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Ananteris is a scorpion genus that inhabits dry and seasonal areas of South and Central America. It is located in a distinctive morpho-group of Buthids, the 'Ananteris group', which also includes species distributed in the Old World. Because of the lack of information on venom composition, the study of Ananteris species could have biological and medical relevance. We conducted a venomics analysis of Ananteris platnicki, a tiny scorpion that inhabits Panama and Costa Rica, which shows the presence of putative toxins targeting ion channels, as well as proteins with similarity to hyaluronidases, proteinases, phospholipases A2, members of the CAP-domain family, and hemocyanins, among others. Venom proteolytic and hyaluronidase activities were corroborated. The determination of the primary sequences carried out by mass spectrometry evidences that several peptides are similar to the toxins present in venoms from Old World scorpion genera such as Mesobuthus, Lychas, and Isometrus, but others present in Tityus and Centruroides toxins. Even when this venom displays the characteristic protein families found in all Buthids, with a predominance of putative Na+-channel toxins and proteinases, some identified partial sequences are not common in venoms of the New World species, suggesting its differentiation into a distinctive group separated from other Buthids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study has investigated the anatomy of the reproductive system in the female scorpion Androctonus Crassicauda. Methods: Eight adult females were collected and dissected to investigate the structure and function of their reproductive organs. The adults female of scorpion Androctonus Crassicauda belonging to family Buthidae and the females of scorpion Androctonus Crassicauda were collected from provinces Baghdad and Wasit. Measurements of various body parts were taken, and the internal anatomy was examined under a microscope. Results: In general studies showed the female of scorpions have the ovariuterus consists of a reticular net are longitudinal and transverse ovarian tubes extend from third to seventh mesosomal segments, longitudinal ovarian tubes connected either by transverse ovarian tubes, but in the Buthidae family have an eight-celled reticular ovariuterus, that is five transverse ovarian tubes and the female Androctonus Crassicauda do not have five transverse tubes only the anterior and posterior forming a two-celled ovariuterus, and they have reproductive organs include ovaries, uterus, vagina. These results showed that female Androctonus Crassicauda has a simplified ovariuterus compared to other scorpions in the Buthidae family. It has only two cells because all the distal anastomosis are absent, the oocytes are contained in follicles directly in contact with the ovariuterus, Conclusions: This unique anatomy may be related to the reproductive strategies of this particular species, all scorpion juveniles derive some nutrients directly from females during development. The functions of these organs are involved in fertility, conception, pregnancy, and childbirth. The reproductive organs also have a significant influence on other aspects of health. The major function of the reproductive system in scorpions is to ensure the survival of the species and there are many systems in the body like the endocrine and urinary systems, which work to maintain homeostasis for survival. Reproduction plays a role in evolution as it creates variations via genetic recombination, therefore it is needed to have detailed study and experiments for the understanding of anatomy of the reproductive system in the Female Scorpions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban landscapes restrain the distribution of forest‐dwelling species, which may be related to challenging conditions that impair body condition. The dynamics in urban areas lead to the simplification of communities that inhabit forest patches in cities with the turnover of sensitive species for opportunistic ones. In this study, we investigated the effect of urbanization on the body condition and diversity of scorpions at the landscape scale. Sampling was carried out in 10 forest patches in an urban matrix in Brazil, originally covered by a tropical rainforest. The surroundings of the landscape of each forest patch were characterized through the amount of forest, agriculture, and urban land cover. Individual body length, dry, lipid, and muscular masses were used as proxies of Tityus pusillus body condition. In total, 147 scorpions were collected, belonging to the species Ananteris mauryi, T. pusillus, T. stigmurus, and T. neglectus. Forest cover explained 28% of species variation. There was a positive relationship between forest cover and T. pusillus and A. mauryi abundances, while T. stigmurus was negatively affected by forest cover. Species richness and total scorpion abundance were not influenced by landscape metrics. In terms of body condition, only females of T. pusillus were affected by landscape variables, with individuals showing higher body mass with an increase in forest cover. Our results suggest that urban forests can support scorpion assemblages. However, there is a turnover in specialist forest species for opportunistic species. Forest cover is a crucial factor in maintaining healthy scorpion populations in urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining developmental stages is an important tool for monitoring populations of medically important arthropods, including some scorpions species. Therefore, prediction tools for scorpion developmental stages may provide useful information for public health. Thus, this study compared different methods to estimate the developmental stages of the alien and medically important scorpion species Tityus stigmurus collected in São Paulo. We tested the applicability of the following morphometric methods: grouping (K-means and Ward’s), theoretical, and distribution of frequencies for instar estimation in field-caught T. stigmurus individuals. The methods showed similar results up to the 5th instar. Our results corroborate the literature on the non-objectivity of the hierarchical clustering method in determining the exact number of size classes in the sample. We also found that the hierarchical and non-hierarchical clustering methods diverged regarding the two largest size classes. The peaks in the frequency curve of the carapace length and the theoretical calculation using a growth factor of 1.26 proved useful in determining the stages of development. Seven size classes were demonstrated, which provide evidence that T. stigmurus individuals can reach maturity at the 6th or 7th instar.

