A new high-altitude Bothriurus species from Chile

 

Andres A. Ojanguren-Affilastro and co-workers have recently described a new species of Bothriurus Peters, 1861(Bothriuridae) from high-altitude habitats in north-central Andes of the Coquimbo Region in Chile.

Bothriurus mistral Ojanguren Affilastro, Mattoni, Alfaro & Pizarro-Araya, 2023

Abstract:
We describe Bothriurus mistral n. sp. (Scorpiones, Bothriuridae) from the Chilean north-central Andes of the Coquimbo Region. This is the highest elevational discovery for Bothriurus in the western slopes of the Andes. This species was collected in the Estero Derecho Private Protected Area and Natural Sanctuary as part of the First National Biodiversity Inventory of Chile of the Integrated System for Monitoring and Evaluation of Native Forest Ecosystems (SIMEF). Bothriurus mistral n. sp. is closely related to Bothriurus coriaceus Pocock, 1893, from the lowlands of central Chile. This integrative research includes a combination of traditional morphometrics and geometric morphometric analyses to support the taxonomic delimitation of the species.

Reference:
Ojanguren-Affilastro AA, Benitez HA, Iuri HA, Mattoni CI, Alfaro FM, Pizarro-Araya J. Description of Bothriurus mistral n. sp., the highest-dwelling Bothriurus from the western Andes (Scorpiones, Bothriuridae), using multiple morphometric approaches. PLoS One. 2023;18:e0281336. [Open Access]

Thanks to Gerard Dupre for sending me this article!

Family Bothriurudae

Non-aggressive competition in Srilankametrus yaleensis and a review of other types of agonistic behavior in scorpions

 

Competition happens in scorpions, both between species and within the same species. The cause of competition can be food, territory, hiding places, mates etc. As with many other animals, competition and other types of encounters do not have to be aggressive and cause damage.

Victoria Tang has recently published an article describing non-aggressive physical combat between adult males of Srilankametrus yaleensis (Kovařík et al., 2019) (Scorpionidae). The article also list other known examples of agonistic behaviors (intraguild or antipredatory) observed in scorpions.

The article is illustrated with many pictures illustration the different types of agonistic behavior. Video documentation can also be found in the supplemental materials.

Abstract:
A peculiar intraspecific agonistic behavior involving a non-aggressive physical combat is reported between the adult males of Srilankametrus yaleensis (Kovařík et al., 2019) (Scorpionidae: Heterometrinae). The adult males were observed to resort to a ritualized and relatively gentle way for strength demonstration. The combat is characterized by lateral spreading of pedipalps, chelicerae-to-chelicerae collision, and entanglement of metasomal segments. This behavior is hereby considered a form of an intrasexual combat defined as the “arm-span competition”. It is hypothesized to be beneficial for solving territorial and/ or sexual competitions while avoiding unnecessary mortality which could pose adverse impact to the natural populations. Other Heterometrinae species that possess sexually dimorphic, elongate pedipalps in males were also found to display similar behavior. This may account for at least one potential reason for the evolution of such sexual dimorphism. Finally, this study supplements several other agonistic behaviors (intraguild or antipredatory) observed in scorpions, with special attention to the family Scorpionidae. Three basic types of behavior are defined for this family: aggressive response, shielding response, and armspan competition. These types of behavior may have implications for the evolution of this family.

Reference:
Tang V. Non-aggressive competition between males of Srilankametrus yaleensis (Kovařík et al., 2019)(Scorpionidae), and other types of agonistic behavior observed in scorpions. Euscorpius. 2023;2023(368):1-17. [Open Access]

Updated information about the distribution of scorpions in Sudan

 

Manal Siyam and co-workers have recently published a study with updated information about the scorpion fauna of Sudan. Of special interest is the new distributional data about medical important species like Androctonus amoreuxi (Audouin, 1826), Leiurus quinquestriatus (Ehrenberg, 1829) and Parabuthus abyssinicus (Pocock, 1901) (Buthidae). 

Abstract:
Six species of scorpion (Arachnida: Scorpiones) are documented from eighteen localities in seven different states within the Republic of the Sudan. Combining this new data with historical records in the Sudan Natural History Museum and the published literature enables the first provisional distribution maps for Sudanese scorpions. New state records could be added for three medically significant species: Androctonus amoreuxi (Audouin, 1826) from Khartoum, North Kordofan and North Darfur, Leiurus quinquestriatus (Ehrenberg, 1829) from Kassala, River Nile, White Nile and North Darfur, and Parabuthus abyssinicus (Pocock, 1901) from Kassala. Among the less venomous species, we offer new state records for Buthacus leptochelys (Ehrenberg, 1829) in White Nile State, for Compsobuthus werneri (Birula, 1908) in North Kordofan, White Nile and Kassala States and for Orthochirus olivaceus (Karsch, 1881) in River Nile, Northern and Kassala States. Further information about the taxonomy, distribution and toxicity of Sudanese scorpions is presented.

Reference:
Siyam M, Dunlop JA, Kovařík F, Mohammad A. Additions to the distribution of Sudanese scorpions. Zoosystematics and Evolution. 2023;99(1). [Open Access]

Thanks to Matt Simon for informing me about this article!

A new species of Scorpio from Jordan

 

 Mohammad Al-Saraireh and co-workers have recently described a new species of Scorpio Linnaeus, 1758 (Scorpionidae) from the Dibbeen Forest, Jerash Governorate in Jordan.

Scorpio granulomanus Al-Saraireh, Yagmur, Afifeh & Amr, 2023

Abstract:
A new species Scorpio granulomanus sp. n. is described and illustrated from Dibbeen Forest, Jerash Governorate, Jordan. The new species is compared with the previously recorded species of the genus Scorpio in the Middle East; it can be distinguished from all other congeners by its very large, pointed granules on the dorsoexternal surface of the chela manus, and an untypically elongated chela manus.

Reference:
Al-Saraireh M, Yagmur EA, Afifeh BA, Amr Z. A new species of Scorpio from Jordan (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae). Euscorpius. 2023(369):1-17. [Open Access]

Family Scorpionidae

Two new buthid species described from Saudi Arabia

 

Eric Yhtier and Wilson Lourenco have recently described two new species in the family Buthidae from Saudi Arabia.

Compsobuthus mahazat Ythier & Lourenco, 2023

Orthochirus arabicus  Ythier & Lourenco, 2023

Abstract:
New buthid scorpions are described from Saudi Arabia, from a site never studied previously, the Mahazat as-Sayd Reserve, in the centre of the country. Two species are described, based on one adult male (Compsobuthus mahazat sp. n.) and one adult female (Orthochirus arabicus sp. n.). The total number of scorpion species currently recognized in Saudi Arabia is now raised to 30.

Reference:
Ythier E, Lourenco WR. Two new scorpion species from Central Saudi Arabia (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Faunitaxys. 2023;11(8):1-8.

Thanks to Eric for informing me about this species!

Family Buthidae