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