A new species of Buthus from Morocco

 

Eric Ythier has published a new paper describing a new species of Buthus Leach, 1815 (Buthidae) from the Atlantic coast of Morocco.

Buthus maamora Ythier, 2023

Abstract:
The status of the Buthus population occurring on the Atlantic coast of Morocco, from Kenitra to El Jadida, originally reported to belong to Buthus occitanus occitanus (Amoreux, 1789) then remaining unnamed since studies demonstrated that B. occitanus range does not extend beyond Western Europe, is clarified and this population is described as a new species, B. maamora sp. n. The new species shows affinities with B. atlantis Pocock, 1889 and B. parroti Vachon, 1949 but can be easily distinguished from these two species by a combination of several key characters. The new taxon described here represents the 19th known Buthus species reported from Morocco and raises the number of currently recognized species for the genus Buthus to 79.

Reference:
Ythier E. A new species of Buthus Leach, 1815 from the Atlantic coast of Morocco (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Faunitaxys. 2023;11(69):1-7. [Open Access]

Thanks to Eric for sending me this article!

Family Buthidae

What is in the diet of Buthus scorpions from Algeria?

 

It is well known that scorpions catch and eat a diversity of prey types, even other scorpions and arthropods like reptiles and small mammals. As long as scorpions are able to subdue a potential prey, they will eat it. 

Abdelwahab Chedad and co-workers have recently published a study on the feeding behavior and diet of Buthus Leach, 1815 (Buthidae) species in Algeria. As expected, they found that many different invertebrates were on the menu, even though representatives of Orthoptera and Coleoptera were most common. Cannibalism and intraguild predation were also observed in several cases.

Abstract:
This study is an empirical observation of the feeding behavior of the Buthus Leach, 1815, in the wild of the Ouarsenis Mountains (Tissemsilt and Tiaret regions, northwestern Algeria) during the study period (2021–2022). We have observed 29 instances of Buthus species eating arthropods. The identifications of this prey yielded a list of 20 species belonging to 15 families and 9 orders. We note a dominance of the Orthoptera and Coleoptera, with 3 families and 5 species for each. Gryllidae and Scarabaeidae are the most represented, with 3 and 2 species, respectively. Also, we record some insects larvae eating and many cases of cannibalism and intraguild predation. All of the Buthus species' prey are intermediate or smaller arthropods.

Reference:
Chedad A, Hammou MA, El Bouhissi M, Chedad A, Sadine SE. Insights on the diet of Buthus Leach, 1815 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Ouarsenis mountains of northwestern Algeria. Revista Ibérica de Aracnología. (42):267-71. [Available in ResearchGate]

The distribution of Orthochirus glabrifrons in United Arab Emirates and Oman and a couple of synonymizations

 

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers recently published a study on the distribution of Orthochirus glabrifrons (Kraepelin, 1903) (Buthidae) in The Arabian Peninsula. The species is confirmed for Oman and United Arab Emirates. Map of distribution and habitat pictures are also presented.

The article also synonymizes the following taxa with Orthochirus glabrifrons: Orthochirus kaspareki (Lourenço & Huber, 2000) and Orthochirus kinzelbachi (Lourenço & Huber, 2000). Both were originally described in the genus Paraorthochirus Lourenço & Vachon, 1995, which was later synonymized with Orthochirus. 

Abstract:
Orthochirus glabrifrons (Kraepelin, 1903) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) was described from Oman (Muscat). Here, we summarize known localities from Oman as well as records from the United Arab Emirates, which is the new country record for this species. Illustrations of morphology of both sexes are given together with a map of distribution. A lectotype of Orthochirus glabrifrons (Kraepelin, 1903) is designated. Paraorthochirus kaspareki Lourenço & Huber, 2000 and Paraorthochirus kinzelbachi Lourenço & Huber, 2000 are synonymized with Orthochirus glabrifrons (Kraepelin, 1903), syn. n.

Reference:
Kovařík F, Yağmur EA, Ullrich A, Buzás B. The first record of Orthochirus glabrifrons (Kraepelin, 1903) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from the United Arab Emirates. Euscorpius. 2023;2023(379):1-11. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A new species of Neobuthus from Somaliland

 

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers have described a a new species of Neobuthus Hirst, 1911 (Buthidae) from Somaliland as part of their ongoing study of the scorpions of the Horn of Africa. 

Neobuthus fryntai Kovarik, Elmi & Frydlova, 2023

Abstract:
A new species Neobuthus fryntai sp. nov. confirmed by DNA phylogeny (paper in preparation) is described according to morphological characters. It is morphologically most similar to N. factorio Kovařík, Lowe, Elmi et Hure, 2018. Neobuthus fryntai sp. nov. has pedipalp segments relatively slender than N. factorio, males with femur L/W 2.74–2.86 (2.42–2.70 in N. factorio), patella L/W 2.50–2.62 (2.18–2.28 in N. factorio), chela L/W 4.68–4.98 (4.25–4.48 in N. factorio). Included is actualized distribution map of the genus Neobuthus Hirst, 1911 with focus to Somaliland.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Elmi HSA, Frydlova P. Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part XXIX. A new species of Neobuthus from Somaliland (Buthidae). Acta Societatis Zoologicae Bohemicae. 2023;86:59-69.

Thanks to Frantisek Kovarik and Tomas Mazuch for sending me this article!

Family Buthidae

A new Pandinus species from Burkina Faso

 

Eric Ythier and Cedric Audibert have recently published a new species of Pandinus Thorell, 1876 (Scorpionidae) from the Sahelian wooded steppes in Burkina Faso. 

Pandinus sahelicus Ythier & Audibert, 2023

The article presents an updated identification key for the genus Pandinus.

Abstract:
A new species of the genus Pandinus Thorell, 1876 is described on the basis of six males and three females collected in the Sahelian wooded steppes of Burkina Faso. The new species is mainly characterized by a small size, a reduced pectinal tooth count, a length to depth ratio of fourth metasomal segment lower than 2, a number of ventral trichobothria on pedipalp patella lower than 30, tergites and internal face of pedipalp chela almost smooth and chela manus paler than body. The new taxon described here raises the number of currently recognized species for the genus Pandinus to five and the number of known scorpion species in Burkina Faso to eight.

Reference:
Ythier E, Audibert C. A new species of Pandinus Thorell, 1876 from the Sahelian wooded steppes of Burkina Faso (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae). Serket. 2023;19(4):398-411. [Open Access]

Thanks to Eric Ythier and Hisham El-Hennaway for informing me about this article!

Family Scorpionidae