The discovery of the genus Uroplectes on Madagascar and the Comoros Islands and some taxonomical decisions

 

In a recent article, Wilson Lourenco and co-workers present some taxonomic analysis on the genus Uroplectes Peters, 1861 (Buthidae) after discovering the presence of this genus on Madagascar. Here are the main findings/decisions:

Uroplectes nigrimanus (Pocock, 1890) from Kenya and Tanzania is revalidated to species status after been in synonymy with  Uroplectes fischeri (Karsch, 1879).

Uroplectes nigrimanus nigrocarinatus (Kraepelin, 1913) is reserved for the populations in Madagascar. The subspecies Uroplectes fischeri nigrocarinatus Kraepelin, 1913, which was used for the population from Tanzania, is synonymized with Uroplectes nigrimanus typicus (Pocock, 1890).

Uroplectes nigrimanus maore Lourenco, Wilme & Ythier, 2025. New subspecies used for the populations in the island of Mayotte.

Uroplectes xanthogrammus Pocock, 1897 from Tanzania is synonymized with Uroplectes nigrimanus (Pocock, 1890). 

Abstract:
A taxonomic analysis is proposed for the species of the genus Uroplectes Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) present in Oriental Africa and associated with Uroplectes nigrimanus (Pocock, 1890), species originally known from Kenya. U. nigrimanus is revalidated at present and two subspecies namely Uroplectes nigrimanus nigrocarinatus (Kraepelin, 1913), a priori described from Madagascar and Uroplectes nigrimanus maore ssp. nov., described here from specimens collected in Mayotte, are defined here as subspecies of U. nigrimanus. Comments are also added about the possible ways of dispersion of Uroplectes species from African coast to Madagascar and Mayotte.

Reference:
Lourenço WR, Wilmé L, Ythier E. A propos de la présence du genre Uroplectes Peters, 1861 à Madagascar et aux Comores: caractérisation de deux populations avec la définition de deux sous-espèces distinctes (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Revue Arachnologique. 2025;Serie 2(12):42–9.

Thanks to Gerard and Eric for sending me this article and for answering my questions! 

Family Buthidae

Two new species of Uroplectes from Somaliland and Mozambique

 

Frantisek Kovarik published yesterday a new article in which two new species of Uroplectes Peters, 1861 (Buthidae) from Somaliland and Mozambique are described.

Uroplectes elmii Kovarik, 2025

Uroplectes mossambicensis Kovarik, 2025

A distribution map of all discussed species in the article is also included.

Abstract:
Two new species, Uroplectes elmii sp. n. from Somaliland and U. mossambicensis sp. n. from Mozambique are described, fully illustrated with color photos showing their morphology. Both species are similar to Uroplectes fischeri (Karsch, 1879) from which they differ mainly in finger dentition (Uroplectes elmii sp. n.) and strongly reduced tibial spurs on legs III–IV (U. mossambicensis sp. n.). Uroplectes elmii sp. n. is also compared with U. pardii Kovařík, 2003, from which it differs mainly by extremely reduced to absent metasomal punctation. A distribution map of all discussed species is included.

Reference:
Kovarik F. Two new species of Uroplectes Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) from Somaliland and Mozambique. Euscorpius. 2025(426):1–18. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A new species of Uroplectes from Cameroon

 

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers recently published the description of a new species of Uroplectes Peters, 1861 (Buthidae) from Cameroon.

Uroplectes ebogo Kovarik, Stahlavsky & Govorov, 2024

Abstract:
A new species Uroplectes ebogo sp. n. is described from Cameroon, fully illustrated with color photos showing its morphology and habitus. Uroplectes ebogo sp. n. is the only species of the genus with a combination two characters: metasoma without carinae and metasoma V and telson without punctuation. In addition to morphology and hemispermatophore, we also present the information about the karyotype of Uroplectes ebogo sp. n. (2n=24).

Reference:
Kovarik F, Stahlavsky F, Govorov V. Uroplectes ebogo sp. n. (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Cameroon. Euscorpius. 2024(397):1-13. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

Sexual dimorphism in Uroplectes lineatus and a tool for testing specific hypotheses of sex differences in scorpions

 
Striped Lesser-thicktail Scorpion Uroplectes lineatus. Photo: John Visser (C). Used with permission.

As with many other animals, scorpions also shows sexual dimorphism to a greater or lesser degree. The reasons why we see these somtimes large differences between the sexes are less understood. Jacobus Visser and Sjirk Geerts has used the method static allometry to investigate sexual dimorphism in Uroplectes lineatus C. L. Koch, 1844 (Buthidae).

