A new species of Alpiscorpius from The Murat Mountain in Turkey

 

Ersen Yagmur has just published an article describing a new species of Alpiscorpius Gantenbein et al., 1999 (Euscorpiidae) from The Murat Mountain in Turkey.

Alpiscorpius victori Yagmur, 2025

This species was found at quite high altitudes ranging from 1354 to 2073 meters. 

Abstract:
A new scorpion species, Alpiscorpius victori sp. n., is described from Mount Murat, located in Kütahya and Uşak Provinces in the Aegean Region of western Turkey, based on morphological evidence. The species is classified within the genus Alpiscorpius Gantenbein et al., 1999, due to the presence of three trichobothria in the em series on the external surface of the pedipalp patella. With the addition of this species, the number of known species in the family Euscorpiidae rises to 23, while the genus Alpiscorpius now includes seven species in Turkey.

Reference:
Yagmur EA. Alpiscorpius victori sp. n. from the Murat Mountain, Kütahaya and Usak Provinces, Turkey (Scorpiones, Euscorpiidae). Zoodiversity. 2025;59(2):101-12. [Open Acces, but issue is not available yet]

Thanks to Victoria for informing me about this article!

Species status for Leiurus libycus from western Egypt after redescription

 

Ersen Yagmur and co-workers have recently published an article where they have studied and redescribed the taxa formerly known as Buthus quinquestriatus libycus Birula, 1908 (Buthidae). The species is elevated to species status in the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828.

Leiurus libycus (Birula, 1908)

In the article the authors synonymize Leiurus aegyptiacus Lourenço & El-Hennawy, 2021 with L. libycus as the former was described from the same area and is morphologically very similar.

Abstract:
Buthus quinquestriatus libycus was described by Birula (1908) from the Libyan Desert, based on a subadult male specimen. This taxon was later synonymized with Leiurus quinquestriatus (Ehrenberg, 1828) by Vachon (1949). In this study, we re-evaluate this taxon and recognize it as Leiurus libycus (Birula, 1908), stat. n., providing a redescription based on the holotype. The type locality of this species is clarified as western Egypt (between Alexandria and Fayum). We synonymize Leiurus aegyptiacus Lourenço & El-Hennawy, 2021 with L. libycus, stat. n., syn. n.

Reference:
Yagmur EA, Kovarik F, Fet V. A redescription of Leiurus libycus (Birula, 1908), stat. n. (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2025(413):1-08. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A new species of Centruroides from Honduras

 

Luis de Armas and  Alex Cubas-Rodríguez have recently published an article describing a new species of Centruroides Marx, 1890 (Buthidae) from the Pacayita Volcano Biological Reserve in southwestern Honduras.

Centruroides lenca Armas & Cubas-Rodríguez, 2025

Abstract:
A new species of striped bark scorpions, Centruroides lenca sp. n. is described, based on both sexes, from the Pacayita Volcano Biological Reserve (2,385 m a. s. l.), Ocotepeque Department, in the southwestern Honduras. By its general pattern, the new species resembles C. thorellii (Kraepelin, 1891), from which it clearly differs by having stronger and very darker pedipalp chelae, minute subaculear tubercle and basal pectinal plate with a large central pit in the female, among other diagnostic characters. Also, Centruroides tapachulaensis Hoffmann, 1932 is recorded for the first time from Honduras, on the basis of two observed or collected specimens in the Ocotepeque Department. There are currently 12 species of Centruroides known from Honduras, of which three are known only from this Central American country (two other endemic species are C. terueli Armas & Cubas- Rodríguez, 2023, from Guanaja Island, Islas de la Bahía Archipelago, and C. hirsuticauda Teruel, 2011, from Comayagua and Yoro Departments).

Reference:
de Armas LF, Cubas-Rodriguez AM. A new Centruroides species and first record of C. tapachulaensis Hoffmann, 1932 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Honduras. Euscorpius. 2025(412):1-12. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A new species of Hemiscorpius from the Horn of Africa

 

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers recently published a overview of the Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861 (Hemiscorpiidae) species known from the Horn of Africa. A new species is described from Somaliland.

Hemiscorpius huluul Kovarik, Elmi & Stahlavsky, 2025

The article has an identification key for the five species known from the Horn of Africa.

