First record of Vachoniolus globimanus from Jordan

 

The knowledge of the scorpion fauna of Jordan has increased in the last decade thanks to more field work and research, but this job is far from finished. In a recent paper, Bassam Abu Afifeh and co-workers have been able to confirm the presence of Vachoniolus globimanus Levy, Amitai & Shulov, 1973 (Buthidae) in Wadi Rum in southern Jordan.

Abstract:
Four species of the genus Vachoniolus have been described from Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The scorpion Vachoniolus globimanus Levy, Amitai and Shulov, 1973 is recorded from Jordan for the first time. Specimens of this species have been collected from Wadi Rum, southern Jordan. Morphological analysis, morphometric values, and taxonomic features were used to identify the collected specimens. This record extends the known distribution range of the genus Vachoniolus from central, western and southern Arabian Peninsula and Iran to the northwest in southern Jordan. The aim of the present study is to identify and describe the newly collected scorpion species from Wadi Rum desert in Jordan with additional ecological notes on their habitat.

Reference:
Afifeh BA, Al-Saraireh M, Amr ZS. First Record of the Scorpion Vachoniolus globimanus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Jordan. Jordan Journal of Biological Sciences. 2023;16(3):525-30. [Open Access]

Thanks to Luis Roque for informing me about this article!