An update on the description and the distribution of the endemic scorpion Orthochirus soufiensis in Algeria

 

Noureddine Benali and co-workers recently published an article on the endemic scorpion Orthochirus soufiensis Lourenço & Sadine, 2021 (Buthidae) from Algeria. 

The article reports of new findings of the scorpion and expanding the species' range in Algeria. In addition, the study presents an updated description of the species' morphology.

Abstract:
Orthochirus soufiensis Lourenço & Sadine, 2021 is an endemic scorpion of Algeria, recently discovered from El-Oued region (North-eastern Algeria) in desert area. This note concerns the distribution range update of this species with two new district localities; the first, over 265 km to the south, in the palm grove of Ouargla region (Eastern Algeria); and the second, more than 1000 km to the west, very close to the herbaceous Tamarix in Tindouf region (Southwest Algeria). These new localities may suggest a significant extension of the distribution area of this species to the detriment of the Orthochirus innesi. This work aims to reconsider the distribution of all scorpions in this vast country (Algeria), as well as the proposal of a condense field work, for a better knowledge of distribution of the scorpion fauna, especially in poorly or little prospected areas.

Reference:
Benali N, Boulila I, Meziane R, Menad FZ, El Bouhissi M, Hammou MA, et al. Distribution range and morphological update of Orthochirus soufiensis Lourenço & Sadine, 2021 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Algeria. Serket. 2025;21(1):44–53. [Article supplied by authors]

Thanks to Noureddine for sending me their article!

Family Buthidae 

An updated description of the morphology of the buthid Orthochirus innesi from Egypt

 

Ersen Yagmur and Ahmed Badry have recently published an article with an updated description of the morphology of the buthid Orthochirus innesi Simon, 1910 from Egypt. A few ecological observations are also provided.

Abstract:
The scorpion Orthochirus innesi Simon, 1910 is redescribed based on specimens collected from its type locality, Cairo, Egypt. Detailed colour illustrations and UV-light-illuminated photographs are provided.

Reference:
Yagmur EA, Badry A. On the morphology of Orthochirus innesi Simon, 1910 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) with some ecological observations. Serket. 2025;20(4):393–403. [Open Access]

Thanks to Hisham El-Hennawy for sending me this article!

Updated information about the distribution of the genus Orthochirus in Iran

 

Iran has a high scorpion diversity and is a hotspot for the genus Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 (Buthidae). Ersen Yagmur and co-workers recently published an article with updated information about the distribution of this genus in the country.

Abstract:
New locality records are given belonging to Orthochirus carinatus Navidpour, Kovařík, Soleglad & Fet, 2019 (Alborz Province), O. farzanpayi (Vachon & Farzanpay, 1987) (Fars, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari and Lorestan Provinces), O. formozovi Kovařík, Fet & Yağmur, 2020 (Razavi Khorasan Province), O. gantenbeini Kovařík, Yağmur, Fet & Hussen, 2019 (Lorestan Province), O. iranus Kovařík, 2004 (Bushehr and Khuzestan Provinces), O. kucerai Kovařík & Navidpour, 2020 (Kerman Province), O. mesopotamicus Birula, 1918 (Khuzestan Province), O. navidpouri Kovařík, Yağmur, Fet & Hussen, 2019 (Ilam, Khuzestan and Lorestan Provinces), O. stockwelli (Lourenço & Vachon, 1995) (Fars and Hormozgan Provinces), O. varius Kovařík, 2004 (Fars and Kerman Provinces), O. vignolii Kovařík & Navidpour, 2020 (Yazd Province) and O. zagrosensis Kovařík, 2004 (Fars, Isfahan and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad Provinces) in this study. Among them following records are new province records: Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari and Lorestan for O. farzanpayi; Lorestan for O. gantenbeini; Ilam O. navidpouri; Fars for O. stockwelli; Fars and Kerman for O. varius and Isfahan for O.zagrosensis. Also, maps are prepared including new and old distributional localitiesand coloured habitus pictures of reported species of Orthochirus in this study.

