A case of intraguild predation in Indian buthids

 

Mihir Joshi & Shubhankar Deshpande recently reported about a case of intraguild predation where an unknown species from the genus Orthochirus fed on a juvenile individual of Hottentotta tamulus (Fabricius,1798) from Maharashtra, India (both from the family Buthidae).

This is an interesting observation as Hottentotta tamulus is known for its very potent venom, while Orthochirus scorpions the opposite.

Abstract:
We report an event of intraguild predation by Orthochirus sp. feeding on a juvenile individual of Hottentotta tamulus (Fabricius,1798) from Maharashtra, India. This is the first report of intraguild predation among Indian scorpions.

Reference:
Joshi M, Deshpande S. A report of intraguild predation by Orthochirus sp. on Hottentotta tamulus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Maharashtra, India. Euscorpius. 2022;2022(366):1-3. [Open Access]

Scorpions are harmed by pollution of their habitats - A study of the leaf litter-dwelling scorpion Tityus pusillus in Brazil

 

It is well known that human activities that expands into untouched habitats of different animals will very often have a negative impact on the flora and fauna. Especially pollution can have negative short- and long term effects. Some of these can affect the genetic composition of organisms and causing harmful effects.

Aleson Aparecido da Silva and co-workers have recently published a study of populations of the leaf litter-dwelling Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 (Buthidae) from five sites in Northeast Brazil with different levels of human disturbance. A laboratory populations was also included as a control group. 

The results showed that DNA damage in T. pusillus from areas with human interference and pollution was higher than in the individuals from better-conserved environments. The authors believe that the observed effects may be due to the presence of genotoxic substances in the habitats (originating from human activities and pollution).

Abstract:
Invertebrates are harmed by pollution of their habitats. Litter-dwelling sedentary scorpions, such as Tityus pusillus, studied here, may be good models for examining the genotoxic effects of xenobiotics in soil. Thirty specimens were collected from five sites in Northeast Brazil with different levels of human disturbance, as well as a laboratory group. The comet assay was performed on hemolymph cell samples. Damage Index (DI) and Damage Frequency (DF%) were measured. Much higher genotoxicity was observed in animals collected in an area with human interference and solid waste, compared to those obtained in more pristine areas or the laboratory. T. pusillus may be a useful model for environmental genotoxicity assays.

Reference:
Silva AAd, Amorim ÉMd, Pereira MG, Santana SLd, Silva MAd, Lira AFdA, et al. Genotoxic effects of anthropogenic environments in the leaf litter-dwelling scorpion Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 (Scorpiones; Buthidae). Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis. 2023;887:503585. [Subscription required for full text]

Three new species of Scorpio from the Oriental region in Morocco

 

Eric Ythier and Alexandre Francois have recently published a study of scorpions collected in the Oriental region in Morocco. Based on the material, three new species in the genus Scorpio Linnaeus, 1758 (Scorpionidae) are described.

Scorpio iznassen Ythier & Francois, 2023

Scorpio moulouya Ythier & Francois, 2023

Scorpio touili Ythier & Francois, 2023

See article for a complete list of species found in this study.

Abstract:
A study of the scorpions collected in around 110 locations in the Oriental region and surrounding areas in Morocco by the Emirates Center for Wildlife Propagation (ECWP, Missour, Morocco) during the last 22 years is presented. 11 species among four genera are recorded, including three new species belonging to the genus Scorpio Linnaeus, 1758 (Scorpionidae) which are described here based on material collected in the high plateaus of the Oriental region (Scorpio touili sp. n.), in the Beni Snassen mountains (Scorpio iznassen sp. n.) and in the middle Moulouya river basin (Scorpio moulouya sp. n.). These new taxa raise the number of known species for the genus Scorpio to 21, height of them occurring in Morocco. A total of 12 scorpion species are recognized to occur in the Oriental region in Morocco.

Reference:
Ythier E, Francois A. The scorpion fauna of the Oriental region in Morocco (Scorpiones: Buthidae, Scorpionidae) with description of three new species of the genus Scorpio Linnaeus, 1758. Faunitaxys. 2023;11(3):1-15. [Open Access]

Thanks to Eric for sending me this article!

Family Scorpionidae

A new species of Alpiscorpius from Croatia

 

Martina Podnar and co-workers have recently described a new species of Alpiscorpius Gantenbein et al., 1999 (Euscorpiidae) from Krk Island, Croatia.

Alpiscorpius liburnicus Tvrtkovic & Rebrina, 2022

The new species was found in caves, but showed no troglomorphic adaptations.

