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

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

Scorpions of Iran, Part IX - The Hormozgan Province (with a new species)

Part IX of a the major review project of the scorpions of Iran has been published in issue 170 of the journal Euscorpius.

The paper lists 20 species in three families from the Hormozgan Province and their distribution. A new species of Odontobuthus Vachon, 1950 (Buthidae).

Odontobuthus tavighiae Navidpour, Soleglad, Fet & Kovarik, 2013

An identification key for the genus Odontobuthus and for the species in the province is given. Good habitat pictures are also included.

Abstract:
Twenty species of scorpions belonging to three families are reported from the Hormozgan Province of Iran. Of these, eight species and subspecies are recorded from the province for the first time: Buthacus macrocentrus (Ehrenberg, 1828), Compsobuthus persicus Navidpour et al., 2008, Iranobuthus krali Kovařík, 1997, Mesobuthus eupeus persicus (Pocock, 1899), Mesobuthus phillipsii (Pocock, 1889), Odontobuthus bidentatus Lourenço & Pézier, 2002, Odontobuthus doriae (Thorell, 1876), and Razianus zarudnyi (Birula, 1903). Odontobuthus tavighiae sp. n. is described and compared with all species of the genus Odontobuthus Vachon, 1950. Paraorthochirus goyffoni Lourenco et Vachon, 1995 is synonymized with Orthochirus farzanpayi (Vachon et Farzanpay, 1987). Also presented are keys to all species of scorpions found in the Hormozgan province and all species of the genus Odontobuthus Vachon, 1950.
Reference:

Navidpour S, Soleglad ME, Fet V, Kovarik F. Scorpions of Iran (Arachnida, Scorpiones). Part IX. Hormozgan Province, with a description of Odontobuthus tavighiae sp. n. (Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2013 (170):1-29. [Free full text]

Family Buthidae

Body malformations in a few Iranian scorpions

Body malformations and anomalies in scorpions are reported from time to time. One of the most famous cases was Pepe - The two-tailed scorpion (a Centruroides excilicauda with two tails).

Jahanifard and co-workers have now reported cases of pedipalp and telson anomalies in a few Iranian scorpions.

Abstract:
The developmental anomalies are reported in this study. The first and second abnormally are presented in right pedipalps of Paraorthochirus and Orthochirus (Buthidae) while Paraorthochirus pedipalp just includes coxa, trochanter and without other parts (femur, patella, movable and fixed finger). The right pedipalp of Orthochirus specimen has abnormally too; it has all parts of pedipalp except complete fixed finger. In both of scorpions, the left pedipalp is normal. Another case is present in venom vesicle of Hemiscourpius (Hemiscorpiidae). Pictures and morphometric measurements for three specimens are given.

Reference:
Jahanifard E, Navidpour S, Masihipour B. Pedipalps and venom vesicle anomalies in two families of scorpions (Scorpiones: Hemiscorpiidae, Buthidae) from Iran. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences. 2008;11 (2):309-11. [Free fultext]

Two new species in Hottentotta and Vachoniolus from Iran and synonymization of Paraorthochirus with Orthochirus

Two new species have been described from Iran:

Hottentotta khoozestanus Navidpour, Kovarik, Soleglad & Fet, 2008
Vachoniolus iranus Navidpour, Kovarik, Soleglad & Fet, 2008

After analyzing specimens of Orthochirus iranus, Navidpour et al (2008) conclude that the presence or absence trichobothrium d2 on the femur pedipalp is not a generic and perhaps not even a specific character. Since the presence or absence of d2 on the femur of the pedipalp is the only character separating Orthochirus Karsch, 1891 from Paraorthochirus Lourenco & Vachon, 1995, the authors conclude that these two genera are synonyms. This means that the following species from Paraorthochirus now belongs to Orthochirus:

O. blandini (Lourenço & Vachon, 1997)
O. glabrifrons (Kraepelin, 1903)
O. goyffoni (Lourenço & Vachon, 1995)
O. kaspareki (Lourenço & Huber, 2000)
O. kinzelbachi (Lourenço & Huber, 2000)
O. stockwelli (Lourenço & Vachon, 1995)

Reference:
Navidpour S, Kovarik F, Soleglad ME, Fet V. Scorpion of Iran (Arachnida, Scorpiones). Part I. Khoozestan Province. Euscorpius. 2008(65):1-41. [Fulltext freely available, but large file (12 mb)]

Family Buthidae