Reference:
Yagmur EA, Mozaffari N, Akbari A, Moradi M. Contributions to the scorpion fauna of Iran. Part III. Records of genus Orthochirus Karsch, 1891. Serket. 2024;20(3):236-56. [Open Access]

Thanks to Hisham El-Hennaway for sending me this article!

The distribution of Orthochirus glabrifrons in United Arab Emirates and Oman and a couple of synonymizations

 

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers recently published a study on the distribution of Orthochirus glabrifrons (Kraepelin, 1903) (Buthidae) in The Arabian Peninsula. The species is confirmed for Oman and United Arab Emirates. Map of distribution and habitat pictures are also presented.

The article also synonymizes the following taxa with Orthochirus glabrifrons: Orthochirus kaspareki (Lourenço & Huber, 2000) and Orthochirus kinzelbachi (Lourenço & Huber, 2000). Both were originally described in the genus Paraorthochirus Lourenço & Vachon, 1995, which was later synonymized with Orthochirus. 

Abstract:
Orthochirus glabrifrons (Kraepelin, 1903) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) was described from Oman (Muscat). Here, we summarize known localities from Oman as well as records from the United Arab Emirates, which is the new country record for this species. Illustrations of morphology of both sexes are given together with a map of distribution. A lectotype of Orthochirus glabrifrons (Kraepelin, 1903) is designated. Paraorthochirus kaspareki Lourenço & Huber, 2000 and Paraorthochirus kinzelbachi Lourenço & Huber, 2000 are synonymized with Orthochirus glabrifrons (Kraepelin, 1903), syn. n.

Reference:
Kovařík F, Yağmur EA, Ullrich A, Buzás B. The first record of Orthochirus glabrifrons (Kraepelin, 1903) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from the United Arab Emirates. Euscorpius. 2023;2023(379):1-11. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

Redescription of Orthochirus stockwelli from Iran

 

 Ersen Yagmur and co-workers have recently published a redescription of Orthochirus stockwelli (Lourenco & Vachon, 1995) (Buthidae) from Iran. The article also present the first description of a female.

Abstract:
Orthochirus stockwelli (Lourenço & Vachon, 1995) was originally described based on male holotype specimen from Bandar Abbas (Hormozgan) under the genus Paraorthochirus. The morphology of this species is redescribed here based on the specimens collected from Bandar-Abbas on the basis of both sexes. The original description includes a female, but very little information was given on its morphology and does not include illustration belonging to the female. Therefore, the female is described for the first  time in this study.

Reference:
Yagmur EA, Akbari A, Moradi M, Jafari N. On the Morphology of Orthochirus stockwelli (Lourenço & Vachon, 1995) with First Description of a Female (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Commagene Journal of Biology. 2023;7:44-9. [Open Access]

Thanks to Ersen for sending me their article!

Family Buthidae

A new species of Mesobuthus from Southeastern Iran

 

Hossein Barahoei has recently published an article on the fauna of Sistan scorpions (Southeastern Iran). Among the scorpions found, a new species was identified and described in the genus Mesobuthus Vachon, 1950 (Buthidae). 

This article is written in Persian, but has an English summary in addition to a normal abstract.

Mesobuthus rakhshanii Barahoei, 2023

I have been informed that this species was published in 2023 even though the article is dated 2022.

Abstract:
Scorpions are nocturnal animals that feed on invertebrates and other arachnids. So far, 10 species of scorpions from the family Buthidae have been reported from the Sistan region. Sampling was done using UV ultralight at night and direct search or digging during the day, from different areas in the Sistan region in 2021 and 2022. Examination of 117 collected scorpion specimens led to the identification of seven species belonging to six genera of the family Buthidae including Androctonus cf. crassicauda (Olivier, 1807), A. sistanus Barahoei & Mirshamsi, 2022, Kraepelinia palpator (Birula, 1903), Mesobuthus rakhshanii sp. nov., Odontobuthus tirgari Mirshamsi et al., 2013, Orthochirus persa (Birula, 1900), and Sassanidothus gracilis (Birula, 1900). Mesobuthus rakhshanii sp. nov. was described as a new species for the world fauna. This species has a dominant population in the region, which was collected from all stations. All specimens were fixed in 80% alcohol and kept in the author's personal collection. Androctonus species are dangerous scorpions that are distributed in the Sistan region. Identifying dangerous species is important and practical for health management. This is possible by identifying the fauna of scorpions in the region and determining the range of distribution of each species.

