A new species of Olivierus from Eastern Iran

 

Niloofar Hashemzahia and co-workers have recently published an article on the scorpion fauna of Nehbandan County, Eastern Iran. I new species of Olivierus Farzanpay, 1987 (Buthidae) is described.

Olivierus simabina Barahoei, 2026

Abstract:
Given the lack of research on scorpion species in South Khorasan province, this study is deemed necessary. Understanding the scorpion fauna and its seasonal occurrence is essential for effectively preventing and treating scorpion stings. Sampling was done evenly using an ultraviolet light at night or direct observation during the day. In this study, 141 specimens were collected from different parts of Nehbandan county. Five species belonging to five genera of the Buthidae were collected and identified, the first four being Androctonus orientalis (Birula), Mesobuthus rakhshanii Barahoei, Odontobuthus tirgari Mirshamsi et al. and Sassanidotus gracilis (Birula). Olivierus simabina Barahoei sp. n. was also described, and its record was added to the scorpion fauna of Iran. No other species except for O. tirgari has been recorded from Nehbandan. Sassanidotus gracilis is a new report for the fauna of the South Khorasan province.

Reference:
Hashemzahi N, Ravan S, Barahoei H. New species and faunal records of the scorpions of Nehbandan County, eastern Iran (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Journal of Natural History. 2026;60(25-28):1431–46. [Subscription required for full text]

Family Buthidae 

Two new chactid species from Northernmost Brazilian Amazon

 

Andre Lira has co-workers have recently published an article describing two new species in the family Chactidae from the Northernmost Brazilian Amazon.

Brotheas cernii Lira, Gonzalez-Santillan, Santos-da-Silva, Brescovit & Pucca, 2026

Cayooca puchus Lira, Gonzalez-Santillan, Santos-da-Silva, Brescovit & Pucca, 2026

The genus Cayooca Gonzalez-Sponga, 1996 has been synonymized with Broteochactas Pocock, 1893. In the recent mega-revision of scorpion taxonomy, Prendini, 2026 resurrected this genus. As previously mentioned, I'm in the process of mapping all changed made in the Prendini paper and decide how to include these in The Scorpion Files. However, because a new species has been described in Cayooca, I have chosen to include this genus as valid in The Scorpion Files. A consequence of this is that Cayooca venezuelensis Gonzalez-Sponga, 1996 is returned to its original genus from Broteochactas Pocock, 1893.

Abstract:
Amid an ongoing environmental crisis marked by high deforestation rates in the Brazilian Amazon, two new species of chactid scorpions are herein described. Cayooca puchus sp. n. is described from an inselberg in the municipality of Mucajaí, state of Roraima, northern Brazilian Amazon. The new species resembles Cayooca venezuelensis but differs by denser body granulation and strongly costate, scattered granular ventromedian and ventral prosubmedian carinae. Brotheas cernii sp. n., described from the same locality, resembles Brotheas granulatus and B. subgranulatus but differs by smaller body size, granular ventral carinae on metasomal segment I, strongly granular pedipalp chelae, and spinoid granules on ventral metasomal carinae of segments III–V. These findings reinforce the Amazon as a major center of biodiversity and highlight the likelihood that numerous species remain undescribed.

Reference:
Lira AFA, González-Santillán E, Santos-da-Silva AP, Brescovit AD, Melo-dos-Santos G, Rocha AM, et al. Two New Species of Scorpions (Scorpiones: Chactidae) from Northernmost Brazilian Amazon. Diversity. 2026;18(6):345. [Open Access]

Thanks to Andre for sending me their article!

Family Chactidae 

A detailed description of the external morphology of Hottentotta saulcyi

 

 Niyazi Deniz and Melek Erdek have recently published a study of the external morphology of the male and female Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880) (Buthidae). Functional morphological implications are also discussed.

Abstract:
The comparative external morphological structures were surveyed on male and female Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880) in detail with scanning electron microscope (SEM). The constellation arrays on chelae, peg sensilla on the pectinal organ, aculear peg sensilla on aculeus part of telson, femoral cluster setae and trichobothria on chelae, and the other sensillar structures (sensilla trichodea, sensilla chaetica, slit sensilla) and epicuticular patterns on chelicerae, legs, and their functional morphologies were assessed in light of habitat and climatic preferences of both sexes of the species. This study constitutes the first comprehensive investigation of the external morphology of H. saulcyi.

Reference:
Deniz N, Erdek M. An evaluation of external morphology of Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880) (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Serket. 2026;21(2):147–57. [Open Access]

Thanks to Hisham  El-Hennaway for sharing the full text of this article with me!