A review of the scorpion fauna of Syria and their distribution

 

Ersen Yagmur and Nazir Khalil have recently published a review of the scorpion fauna of Syria. The scorpion fauna of Syria has not been extensively investigated and the article present a historic overview of scientific reports previously published on this topic.

The article reports of 19 valid species and 2 subspecies from 11 genera in the families Buthidae, Diplocentridae, and Scorpionidae. Several previously reported taxa are removed from the list of Syrian scorpions. New locality reports are also listed for several species. 

In his mega-revision, Prendini (2026) raised Aegaeobuthus bishri (Lourenço, 2020) (Buthidae) to species status from sub-species status. This change has not yet been included in The Scorpion Files. Yagmur & Khalil have changed this taxa back to sub-species status as Aegaeobuthus nigrocinctus bishri (Lourenço, 2020) due to lack of justification by Prendini.

Abstract:
This study reviews and lists the scorpion fauna of Syria according to current scorpion systematics. Critical evaluation of published records confirms 19 valid species and 2 subspecies across 11 genera and 3 families (Buthidae, Diplocentridae, and Scorpionidae); erroneous records (21 species) have been excluded. New locality records are reported for Aegaeobuthus nigrocinctus (Ehrenberg, 1828), Buthacus tadmorensis (Simon, 1892), Compsobuthus matthiesseni (Birula, 1905), and Scorpio kruglovi Birula, 1910.  Additionally, Aegaeobuthus bishri (Lourenço, 2020) is herein treated as a subspecies of A. nigrocinctus.

Reference:
Yagmur EA, Khalil N. A Review on Scorpion (Arachnida: Scorpiones) Fauna of Syria with New Locality Records. Commagene Journal of Biology. 2026;10(1):211–25. [Open Access]

Thanks to Ersen for sending me their article! 

A revision of all scorpion taxa of the world

 

Yesterday I was informed about a recent monograph published by Lorenzo Prendini containing a complete revision of all scorpion taxa of the world. This publication includes a huge amount of changes on family, genus and species level (synonymizations, new combinations, change of status etc.).

At the moment I'm not sure how to handle all of these changes, some that are controversial. I have gotten input from some researchers that are critical to this work and many of the conclusions. But this if of course a part of the scientific disagreements that we see all the time in science, including scorpion taxonomy.

Regardless of this, I will need time to read, understand and process all the changes proposed in this monograph. So it will take some time before The Scorpion Files will be updated. Those of you who are curious about the new changes can check out the paper, as if is freely available for all.

I will publish more about the changes when I start updating The Scorpion Files.

Thanks for your patience!

Reference:
Prendini L. All genera of the world: Order Scorpiones (Animalia: Arthropoda: Arachnida). Megataxa. 2026;019(2):270–378. [Open Access]

Jan Ove Rein
Editor 

A review of the taxa described by Carl Ludwig Koch in the series Die Arachniden (1836 - 1847)

 

Descriptions and publications of new taxa in the early days of scorpion taxonomy have often been challenging when it comes to publication dates and similar. The latter is important today in taxonomy to trace the history of the taxa and to establish priority.

The series "Die Arachniden" by Carl Wilhelm Hahn and Carl Ludwig Koch (1831–1847) exemplifies this problem. During the years of this publication, seven genera and 97 scorpion species were described by Kock. Today, 34 of these taxa are still valid. 

Javier Blasco-Aróstegui and co-workers recently published a list of C. L. Koch’s scorpion names with corrected publication dates and a guide to the proper citations for each part of Die Arachniden. Details can be found in the paper, but the following valid taxa has gotten a new year for their description (and are updated in The Scorpion Files):

Buthus halius (C. L. Koch, 1838). Previously 1839.

Buthus paris (C. L. Koch, 1838). Previously 1839.

Brotheas C. L. Koch, 1838. Previously 1837.

Franckeus nitidulus (C. L. Koch, 1842). Previously 1836.