Reference:
Barahoei H. Fauna of Sistan Scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones), Southeast Iran. Taxonomy and Biosystematics. 2022;14(3):27-70. [Open Access]

Thanks to Alireza Zamani for informing me about this article!

Family Buthidae

Two new buthid species described from Saudi Arabia

 

Eric Yhtier and Wilson Lourenco have recently described two new species in the family Buthidae from Saudi Arabia.

Compsobuthus mahazat Ythier & Lourenco, 2023

Orthochirus arabicus  Ythier & Lourenco, 2023

Abstract:
New buthid scorpions are described from Saudi Arabia, from a site never studied previously, the Mahazat as-Sayd Reserve, in the centre of the country. Two species are described, based on one adult male (Compsobuthus mahazat sp. n.) and one adult female (Orthochirus arabicus sp. n.). The total number of scorpion species currently recognized in Saudi Arabia is now raised to 30.

Reference:
Ythier E, Lourenco WR. Two new scorpion species from Central Saudi Arabia (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Faunitaxys. 2023;11(8):1-8.

Thanks to Eric for informing me about this species!

Family Buthidae

A case of intraguild predation in Indian buthids

 

Mihir Joshi & Shubhankar Deshpande recently reported about a case of intraguild predation where an unknown species from the genus Orthochirus fed on a juvenile individual of Hottentotta tamulus (Fabricius,1798) from Maharashtra, India (both from the family Buthidae).

This is an interesting observation as Hottentotta tamulus is known for its very potent venom, while Orthochirus scorpions the opposite.

Abstract:
We report an event of intraguild predation by Orthochirus sp. feeding on a juvenile individual of Hottentotta tamulus (Fabricius,1798) from Maharashtra, India. This is the first report of intraguild predation among Indian scorpions.

Reference:
Joshi M, Deshpande S. A report of intraguild predation by Orthochirus sp. on Hottentotta tamulus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Maharashtra, India. Euscorpius. 2022;2022(366):1-3. [Open Access]

A new species of Orthochirus from Saudi Arabia

 

Frantisek Kovarik and Pavel Just have recently described a new species of Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 (Buthidae) from Saudi Arabia.

Orthochirus katarinae Kovarik & Just, 2022

Abstract:
We describe a new species Orthochirus katerinae sp. n. from Saudi Arabia, previously cited as Orthochirus innesi Simon 1910, ssp. ?, the name many years used as an ‘umbrella’ for various Orthochirus from North Africa and Arabia. The new species is described based on males characterized mainly by: total length 26–30 mm; pectinal teeth number 16–20; movable finger of pedipalps with 7–8 rows of denticles, 8–9 ID and 7 OD; tarsomere I of legs I–III with 3–5 long setae; ratio length/width of metasoma V 1.13–1.16; pedipalp femur length/width ratio 3.30–3.32.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Just P. Orthochirus katerinae sp. n. (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Saudi Arabia. Euscorpius. 2022(362):1-9. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

An update on the scorpion fauna of Djibouti

 

Frantisek Kovarik and Graeme Lowe have published a new paper from their ongoing studies of the scorpions of the Horn of Africa. In the recent study they focus on scorpions from Djibouti based on new materials. All known species are listed with information and pictures and the following taxonomical decisions have been made:

New species:

Hemiscorpius lipsae Kovarik & Lowe, 2022 (family Hemiscorpiidae) 

Synonymizations:

Orthochirus borrii Rossi, 2017 (Buthidae) is synonymized with O. afar Kovařík & Lowe, 2016. NB! O. borriiwas never registered in The Scorpion Files.

Orthochirus aristidis (Simon, 1882) (Buthidae) is returned to synonymy with O. olivaceus Karsch, 1881.

