A new species of Leiurus from Mali

 

The number of African members of the medical important genus Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Buthidae) is still growing. A new species was recently described from the mountain system of Adrar des Iforas, Cercle of Kidal, in Mali by Wilson Lourenco and Eric Ythier.

Leiurus tamajeq Lourenco & Ythier, 2024

Abstract:
A new species of Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 is described on the basis of one male specimen collected in the mountain system of Adrar des Iforas, Cercle of Kidal, in Mali. The new species, Leiurus tamajeq sp. n. is most certainly associated to Leiurus hoggarensis, described from the Hoggar mountain system in Algeria, both species presenting an almost parapatric geographic distribution. Nevertheless, these closed related mountain systems have been isolated during past palaeoclimatic vicissitudes leading to possible differentiation processes. The two species can be distinguished by a number of morphological characters which clearly suggest that the new species population is distinct from the one found in the Hoggar mountain system. Differences are noticeable notably for morphometric values as well as the relative position of several trichobothria. As for L. hoggarensis, the new species seems to inhabit a more mesic zone when compared to the central compartment of the Saharan desert and, apparently, do not present characteristics of a psamophilic species and may be considered as a lithophilic species.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Ythier E. A new African species of the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 from Mali (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Serket. 2024;20(2):58-67. [Open Access article will be available later]

Thanks to Eric for sending me the new article!

Family Buthidae

A new species of Barbaracurus from Djibouti

 

The Horn of Africa is a treasure chest filled with undescribed species. In the latest issue of Euscorpius, Frantisek Kovarik describes a new species in the genus Barbaracurus Kovarik, Lowe & Stahlavsky, 2018 (Buthidae) from Djibouti.

 Barbaracurus hofereki Kovarik, 2024

Abstract:
Barbaracurus hofereki sp. n. from Djibouti is described and compared with other species of the genus. B. hofereki sp. n. is the only species of the genus with pedipalp movable finger with 8 rows of granules and pectinal tooth count 27–28 in female. Also, its pedipalp chela with very narrow manus (chela length/width ratio 6.07 in female), narrower than in all other African species of the genus. A map of the distribution of the genus in the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula is provided.

Reference:
Kovarik F. Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida, Scorpiones). Part XXXII. Barbaracurus hofereki sp. n. from Djibouti. Euscorpius. 2024(387):1-12. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A new micro-scorpion in the genus Microtityus from Brazil

 

 Even though large and dangerous scorpions often get the main focus, there are a lot of small and sometimes cryptic scorpions around. Many of these are unnoticed and undescribed. Jairo Moreno-Gonzalez and co-workers have now described a new micro-species in the genus Microtityus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1966 (Buthidae) from northern Brazil.

Microtityus adriki Moreno-Gonzalez, Bertani & Carvalho, 2024

The new species is only 12.39-19.47 mm long and is probably one of the smallest scorpions in the Amazonian region.

Abstract:
A new scorpion species, Microtityus adriki n. sp., is described based on adult specimens collected in Cantá, state of Roraima (RR), northern Brazil. Microtityus adriki n. sp. is the second species of Microtityus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1966 known from Brazil and is one of the smallest scorpion species (12.39-19.47 mm) in the Amazonian region. In this study, we propose an amended generic diagnosis and a specific diagnosis, describe the male hemispermatophore of Microtityus, give the sequence of COI barcode, and present a potential distribution analysis for the genus. The morphology of the male hemispermatophore of Microtityus differs from that of other Neotropical buthid genera, except for the number of lobes (three lobes), which is a character state shared with several genera. The potential distribution model generated by MaxEnt suggests high environmental suitability for the genus in the Antilles and northern South America, with scattered high suitability in several regions of Central America. However, the model did not indicate high suitability in areas where Brazilian species occur (i.e., Microtityus adriki n. sp. and Microtityus vanzolinii Lourenço & Eickstedt, 1983), and this could be explained by a sampling bias. Therefore, future studies, including extensive sampling, are required to better understand the biogeographic processes behind the distribution of this genus.

Reference:
Moreno-González JA, Bertani R, Carvahlo LS. On one of the smallest Amazonian scorpions: a new species of Microtityus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1966 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) from Brazil, with amended diagnosis and potential distribution analysis for the genus. Zoosystema. 2024;46(10):245-68. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

Two new buthid genera from Somaliland

 

Frantisek Kovarik has recently described two new genera in the Buthidae family from Somaliland.

Sahil Kovarik, 2024 (new genus)

Sahil elmi Kovarik, 2024 (new species)

Sanaag Kovarik, 2024 (new genus)

Sanaag maidensis (Kovarik, Lowe, Just, Awale, Elmi & Stahlavsky, 2018) (new combination - previously in the genus Gint Kovarik, Lowe, Pliskova & Stahlavsky, 2013)

Abstract:
Two new monotypic buthid genera are described: Sanaag gen. n. and Sahil gen. n. from Somaliland, both belonging to the ‘Buthus’ group. Sanaag gen. n. (type species Gint maidensis Kovařík et al., 2018) differs from Gint Kovařík et al., 2013 in the structure of its hemispermatophore, which has a large, tall, subtriangular hook-like basal lobe, and in the shape of its telson which is rather bulbous. Sahil gen. n. (type species Sahil elmii sp. n.) differs from all morphologically similar small-sized genera of the Horn of Africa in having the ventral aspect of cheliceral fixed finger with two denticles, and the movable finger of the pedipalp with 7 subrows of denticles.