Abstract:
Alpiscorpius liburnicus sp. n. is described from Krk Island, Croatia, as the first cave dwelling scorpion species in the genus. Clear differences from the genetically closest epigean species were found in metasomal morphometry. Its delineation is supported phylogenetically based on mitochondrial (COI and 16S rRNA) and nuclear (ITS1) markers. In the barcode fragment of the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene (COI), the uncorrected pairwise genetic distances to other known taxa in “Alpiscorpius croaticus group” range between 4.2 and 4.8 %. The first molecular evidence of the species’ presence on the coastal part of Mt. Velebit implies its potential distribution in the whole of the eastern Adriatic coastal area, roughly from Rijeka City area to the source of the Zrmanja River. The new species is sympatric with common epigean taxa of the “Euscorpius tergestinus group” and with the synanthropic E. italicus in Mediterranean habitats. The phylogenetic relationships within the “A. croaticus group” are estimated. Localities of epigean A. croaticus are restricted to the continental side of southern and southeastern parts of Mt. Velebit. There it is sympatric and syntopic with the smaller A. omega in karst beech forests, with an extrazonal enclave in the Velika Paklenica canyon area on the southern slopes of the mountain. The third taxon in the group is known at the moment from a single locality in the middle part of Mt. Velebit, where it is also syntopic with A. omega in a beech forest near limestone cliffs.

Reference
Podnar M, Tvrtković N, Vuković M, Rebrina F, Grbac I, Hörweg C. Alpiscorpius liburnicus sp. n. with a note on the “Alpiscorpius croaticus group”(Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) in Croatia. Natura Croatica: Periodicum Musei Historiae Naturalis Croatici. 2022;31(2):265-82. [Open Access]

Thanks to Siegfried Huber for sending me this article!

Family Euscorpiidae

A new species of Barbaracurus from Saudi Arabia

 

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers published a new species of Barbaracurus Kovarik, Lowe & Stahlavsky, 2018 (Buthidae) this Christmas.

 Barbaracurus kabateki Kovarik, Lowe, Stahlavsky & Just, 2022

 A key to the genus and a distribution map are also presented.

Abstract:
The genus Barbaracurus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) is recorded for the first time from Saudi Arabia. Barbaracurus yemenensis Kovařík et al., 2018 was found in the extreme southwest of the country, near its border with Yemen. The diagnosis of the species is emended based on the finding of adult males and a large adult female. The proximal margins of the pedipalp fingers of male B. yemenensis are strongly undulate, leaving a gap with the fingers closed. This character differentiates it from all other species of Barbaracurus in the Arabian Peninsula. A second species, B. kabateki sp. n. from Saudi Arabia is described as new. In addition to external morphological characters, we also describe the karyotypes of B. yemenensis (2n = 26), and the hemispermatophores of both species. A key to the species of Barbaracurus, and a map of the distribution of the genus in the Arabian Peninsula and Horn of Africa are provided.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Lowe G, Stahlavsky F, Just P. The genus Barbaracurus in Saudi Arabia (Scorpiones: Buthidae), with description of a new species. Euscorpius. 2022(365):1-26. [Open Access]

Thanks to Matt Simon for informing me about this article!

Family Buthidae

A new species of Ananteris from Brazil

 

Wilson Lourenco has recently described a new species of Ananteris Thorell, 1891 (Buthidae) from Brazil. 

Ananteris kayapo Lourenco, 2022

This post is based on the abstract only as I do not have access to this article.

Abstract:
A new species of the genus Ananteris Thorell is described from the open vegetation formations (campos) located in the south of Pará state in Brazil. The scorpion was collected under a termite mound, probably belonging to the genus Silvestritermes Rocha & Cancello. This is the first Ananteris species found in these ‘campos’ in Pará. Ananteris kayapo

Reference:
Lourenco WR. Une nouvelle espece de Ananteris Thorell, 1891 des "Campos" du sud de l'etat du Para, Bresil (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2022(41):63-74.

Thanks to Gerard Dupre for informing me about this new species.

Family Buthidae

A new species of Lychas from Indonesia

 

Frantisek Kovarik has recently published a new species of Lychas C.L. Koch, 1845 (Buthidae) from Indonesia.

Lychas jakli Kovarik, 2023 

The author also synonymize Lychas kotao Lourenço, 2020 with Lychas mucronatus (Fabricius, 1798).

Abstract:
A new species Lychas jakli sp. n. (Scorpiones: Buthidae) is described from Indonesia, fully illustrated with color photos showing its morphology and habitus. A new synonymy is proposed: Lychas kotao Lourenço, 2020 = Lychas mucronatus (Fabricius, 1798), syn. n.