Orthochirus arenicola Lourenço & Ythier, 2021 (Buthidae) is considered nomen dubium.

The article also has a revision of the diagnosis of Orthochirus afar Kovařík & Lowe, 2016 (Buthidae).

Abstract:
All scorpion species known from Djibouti are listed, with color photographs and maps of their distribution. Buthus awashensis Kovařík, 2011 known from Ethiopia and Somaliland is reported for the first time from Djibouti. The diagnosis of Orthochirus afar Kovařík & Lowe, 2016 is revised; O. borrii Rossi, 2017 is determined to be a junior synonym of O. afar Kovařík & Lowe, 2016 syn. n.; O. aristidis (Simon, 1882) syn. res. is returned to synonymy with O. olivaceus Karsch, 1881; and O. arenicola Lourenço & Ythier, 2021, is relegated to the status of nomen dubium. Hemiscorpius lipsae sp. n. is described and fully complemented with color photos of the female holotype and its habitat.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Lowe G. Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida, Scorpiones). Part XXVIII. Scorpions of Djibouti. Euscorpius. 2022(357):1-31.

Family Buthidae

Family Hemiscoriidae

A new species of Orthochirus from Afghanistan

 

The scorpion fauna of Afghanistan is still little known due to both topography challenges and the political sitation making fauna surveys difficult. Ersen Yagmur and Faizurrahman Khalili have now described a new species of Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 (Buthidae) from the Takhar Province  north in Afghanistan.

Orthochirus kovariki Yagmur & Khalili, 2022

Abstract:
A new species, Orthochirus kovariki sp. n. is described and illustrated based on both sexes from Takhar Province of Afghanistan. O. kovariki sp. n. appears to be close to O. feti Kovařík, 2004, reported from Uzbekistan and Tajikistan; both species have the movable finger of pedipalp without outer denticles. Detailed illustrations of O. kovariki sp. n. are given.

Reference:
Yagmur EA, Khalili F. Orthochirus kovariki sp. n. from Takhar Province, Afghanistan (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2022(352):1-16. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

Orthochiroides is back again as a valid genus and a new species in the genus from Somaliland is described

 

The genus Orthochiroides  Kovarik, 1998 (Buthidae) was synonymized with Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 by Lourenco & Ythier in 2021. This decision is now changed in a recent article by Kovarik & Lowe after analyzing more than 40 morphological characters. Orthochiroides is back as a valid genus with the original four species previously assigned to the genus.

 A new species Orthochiroides is desrcibed from Somaliland increasing the number of species to five.

Orthochiroides somalilandus Kovarik & Lowe, 2022

An identification key for the genus is included.

Abstract:
The genus Orthochiroides Kovařík, 1998 is reanalyzed. Revised diagnoses and new illustrations for the genus and all four of its species are presented. A new species, O. somalilandus sp. n. from Somaliland is described and illustrated. Phylogenetic relationships of the genus with several other similar genera of small buthids are inferred from a parsimony analysis of 43 discrete morphological characters. The recent synonymy of Orthochiroides with Orthochirus is refuted and the genus is revalidated.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Lowe G. Review of Orthochiroides Kovařík, 1998 with description of a new species (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2022(349):1-42. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

Taxonomical changes missed in 2021

I try to keep The Scorpion Files as updated as possible and fortunately I have access to a lot of journals through my work and many researchers also send me their new articles. But I do not discover all new changes that are published. 

Thanks to Gerard Dupre's list of new taxa in 2021 published in issue 104 of Arachnides, I have disocered a few taxa that have been missing from The Scorpion Files:

Family Bothriuridae

Bothriurus goiano Lovato, Anker & Lourenco, 2021 (Brazil)

Family Buthidae:

Ananteris obscura Lourenco & Motta, 2021 (Brazil)

Microananteris serrulata Lourenco, 2021 (French Guiana)  

Microananteris inselberg Lourenco, 2021 (French Guiana)  

Orthochirus milloti Lourenco, 2021 (Mali)

Please informed me of errors or missing taxonomical changes in The Scorpion Files.

