Species delimitation and morphological divergence in Centruroides vittatus

Identifying the correct species is very important in the medical important family Buthidae, as correct identification may be essential for the medical treatment needed in case of envenomations. Species identification and delimitation in Buthidae is often a challenge to scientists because many species exhibit a considerable intraspesific variation in morphology.

Tsunemi Yamashita and Douglas Rhoads have now published a very interesting study conducting a phylogeographic, morphometric and ecological niche modelling analysis of the North American scorpion Centruroides vittatus (Say, 1821) (Buthidae). This paper presents a clarification of the status of the polymorphic C. vitattus in the USA, but also shows how additional methods can be used for understanding species delimitation in phylogeny and taxonomy.

Abstract:
Scorpion systematics and taxonomy have recently shown a need for revision, partially due to insights from molecular techniques. Scorpion taxonomy has been difficult with morphological characters as disagreement exists among researchers with character choice for adequate species delimitation in taxonomic studies. Within the family Buthidae, species identification and delimitation is particularly difficult due to the morphological similarity among species and extensive intraspecific morphological diversity. The genus Centruroides in the western hemisphere is a prime example of the difficulty in untangling the taxonomic complexity within buthid scorpions. In this paper, we present phylogeographic, Ecological Niche Modeling, and morphometric analyses to further understand how population diversification may have produced morphological diversity in Centruroides vittatus (Say, 1821). We show that C. vittatus populations in the Big Bend and Trans-Pecos region of Texas, USA are phylogeographically distinct and may predate the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). In addition, we suggest the extended isolation of Big Bend region populations may have created the C. vittatus variant once known as C. pantheriensis.

Reference:
Yamashita T, Rhoads DD. Species Delimitation and Morphological Divergence in the Scorpion Centruroides vittatus (Say, 1821): Insights from Phylogeography. PLoS One. 2013; 8(7): e68282. [Free full text]

Thanks to Rolando Teruel and Matt Simon for informing me about this paper!

New Euscorpius discovered

Gioele Tropea has looked into Euscorpius tergestinus (C. L. Koch, 1837) (Euscorpiidae) and discovered that this widespread, polymorphic species actually is two distinct species. Populations previously named Euscorpius carpathicus aquilejensis (C. L. Koch, 1837) (which has been in synonymy with E. tergestinus (C. L. Koch, 1837)), are now given species status. The new species' name is Euscorpius aquilejensis (C. L. Koch, 1837).

Euscorpius aquilejensis (C. L. Koch, 1837): Restricted to northern and central Italy, San Marino, Vatican City State, western Slovenia, northwestern Croatia.

Euscorpius tergestinus (C. L. Koch, 1837): Restricted to Italy (extreme northeast), Slovenia, Croatia, Austria (introduced) and Czech Republic (introduced)

Both morphological and genetic data confirm the validity of the two species.

Abstract:
After the revision of Fet & Soleglad (2002), Euscorpius tergestinus (C. L. Koch, 1837) was considered a polymorphic species widespread from France to Croatia. In this study, we reconsidered the taxonomy of E. tergestinus s.str. based on morphological and genetic evidence, its range, and its original description. Euscorpius aquilejensis (C. L. Koch, 1837), stat. nov., previously synonymous with E. tergestinus, is elevated to species status herein. A preliminary phylogenetic analysis based on available GenBank 16S rDNA data shows a separate, basal position of E. aquilejensis and some other Euscorpius species, which implies that the subgenus Euscorpius s.str. is paraphyletic.

Reference:
Tropea G. Reconsideration of the taxonomy of Euscorpius tergestinus (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae). Euscorpius. 2013 (162):1-23. [Free full text]

Family Euscorpiidae 

Thanks to Gioele Tropea for sending me his new article!

New species of Buthus from Egypt

I've been on holliday for a few weeks, but the publication of scorpion literature does not rest. There have been several new papers published during my vacation and I will blog about these in the week to come.

Andrea Rossi has discovered a new species of Buthus Leach, 1815 (Buthidae) from northern Egypt.

Buthus adrianae Rossi, 2013

There is now five valid Buthus species in Egypt, and an identification key for the species is provided in the paper.

Abstract:
A new species of the genus Buthus Leach, 1815 is described from northern Egypt, near to the Mediterranean coast. Buthus adrianae sp. n. shows morphological and geographical affinity with Buthus orientalis Lourenço & Simon, 2012 recorded from Alexandria. A discussion about the distribution of the species of the genus Buthus in Egypt and an identification key are also proposed.

Reference:
Rossi A. A new species of the genus Buthus Leach, 1815 from Egypt (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Riv Mus Cic Sc Nat "E Caffi" Bergamo. 2013;26:187-94. [Free full text]

Thanks to Diego Facheris and Andrea Rossi for sending me this paper!

Scorpiops kraepelini restored to species status

Wilson Lourenco has recently restored Scorpiops kraepelini Lourenco, 1998 (Euscorpiidae) from Pakistan to species status. It has previously been in synonymization with Scorpiops lindbergi Vachon, 1980.

Abstract:
Scorpiops kraepelini Lourenço, 1998, described from Pakistan and previously placed in the synonymy of Scorpiops lindbergi Vachon, 1980 from Afghanistan, is revalidated. A more accurate analysis of several characters in both species clearly demonstrates that this synonymy is invalid and that it was based on a subjective and unjustified decision.

Reference:
Lourenco WR. Sur l’identite de deux especes du genre Scorpiops Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae, Scorpiopinae). Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2013 (22):67-9.

Thanks to professor Lourenco for sending me his paper!

