A new species in the interesting genus Microbuthus from inland deserts of Mauritania

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wilson Lourenco has recently published an article on the special genus Microbuthus Kraepelin, 1898 (Buthidae) with the description of a new species from from inland deserts of Mauritania.

Microbuthus saharicus Lourenco, 2023

The article sums up most of the knowledge of the genus and also discusses the special biogeography of Microbuthus. 

Abstract:
A new species, Microbuthus saharicus sp. n., is described from the inland deserts of Mauritania; it represents the first exception to the general coastal distribution observed in the species of this genus. With this new description, the total number of known species in Africa is increased to five. The disrupted peri-Saharan pattern of distribution presented by the group is however confirmed. Some comments are also added on the biogeography and ecology of the species.

Reference:
Lourenco WR. The remarkable micro-scorpion genus Microbuthus Kraepelin, 1898 in North Africa; description of a new species with comments on its biogeography and ecology (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Serket. 2023;20(1):1-10. [Open Access]

Thanks to Gerard Dupre for sending me this article!

Family Buthidae

The history of Leiurus taxonomy and a new species from Mauritania

Wilson Lourenco has recently described a new species of Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Buthidae) from Mauritania.

Leiurus dekeyseri Lourenco, 2020

In the article professor Lourenco also sums up the taxonomical history of Leiurus, which until 2002 was believed to be monotypical with only Leiurus quinquestriatus (Ehrenberg, 1828). The knowledge of this genus is important as its species have some of the most potent venoms in the scorpion world.

Abstract:
The aim of this contribution is to bring some precise information on the reasons why the number of noxious scorpion species is constantly growing. This fact is directly associated with the zoological research on the domains generally defined as systematics and taxonomy. The classification of any zoological group is in most cases a source of problem for most biologists not directly involved with this almost confidential aspect of the zoological research. Much information has been gathered and published over two centuries on the classification but it is remains poorly accessible and too technical for non experts. The exposed example could be taken from several groups of scorpions possessing infamous species, but the choice went to the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 distributed from North Africa to the Middle East. Maybe this contribution will help to explain why so numerous cases of species misidentification are regularly present in the general literature devoted to scorpion venoms and incidents.

Reference:
Lourenco WR. Why does the number of dangerous species of scorpions increase? The particular case of the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg (Buthidae) in Africa. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis. 2020;26:e20200041. [Open Access]

Thanks to Eric Ythier for sending me this article!

Family Buthidae

A new species of Buthacus from Morocco and a review of the species from Northwestern Africa

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers have recently published a review of the Buthacus Birula, 1908 (Buthidae) from Northwestern Africa. These are the main taxonomical decisions:

New species:

Buthacus stockmanni Kovarik, Lowe & Stahlavsky, 2016 (Morocco and Western Sahara)

Synonymization:

Buthacus huberi Lourenço, 2001 is synonymized with Buthacus occidentalis Vachon, 1953.

Buthacus mahraouii Lourenço, 2004 is synonymized with Buthacus ziegleri Lourenço, 2000.

Buthacus leptochelys algerianus Lourenço, 2006 is synonymized with Buthacus ziegleri Lourenço, 2000.

The paper has color pictures of species and their habitats.

Abstract:
Northwestern African Buthacus species are revised. Buthacus stockmanni sp. n. from Morocco and Western Sahara is described and fully complemented with color photos of live and preserved specimens, as well as their habitat. The hemispermatophore of B. stockmanni sp. n. is illustrated and described. In addition to morphology and hemispermatophores, we also describe the karyotypes of B. stockmanni sp. n. (2n=20). B. stockmanni sp. n. is compared with B. occidentalis Vachon, 1953 and B. ziegleri Lourenço, 2000. Both these species are differentiated from B. stockmanni sp. n. geographically and morphologically. The male of B. stockmanni sp. n. has fingers of pedipalp chela strongly twisted proximally and males of the other two species have fingers straight or almost straight. Buthacus huberi Lourenço, 2001 is synonymized with Buthacus occidentalis Vachon, 1953; Buthacus mahraouii Lourenço, 2004 and Buthacus leptochelys algerianus Lourenço, 2006 are synonymized with Buthacus ziegleri Lourenço, 2000.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Lowe G, Stahlavsky F. Review of Northwestern African Buthacus, with Description of Buthacus stockmanni sp. n. from Morocco and Western Sahara (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2016(236):1-18. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

New species in Ananteroides from Mauritania

A new species of Ananteroides have been discovered in Mauritania by Wilson Lourenco.