Abstract:
Accurate publication dates are essential in taxonomy because they determine the availability and priority of scientific names. However, older works, often issued in multiple parts over several years, frequently recorded only the date of the final compiled volume, obscuring the true publication dates of individual parts. The series Die Arachniden by Carl Wilhelm Hahn and Carl Ludwig Koch (1831–1847) exemplifies this problem, with hundreds of arachnid species described across 16 volumes, including scorpions, spiders, and other orders. Many names have been synonymized, invalidated, or transferred, whereas ambiguous descriptions and type localities added further confusion. Carl Ludwig Koch described seven genera and 97 scorpion species, 34 of which remain valid more than 150 years later. The present contribution provides a list of C. L. Koch’s scorpion names with corrected publication dates and a guide to the proper citations for each part of Die Arachniden. Six nomina dubia are proposed: Androctonus thoas C. L. Koch, 1839, Brotheas maurus C. L. Koch, 1838, Tityus fatalis C. L. Koch, 1844, Tityus perfidus C. L. Koch, 1844, Tityus serenus C. L. Koch, 1844, and Vaejovis flavescens C. L. Koch, 1842. Similar efforts are recommended for other arachnid orders in the series to stabilize nomenclature.

Reference:
Blasco-Aróstegui J, Blick T, Prendini L. Scorpions described by Carl Ludwig Koch in Die Arachniden (1836–1847): correct publication dates, volume citations, and updated taxonomy. Arachnology. 2026;20(4):527–32. [Full text available only for BAS members].

Thanks to the late Gerard Dupre, who sent me this article a few days before his passing!  

 

A revision of the rare genus Liobuthus with a description of four new species from Central Asia

 

The genus Liobuthus Birula, 1898 (Buthidae) is a rare, psammophilic genus with one species from Central Asia. Victor Fet and co-workers recently published a revision of the genus, and based on DNA-analysis and morphology, four new species are described.

Liobuthus atamuradovi (Turkmenistan)

Liobuthus danovi (Kazakhstan, Northern Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan)

Liobuthus shukurovi (Southwestern Tajikistan)

Liobuthus vachoni (Southern Kazakhstan)

An identification key for the five species in the genus is included.

Abstract:
The rare Central Asian psammophilic scorpion genus, Liobuthus Birula, 1898 (Scorpiones: Buthidae), is revised. Five species are delineated according to results from three species delimitation approaches using mitochondrial DNA. Results are supported by diagnostic morphology, including an assessment of the distinctive neobothriotaxy. The type species, L. kessleri Birula, 1898, is confirmed for Iran (northeast), Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan (south). Four new species are described: L. atamuradovi sp. n. (Turkmenistan), L. danovi sp. n. (Kazakhstan, northern Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan), L. shukurovi sp. n. (southwestern Tajikistan), and L. vachoni sp. n. (southern Kazakhstan), The unique additive neobothriotaxy (on both pedipalp femur and patella) first discovered by Vachon (1958) is confirmed and analyzed.

Reference:
Fet V, Kovarik F, Lowe G, Graham MR. A revision of the psammophilic genus Liobuthus Birula, 1898 (Scorpiones: Buthidae), with a description of four new species from Central Asia. Euscorpius. 2026(427):1–67. [Open Access]

family Buthidae 

Are scorpion envenomations a neglected tropical disease?

 

For us who work or have experiences with scorpions, it is well known that some genera and species can cause death and serious morbidity in humans. This is a problem in some countries and regions in the world.

Eduardo Alfonso Hernández Muñoz and co-workers recently published an article summing up the status of scorpionism globally and raise a concern that scorpion envenomations are not given priority as a serious tropical disease today. According to the authors, the serious consequences from scorpion stings in many areas of the world should support that scorpion sting envenomations should be given a status as a neglected tropical disease by health authorities. This will hopefully increase the focus on prevention and treatment of scorpion envenomations.

That article present a table with list of countries and taxa that have potential medical importance.

Abstract:
⇒Each year, scorpion sting envenomation (SSE) leads to thousands of deaths and severe complications, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations with limited access to timely treatment, especially children under 10 years of age; however, it is not formally recognised by the WHO as a neglected tropical disease (NTD).

⇒ In 2018, the WHO concluded that SSE did not meet the NTD criteria, citing ‘extremely rare mortality, lack of long-term disability and difficulties in defining a broad control strategy’.

⇒ This analysis presents evidence-based arguments for the urgent reconsideration of SSE as an NTD, considering new data that addresses previous objections and underscores its significant and underestimated public health impact.

⇒ Addressing SSE as an NTD is a crucial step towards achieving global health equity and preventing avoidable deaths in vulnerable communities, particularly among children.

Reference:
Hernández Muñoz EA, Borges A, Zavala-Sánchez EV, Rojas de Arias A, Oukkache N, de Souza CMV, et al. Scorpion sting envenomation: a neglected tropical disease in the shadow of global health priorities: an urgent call to action. BMJ Glob Health. 2025;10(11):e020682. [Open Access]

Thanks to Dr. Adolfo Borges for sending me their article!