Reference:
Kovarik F. Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida, Scorpiones) Part XXXI. Two new genera from Somaliland: Sanaag gen. n. and Sahil gen. n. (Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2024(386):1-11. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

Mexican Scorpions Described between 2000 - 2023

 

Gerardo Contreras-Félix and José Navarrete-Heredia have recently published an article where they sum up all Mexican Scorpions Described between 2000 - 2023. In addition to listing up the species and their associated genera and family, the article also presents an overview of the journals that these articles appear in.

Abstract:
Patterns of descriptions of new species of Mexican scorpions between 2000-2023 were analyzed. We based our study on the Zoological Record of Web of ScienceTM. We found 111 species in seven families described in 83 papers published in scientific journals from all over the world. Families with the most species described were Vaejovidae (52), Buthidae (26), Diplocentridae (23), Euscorpiidae (4), and Typhlochactas (3). The species of Mexican scorpions were described in Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad, Zootaxa, Revista Ibérica de Aracnología, and 19 other publications. We also comment on issues to consider when Zoological Record was used for analysis in this study.

Reference:
Contreras-Félix GA, Navarrete-Heredia JL. Mexican Scorpions Described between 2000 - 2023: Analysis from Zoological Records of Patterns, Trends, and Effects of Lockdown Over Descriptions. Southwestern Entomologist. 2024;49(1):100-19. [Subscription required for full text]

A new troglomorphic, leaf-dwelling species in the enigmatic genus Troglotayosicus from Colombia

 

The enigmatic and rare genus Troglotayosicus Lourenço, 1981 (Troglotayosicidae) is know from a a few locations in Colombia and Ecuador where they inhabit the leaf-litter on the ground. All species show troglomorphic characters. Little is known about the phylogeny and the biogeography of this fascinating genus.

Jairo Moreno-Gonzalez and co-workers have recently published an interesting article on the phylogeny of Troglotayosicus, and a new species from Colombia is described.

Troglotayosicus akaido Moreno-Gonzalez, Luna-Sarmiento & Prendini, 2024

The article has an identification key for the seven known species and a map of their known distribution.

Interestingly, one of the authors was stung by this species while collecting. The sting cause intense, local pain for 30 minutes, but no other serious symptoms. This is probably the first sting report for this family.

Abstract:
The troglomorphic scorpion genus Troglotayosicus Lourenço, 1981, occurs in hypogean and epigean habitats in the Andean and Amazonian rainforests of Colombia and Ecuador. The phylogenetic relationships among the species of Troglotayosicus are currently unknown. In the present contribution, a new species, Troglotayosicus akaido, sp. nov., is described from specimens collected in the leaf litter of a primary rainforest in the Colombian Amazon, near the border with Peru, raising the number of species in the genus to seven. The new species represents the easternmost record of the genus and further extends its distribution into the Amazon. Its phylogenetic position was tested in an analysis of all species of the genus and two outgroup taxa, scored for 131 morphological characters (16 new and 115 legacy; 104 binary and 27 multistate) analyzed with maximum likelihood under the MK model. Troglotayosicus was recovered as monophyletic and composed of two main clades. The morphological survey revealed that the ventral macrosetae of the leg telotarsi of the type species, Troglotayosicus vachoni Lourenço, 1981, are simple, subspiniform macrosetae, irregularly distributed, but not arranged into clusters nor forming elongated clusters of setae/spinules, as previously suggested. A distribution map and key to the identification of the species of Troglotayosicus are provided. Further research, incorporating molecular data, is needed to understand the evolution and biogeographical history of this enigmatic scorpion genus.

Reference:
Moreno-González JA, Luna-Sarmiento DA, Prendini L. Phylogeny of the Troglomorphic Scorpion Genus Troglotayosicus (Scorpiones: Troglotayosicidae) with Description of a New Species from Colombia. American Museum Novitates. 2024;2024(4011):1-39. [Open Access]

Thanks to Gerard Dupre for sending me this article!

Family Troglotayosicidae

What's on the menu for a group of Brazilian scorpions?

 

It is generally stated that most scorpions are generalist prey on a wide diversity of animals (including other scorpions). In spite of this generalization and "common knowledge", there are few systematic studies on the diet composition of many scorpion species.

Dionisio-da-Silva and co-workers have recently published a study of the prey composition of scorpions from different environments in Brazil. A generalist diet and cases of cannibalism are reported.

Abstract:
The overall assumption that scorpions are generalist predators is often based on conspicuous information from the literature. Here, we compiled a list of prey consumption by scorpions from different environments in Brazil to produce a documentation of predations by this taxon. This list is based on observations made under natural conditions in Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, and Cerrado formations. We compiled 135 predation instances including 11 scorpion species from field work through 14 years. The observed diet composition of the scorpions was mainly based on cockroaches, crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, and other scorpions. Such data highlights the generalist diet and cannibalism of scorpions with many cannibalistic events among the records of intraguild predation. Overall, this study broadens the knowledge of the diet composition of Brazilian scorpions under natural conditions.

Reference:
Dionisio-da-Silva W, Foerster SIA, Gallao JE, Lira AFA. What's for dinner? Prey consumption by Neotropical scorpions across contrasting environments. J Arachnol. 2024;52:26-30. [Sunscription required for full text]