A new Pandinus species from Burkina Faso

 

Eric Ythier and Cedric Audibert have recently published a new species of Pandinus Thorell, 1876 (Scorpionidae) from the Sahelian wooded steppes in Burkina Faso. 

Pandinus sahelicus Ythier & Audibert, 2023

The article presents an updated identification key for the genus Pandinus.

Abstract:
A new species of the genus Pandinus Thorell, 1876 is described on the basis of six males and three females collected in the Sahelian wooded steppes of Burkina Faso. The new species is mainly characterized by a small size, a reduced pectinal tooth count, a length to depth ratio of fourth metasomal segment lower than 2, a number of ventral trichobothria on pedipalp patella lower than 30, tergites and internal face of pedipalp chela almost smooth and chela manus paler than body. The new taxon described here raises the number of currently recognized species for the genus Pandinus to five and the number of known scorpion species in Burkina Faso to eight.

Reference:
Ythier E, Audibert C. A new species of Pandinus Thorell, 1876 from the Sahelian wooded steppes of Burkina Faso (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae). Serket. 2023;19(4):398-411. [Open Access]

Thanks to Eric Ythier and Hisham El-Hennaway for informing me about this article!

Family Scorpionidae

A new species of Buthus from Burkina Faso

 

Eric Ythier has recently described a new species of Buthus Leach, 1815 (Buthidae) from Burkina Faso.

Buthus bobo Ythier, 2021

Abstract:
A new species of Buthus Leach, 1815 is described on the basis of one adult female specimen collected in the savannas of Western Burkina Faso. The new species is mainly characterized by a brownish yellow coloration with dark brownish to blackish confluent spots on tergites forming a blurred dark trivittate pattern, most carinae and granulations marked with dark brownish to blackish pigment, ventral carinae of metasomal segments II-III strongly marked and pedipalp chela manus of female quite slender. This new taxon represents the 7th known scorpion species reported from Burkina-Faso and the 5th described species for the genus Buthus in the sub-Saharan region of Western Africa. The presence of B. elhennawyi Lourenço, 2005 in Mali is also herewith reported.

Reference:
Ythier E. A new species of Buthus Leach, 1815 from the savannas of Burkina Faso (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Faunitaxys. 2021;9(40):1-5. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A new species of Androctonus from Burkina Faso

 

Eric Ythier has describe a new species of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Buthidae) from the Sahelian wooded steppes of Burkina Faso. 

Androctonus burkinensis Ythier, 2021

Abstract:
A new species of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 is described on the basis of one male specimen collected in the wooded steppes of Sahel in Northern Burkina Faso. The new species is characterized by a small size in relation to other species of the genus, a yellowish coloration without any darker spots, and metasomal segments narrow with a moderately deep dorsal depression. This new scorpion taxon represents the 30th known species of the genus Androctonus.

Reference:
Ythier E. A new species of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 from the Sahelian wooded steppes of Burkina Faso (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Faunitaxys. 2021;9(31):1-7. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae