A new species of Scorpio from Iraq

 

Ersen Yagmur and co-workers have recently described a new species of Scorpio Linnaeus, 1758 (Scorpionidae) from southern Iraq.

Scorpio basraensis Yagmur, Makki & Najim, 2026

The genus Jordanius Afifeh, Yagmur, Al-Saraireh & Amr, 2024 (Scorpionidae) was synonymized with Scorpio Linnaeus, 1758 by Prendini, 2026. The authors of the current article reverse this decision and revalidate this taxa to genus status again. Please note that this only apply to the Prendini 2026 version of Scorpionidae in The Scorpion Files.

Abstract:
A new scorpion species, Scorpio basraensis sp. n., is described and illustrated from Basra Province, southern Iraq. Scorpio basraensis sp. n. is compared with all known species of the genus Scorpio Linnaeus, 1758 occurring in countries surrounding Iraq. The new species can be distinguished by the circular genital operculum in males and the cordiform genital operculum in females (not posteriorly elongated), a densely hirsute body, appendages and metasoma, a distinctly elongated telson vesicle, discrete granules on the external surface of the chela manus that are not flattened, and pectinal tooth counts of 11–13 in males and 9–11 in females. With the description of this species, the number of scorpion species known from Iraq increases to 22, whereas the number of recognized species in the genus Scorpio reaches 33 [According to Prendini, 2026 - Editor's addition].

Reference:
Yagmur EA, Makki JA, Najim SA. Scorpio basraensis sp. n. from southern Iraq (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae). Euscorpius. 2026(442):1–18. [Open Access]

Family Scorpionidae