Ananteris is a scorpion genus that inhabits dry and seasonal areas of South and Central America. It is located in a distinctive morpho-group of Buthids, the ‘Ananteris group’, which also includes species distributed in the Old World. Because of the lack of information on venom composition, the study of Ananteris species could have biological and medical relevance. We conducted a venomics analysis of Ananteris platnicki, a tiny scorpion that inhabits Panama and Costa Rica, which shows the presence of putative toxins targeting ion channels, as well as proteins with similarity to hyaluronidases, proteinases, phospholipases A2, members of the CAP-domain family, and hemocyanins, among others. Venom proteolytic and hyaluronidase activities were corroborated. The determination of the primary sequences carried out by mass spectrometry evidences that several peptides are similar to the toxins present in venoms from Old World scorpion genera such as Mesobuthus, Lychas, and Isometrus, but others present in Tityus and Centruroides toxins. Even when this venom displays the characteristic protein families found in all Buthids, with a predominance of putative Na+-channel toxins and proteinases, some identified partial sequences are not common in venoms of the New World species, suggesting its differentiation into a distinctive group separated from other Buthids.

Abstract Urban landscapes restrain the distribution of forest‐dwelling species, which may be related to challenging conditions that impair body condition. The dynamics in urban areas lead to the simplification of communities that inhabit forest patches in cities with the turnover of sensitive species for opportunistic ones. In this study, we investigated the effect of urbanization on the body condition and diversity of scorpions at the landscape scale. Sampling was carried out in 10 forest patches in an urban matrix in Brazil, originally covered by a tropical rainforest. The surroundings of the landscape of each forest patch were characterized through the amount of forest, agriculture, and urban land cover. Individual body length, dry, lipid, and muscular masses were used as proxies of Tityus pusillus body condition. In total, 147 scorpions were collected, belonging to the species Ananteris mauryi, T. pusillus, T. stigmurus, and T. neglectus. Forest cover explained 28% of species variation. There was a positive relationship between forest cover and T. pusillus and A. mauryi abundances, while T. stigmurus was negatively affected by forest cover. Species richness and total scorpion abundance were not influenced by landscape metrics. In terms of body condition, only females of T. pusillus were affected by landscape variables, with individuals showing higher body mass with an increase in forest cover. Our results suggest that urban forests can support scorpion assemblages. However, there is a turnover in specialist forest species for opportunistic species. Forest cover is a crucial factor in maintaining healthy scorpion populations in urban areas.

A new species, Microbuthus saharicus sp. n., is described from the inland deserts of Mauritania; it represents the first exception to the general coastal distribution observed in the species of this genus. With this new description, the total number of known species in Africa is increased to five. The disrupted peri-Saharan pattern of distribution presented by the group is however confirmed. Some comments are also added on the biogeography and ecology of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This note concerns a scorpion species of the genus Buthus recently described in Algeria, Buthus apiatus Lourenço, El Bouhissi & Sadine, 2020. According to the last synthesis of Algerian scorpions, this species is located in the North-West of Algeria, in the department of Sidi Bel Abbes and the Tissemsilt. This note provides a new locality of B. apiatus outside these areas, extended about 230 km eastwards, south of the department of Tiaret (Algeria). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthochirus stockwelli (Lourenço & Vachon, 1995) was originally described based on male holotype specimen from Bandar-Abbas (Hormozgan) under the genus Paraorthochirus. The morphology of this species is redescribed here based on the specimens collected from Bandar-Abbas on the basis of both sexes. The original description includes a female, but very little information was given on its morphology and does not include illustration belonging to the female. Therefore, the female is described for the first time in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study gives the first record of the scorpion species Orthochirus mesopotamicus (Birula, 1918) from the Al-Muthanna Province, Iraq. This is the first scorpion record from the Al-Muthanna Province that has been given until now. The scorpion sample was collected in the Al-Warka area of Al-Muthanna Province. In the current investigation, illustrations of O. mesopotamicus are given too. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of scorpion belonging to the genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (family Buthidae C.L. Koch, 1837), is described on the basis of one adult female and seven males and six females juveniles collected in the savannah formations of Sanguéré-Djoi, Cameroon. The material was collected with the use of Barber traps what explains a predominance of immature individuals in the sample. This Androctonus population is the first record of the genus for Cameroon and can be associated with Androctonus hoggarensis (Pallary, 1929), species originally described from the Hoggar Mountains in Algeria. The analysis of a several morphological characters of both species confirms some differences. More conclusive however are the characteristics of endemic populations of the two species. Respectively in a Saharan Massif, major endemic centres within the Sahara desert, and in a savannah-like formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scorpions are nocturnal animals that feed on invertebrates and other arachnids. So far, 10 species of scorpions from the family Buthidae have been reported from the Sistan region. Sampling was done using UV ultralight at night and direct search or digging during the day, from different areas in the Sistan region in 2021 and 2022. Examination of 117 collected scorpion specimens led to the identification of seven species belonging to six genera of the family Buthidae including Androctonus cf. crassicauda (Olivier, 1807), A. sistanus Barahoei & Mirshamsi, 2022, Kraepelinia palpator (Birula, 1903), Mesobuthus rakhshanii sp. nov., Odontobuthus tirgari Mirshamsi et al., 2013, Orthochirus persa (Birula, 1900), and Sassanidothus gracilis (Birula, 1900). Mesobuthus rakhshanii sp. nov. was described as a new species for the world fauna. This species has a dominant population in the region, which was collected from all stations. All specimens were fixed in 80% alcohol and kept in the author's personal collection. Androctonus species are dangerous scorpions that are distributed in the Sistan region. Identifying dangerous species is important and practical for health management. This is possible by identifying the fauna of scorpions in the region and determining the range of distribution of each species.IntroductionScorpions are considered the most dangerous arthropods for humans because they have stingers equipped with venom sacs (Sedaghat et al., 2011). The annual average of scorpion stings in Iran is 50,000, and the number of deaths due to scorpion stings is about 20 per year, most of which are in the southern regions of Iran (Dehghani and Fathi, 2012). During the day, they hide under stones or wood, in the trunks of trees, in the crevices of rocks and walls, in the holes in the ground, etc., and are activated at night and hunt invertebrates, especially insects and other arachnids (Pirali-Kheirabadi et al., 2013).So far, 4 families, 20 genera, and 84 species of scorpions have been reported from Iran, of which 10 species belonging to six genera of the Buthidae family are distributed in the Sistan region (Navidpour et al., 2019; Kovařík et al., 2019, 2020, 2022; Kovařík & Navidpour, 2020; Barahoei et al., 2020, 2021, 2022; Cain et al., 2021; Yağmur et al., 2022). They include two species of the genus Androctonus (Yağmur et al., 2016; Barahoei et al., 2020), one species of the genus Kraepelinia (Barahoei et al., 2020), three species of the genus Mesobuthus (Vachon, 1958; Mir et al., 2014; Barahoei et al., 2020), one species of the genus Odontobuthus (Mir et al., 2014; Barahoei et al., 2020, 2021), one species of the genus Orthochirus (Habibi, 1971; Kovařík & Fet, 2006a; Barahoei et al., 2020), and two species of the genus Sassanidothus (Farzanpay, 1987; Kovařík & Fet, 2006b; Barahoei et al., 2020).In the only study conducted in the Sistan region (Mir et al., 2014), eight species were listed in a short report. Also, very few studies have been conducted in neighboring countries. Therefore, to identify the species of the region, extensive sampling and a detailed study of the samples is needed. Considering the proximity of the Sistan region to the Oriental region, it is important, useful, and necessary to identify the fauna of the region. The present study is the first comprehensive survey of scorpion species in the north of Sistan and Baluchistan province. Materials and MethodsSampling was done at night by using UV light or daily by moving stones, lumps, and tree trunks in 2021 and 2022. Specimens were fixed in 80% ethanol. After determining the important morphological traits in the identification of scorpions based on available sources (Farzanpay, 1987; Polis, 1990), the morphological identification of species was done with helping of valid identification keys (Kovařík et al., 2019, 2020, 2022; Barahoei et al., 2020, 2021). Photographing of the samples (general view and different parts of the body) was done with Canon® EOS 800D digital camera (Japan). Figures were edited using Combine Z (Hadley, 2007) and Adobe Photoshop CS5 (Evening, 2013) software. The distribution map was drawn on the simplemappr online website. All specimens were kept in the author's personal collection at the Research Institute of Zabol. ResultsExamination of 117 collected scorpion specimens led to the identification of seven species belonging to six genera of the Buthidae family.Androctonus cf. crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) Androctonus sistanus (Barahoei & Mirshamsi, 2022) Kraepelinia palpator (Birula, 1903) Mesobuthus rakhshanii sp. nov.Holotype Female specimen, Sistan and Baluchistan province, Hamon city, Lotak district, Rahmatabad village, 30°45'N, 61°21'E, 481 m, 10 May 1400, col.: H. Barahoei.AffinitiesMembers of Mesobuthus rakhshanii sp. nov. are medium-sized scorpions, adults’ body length is 38-52 mm in males and 51-61 mm in females. The number of pectin teeth is 25 to 29 in males and 18 to 21 in females. The movable pedipalp finger has 11 to 12 rows of oblique teeth and five terminal teeth. The lateral anal arch is divided into three parts. In females, the first lobe has a short groove.The members of this species are separated from many species of this genus by having a ratio of length to the height of the third metasoma between 1.50-1.90. In this species, the central lateral and dorsal central carinae of the carapace are not connected and do not form a lyre. With this trait, they are distinguished from other species except for M. macmahoni (Pocock, 1900).Members of M. macmahoni with a total size of 38 (male) to 55 (female) mm are distributed in the low altitude areas of southern Pakistan, and the number of pectin teeth is 23-26 in males and 19-23 in females. In addition, the general color of the body is darker than M. rakhshanii. Odontobuthus tirgari (Mirshamsi et al., 2013) Orthochirus persa (Birula, 1900) Sassanidothus gracilis (Birula, 1900) ConclusionBefore this research, 10 species were introduced for Sistan fauna, and in this study, it was found that the following seven species are distributed in the Sistan region. The report of some species was the result of misidentification and some were corrected with subsequent research. Mesobuthus rakhshanii sp. nov. was described as a new species for the world.Androctonus cf. crassicauda (Olivier, 1807)Androctonus sistanus Barahoei & Mirshamsi, 2022Mesobuthus rakhshanii sp. NovemberKraepelinia palpator (Birula, 1903)Odontobuthus tirgari Mirshamsi et al., 2013Orthochirus persa (Birula, 1900)Sassanidothus gracilis (Birula, 1900)Considering the location of the Sistan region in the neighboring Afghanistan and Pakistan countries, it seems necessary to do a detailed and complete investigation of the scorpion fauna of the region and compare them with the examples of the mentioned countries. It is inevitable to identify the fauna of the region and using of species for different purposes. There is very little specialized research on scorpions in the Sistan region. Therefore, the present research can be an introduction to continue the work and complete the research on the scorpions of this region.

The presence of a predator can cause behavioral changes in its prey, such as decreased foraging activity. Previous studies have indicated that the scorpion Ananteris mauryi has the ability to identify the chemical traces of its intraguild predator Tityus pusillus, causing it to reduce its exploratory activity. In this study, the foraging activities of A. mauryi in a natural environment with different densities of T. pusillus were compared. The study was carried out through active searches from 19:00 to 22:00 in five fragments of the Atlantic Forest in Pernambuco, Brazil, one having a low density of T. pusillus and four returning high densities. In total, 81 individuals of A. mauryi were observed, and 49.4% were recorded in the area with a low density of T. pusillus. In general, A. mauryi individuals exhibited a similar foraging activity in the fragment with low and higher density of T. pusillus. Similarly, A. mauryi was found on leaf litter bottom layers independently of T. pusillus density. Therefore, our results suggest that their predator density does not exert any influence on foraging activity and microhabitat choice in A. mauryi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scorpions are an ancient and charismatic group of arthropods with medical importance, but a high-quality reference genome for this group is still lacking. Here we perform whole-genome sequencing of Mesobuthus przewalskii, a desert scorpion endemic to the Taklimakan Desert. We combine PacBio HiFi sequencing and Hi-C chromosome conformation capturing to generate chromosomal-level, haplotype-resolved, and fully annotated genome assembly for this medically important scorpion. The assembly consists of two haplotypes (1052.01 Mbp and 1055.19 Mbp, respectively) reaching chromosome-level contiguity and >98% BUSCO completeness. Sequences were anchored in 13 chromosomes with a contig N50 of 34.44 Mbp and scaffold N50 of 81.43 Mbp. Several key genome features and the mitochondrial genome assembly were also provided. This genome represents the fifth but the most complete assembly for the order Scorpiones., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The American Genetic Association. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Scorpions are nocturnal animals that feed on invertebrates and other arachnids. So far, 10 species of scorpions from the family Buthidae have been reported from the Sistan region. Sampling was done using UV ultralight at night and direct search or digging during the day, from different areas in the Sistan region in 2021 and 2022. Examination of 117 collected scorpion specimens led to the identification of seven species belonging to six genera of the family Buthidae including Androctonus cf. crassicauda (Olivier, 1807), A. sistanus Barahoei & Mirshamsi, 2022, Kraepelinia palpator (Birula, 1903), Mesobuthus rakhshanii sp. nov., Odontobuthus tirgari Mirshamsi et al., 2013, Orthochirus persa (Birula, 1900), and Sassanidothus gracilis (Birula, 1900). Mesobuthus rakhshanii sp. nov. was described as a new species for the world fauna. This species has a dominant population in the region, which was collected from all stations. All specimens were fixed in 80% alcohol and kept in the author's personal collection. Androctonus species are dangerous scorpions that are distributed in the Sistan region. Identifying dangerous species is important and practical for health management. This is possible by identifying the fauna of scorpions in the region and determining the range of distribution of each species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The venoms of the scorpions Androctonus crassicauda and Leiurus abdullahbayrami, scorpion species each of the two members of the Buthidae family, were analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS in a mass range between 1 and 50 kDa. For this, all of the scorpion venoms (n=11) were prepared to equal 2mg/mL concentration. After centrifuging the venoms at 15.000 rpm for 15 minutes at +4 °C, the supernatants (n=11) were mixed with a matrix solution (a-CHCA) in Eppendorf tubes separately. The prepared scorpion venom-matrix (SVMx) samples vortexed. For the biomass analysis, a 1µL SVMx sample was spotted onto MALDI 96 MSP was placed in the Microflex MALDI-TOF MS. The system was operated in linear positive ion mode at a 1.000-50.000 Dalton (Da) mass range. A 60 Hz nitrogen laser was employed at 337 nm as the ion source. Interspecies differentiation was evaluated over peptide and protein molecules in this mass range. The similarities and differences between two different scorpion species were revealed with the principal component analysis study, which was conducted with spectral patterns including peptide and protein profiles. The similarity rate of the LAB-123 and the LAB- 460 scorpion venoms of the same species was found as 66% while the similarity rates of venoms of the ACR species to the LAB species ranged from zero to 37%. It was demonstrated that scorpion venoms belonging to two different species from the Buthidae family can be differentiated with the help of dendrogram and gel profile, CCI