A review on endemic scorpion species and subspecies in Morocco

 

Scorpions are a health problems in some regions of the world, among them Morocco. Knowledge about the scorpion fauna and the distribution of medical important species is important so that local and regional health providers can be prepared for sting accidents and envenomations. Information like this is also important for measures to prevent sting incidents.

Meriem Es-Saadi and co-workers recently published a review on endemic scorpion species and subspecies in Morocco. Their study identified fifty-five endemic species and subspecies in Morocco. Not surprisingly, the family Buthidae was most widespread. Knowledge about the distribution of the species in this family is important, as the most medical important species are members to this family.

Abstract:
Scorpion fauna is abundant in regions with arid and semi-arid climates, exposing these areas to a risk of envenomation, especially for children. Scorpion envenomations cause thousands of deaths each year, with notable incidences in the MENA region, South America, Latin and Central America, and India. Morocco is one of the countries most affected by this phenomenon; according to statistics from the Moroccan Poison Control and Pharmacovigilance Center (CAPM), approximately 8565 scorpion stings and envenomations were recorded annually between 2016 and 2022, mainly among children. A literature review was conducted to identify and catalog the endemic scorpion species in Morocco and explore the impact of climate change on their distribution. Sources included scientific journal articles, university theses, and field reports. The collected data were compiled and analyzed to create a distribution map of the endemic species. Our results identified fifty-five endemic species and subspecies in Morocco. The family Buthidae is the most widespread, with seventeen endemic species of the genus Buthus, nine of the genus Androctonus, five of the genus Butheoloides, four of the genus Buthacus, two each of the genera Orthochirus, Compsobuthus, and Hottentota, and one species each of the genera Microbuthus, Cicileiurus, and Saharobuthus. The family Scorpionidae includes nine endemic species, and two subspecies belonging to the genus Scorpio. A high level of endemism is observed in southern Morocco, highlighting a significant concentration of these species in this region. Ongoing climate change is likely to expand the population and distribution of scorpions, as well as the number of envenomations. The results underscore the importance of implementing control and prevention strategies to reduce the risks of envenomation, particularly in the context of climate change. Therefore, to develop management and prevention strategies is based on a thorough understanding

Reference:Es-Saadi M, Hamdi S, Khourcha S, Sadki K, Errafii K, Oukkache N. Endemic Scorpion Species and Subspecies in Morocco: A Comprehensive Overview. Toxicon. 2025;255:108253. [Subscritpion required for full text]