The results indicate that the sex differences in males may have a function during courtship, while the differences seen in females may have a postive effects on reproduction and parental care. It is important to note that the forces that shapes scorpion morphology are complex and studies of more species are necessary to learn more about the evolution of sexual dimorphism in scorpions.

Abstract:
Scorpions exhibit extreme forms of sexual dimorphism, with a number of recent studies highlighting general patterns. Explanations surrounding the potential drivers of these patterns remain speculative, even though static allometry offers a method for testing specific hypotheses. Importantly, a recent study describes a method of reference character choice when investigating sexual dimorphism and static allometry in scorpions. Here, commonly measured morphometric characters are used to investigate patterns of sexual dimorphism and static allometry in the South African scorpion Uroplectes lineatus C. L. Koch, 1844. Several analyses were used to select telson length as the sexually neutral reference character. Sexual body component dimorphism characterises U. lineatus males, while females generally display sexual size dimorphism. Similar patterns of static allometry characterise both sexes, with negative allometry retrieved for most characters, while three characters display positive allometry. For negatively allometry characters, inter-sexual selection likely favours a standard size of body parts in the population to facilitate inter-sexual interaction during courtship. In contrast, positively allometric characters may be under intrasexual selection, following the utility of features during contests. Even so, the differences in allometric slopes between the sexes indicate the possible functions of male features during courtship, while the female morphology is adapted to enhance reproductive output and parental care. Here, we demonstrate that a set of verification analyses may be effective in choosing an appropriate neutral reference character, but the selective forces which shape scorpion morphology are complex, and standardized methods need to be established to allow for robust inferences and inter-study comparability.

Reference:
Visser JH, Geerts S. Static allometry and sexual dimorphism in the Striped Lesser-thicktail Scorpion Uroplectes lineatus. Arachnology. 2021;18(7):700-7. [Subscription required for full text]

An analysis of the genus Uroplectes in Ethiopia

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers have recently published an article discussing the status of Uroplectes Peters, 1861 and Uroplectoides Lourenco, 1998 (Buthidae) in Ethiopia. Based on new analysis and new materials, the following main conclusions have been made:

Uroplectoides Lourenco, 1998 is synonymized with Uroplectes Peters, 1861.

Uroplectoides abyssinicus Lourenco, 1998 is synonymized with Uroplectes fischeri (Karsch, 1879).

Uroplectoides emiliae  (Werner, 1916) is changed to Uroplectes emiliae (Werner, 1916)

Abstract:
All data about the distribution of Uroplectes fischeri (Karsch, 1879) in Ethiopia and Somalia are summarized. U. fischeri is fully illustrated with color photos of habitus and locality. Uroplectoides abyssinicus Lourenço, 1998 is discussed and synonymized with U. fischeri. Genus Uroplectoides Lourenço, 1998 is synonymized with Uroplectes Peters, 1861. Hemispermatophore of U. fischeri was extracted and illustrated for the first time. In addition to mor-phological analysis we also describe the karyotype of male U. fischeri from Ethiopia (2n=28).

Reference:
Kovarik F, Lowe G, Hoferek D, Pliskova J, Stahlavsky F. Scorpions of Ethiopia. Part IV. Genus Uroplectes Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones : Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2016 (217):1-14. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

Three new Uroplectes from tropical central Africa

The scorpion fauna of tropical, central Africa is poorly known and much of the knowledge we have is based on old materials collected before the use of UV-lights and other modern trapping methods. The scorpion diversity in this area is probably greater than previously known.

Lorenzo Prendini has now published an article based on new material of Uroplectes Peters, 1861 (Buthidae) from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Three new species are described.

Uroplectes katangensis Prendini, 2015 (Malawi)

Uroplectes malawicus Prendini, 2015 (Malawi)

Uroplectes zambezicus Prendini, 2015 (Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe)

In addition, the following taxa are synonymized (or previous synonymizations are confirmed):

Scorpiobuthus apatris Werner, 1939 = Uroplectes chubbi Hirst, 1911
Uroplectes jutrzenkai Penther, 1900 = Uroplectes vittatus (Thorell, 1876).
Uroplectes andreae Pocock, 1899 = Uroplectes occidentalis Simon, 1876 (new synonym)
Uroplectes chubbi briodi Schenkel, 1932 = Uroplectes vittatus (Thorell, 1876) (new synonym)

