New data on the distribution of Buthiscus bicalcaratus in Algeria

 

 Zineb Souilem and co-workers have recently published an article presenting new distribution records and range extension for the Saharan scorpion Buthiscus bicalcaratus Birula, 1905 (Buthidae) in Algeria.

Abstract:
This study includes new distribution records and range extension for the Saharan scorpion Buthiscus bicalcaratus Birula, 1905 in Algeria, where new specimens were collected from several localities across diverse biotopes. These findings document a significant expansion of the species, both northward and southwestward, providing important insights into its ecological adaptability and contributing to a better understanding of the environmental changes affecting arid and semi-arid regions. It will be crucial to keep focus on B. bicalcaratus in order to comprehend the ecological factors influencing its variations in range and to use the species as a measure of desertification in North Africa.

Reference:
Souilem Z, Sadine SE, Hammou MA, El Bouhissi  M, Chedad A, Zebsa R, et al. Range extension of Buthiscus bicalcaratus Birula, 1905 in Algeria (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2025(47):151–4. [No full text available, contact authors]

Thanks to Salah Eddine Sadine for sending me their article! 

Family Buthidae 

A second species described in the genus Buthiscus

 

Eric Ythier and Wilson Lourenco have recently described a second species in the genus Buthiscus Birula, 1905 (Buthidae). The new specimen is based on a finding in old museum materials from Mali.

Buthiscus ifoghas Ythier & Lourenco, 2023

Abstract:
A new species of scorpion belonging to the genus Buthiscus Birula, 1905 (Buthidae) is described from the Southwestern part of the Adrar des Ifoghas, in the region of Kidal, Mali. The new species, Buthiscus ifoghas n. sp. is the second element belonging to the genus Buthiscus and seems to inhabit mountainous environments, contrarily to the other species of the genus, Buthiscus bicalcaratus Birula, 1905 which is a typical species of low altitude desert areas.

Reference:
Ythier E, Lourenco WR. A new species of Buthiscus Birula, 1905 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from the Adrar des Ifoghas, Mali. Faunitaxys. 2023;11(22):1-7. [Open Access]

Thanks to Eric Ythier and Gerard Dupre for sending me this article!

Family Buthidae

Redescription and new information about the little known scorpion Buthiscus bicalcaratus from Northern Africa

 

Faraj Aboshaala and co-workers have recently published an article with a redescription and updated information about the little known scorpion Buthiscus bicalcaratus Birula, 1905 (Buthidae) based on new materials from Libya.

Abstract:
The monotypic genus Buthiscus was described by Birula (1905) with the species Buthiscus bicalcaratus from the Sahara Desert of southern Tunisia. Until now, huge gaps exist in the knowledge of this species which is classified as endemic to North Africa. This paper aims to enrich the existing knowledge on this poorly known species with redescribing specimens of both sexes collected from Libya using widely illustrated redescription, in light of modern standards ruling the taxonomy of scorpions.

Reference:
Aboshaala F, Yağmur EA, Sadine SE, Ghaliow M, Badry A. On the poorly known species Buthiscus bicalcaratus Birula, 1905 (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Serket. 2022;18(3):263-73.

Thanks to Ersen Yagmur for sending me this article!

Species composition and distribution in an arid ecosystem i Algeria

Salah Eddine Sadine and co-workers recently published an article looking into the diversity and distribution of scorpions in the region of Ouargla (Eastern Algerian Sahara).

Abstract:
The present work is a study of composition and structure of scorpion fauna in the region of Ouargla (Eastern Algerian Sahara), during a period of fourteen years from 2005 to 2018, we sampled from different biotopes more than 1550 adult specimens, divided into nine 9 species of scorpions: Androctonus amoreuxi, Androctonus australis, Buthacus arenicola, Buthacus samiae, Buthiscus bicalcaratus, Buthus saharicus, Buthus tunetanus, Orthochirus innesi, and Scorpio punicus. A. australis was the most abundant species with 47.36% of the total individuals captured. Other species such as S. punicus, B. arenicola and A. amoreuxi are ranked as accidental with rates less than 20%. Among the important results in this work is reporting for the first time the presence of B. bicalcaratus in Ouargla and the new records of B. samiae and B. saharicus in this area. The Shannon’s index was H’ = 2.05 and the evenness index was 0.65, showing a very important diversity of scorpions with more than 23.5% of scorpion species reported in Algeria; however, a poor balance between the number of sampled species with dominance of the thermophilic species that are the most adapted scorpions in this arid climate.

Reference:
Sadine SE, Bissati S, Idder MA. Diversity and structure of scorpion fauna from arid ecosystem in Algerian Septentrional Sahara (2005-2018). Serket. 2018;16(2):51-9. [Open Access]

Thanks to Dr. Sadine for sending me his article!

Scorpions of medical importance in Mali

Max Goyffon and co-workers have recently published an interesting article about potential medical important scorpions in Mali. Little is known about the venom potential of species in this regions so this is an important contribution to our knowledge of African scorpionism.

Androctonus amoreuxi (Audouin, 1826), A. australis (Linnaeus, 1758) and Leiurus quinquestriatus (Ehrenberg, 1828) in the family Buthidae are identified as medical important in Mali.

Abstract:
Although the main Malian scorpion species of medical interest, Androctonus amoreuxi, is responsible for severe envenomings and perhaps some deaths, it has hitherto been considered not dangerous for humans. This population is located in the Saharian North-Eastern regions of Mali where it is accompanied by Leiurus quinquestriatus, a well known dangerous species of the Sahara. In the Gao district, divided by the Niger River, less desolate than the Tessalit and Kidal regions, one specimen of the dangerous species Androctonus australis was found. To summarize, Mali harbors at least three dangerous scorpion species: Leiurus quinquestriatus, Androctonus amoreuxi and A. australis, the latter recently having been identified in Mali for the first time. The absence of Androctonus aeneas is surprising in this context because it is found in neighboring countries (Algeria, Niger) and should be detected by new surveys. The possibility of preparing a single scorpion antivenom intended for Saharian and sub-Saharian populations is discussed.

Reference:
Goyffon M, Dabo A, Coulibaly SK, Togo G, Chippaux JP. Dangerous scorpion fauna of Mali. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis. 2012;18(4):361-8. [Free full text]