References:

Dupre, G. Nouveaux Taxa de Scorpions pour 2021. Arachnides. 2021(104):1003. [Open Access]

Lovato ML, Anker A, Lourenço WR. A new species of Bothriurus Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Bothriuridae) from the Parque Nacional dass Emas in central Brazil. Revista ibérica de Aracnología. 2021(38):52-62.

Lourenço WR, Motta PC. One more new species of Ananteris Thorell, 1891 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from the Cerrados of the Federal District in Brazil. Revista ibérica de aracnología. 2021(38):121-5.

Lourenço WR. The genus Microananteris Lourenço, 2003 in French Guiana (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Zoosystema. 2021;43(20):377-86. [Subscription required for full text]

Lourenço WR. The true status of the specimen belonging to the genus Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Aguelhok (Aguel’hoc), Mali. Revista ibérica de aracnología. 2021(38):99-102.

Family Bothriuridae

Family Buthidae

A new species of Orthochirus from Algeria

 

Wilson Lourenco and Saleh Sadine have recently described a new species of Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 (Buthidae) from El-Oued, Debila, in Algeri.

Orthochirus soufiensis Lourenco & Sadine, 2021

Abstract:
A new species of Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) is described from El-Oued, Debila, in Algeria. The number of confirmed Orthochirus species from Algeria is now raised to two. Further studies most certainly will clarify the status of yet undescribed populations.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Sadine SE. The genus Orthochirus Karsch, 1891, in Algeria with description of a new species (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France. 2021;126(2):175-81. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Dr. Sadine for sending me their article!

Family Buthidae

A few taxonomical changes in the genus Orthochirus

 

Wilson Lourenco and Eric Ythier have recently published an article with some taxonomical changes in the genera Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 and Orthochiroides Kovarik, 1998 in Africa (Buthidae).

 Genus Orthochiroides Kovarik, 1998 is synonymized with Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 and the three species belonging to to the former is now in Orthochirus.

Orthochirus arenicola Lourenco & Ythier, 2021 - New species from the coasts of Somalia.

Orthochirus aristidis (Simon, 1882) is restored from its synonymy with Orthochirus olivaceus (Karsch, 1881). 

Abstract:
A new species of buthid scorpion, Orthochirus arenicola sp. n. is described from the coasts of Somalia. The scorpion was collected on the beach sand under bush-like herbaceous vegetation by our late Italian colleague Professor P. M. Brignoli. New considerations are also proposed for other related taxa. Orthochirus afar Kovařík & Lowe, 2016 described from Afar, Ethiopia is suggested to be a synonym of Orthochirus aristidis (Simon, 1882); no final decision is taken however face to the impossibility of consulting the types of Orthochirus afar. Orthochirus aristidis is restored from its synonymy with Orthochirus olivaceus (Karsch, 1881). Finally, the genus Orthochiroides Kovařík, 1998 is placed as a junior synonym of Orthochirus Karsch, 1891.

References:
Lourenco WR, Ythier E. A particular new species of Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 from Somalia (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Serket. 2021;17(4):335-49. [Open Access]

Thanks to Eric for sending me their article!

Family Buthidae

 

 

Тaxonomic position of Orthochirus olivaceus from Egypt and Sudan

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers have studied the taxonomic position of the species Orthodactylus olivaceus Karsch, 1881 (Buthidae). This taxa has been considered a synonym of O. scrobiculosus (Grube, 1873) for a long time. This study shows that Orthochirus olivaceus (Karsch, 1881) is a valid species. The study also concludes that Orthochirus aristidis (Simon, 1882) is a junior synonym of O. olivaceus (Karsch, 1881).

