Cyprus is very special because it is the only place where you can find members of both Buthus Leach, 1815 and Aegaeobuthus Kovarik, 2019 (previously Mesobuthus Vachon, 1950) (Buthidae). For many years only A. cyprius (Gantenbein & Kropf, 2000) was known from the island, but in 2011 surprisingly a second species was described, B. kunti Yagmur, Koc & Lourenço, 2011.
Ersen Yagmur and co-workers have recently published a redescription of Buthus kunti based on new materials. The article has updated information about the species' distribution and habita. It seems that this species has other habitat preferences than Aegaeobuthus cyprius and that the two species are not sympatric. More studies may change this assumption.
Abstract:
Buthus kunti Yağmur, Koç & Lourenço was described based on a female holotype specimen from Cyprus. This species is redescribed based on the holotype and additional specimens collected from Cyprus, with the male description and variational information presented for the first time. Detailed illustrations and UV light images of the female holotype and male specimen are provided. The first ecological observations of B. kunti are presented here. We observed that B. kunti prefers sandy soil and is a burrowing species. Additionally, we observed that B. kunti is associated with the bushes of Cistus salviifolius. According to our observations, specimens sit under the branches of these bushes or climb them. Adults were observed under the bushes, whereas subadult specimens were observed on the branches. We also report the first recorded case of cannibalism in this species, documenting two instances.
Reference:
Yağmur EA, Boğaç KK, Michael H, Hasan B, Gücel S. The morphology of Buthus kunti Yağmur, Koç & Lourenço (Scorpiones: Buthidae) and first description of male with some ecological observations. Journal of Natural History. 2025;59(25-28):1775–805. [Subscription required for full text]
Thanks to Ersen and Michael for sending me their article!
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