color matrix, 3D or 2Dscattering profile, spectral mass loading data formed by peptide and protein spectral patterns of eleven scorpion venoms. It is anticipated that this approach, which was used for the first time with the application of MALDI-TOF MS-based PCA analysis for the differentiation of scorpion venoms, will be useful in differentiating venoms with different spectral patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A further new species of scorpion belonging to the genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Family Buthidae C.L. Koch, 1837), is described on the basis of one male specimen collected in the NE range of the Tibesti Mountains in Libya. This is the first record of the genus Androctonus for the Tibesti Massif and the new species most certainly corresponds to an endemic element to this mountain range. As in previous studied cases, these Saharan Massifs prove to be very important endemic centres within the Sahara desert. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of buthid scorpion belonging to the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg is described based on one female collected in the Al-Anbâr Province in Iraq. Since the early 2000s, the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 (family Buthidae) started to be the subject of several new studies. Some of the populations previously considered as subspecies were raised to the rank of species, but also many new species have been described. Nevertheless, although the important number of modifications brought to the composition of the genus Leiurus, no attempt was done to divide it in sub generic units. The study of an atypical new species of Leiurus from Iraq, suggests the creation of a new subgenus to accommodate it. Further investigations should bring more precise conclusions about the status of this particular population. The type locality of the new species represents the first confirmed record of the genus Leiurus for Iraq. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Buthus Leach, 1815 is the most diverse and the most widespread scorpion genus in family Buthidae C.L. Koch, 1837. In the last two decades, an impressive number of publications have demonstrated remarkable progress in the number of Buthus species in Algeria, which has risen to ten species. The taxonomic status of the genus based on morphologic keys, deserves to be elucidated with an exhaustive list of species as taxonomic reference including dichotomous keys and genetic barcodes. In this paper, a genetic study of Buthus species complex from Aures region (eastern Algeria) has been performed based on DNA barcoding. In addition, a multi-rate Poisson tree process (mPTP) and Assemble Species by Automatic Partitioning (ASAP) methods were used to generate molecular species descriptions of 229 COI sequences. The morphological results lead to the description of two Buthus species in our study area: Buthus aures Lourenço & Sadine, 2016, and Buthus tunetanus (Herbst, 1800). Among the important results is the confirmation of the morphological identification of two Algerian Buthus species (B. aures and B. tunetanus) by the genetic identity. Furthermore, 22 molecular operating taxonomic units (mOTUs) were suggested by mPTP method, where eight mOTUs are distributed all over Algeria, of which Aures region includes four of them. In addition, according to literature data, the number of existing Buthus species and their geographical distribution patterns in Algeria are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The monotypic genus Buthiscus was described by Birula (1905) with the species Buthiscus bicalcaratus from the Sahara Desert of southern Tunisia. Until now, huge gaps exist in the knowledge of this species which is classified as endemic to North Africa. This paper aims to enrich the existing knowledge on this poorly known species with redescribing specimens of both sexes collected from Libya using widely illustrated redescription, in light of modern standards ruling the taxonomy of scorpions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objectives Annually, 1.2 million humans are stung by scorpions and severely affected by their venom. Some of the scorpion species of medical importance have a similar morphology to species with low toxicity. To establish diagnostic tools for surveying scorpions, the current study was conducted to generate three mitochondrial markers, Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI gene), 12S rDNA and 16S rDNA for six species of medically important Iranian scorpions: Androctonus crassicauda, Hottentotta saulcyi, Mesobuthus caucasicus, M. eupeus, Odontobuthus doriae, and Scorpio maurus. Results Phylogenetic analyses of the obtained sequences corroborated the morphological identification. For the first time, 12S rDNA sequences are reported from Androctonus crassicauda, Hottentotta saulcyi, Mesobuthus caucasicus and M. eupeus and also the 16S rDNA sequence from Hottentotta saulcyi. We conclude that the mitochondrial markers are useful for species determination among these medically important species of scorpions.