Reference:
Kovarik F. Lychas jakli sp. n. (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Indonesia. Euscorpius. 2023(367):1-8. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A new psammophile species in the genus Buthus from Northern Spain

 

The duo Rolando Teruel and Carlos Turiel are continuing their study of the Buthus Leach, 1815 (Buthidae) population of Western Europe. In a recent article they have described a new psammophile species the pine forests on siliceous sands of the Duero River in Valladolid, in the core of the Submeseta Norte (northern Spain).

Buthus castellano Teruel & Turiel, 2022

Buthus lusitanus Lourenço, 2021 is synonymized with Buthus halius (C. L. Koch, 1838) after examination of new materials from type localitity. 

Finally, a specimen of B. halius in the study was albino. This is the first report of albinism in this genus and possible the first in the family Buthidae.

Abstract:
The present paper represents the fifth contribution of our taxonomic revision of the genus Buthus Leach, 1815 in the Iberian Peninsula. Herein, we describe a new species from the pine forests on siliceous sands of the Duero River in Valladolid, in the core of the Submeseta Norte (northern Spain). This species is remarkable because of its morphology adapted to burrow in sand, and thus it resembles only Buthus delafuentei Teruel & Turiel, 2020, endemic from the same habitat type, but along the Cádiz Gulf and the lower basin of the Guadalquivir River (southwestern Spain). Moreover, we clarify the true taxonomic status of Buthus lusitanus Lourenço, 2021, by proving that it is actually a junior synonym of Buthus halius (C. L. Koch, 1838) and that its original description is wrong, since it is based only on immature specimens. The West European diversity of Buthus stays at 17 species, all of hem local endemics.

Reference:
Teruel R, Turiel C. The genus Buthus Leach, 1815 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in the Iberian Peninsula. Part 5: A new psammophile species from Northern Spain, a synonymy and first albinism record in the genus. Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2022(41):15-36.

Thanks to Rolando for sending me this article!

Family Buthidae

A new species of Scorpio from North Africa

 

Manel Khammassi and co-workers have recently described a new species of Scorpio Linnaeus, 1758 (Scorpionidae) from Northwestern Algeria and Northeastern Morocco based on morphological and phylogenetic analysis.

Scorpio atlasensis Khammassi, Harris & Sadine, 2023

Abstract:
In this study, a new scorpion species, Scorpio atlasensis sp. n. from Northwestern Algeria and Northeastern Morocco is described. Morphologically, the new species can be distinguished by the general coloration, the pectinal plate shape and others features. We used partial sequences of the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase I gene to confirm the distinctiveness of the new species. Phylogenetic relationships among specimens of Scorpio from Algeria and Morocco with additional comparative sequence data from GenBank were assessed. Our results indicate a high divergence between the clade of the new species and all other available species from the northwestern African region. Moreover, the phylogenetic analysis showed a deep split between a northwestern African

Reference:
Khammassi M, Harris DJ, Sadine SE, Bouhissi ME, Nouira S. Description of a new species of Scorpio (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae) from Northwestern Algeria using morphological and molecular data. Biologia. 2023:1-12. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Dr. Sadine and Gerard Dupre for sending me this article!

Family Scorpionidae

A new species of Centruroides from Mexico

 

Happy New Year!

Javier Ponce-Saavedra and co-workers have recently described a new species of Centruroides Marx, 1890 (Buthidae) from the state of Sinaloa, Northwestern Mexico.

Centruroides baldazoi Ponce-Saavedra, Linares-Guillen & Quijano-Ravell, 2022

Abstract:
Centruroides baldazoi sp. nov. is described based on a coastal population of scorpions from the state of Sinaloa, Northwestern Mexico. The new species belongs to the "striped" group of scorpions (sensu Hoffmann, 1932) and the subgroup "infamatus" according to Ponce-Saavedra and Francke (2019). Morphological comparison is made with Centruroides suffusus, a species of the same group that is registered for the state of Sinaloa; with C. infamatus species that gives its name to the subgroup and that has historical records in Sinaloa, and with C. ornatus which its general appearance could be confused with the new species. With this addition the species of the genus Centruroides from Sinaloa now comprises: C. edwardsii, and C. noxius of the group of "non striped" scorpions in addition to C. infamatus, C. pallidiceps, C. suffusus and the new species of the group of "striped" scorpions. The new species share habitat with Thorellius wixarica which is a new record for the state of Sinaloa, and Paravaejovis aff.  spinigerus, both species of the family Vaejovidae.

Reference:
Ponce-Saavedra J, Linares-Guillén JW, Quijano-Ravell AF. Una nueva especie de alacrán del género Centruroides Marx (Scorpiones: Buthidae) de la costa Noroeste de México. Acta Zoologica Mexicana (NS). 2022;38:1-24. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae