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Zoology

Euscorpius

2015

Buthidae

Articles 1 - 24 of 24

Full-Text Articles in Animal Sciences

Taxonomic Position Of The Genus Sassanidotus Farzanpay, 1987 (Scorpiones: Buthidae), František Kovařík, Victor Fet Dec 2015

Taxonomic Position Of The Genus Sassanidotus Farzanpay, 1987 (Scorpiones: Buthidae), František Kovařík, Victor Fet

Euscorpius

Sassanidotus Farzanpay, 1987 is a valid genus closely related to Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949, with which it shares most characters including the shape of carinae on the carapace and mesosoma. The main difference is that Sassanidotus has only three granules located proximally to the terminal granule on the movable finger of pedipalp, whereas Compsobuthus and also Mesobuthus Vachon, 1950 have four such granules. Sassanidotus Farzanpay, 1987 includes two species, Sassanidotus zarudnyi (Birula, 1900) (type species) from Iran and Sassanidotus gracilis thus zarudnyi sarghadensis Birula, 1903, syn. n.) from Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. The neotype is designated for S. zarudnyi.


The Effect Of Insularity On The Seasonal Population Structure Of Mesobuthus Gibbosus (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Dimitris Kaltsas, Iasmi Stathi, Moysis Mylonas Dec 2015

The Effect Of Insularity On The Seasonal Population Structure Of Mesobuthus Gibbosus (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Dimitris Kaltsas, Iasmi Stathi, Moysis Mylonas

Euscorpius

We compared the population structure of Mesobuthus gibbosus from autumn to mid-summer at two similar phryganic ecosystems, one in continental Greece (Thessalia, near Volos city) and one in insular Greece (eastern Crete). Data were collected monthly using the capture-recapture method. At both sites, density was low during the cold period and increased towards summer. During the samplings, only a small percentage of each population was present. Population density and co-occurrence of scorpions with scorpions or other animals was higher in Crete than in Volos, probably due to the higher inter- and intraspecific competition in Volos. The population structure of the …


Duplication Of Pedipalp Segments In The Scorpion Androctonus Crassicauda (Olivier, 1807), Ayşegül Karataş, Mustafa Kürtüllü Dec 2015

Duplication Of Pedipalp Segments In The Scorpion Androctonus Crassicauda (Olivier, 1807), Ayşegül Karataş, Mustafa Kürtüllü

Euscorpius

An unusual duplication of pedipalp segments is reported from the buthid scorpion Androctonus crassicauda. While the right pedipalp is normal, the anomaly described here occurred on the left pedipalp. This abnormally developed pedipalp included nine segments instead of normal six. It has two trochanters, two femurs and two patellae; the segments are arranged in the following order: coxa, trochanter I, femur I, patella I, trochanter II, femur II, patella II, chela hand, and movable finger. Morphometric measurements, photographs, and general features of the specimen are given.


Review Of Tunisian Species Of The Genus Buthus With Descriptions Of Two New Species And A Discussion Of Ehrenberg’S Types (Scorpiones: Buthidae), František Kovařík Dec 2015

Review Of Tunisian Species Of The Genus Buthus With Descriptions Of Two New Species And A Discussion Of Ehrenberg’S Types (Scorpiones: Buthidae), František Kovařík

Euscorpius

Buthus chambiensis, sp. n. and Buthus dunlopi, sp. n. from Tunisia are described. Presented is also a key to four Tunisian species of the genus Buthus. The males of B. chambiensis, sp. n. and B. paris (C. L. Koch, 1839) have narrower chela than the females, which distinguishes them from B. tunetanus (Herbst, 1800) and B. dunlopi, sp. n. Uniformly yellowish mesosoma and very narrow chela of pedipalps distinguish B. chambiensis, sp. n. from Buthus paris (C. L. Koch, 1839). Morphologically closest to B. chambiensis sp. n. is Buthus barcaeus Birula, 1909, comb. n. …


A New Species Of The Genus Buthus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) From Northern Cameroon, Wilson R. Lourenço, Elise-Anne Leguin Dec 2015

A New Species Of The Genus Buthus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) From Northern Cameroon, Wilson R. Lourenço, Elise-Anne Leguin

Euscorpius

A new species belonging to the genus Buthus Leach (Scorpiones: Buthidae) is described from northern Cameroon in Central Western Africa. The new species can be included in the “Buthus occitanus” complex of species, and probably can be associated with the “Buthus occitanus” from the former French West Africa (AOF) previously reported by Vachon from this large region. This is the first record of a Buthus species from Cameroon, and with the description of Buthus prudenti sp. n., the status of one more population of Buthus spp. from the sub-Saharan region of Africa is clarified.


Scorpions Of Gaziantep Province, Turkey (Arachnida: Scorpiones), Ayşegül Karataş, Mehmet Çolak Dec 2015

Scorpions Of Gaziantep Province, Turkey (Arachnida: Scorpiones), Ayşegül Karataş, Mehmet Çolak

Euscorpius

This study includes the results of the field studies in Gaziantep Province, which is located in the south-southeastern Anatolia, Turkey. In 1998–2005, 112 scorpion specimens were collected in this area. They belong to five species of the family Buthidae (Androctonus crassicauda, Compsobuthus matthiesseni, Leiurus quinquestriatus, Mesobuthus eupeus nordmanni), and one species of Scorpionidae (Scorpio maurus fuscus). Information about these species is provided; ecological notes are included.


Taxonomic Position Of Species Of The Genus Buthacus Birula, 1908 Described By Ehrenberg And Lourenço, And Description Of A New Species (Scorpiones: Buthidae), František Kovařík Dec 2015

Taxonomic Position Of Species Of The Genus Buthacus Birula, 1908 Described By Ehrenberg And Lourenço, And Description Of A New Species (Scorpiones: Buthidae), František Kovařík

Euscorpius

Lectotypes are designated for Androctonus (Leiurus) leptochelys Ehrenberg, 1829, Androctonus (Leiurus) thebanus Ehrenberg, 1828 and Androctonus (Leiurus) macrocentrus Ehrenberg, 1828. In recent papers the latter two species have been regarded as synonyms of Buthacus leptochelys, however its type series is composed of seven specimens that in reality belong to three species. The type series of Androctonus leptochelys includes specimens belonging to Buthacus leptochelys and Buthacus spatzi (Birula, 1911), and the type series of Androctonus macrocentrus includes specimens belonging to Buthacus leptochelys and Buthacus tadmorensis (Simon, 1892). In order to preserve stability, I designate …


The Genus Vachoniolus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) In Oman, Graeme Lowe Dec 2015

The Genus Vachoniolus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) In Oman, Graeme Lowe

Euscorpius

Study of new material collected in Oman by ultraviolet detection revealed three species of Vachoniolus, an unusual genus of psammophilous buthid scorpion distinguished by grossly swollen male pedipalp chelae. The presence of the type species, V. globimanus Levy, Amitai et Shulov, 1973, in Oman is confirmed, and two new species are described: V. batinahensis sp. nov. from the Al Batinah coastal plain north of the Al Hajar mountains, and V. gallagheri sp. nov. from desert alluvial fans south and west of the Al Hajar mountains. The number of Vachoniolus species is thereby raised to four, including …


Taxonomic Position Of The Genus Simonoides Vachon Et Farzanpay, 1987, And Description Of A New Species Of Orthochirus Karsch From Iran (Scorpiones, Buthidae), František Kovařík, Victor Fet Dec 2015

Taxonomic Position Of The Genus Simonoides Vachon Et Farzanpay, 1987, And Description Of A New Species Of Orthochirus Karsch From Iran (Scorpiones, Buthidae), František Kovařík, Victor Fet

Euscorpius

Simonoides Vachon et Farzanpay, 1987 is synonymized with Orthochirus Karsch, 1891. Lectotype is designated for Simonoides farzanpayi Vachon et Farzanpay, 1987. Orthochirus sobotniki Kovařík, 2004 is synonymized with Orthochirus farzanpayi (Vachon et Farzanpay, 1987), comb. n. Orthochirus gruberi, sp. n. (Iran) is described and dis-tinguished from all other Iranian species of the genus on a combination of two characters, the presence of rows of granules with internal and external granules on the movable fingers of pedipalps and hirsuteness of the entire me-tasoma and telson.


Two New Species Of Hottentotta Birula, 1908 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) From Northern Oman, Graeme Lowe Dec 2015

Two New Species Of Hottentotta Birula, 1908 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) From Northern Oman, Graeme Lowe

Euscorpius

Two new endemic species of Hottentotta Birula, 1908, are described from the Al Hajar Mountains of northern Oman: H. pellucidus sp. nov., from the Shir Plateau of Jabal Bani Jabir in the eastern Al Hajar, characterized by: medium size, uniform yellow color, dense cover of long and short macrosetae on pedipalps, legs and metasoma, only two macrosetae on tergite posterior margins, and slender male pedipalp chelae with very weakly scalloped fingers; and H. saxinatans sp. nov., from Jabal Akhdar in the western Al Hajar, characterized by: medium size, uniform yellow color with faint fuscosity on metasomal …


Observations On Prey-Capture Behavior Of Androctonus Crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) In Northern Iraq, Alexander K. Stewart Dec 2015

Observations On Prey-Capture Behavior Of Androctonus Crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) In Northern Iraq, Alexander K. Stewart

Euscorpius

Modern studies of scorpion prey-capture behavior have included several genera from a variety of habitats and have demonstrated that scorpions have a limited, yet similar, repertoire of reactions towards their prey. These experiments, however, by necessity have dealt with scorpions under the ecologically artificial conditions of an indoor laboratory. The experimental design presented here included both indoor and outdoor laboratory experiments to study the prey capture in Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier, 1807). Thirty indoor and twenty outdoor experiments recorded scorpion activities from initial prey recognition to prey ingestion. By experimenting with this indigenous species in its harsh environment (an outdoor laboratory, …


Rare Or Poorly Known Scorpions From Colombia. Iv. Additions, Synonymies And New Records (Scorpiones: Buthidae, Scorpionidae), Rolando Teruel, César A. Roncallo Dec 2015

Rare Or Poorly Known Scorpions From Colombia. Iv. Additions, Synonymies And New Records (Scorpiones: Buthidae, Scorpionidae), Rolando Teruel, César A. Roncallo

Euscorpius

The results of the study of new samples of scorpions from Colombia are presented. Tityus erikae Lourenço, 1999 is demonstrated to be a junior synonym of Tityus tayrona Lourenço, 1991, and the adult female of Tarsoporosus macuira Teruel et Roncallo, 2007 is described for the first time. Also, new locality records and supplementary information on morphological variability (including some diagnosis updates) are given for Centruroides margaritatus (Gervais, 1841), Rhopalurus caribensis Teruel et Roncallo, 2008, Tityus tayrona, and Tarsoporosus macuira.


First Report On Hottentotta Tamulus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) From Sri Lanka, And Its Medical Importance, Kithsiri B. Ranawana, Nandana P. Dinamithra, Sivapalan Sivansuthan, Ironie I. Nagasena, František Kovařík, Senanayake A.M. Kularatne Dec 2015

First Report On Hottentotta Tamulus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) From Sri Lanka, And Its Medical Importance, Kithsiri B. Ranawana, Nandana P. Dinamithra, Sivapalan Sivansuthan, Ironie I. Nagasena, František Kovařík, Senanayake A.M. Kularatne

Euscorpius

A scorpion species proved to be lethal to humans was recently recorded from Jaffna Peninsula (9°40'0''N 80°0'0''E, mean annual temperature 26.2°C), in the northern dry zone of Sri Lanka. This species is morphologically different from all other known scorpions in Sri Lanka. The species was identified as Hottentotta tamulus (Scorpiones: Buthidae), which is commonly found in Maharashtra, India, the closest mainland to Sri Lanka. Small children and housewives were most of the victims. Soon after sting, the patient develops intense pain at the site of sting followed by numbed sensation. Dominant clinical effects include excessive sweating, agitation and palpitation. Blood …


Another New Sub-Fossil Species Of Scorpion Of The Genus Palaeogrosphus Lourenço, 2000 From Malagasy Copal (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Wilson R. Lourenço, Hans Henderickx Dec 2015

Another New Sub-Fossil Species Of Scorpion Of The Genus Palaeogrosphus Lourenço, 2000 From Malagasy Copal (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Wilson R. Lourenço, Hans Henderickx

Euscorpius

Palaeogrosphus jacquesi sp. n., the third known sub-fossil scorpion from Malagasy copal, is described. This is the fourth record of a sub-fossil scorpion in copal. The copal specimen was collected in the mines of the region of Sambava, Province of Antsiranana in the northeast of Madagascar. It belongs to the genus Palaeogrosphus Lourenço, 2000, described from Madagascar, and now represented by two sub-fossil species.


Mesobuthus Caucasicus (Nordmann, 1840) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) In Turkey, Ayşegül Karataş Dec 2015

Mesobuthus Caucasicus (Nordmann, 1840) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) In Turkey, Ayşegül Karataş

Euscorpius

Although Mesobuthus caucasicus was listed from Turkey in the literature, information about this species was confused and needed confirmation. Distribution of M. caucasicus is studied and new geographical records are given. As a result of field studies, M. caucasicus is confirmed from three certain localities in Turkey. In addition, some bioecological information is provided.


Ontogenetic Shifts In Microhabitat Use, Foraging And Temporal Activity For The Striped Bark Scorpion Centruroides Vittatus (Scorpiones: Buthidae), C. Neal Mcreynolds Dec 2015

Ontogenetic Shifts In Microhabitat Use, Foraging And Temporal Activity For The Striped Bark Scorpion Centruroides Vittatus (Scorpiones: Buthidae), C. Neal Mcreynolds

Euscorpius

Ontogenetic shifts in activity and habitat use by the scorpion Centruroides vittatus in Laredo, Texas can occur with shifts in microhabitat use, the height of the scorpion in vegetation and seasonal and lunar activity among different sizes of C. vittatus but not taxa of prey in the diet. The microhabitat use by the different size classes was significantly different with significant associations among the cacti with a high frequency of larger scorpions on prickly pear cactus and strawberry cactus and between grass and other vegetation with a high frequency of smaller scorpions on grass. A comparison of the mean height …


Further Considerations On Scorpions Found In Baltic Amber, With A Description Of A New Species (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Wilson R. Lourenço Dec 2015

Further Considerations On Scorpions Found In Baltic Amber, With A Description Of A New Species (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Wilson R. Lourenço

Euscorpius

A new species of Baltic fossil scorpion, Palaeolychas weitschati sp. n. is described based on a specimen found in amber from the Samland Peninsula in Baltic coast. The new species is the second one described for the genus Palaeolychas Lourenço et Weitschat, and thus belongs to the same lineage as the majority of other scorpions known from Baltic amber, which is clearly associated with the extant scorpion fauna of tropical regions in America, Asia and Africa. This new find attests, however, to a considerable degree of diversity in the Baltic amber-producing forests.


On The Type Locality Of Mesobuthus Vesiculatus (Pocock, 1899) (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Ayşegül Karataş, Victor Fet, Muhammed M. Gharkheloo Dec 2015

On The Type Locality Of Mesobuthus Vesiculatus (Pocock, 1899) (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Ayşegül Karataş, Victor Fet, Muhammed M. Gharkheloo

Euscorpius

The type locality for Mesobuthus vesiculatus (Pocock, 1899) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) is identified as Astarqān, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran, at 38°32'03"N, 46°12' 36"E.


Redescription Of The Mexican Scorpion Centruroides Hoffmanni Armas, 1996 (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Eliézer Martín-Frías, Luis F. De Armas, Jorge F. Paniagua-Solís Dec 2015

Redescription Of The Mexican Scorpion Centruroides Hoffmanni Armas, 1996 (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Eliézer Martín-Frías, Luis F. De Armas, Jorge F. Paniagua-Solís

Euscorpius

The Mexican scorpion Centruroides hoffmanni Armas, 1996 is redescribed, based on adults of both sexes. It is readily diagnosed by its medium size, dark brown two-banded tergites and brown marbling on carapace, appendages and metasoma, pectinal tooth counts, the shape of the female basal plate of the pectines, development of metasomal carinae, and shape of the telson and subaculear tubercle. The geographical distribution of this species ranges from southeastern Oaxaca to southwestern Chiapas, Mexico. It was originally compared with Centruroides thorelli (Kraepelin, 1891), but actually it seems to be closely related to C. infamatus (C. L. Koch, 1845) and C. …


A New Scorpion Species Of The Genus Buthus Leach, 1815 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) From Morocco, Wilson R. Lourenço, Philippe Geniez Dec 2015

A New Scorpion Species Of The Genus Buthus Leach, 1815 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) From Morocco, Wilson R. Lourenço, Philippe Geniez

Euscorpius

A new species belonging to the genus Buthus Leach (Scorpiones, Buthidae) is described from northeast of Tarfaya in the extreme southwest of Morocco. The new species does not belong to the “Buthus occitanus species complex”, but is rather associated with Buthus atlantis Pocock, species also known from the southern of Morocco. With the description of Buthus bonito sp. n., t Morocco is raised to 12. A checklist of these species is provided.


Revision And Taxonomic Position Of Genera Afghanorthochirus Lourenço & Vachon, Baloorthochirus Kovařík, Butheolus Simon, Nanobuthus Pocock, Orthochiroides Kovařík, Pakistanorthochirus Lourenço, And Asian Orthochirus Karsch, With Descriptions Of Twelve New Species (Scorpiones, Buthidae), František Kovařík Dec 2015

Revision And Taxonomic Position Of Genera Afghanorthochirus Lourenço & Vachon, Baloorthochirus Kovařík, Butheolus Simon, Nanobuthus Pocock, Orthochiroides Kovařík, Pakistanorthochirus Lourenço, And Asian Orthochirus Karsch, With Descriptions Of Twelve New Species (Scorpiones, Buthidae), František Kovařík

Euscorpius

The genera Baloorthochirus, Butheolus, Orthochiroides, Pakistanorthochirus, and Asian species of the genus Orthochirus are revised and keys are presented to all species of Butheolus and Orthochiroides, Asian species of Orthochirus, and to species of all related genera. Afghanorthochirus Lourenço & Vachon, 1997 is synonymized with Orthochirus Karsch, 1892; Nanobuthus Pocock, 1895 is synonymized with Butheolus Simon, 1882; and Pakistanorthochirus Lourenço, 1997 is synonymized with Baloorthochirus Kovařík, 1996. Orthochiroides socotrensis sp. n. from Socotra Island and eleven new species of Orthochirus are described: O. afghanus sp. n., O. heratensis sp. n., O. jalalabadensis …


A Note On The Scorpions From The Pirin Mountains, Southwestern Bulgaria (Scorpiones: Buthidae, Euscorpiidae), Rolando Teruel, Victor Fet, Luis F. De Armas Dec 2015

A Note On The Scorpions From The Pirin Mountains, Southwestern Bulgaria (Scorpiones: Buthidae, Euscorpiidae), Rolando Teruel, Victor Fet, Luis F. De Armas

Euscorpius

In the present note, four scorpion species are recorded from the Pirin Mountains in southwestern Bulgaria, including the first records for Bulgaria of both Mesobuthus gibbosus (Brullé, 1832) (Buthidae) and the “mingrelicus complex” of the genus Euscorpius Thorell, 1876 (Euscorpiidae) (the latter based upon an undetermined species). Also, E. hadzii Caporiacco, 1950 and another undetermined species of Euscorpius belonging to the “carpathicus complex” are recorded from Pirin. The taxonomic affinities of the taxa are discussed, as well as some biogeographical considerations about the scorpions of this poorly studied mountainous area.


Mesobuthus Eupeus (C.L. Koch, 1839) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) In Turkey, Ayşegül Karataş, Ahmet Karataş Dec 2015

Mesobuthus Eupeus (C.L. Koch, 1839) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) In Turkey, Ayşegül Karataş, Ahmet Karataş

Euscorpius

Distribution of Mesobuthus eupeus (C.L. Koch, 1839) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Turkey is investigated and new distributional records are given. In addition, data on the variation of the number of pectinal teeth, and some ecological features of M. eupeus are provided.


Prey Capture Behavior In The East African Scorpions Parabuthus Leiosoma (Ehrenberg, 1828) And P. Pallidus Pocock, 1895 (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Jan O. Rein Dec 2015

Prey Capture Behavior In The East African Scorpions Parabuthus Leiosoma (Ehrenberg, 1828) And P. Pallidus Pocock, 1895 (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Jan O. Rein

Euscorpius

Prey capture behavior in Parabuthus leiosoma (Ehrenberg, 1828) and P. pallidus Pocock, 1895 was studied in the laboratory. The behavioral components involved in prey capture were identified and an ethogram is presented. The occurrence of the different prey capture components are analyzed and discussed.