A new species of Leiurus from Iraq

 

Wilson Lourenco has recently published a description of a new species of Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Buthidae) from the Al-Anbâr Province in Iraq.

Leiurus maculatus Lourenco, 2022.

A new subgenus is also created to accomodate the new species that has characteristics both from Leiurus and Buthus Leach, 1815.

Iraquioleiurus Lourenco, 2022

Abstract:
A new species of buthid scorpion belonging to the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg is described based on one female collected in the Al-Anbâr Province in Iraq. Since the early 2000s, the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 (family Buthidae) started to be the subject of several new studies. Some of the populations previously considered as subspecies were raised to the rank of species, but also many new species have been described. Nevertheless, although the important number of modifications brought to the composition of the genus Leiurus, no attempt was done to divide it in sub generic units. The study of an atypical new species of Leiurus from Iraq, suggests the creation of a new subgenus to accommodate it. Further investigations should bring more precise conclusions about the status of this particular population. The type locality of the new species represents the first confirmed record of the genus Leiurus for Iraq.

Reference:
Lourenco WR. A new subgenus and species of Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 from Iraq (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Serket.18(4):421-7. [Open Access]

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

Family Buthidae