Abstract:
The scorpion fauna of tropical central Africa is poorly known and may be more diverse than generally recognized. The present contribution describes three morphologically similar, and probably monophyletic species of Uroplectes Peters, 1861, which have gone undetected, despite being distributed across a large area, extending from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Uroplectes malawicus, sp. nov., and Uroplectes zambezicus, sp. nov., occurring south of Lake Malawi and in the Zambezi River Valley, respectively, appear to be sister species. Uroplectes katangensis, sp. nov., is based on a single female from the southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Based on their punctate metasomal segments, the new species appear to be most closely related to Uroplectes chubbi Hirst, 1911. The markedly concave, shagreened dorsomedian surfaces on metasomal segments I–IV resemble the stridulatory surfaces on the metasomal segments of most Parabuthus Pocock, 1890, and, together with the robust metasoma and worn tips of the aculeus observed in some specimens, suggest that these species may also be capable of stridulation. Based on examination of type material, the following synonyms were confirmed: Scorpiobuthus apatris Werner, 1939 = Uroplectes chubbi Hirst, 1911; Uroplectes jutrzenkai Penther, 1900 = Uroplectes vittatus (Thorell, 1876). The following new synonyms are presented: Uroplectes andreae Pocock, 1899 = Uroplectes occidentalis Simon, 1876, new synonym; Uroplectes chubbi briodi Schenkel, 1932 = Uroplectes vittatus (Thorell, 1876), new synonym. Lectotypes are designated for U. chubbi and U. jutrzenkai.

Reference:
Prendini L. Three new Uroplectes (Scorpiones, Buthidae) with punctate metasomal segments from tropical central Africa. American Museum Novitates. 2015 (3840):1-32. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A new species of Uroplectes from South Africa

Lorenzo Prendini has recently described a new species of Uroplectes Peters, 1861 (Buthidae) from the Karoo Biome in the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces of South Africa.

Uroplectes ansiedippenaarae Prendini, 2015

The new species is one of the smallest species in Africa with adult size between 16 and 20 mm.

Abstract:
The scorpion fauna of southern Africa is very diverse, especially in the arid western half of the subcontinent. New species continue to be discovered as the region is surveyed with ultraviolet light detection methods. The present contribution describes Uroplectes ansiedippenaarae sp. n., which is endemic to the Succulent Karoo Biome in the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces of South Africa. The new species appears to be most closely related to U. variegatus (C.L. Koch, 1844), which is endemic to the Fynbos Biome in the Western Cape Province. Uroplectes ansiedippenaarae sp. n. is the smallest species of Uroplectes Peters, 1861, and among the smallest scorpion species in southern Africa, with adults ranging from 16–20 mm in total length. The addition of this new species raises the number of Uroplectes species and subspecies in South Africa to 19, and the number of endemics to 10.

Reference:
Prendini L. A remarkably small species of Uroplectes Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Buthidae), endemic to the Succulent Karoo of South Africa. African Invertebrates. 2015;56(2):499-513. [Open Access]

Thanks to Rolando Teruel for informing me about this article!

Family Buthidae

Scorpion envenomations in Pygmies from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

The effects of scorpion stings from sub-Saharan species have been considered mild, but little is actually known about scorpionism in western and central areas of Africa. Mudiandambu Biezakala and co-workers have now published an article presenting the results of a survey of scorpion stings among Pygmies in an area of the DRC.

Interestingly, a few deaths were recorded and also dermatological symptoms similar to those observed in Hemiscorpius lepturus in Iran. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to identify the species that may cause serious morbidity in this area (Uroplectes is mentioned and the paper has a picture that looks very much like a male Lychas [Update: Its a male Isometrus maculatus according to Rolando Teruel]). More studies on the scorpion fauna and its potential risk for humans are obviously necessary in this area.

Abstract:
In a survey among the pygmies of central Democratic Republic of Congo, the incidence of scorpion stings seemed very high with a severity greater than expected. Species responsible were not identified. Specific studies are needed to clarify the risk emerging in the equatorial African forest.

Reference:
Biezakala ME, Odio WT, Kabele NC, Tati KR, Mbanzulu MK. Scorpion envenomation in pygmies from Democratic Republic of Congo, the example of Pelenge Center, Lomela, DRC. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis. 2012;18(4):451-4. [Free full text]

Nine new anatomy picture collections in SF

Leonard Georg has done it again and contributed with several new detailed anatomy pictures collections to The scorpion Files:

Androctonus crassicauda
Androctonus mauritanicus
Hottentotta salei
Rhopalurus junceus
Rhopalurus pintoi
Uroplectes olivaceus

Optistophthalmus carinatus
Opistophthalmus wahlbergii
Scorpio maurus fuscus

A big thanks to Leonard for sharing these great pictures with us!!

