eastern Iraq to north-western India. Hossein Barahoei and co-workers have recently published a review article with a morphometric and phylogenetic analysis of the genus. The validity of the current known species (six) are confirmed and three new species from Iran are described.

Odontobuthus baluchicus Barahoei, Prendini, Navidpour, Tahir, Aliabadian & Siahsarvie, 2021 

Odontobuthus chabaharensis Barahoei, Prendini, Navidpour, Tahir, Aliabadian & Siahsarvie, 2021 

Odontobuthus kermanus Barahoei, Prendini, Navidpour, Tahir, Aliabadian & Siahsarvie, 2021 

The article has an updated identification key for the genus.   

Abstract:
The ‘tooth-tailed’ scorpions of the buthid genus Odontobuthus comprises six species with an allopatric or parapatric pattern of distribution in the Middle East, but the diversity of Odontobuthus in Iran appears to be underestimated, with the limits of several species remaining unclear. In the present contribution, an integrative approach to the systematics of Odontobuthus was applied, to determine the taxonomic validity and phylogenetic relationships among its species. Statistical analyses of five meristic characters, 38 morphometric characters and 21 morphometric ratios, combined with molecular phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences from the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene, were conducted. All previously described species of Odontobuthus were found to be well supported, and new morphological diagnoses are here presented. Additionally, three new species: Odontobuthus baluchicus sp. nov. from the Makkoran Mountains, Odontobuthus chabaharensis sp. nov. from the coast of the Gulf of Oman (Sistan and Baluchistan Provinces) and Odontobuthus kermanus sp. nov. from Kerman Province, are described, raising the total number of Odontobuthus species to nine, six of which are endemic or subendemic to the Iranian Plateau. A distribution map and identification key to the species of Odontobuthus are also provided.

Reference:
Barahoei H, Prendini L, Navidpour S, Tahir HM, Aliabadian M, Siahsarvie R, et al. Integrative systematics of the tooth-tailed scorpions, Odontobuthus (Buthidae), with descriptions of three new species from the Iranian Plateau. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 2021;XX:1-44. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Dr. Hossein Barahoei for sending me their article!

Family Buthidae