Wilson Lourenco has recently published an article describing a new species in the small genus Ananteroides Borelli, 1911 (Buthidae) from Mauritania.

Ananteroides inexpectatus Lourenco, 2013

Abstract:
A new species of Ananteroides Borelli is described from the region located about 100 km north of Rosso, in southwestern Mauritania. This is the second species to be described for the genus Ananteroides, which was created more than one century ago. The new species may represent an element endemic to this rather arid part of Mauritania. 

Reference:
Lourenco WR. Une nouvelle espece de Ananteroides Borelli, 1911,  de Mauritanie (Scorpiones, Buthidae) Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2013 (23):79-81.

Thanks to professor Lourenco for sending me his article!

Family Buthidae

Orthochirus in Africa and three new species

Wilson Lourenco and Elise-Anne Leguin have studied Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 (Buthidae) material from Africa and have revised the descriptions for O. aristidis (Simon, 1882) and O. innesi Simon, 1910. In addition, they have described three new species in the genus from northern Africa.

Orthochirus atarensis Lourenco & Leguin, 2011 (Mauritania)
Orthochirus cloudsleythompsoni Lourenco & Leguin, 2011 (Morocco)
Orthochirus tassili Lourenco & Leguin, 2011 (Algeria)

A key to the five African species of Orthochirus is given.

Abstract:
New considerations are proposed regarding the African species of the genus Orthochirus Karsch, 1891. Two species, Orthochirus aristidis (Simon, 1882) and Orthochirus innesi Simon, 1910 have been the subject of several publications in the past decades; however, doubts remain about their exact identity and range of geographical distribution. In this note, their taxonomic status is reinvestigated. The type material is revised and the lectotype and paralectotypes are designated for O. aristidis. Revised diagnoses and illustrations are proposed for both species, and these are confirmed as valid. Three new species are described from Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania. The total number of African species is raised to five.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Leguin E-A. Further considerations on the species of the genus Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 from Africa, with description of three new species (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius 2011:1-19. [Free fulltext]

Family Buthidae

New data on Western African Compsobuthus

Compsobuthus berlandi. Photo Wilson Lourenco (C)

Wilson Lourenco has recently published a paper about the Compsobuthus of Western Africa. Compsobuthus berlandi Vachon, 1950 is redescribed and the male of Compsobuthus simoni Lourenco, 1999 is described for the first time.

Abstract:
Three species of Compsobuthus, C. berlandi Vachon, 1950, C. williamsi Lourenço, 1999 and C. simoni Lourenço, 1999 are confirmed for Western Africa*. In the present note, C. berlandi is redescribed based on the type material now clearly identified, and some new specimens collected in Mauritania. This species is confirmed as endemic to Mauritania. Two new specimens of C. simoni, a species previously known only from Niger, are also recorded from Togo and its male is described for the first time.

Reference:
Lourenco WR. Further considerations on the species of Compsobuthus vachon, 1949 from Western Africa (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Entomol Mitt Zool Mus Hamburg. 2009;15:65-73.

Thanks to professor Lourenco for sending me the article and the picture!

Family Buthidae

A new Buthus species from Mauritania

The "Buthus species complexes" of North Africa have been under investigation by Wilson Lourenco and co-workers for several years. Research on the "Buthus occitanus species complex" and the "Buthus atlantis species complex" have revealed several new species.

Lourenco, Sun & Zhu have now described a new Buthus species from Mauritania:

Buthus occidentalis Lourenco, Sun & Zhu, 2009 (Buthidae)

This is the first confirmed presence of this genus in Mauritania. The new species belongs to the "Buthus occitanus species complex" and is related to Buthus draa Lourenco & Slimani, 2004 from southern Morocco.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Sun D, Zhu M-S. About the presence of the genus Buthus Leach, 1815 in Mauritania, with description of a new species (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Boletin Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa. 2009; (44):71-5.

Family Buthidae