Spiders and Scorpions of the Nylsvley Nature Reserve, South Africa

A survey of the spiders and Scorpions of the Nylsvley Nature Reserve, South Africa has recently been published by Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman and coworkers. The article also includes some interesting notes on the ecology of the scorpions collected in the national park.

Abstract:

Among other activities, the South African National Survey of Arachnida (SANSA) aims to survey the biodiversity of arachnids in protected areas of South Africa. The study presented here documents the diversity of spiders and scorpions collected from the Nylsvley Nature Reserve (NNR), South Africa over a 30-year period. The spider fauna of NNR contains 175 species (7.5% of the total recorded in South Africa), in 131 genera and 37 families. Thomisidae is the most diverse spider family in the reserve, with 33 species (18.9% of the total), followed by Salticidae, with 20 species (11.4%), and Araneidae, with 18 species (10.3%). The majority of species (125) are wandering spiders (71.4%), whereas 50 species (28.6%) build webs. Wandering ground-dwelling spiders comprise 52 species, whereas 73 wandering species have been collected from the vegetation. A total of 158 species are new records for the reserve and Oxyopes tuberculatus Lessert, 1915 is newly recorded for South Africa. Six spider species may be new to science. The scorpion fauna of NNR comprises five species (5% of the total recorded in South Africa) in three genera and two families. Buthidae are more diverse in the reserve, with four species and two genera represented. The scorpion fauna of the reserve includes two fossorial and three epigeic species, representing five ecomorphotypes: semi-psammophilous, pelophilous, lithophilous, corticolous and lapidicolous. Five additional scorpion species may be recorded if the reserve is sampled more intensively using appropriate techniques.

Reference:
Dippenaar AS, van der Berg A, Prendini L. Spiders and scorpions (Arachnida: Araneae, Scorpiones) of the Nylsvley Nature Reserve, South Africa. Koedoe. 2009;51(1):1-9. [Free fulltext]

A survey of the Brandberg Massif, Namibia

Namibia has the most diverse scorpion fauna in southern Africa, and all four African families are represented here (Bothriuridae, Buthidae, Hemiscorpiidae, Scorpionidae). Lorenzo & Bird has now published a survey of the scorpion fauna of the Brandberg Massif in Namibia.

The article has ecolocial notes on most species and color pictures of many species and their habitats. See abstract and article for further details.

Abstract:
A previous list of scorpions from the Brandberg Massif and vicinity, north-western Namibia (Omaruru District, Erongo Region), is updated, based on a survey of the Massif and surrounding areas (the region delimited by 21 degrees 00'S-21 degrees 30'S and 14 degrees 00'E-15 degrees 00'E) conducted during three separate expeditions, and augmented by an examination of material in museum collections. More than 1000 specimens, representing more than 100 point-locality records, were examined for the study. Notes on the ecology and distribution of the scorpions on the Massif and surrounding areas are provided. Excluding one dubious record, 20 scorpion species in seven genera (Brandbergia, Lisposoma, Hottentotta, Parabuthus, Uroplectes, Hadogenes, and Opistophthalmus) of four families (Bothriuridae, Buthidae, Liochelidae, Scorpionidae) are recorded from the area, which presently has the richest scorpion fauna in Namibia, if not southern Africa, and ranks among those with the richest scorpion faunas in the world. The high diversity of scorpions on the Brandberg Massif and vicinity is attributed to the heterogeneity of landforms, substrata and habitats in the area. The scorpions of the Massif and surrounding areas may be classified into seven ecomorphotypes, using every available niche. The species richness of the scorpion fauna is inversely correlated with altitude. The greatest diversity of genera and species occurs at the base of the Massif and in the surrounding areas, and decreases towards the summit. Five species occur in the area surrounding the Massif but not at its base, five at its base (below 500 m) but not on its slopes, two on its lower slopes (500-1000 m), but not on its middle slope (1000-1500 m), upperslope (1500-2000 m) or summit (above 2000 m), and two on its summit, upper and middle slopes only. Only five species occur from the base to the summit of the Massif.

Reference:
Prendini L, Bird TL. Scorpions of the Brandberg Massif, Namibia: Species richness inversely correlated with altitude. Afr Invertebr. 2008 Dec;49(2):77-107 [Free fulltext (not yet available)]