A new species of Compsobuthus from Pakistan

 

Muhammad Ishtiyaq and co-workers have recently published a new species of Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949 (Buthidae) from Pakistan.

Compsobuthus lakkianis Ishtiyaq, Adnan, Khan, Ali & Barahoei, 2026

The article includes an identification key for all known species in Compsobuthus in Pakistan. 

Abstract:
Members of the genus Compsobuthus, is distributed across the Arabian Peninsula, central Africa and the Indian subcontinent. The genus is represented in Pakistan by four documented species from the werneri group including Compsobuthus atrostriatus (Pocock, 1897), C. pakistanus Kovařík and Ahmed, 2007, C. sindicus Kovařík and Ahmed, 2011, C. rugosulus (Pocock, 1900). In this study, we describe a new species within the werneri group, Compsobuthus lakkiansis sp. nov., collected from a semi-sandy area in Lakki Marwat District, northeast Pakistan. Morphometric data were recorded and compared with those of closely related congeners. This discovery establishes the first record of the genus Compsobuthus in Lakki Marwat and raises the number of its species in Pakistan to five. This work serves as a critical baseline for future research on scorpion biodiversity and aids in developing effective conservation strategies.

Reference:
Ishtiyaq M, Adnan M, Ali A, Khan S, Barahoei H. Compsobuthus lakkiansis sp. nov. (Scorpiones: Buthidae), New Species from Pakistan. Pakistan Journal of Zoology. 2026;Online First Article. [Open Access]

Thanks to Victoria for informing me about this article!

Family Buthidae