Abstract:
We address the taxonomic position of Orthodactylus olivaceus Karsch, 1881, the type species of the genus Orthochirus Karsch, 1892. For over a century, this taxon was considered a synonym of Orthochirus scrobiculosus (Grube, 1873); however, the latter was recently limited to Central Asia (Turkmenistan) (Kovařík et al., 2020). Analysis of Karsch’s holotype confirmed that Orthochirus olivaceus (Karsch, 1881), is a valid species. Its type locality published as “Sicily” is clearly incorrect. It is a senior synonym of Butheolus aristidis Simon, 1882, syn. n., described from Sudan (Nubia). We confirm its distribution in northern Sudan and southern Egypt.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Fet V, Siyam M. Тaxonomic position of Orthochirus olivaceus (Karsch, 1881), the type species of the genus Orthochirus Karsch, 1892 (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2020(319):1-15. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A review of the genus Orthochirus from Asia

 Frantisek Kovarik, Victor fet and Ersen Yagmur have recently published another review of the genus Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 (Buthidae) from Asia. These are the main conclusions:

New species:

Orthochirus birulai Kovarik, Fet & Yagmur, 2020 (Pakistan)

Orthochirus formozovi Kovarik, Fet & Yagmur, 2020 (Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan)

Orthochirus grosseri Kovarik, Fet & Yagmur, 2020 (Uzbekistan)  

Orthochirus kryzhanovskyi Kovarik, Fet & Yagmur, 2020 (Pakistan)

Orthochirus nordmanni Kovarik, Fet & Yagmur, 2020 (Afghanistan)

Orthochirus sejnai Kovarik, Fet & Yagmur, 2020 (Iran)

New status:

Orthochirus persa (Birula, 1900) Raised from subspecies status: Butheolus melanurus persa Birula, 1900.

Synonymizations:

Paraorthochirus blandini Lourenço & Vachon, 1997 = Orthochirus blandini (Lourenço & Vachon, 1997) is synonymized with Orthochirus fuscipes (Pocock, 1900)

Afghanorthochirus erardi Lourenço & Vachon, 1997 = Orthochirus erardi (Lourenço & Vachon, 1997) is synonymized with Orthochirus persa (Birula, 1900)

The article has an identification key to all Orthochirus found in ten Asian countries.

Abstract:
We describe six new species of Orthochirus: O. birulai sp. n. (Pakistan), O. formozovi sp. n. (Afghanistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan), O. grosseri sp. n. (Uzbekistan), O. kryzhanovskyi sp. n. (Pakistan), O. nordmanni sp. n. (Afghanistan), and O. sejnai sp. n. (Iran). Descriptions are complemented with color photographs of preserved specimens. The identities of Orthochirus melanurus (Kessler, 1874) (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan), O. persa (Birula, 1900) stat. n. (Afghanistan, Iran), and O. scrobiculosus (Grube, 1873) (Turkmenistan) are reexamined, based on detailed study of the type specimens; lectotypes of all three species are designated. We demonstrate for the first time that the name O. scrobiculosus, previously used as an ‘umbrella’ for various Orthochirus from Central Asia and the Middle East, is currently applicable only to a few confirmed populations from the southwestern Turkmenistan, near the Caspian Sea. New synonymies are proposed at the species level: Paraorthochirus blandini Lourenço & Vachon, 1997 = Orthochirus fuscipes (Pocock, 1900), syn. n. and Afghanorthochirus erardi Lourenço & Vachon, 1997 = Orthochirus persa (Birula, 1900), stat. n., syn. n. We provide a distribution map and a key to all Orthochirus found in ten Asian countries: Afghanistan, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan (41 species).

Reference:
Kovarik F, Fet V, Yagmur EA. Further review of Orthochirus Karsch, 1892 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Asia: taxonomic position of O. melanurus, O. persa, O. scrobiculosus, and description of six new species. Euscorpius. 2020(318):1-78. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

Six new species of Orthochirus from Iran

As a part of an ongoing field study of the scorpion fauna of Iran, Frantisek Kovarik and Shahrokh Navidpour has publish and article describing six new species of Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 (Buthidae) from Iran.

Orthochirus hormozganensis Kovarik & Navidpour, 2020

Orthochirus kermanensis Kovarik & Navidpour, 2020

Orthochirus kucerai Kovarik & Navidpour, 2020 

Orthochirus masihipouri Kovarik & Navidpour, 2020

Orthochirus semnanensis Kovarik & Navidpour, 2020 

Orthochirus vignolii Kovarik & Navidpour, 2020

The article provides several color pictures of the new taxa and their habitat.  An identification key for the genus Orthochirus in Iran, Iraq and Turkey is also provided.