A review of Androctonus in Iran with four new species

 

 

Ersen Yagmur and co-workers recently published a review of the members of the genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828  (Buthidae) in Iran. Previously, most populations were assigned to the species A. crassicauda (Olivier, 1807), but this turned out to be a species complex with several hidden taxa. The current article have a redescription of the true A. crassicauda. 

Four new species are described from Iran:

Androctonus azerianus Yagmur & Kovarik, 2025.

Androctonus barahoeii Kovarik & Yagmur, 2025.

Androctonus caspius Kovarik, Yagmur, Fet & Lowe, 2025.

Androctonus transcaucasicus Kovarik, Yagmur, Fet & Lowe, 2025 (this species occurs in Armenia and Azerbaijan in addition to Iran).

Androctonus orientalis (Birula, 1900) is raised to species status from subspecies status (Prionurus crassicauda orientalis Birula, 1900).

Androctonus rostami Barahoei et al., 2025 is synonymized with Androctonus orientalis (Birula, 1900).

The article has an identification key for the confirmed species in Iran. A distribution map is also included. 

Abstract:
Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) is redescribed, based on the male neotype hereby designated, and a female topotype. Prionurus crassicauda orientalis Birula, 1900 is removed from synonymy, and elevated to species status as A. orientalis (Birula, 1900) stat. n., based on the lectotype, hereby designated, a paralectotype and newly collected specimens. A. rostami Barahoei et al., 2025 is synonymized with A. orientalis (Birula, 1900) stat. n., syn. n. In addition, four new species are described: A. azerianus sp. n. (Iran), A. barahoeii sp. n. (Iran), A. caspius sp. n. (Iran), A. transcaucasicus sp. n. (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran). All species are described and illustrated, and a map showing the confirmed distribution of the Androctonus species in Iran is provided.

Reference:
Yagmur EA, Kovarik F, Fet V, Lowe G, Moradi M, Kalami F. Review of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 in Iran, with redescription of A. crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) and A. orientalis (Birula, 1900) stat. n., and descriptions of four new species (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2025(422):1–69. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A revision of the enigmatic genus Charmus from India and Sri Lanka with a couple of taxonomic updates

 

Charmus Karsch, 1879 (Buthidae) is a genus that is rarely encountered in the field and in collections. The few species in the genus are also very similar. Mihir Joshi and several co-workers have recently published a systematic review of this genus and have made a couple of taxonomic decisions.

Charmus dakshini Joshi, Deshpande, Ukale, Gowande, Bilat, Kovarik, Mottaz, Stahlavsky, Bastawade, Monod & Sulakhe, 2025 New species from southern India.

Charmus indicus Hirst, 1915 is synonymized with Charmus laneus Karsch, 1879.

Abstract:
India and Sri Lanka are known to exhibit high levels of biological diversity with many endemic taxa, such as the enigmatic scorpion genus Charmus Karsch, 1879. Members of this genus are rarely encountered in the field and are also known to be morphologically very similar, which impedes their systematic assessment. Our dedicated efforts towards sampling the members of the genus resulted in the collection of important material, which allowed us to carry out a thorough systematic revision of the genus using an integrated taxonomic approach. We propose several taxonomic changes based on the results of a detailed morphological study supported by molecular data. Charmus indicus Hirst, 1915 is synonymized with Charmus laneus Karsch, 1879, owing to the lack of morphological differences and low genetic divergence between the two taxa. We designate a neotype for Charmus sinhagadensis Tikader and Bastawade, 1983, and describe a new species from Sirumalai (Tamil Nadu, India). Moreover, we provide the first molecular phylogeny of Charmus based on Cytochrome c Oxidase subunit I (COI), 16S rRNA (16S) and 28S rRNA (28S) genes. The phylogenetic position of the genus within the family Buthidae C. L. Koch, 1837 is also tested using an independent genome-wide dataset (Ultraconserved Elements). Topological congruence and discrepancies between the phylogenies generated with Sanger sequences and the Ultraconserved Elements are commented on, and the reliability of these datasets when evaluating phylogenetic relationships at different hierarchical levels is further discussed.

Reference:
Joshi M, Deshpande S, Ukale S, Gowande G, Bilat J, Kovařík F, et al. Systematic Revision of the Genus Charmus Karsch, 1879 (Scorpiones: Buthidae), and Assessment of Its Phylogenetic Position Within Buthidae CL Koch, 1837 Using Ultraconserved Elements. Diversity. 2025;17:354. [Open Acces]

Thanks to Gerard and Frantisek for both sending me this article!

Family Buthidae