More Christmas species. Hossein Barahoei and Mehran Shahi just published a description of a new species of Odontobuthus Vachon, 1950 (Buthidae) from Southern Iran.
Odontobuthus persicus Barahoei & Shahi, 2024
The article has an updated identification key for the genus.
Abstract:
Odontobuthus Vachon, 1950, with nine described species, is a genus of digger scorpions in the Buthidae family, which can be distinguished by having large tooth-like processes on the ventrosubmedian carinae of the second and third metasomal segments. Morphological and molecular investigation of coastal specimens from the Hormozgan province in Iran led to the discovery of a new species named Odontobuthus persicus sp. nov. that is described here. It is closely related to O. chabaharensis morphologically. The new Odontobuthus species has two large and conical tooth-like processes on ventrosubmedian carinae of the second and third metasomal segments, while O. chabaharensis has three or four medium to large tooth-like processes. Based on phylogenetic analysis using partial COI sequences, the new species is placed as a sister taxon of O. brevidigitus. Genetic differences with the other species of Odontobuthus (mean = 0.107) confirmed the validity of this species.
Reference:
Barahoei H, Shahi M. New Species of the Digger Scorpions, Odontobuthus Vachon, 1950 (Buthidae) from Southern Iran. Zoological Studies. 2024;63(48). [Open Access]
Thanks to Kian for sharing this article with me!
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