Family Euscorpiidae

New Buthus species described from Sicily, Italy

Wilson Lourenco and Andrea Rossi have recently published a very interesting discovery of a new species of Buthus Leach, 1815 (Buthidae) from Sicily, Italy. This is the first discovery of a member of the family of Buthidae from Italy.

Buthus trinacrius Lourenco & Rossi, 2013

Unfortunately, the species is probably extinct. The new species is described from old museum materials, and field work on Sicily has not revealed any specimens. Urbanization and habitat destruction is suggested as potential causes for the extinction. If anyone finds Buthus on Sicily, please let me know!

The paper also discuss biogeographical and ecological implications of the disovery, and the authors also discuss the validity of their finding.

Abstract:
A new species belonging to the genus Buthus Leach, 1815 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) is described from Palermo province, in Sicily. Buthus trinacrius sp. n. shows morphological affinities with Buthus occitanus (Amoreux), originally described from southern France, but, in some characters, also with some African Buthus species. For morphological, biogeographical and geological reasons, the new species could represent a link between African and European Buthus populations. If Buthus inhabited the Italian Peninsula in past geological times, it probably regressed and became extinct due to severe climatic modifications which took place since the end of the Tertiary period. Regarding the occurrence in Sicily of Buthus, surely still present on the island during the 19th century but maybe extinct now, a possible explanation could be the heavy urbanization of the Palermo region.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Rossi A. Confirmation of a new species of Buthus Leach, 1815 from Sicily (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Biogeographical implications. Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2013 (22):9-14.

Thanks to professor Lourenco for sending me his paper!

Family Buthidae

Scorpionism in French Guiana

Benmesbah Mohamed and co-workers have recently published a epidemiological study on scorpion envenomations in French Guiana.

Scorpion envenomations are an increasing problem in French Guiana, but so far there have been no deaths recorded. Only a few serious cases are presented in this paper, all involving young children. Involving scorpions are usually not identified (color and claw size only), but serious cases probably have Tityus species involved (e.g. Tityus obscurus is a common black species in French Guyana).

The authors conclude that scorpion envenomations in French Guiana pose no major medical problem, but warn that cases involving children may be more serious and should be monitored carefully.

Abstract:
Scorpion envenomation is a poorly explored problem in French Guiana. The aim of our study was to describe the epidemiological and clinical features of scorpion stings.
Methods: Our study is retrospective. It was conducted in the emergency department (ED) of Cayenne General Hospital study, over an 8-year period (2003–2010).
Results: During the study period, 253 patients presented to the emergency department with a history of a scorpion stings. The mean incidence was 32 8 cases per year. The peak of incidence was observed in April and May which are the rainiest months in the year. In most cases, the envenomation occurred between 6:00 and 11:00 am. The site of the sting was on the extremities (hand or foot) in 81% of cases. The scorpion was identified or brought to the hospital in 113 cases. It was described as a slim pincers scorpion in 97 cases. The mean time elapsed between the scorpion sting and admission was 4 5 h. The main clinical symptoms at admission to the ED were local signs in 178 cases (70.4%), digestive disorders in 13 cases, neurologic manifestations in 18 cases, and respiratory manifestations in 7cases. Adrenergic syndrome was found in 117 cases (46.2%), and cholinergic syndrome in 5 cases (2%). Hypertension was found in 80 patients, 14 of them had already a history of chronic hypertension. Overall, a total of 118 patients (46.6%) had Class I envenoming, 131 patients (51.8%) had Class II envenoming, and 4 patients (1.6%) experienced Class III envenoming. The evolutionwas favorable in all cases and no death was recorded. However, 42 patients (18.2%) were hospitalized in a medical unit and 4 patients were hospitalized in ICU without needing mechanical ventilation, inotropes or vasoactive drugs.
Conclusion: Scorpion envenomation is an increasing accident in French Guiana. Symptoms vary from mild to severe and can require ICU admission. Practitioners have to be made aware of severe cases found mainly in children.

Reference:
Mohamed B, Guegueniat P, Mayence C, Egmann G, Narcisse E, Gonon S, et al. Epidemiological and clinical study on scorpionism in French Guiana. Toxicon. 2013 Jun 19; Article in Press. [Subscription required for fulltext]

Three new species of Ananteris from Brazil

Wilson Lourenco and co-workers are still updating our knowledge on South American scorpions. This time three new species of Ananteris Thorell, 1891 (Buthidae) are described from Brazil.

Ananteris camacan Lourenco, Giupponi & Leguin, 2013
Ananteris desiderio Lourenco, Giupponi & Leguin, 2013
Ananteris infuscata Lourenco, Giupponi & Leguin, 2013

Abstract:
Three new species of the genus Ananteris Thorell have been discovered in Brazil. Ananteris desiderio sp. n., Ananteris camacan sp. n. and Ananteris infuscata sp. n. are respectively described from specimens collected in the regions of São Desidério, Camacã, Rebio UNA and Jequié in the state of Bahia, and Grão Mogol and Novo Horizonte in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. New records are also proposed for Ananteris luciae Lourenço, Ananteris mauryi Lourenço and Ananteris franckei Lourenço. The number of known Ananteris species known in the scorpion fauna of Brazil is now raised to 24.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Giupponi APL, Leguin E-A. Description of three more new species of the genus Ananteris Thorell, 1891 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) from Brazil. An Acad Bras Cienc. 2013;85(2):371-87. [Free full text - Link to Table of Content page because direct link to issue didn't work when I tested]

Thanks to professor Lourenco for sending me his recent paper!

Family Buthidae