Abstract:
Occurrence of the rare in the Horn of Africa genus Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Hemiscorpiidae) is summarized, including a distribution map. A male of Hemiscorpius lipsae Kovařík & Lowe, 2022 from Djibouti is described for the first time. A new species Hemiscorpius huluul sp. n. from Somaliland is described, fully complemented with color photographs.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Elmi HSA, Stahlavsky F. Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida, Scorpiones). Part XXXVII. The genus Hemiscorpius (Hemiscorpiidae). Euscorpius. 2025(411):1-24. [Open Access]

Family Hemiscorpiidae

A new species in the enigmatic genus Troglorhopalurus from Northeastern Brazil

 

 Leonardo Sousa Carvalho and co-workers have recently published an article describing a new species of the rare and partly troglobitic genus Troglorhopalurus Lourenço, Baptista & Giupponi, 2004 (Buthidae) form five caves in the municipalities of Iuiú and Malhada, in the western region Bahia state, Northeastern Brazil.

Troglorhopalurus iuiu Carvalho, Silva, Emanuela de Souza & Feirreira, 2025

The new species was found quite deep into the caves and is probably a troglobite, but shows only minor troglomorphic traits. Due to the limited distribution and potential negative human impact on the habitat, the authors suggest that the new species should be classified and endangered.

Abstract:
The genus Troglorhopalurus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) is endemic to northeastern Brazil and comprises cave-dwelling species with limited distributions. Based on newly collected specimens, this study provides a description of a new cave-dwelling Troglorhopalurus species and the first detailed description of the male hemispermatophore of the genus. Troglorhopalurus iuiu n. sp. is diagnosed based on morphometric characters, distinct carapace granulation, and differences in the pedipalps and metasomal carinae and peg sensillae shape. The hemispermatophore of Troglorhopalurus is like other Centruroidinae species, with internal, external, and basal lobes. Additionally, we discuss the distribution and conservation status of Troglorhopalurus species. Troglorhopalurus lacrau distribution range is extended based on additional epigean and hypogean records. This species may be reassessed from data deficient to least concern. Based on the limited localities and declining habitat quality, we propose that T. iuiu n. sp. be considered endangered. This research underscores the importance of further sampling to explore species-specific variations and promote conservation efforts for these ecologically specialized scorpions.

Reference:
Carvalho LS, Silva MIL, Souza PEd, Ferreira RL. Taxonomy and Distribution of the Cave-Dwelling Scorpions Troglorhopalurus (Scorpiones, Buthidae), with the Description of a New Cave-Restricted Species. Arthropoda. 2025;3(2):6. [Open Access]

Thanks to Gerard for sending me this article!

Family Buthidae

Second euscorpid species discovered from the Greek island of Lesvos and a change of genus

 

Ersen Yagmur and Özgün Sipahioğlu have recently published an article describing the discovery of Alpiscorpius idaeus (Yağmur & Tropea, 2017) (Euscorpiidae) from the island of Lesvos, Greece. In the article, the authors also make the decision to transfer this species from Euscorpius Thorell, 1876 to Alpiscorpius Gantenbein et al., 1999.

Abstract:
The scorpion species Euscorpius idaeus Yağmur & Tropea, 2017, previously known from Mount Kazdağı in the Balıkesir and Çanakkale Provinces of Turkey, is reported for the first time from the Lesvos Island, Greece. In this study, it is transferred to the genus Alpiscorpius Gantenbein et al., 1999. Detailed illustrations of Alpiscorpius idaeus (Yağmur & Tropea, 2017), comb. n. from the Lesvos Island population are provided.

Reference:
Yagmur EA, Sipahioğlu Ö. The first record of Alpiscorpius idaeus (Yağmur & Tropea, 2017), comb. n. from the Lesvos Island, Greece (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae). Euscorpius. 2025(409):1-6. [Open Access]

Family Euscorpiidae

A new species of Compsobuthus from Somalia

 

Frantisek Kovarik has recently published a study of the members of the genus Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949 in the Horn of Africa (Buthidae). In addition, a new species is described from Somalia.

Compsobuthus starhai Kovarik, 2025

Abstract:
Occurence of genus Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949 in the Horn of Africa is summarized, including a distribution map. A lectotype of C. abyssinicus (Birula, 1903) is designated. C. starhai sp. n. from Somalia (Puntland) is described and fully complemented
with color photographs.

Reference:
Kovarik F. Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida, Scorpiones). Part XXXVI. Compsobuthus starhai sp. n. from Somalia (Puntland) (Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2025(408):1-14. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae