22 January, 2023

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

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