Abstract:
Six new scorpion species from Iran, Orthochirus hormozganensis sp. n. (Hormozgan Province), O. kermanensis sp. n. (Kerman Province), O. kucerai sp. n. (Kerman Province), O. masihipouri sp. n. (Bushehr Province), O. semnanensis sp. n. (Semnan Province), and O. vignolii sp. n. (Yazd Province) are described, compared with other Iranian Orthochirus species, and fully illustrated with color photographs. A key and a distribution map of Orthochirus of Iran, Turkey, and Iraq (18 species) are included.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Navidpour S. Six new species of Orthochirus Karsch, 1892 from Iran (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2020(312):1-42. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

New Orthochirus species from The Middle East

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers have recently published a revision of the genus Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 (Buthidae) from Turkey, Iraq and Iran. Three new species are described and one species is elevated from subspecies status.

Orthochirus fomichevi Kovarik, Yagmur, Fet & Hussen, 2019 (New species from Turkey & Iraq)

Orthochirus gantenbeini Kovarik, Yagmur, Fet & Hussen, 2019 (New species from Iran)

Orthochirus navidpouri Kovarik, Yagmur, Fet & Hussen, 2019 (New species from Iran)

Orthochirus mesopotamicus Birula, 1918 (Elevated to species status. Previous status: Orthochirus scrobiculosus mesopotamicus Birula, 1918)

The article has an identification key for the species in the region.

Abstract:
Three new species, Orthochirus fomichevi sp. n. from Turkey and Iraq, O. gantenbeini sp. n. from Iran (Khoozestan Province), and O. navidpouri sp. n. from Iran (Khoozestan and Lorestan Provinces) are described, compared with other Orthochirus species from the region, and fully illustrated with color photos. Lectotype of O. mesopotamicus Birula, 1918 stat. n. from Iran (Khoozestan Province) is designated. Emended diagnoses are given for O. iranus Kovařík, 2004, O. iraqus Kovařík, 2004, O. mesopotamicus Birula, 1918 stat. n., and O. zagrosensis Kovařík, 2004. A key and a distribution map are included.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Yagmur EA, Fet V, Hussen FS. A review of Orthochirus from Turkey, Iraq, and Iran (Khoozestan, Ilam, and Lorestan Provinces), with descriptions of three new species (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2019(278):1-31. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A new species of Orthochirus from Iran

Shahrokh Navidpour and co-workers have published a new paper on the scorpion fauna of Iran and a new species of Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 (Buthidae) is described.

Orthochirus carinatus Navidpour, Kovarik, Soleglad & Fet, 2019

Abstract:
Nine species of scorpions belonging to two families are reported from the Alborz, Markazi and Tehran Provinces of Iran. Of these, Compsobuthus kaftani Kovařík, 2003 is recorded from Tehran Province for the first time; Compsobuthus matthiesseni (Birula, 1905) is recorded from Alborz Province for the first time; Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880) is recorded for Alborz and Markazi Provinces for the first time; Iranobuthus krali Kovařík, 1997 is recorded for Tehran Province for the first time; Mesobuthus eupeus eupeus (C. L. Koch, 1839) is recorded from Alborz, Markazi and Tehran Provinces for the first time; Odontobuthus doriae (Thorell, 1876) is recorded from Alborz Province for the first time; and Scorpio kruglovi Birula, 1910 is recorded for Alborz and Markazi Provinces for the first time. Orthochirus carinatus sp. n. from Iran (Alborz and Tehran Provinces) is described and fully complemented with color photos of preserved specimens, as well as of its habitat.

References:
Navidpour S, Kovarik F, Soleglad ME, Fet V. Scorpions of Iran (Arachnida, Scorpiones). Part X. Alborz, Markazi and Tehran Provinces with a Description of Orthochirus carinatus sp. n. (Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2019(276):1-20. [Open Access]

Familiy Buthidae