Buthidae family is a scorpion family distributed throughout the world, especially in North Africa. The individual and geographical variability of this family members is associated with evolutional genetic development reflected in their venoms even in the same species. Intragenic differences can be a result of genetic and environmental factors. DNA barcoding is a system that, based on the conserved DNA sequences, helps in differentiating the different species and same species in different habitat. This study aimed on using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 (COX1 or CO1 or COI) to obtain molecular identification information about the taxonomic status of a set of scorpion species (Androctonus crassicauda, Androctonus bicolor, Androctonus amoreuxi, Leiurus quinquestriatus, and Buthacus arenicola) collected from Egypt. COI gene is slowly evolving comparing to other protein-coding mitochondrial genes. Therefore, it is widely used for estimating molecular phylogenies. Also, COI gene represents one of the largest sequence data sets generated from any group for phylogenetic study and fulfills the phylogenetic accuracy putative. The sequencing data of the cytochrome oxidase 1 gene were applied to provide information for better understanding of the intraspecific variation, evolution, and genetic distance between these species. COI data from the Egyptian A. australi, and those of L. quinquestriatus from Sudan, previously reported in Egypt, had been included for genetic comparison. The results revealed that the high genetic diversity was found among A. amoreuxi and A. australis. There is no detectable genetic variation between the Egyptian samples of L. quinquestriatus and those isolated from Sudan. This study helped us to understand the current evolution of these six scorpions on the genetic level and gave us better understanding of differences of scorpion envenomation (SE) of the same species in different localities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background: Scorpionism is a worldwide problem that has already made thousands of victims, and multi-disciplinary approaches for controlling their populations are to be more successful. Hens are often mentioned as tools for controlling scorpions; however, systematic/experimental behavioral studies are not available. Moreover, there is no systematic information on the effect of scorpion venoms on hens. Using the venomous yellow scorpion Tityus serrulatus, the present study aimed to clarify the following aspects: (1) voracity of hens, (2) how hens react when stung, (3) the effect of scorpion stings on hen behavior during attacks, and (4) hen survivorship after feeding on scorpions. Methods: We attracted hens with corn powder, offered them scorpions and then recorded the hen-scorpion interaction. To test the effects of the sting we manually removed the scorpion’s telson. Results: We found that some hens ate up to six scorpions within minutes. By means of an ethogram and drawings, we showed that they exhibited several aversive behaviors when capturing scorpions. Removal of the scorpion telson stopped the aversive reactions, which was not observed in the control group. Finally, hens did not exhibit atypical behaviors after 1, 7 and 30 days and were all alive after 30 days. Conclusion: This is the first empirical and video recorded study providing evidence that hens are clearly affected by scorpion venom but do not die. Therefore, they may have potential to be used in biological control of these arthropods.

In many countries around the world, and especially in rural tropical areas, scorpion envenomation is a life-threatening hazard and medical emergency, particularly for children and the elderly. Advances in immunotherapy have resulted from new, in-depth knowledge of peptide synthesis. Nanotechnology and especially biocompatible nanoparticles have been used to induce active, protective immunity against venom toxins, based on their size and shape, making them specific vectors antigen-presenting cells. This review provides an overview of traditional and new therapies for the treatment of scorpion envenomation and discusses current technical issues and perspectives on specific serotherapy and nano-vectorization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scorpions can adopt different reproductive strategies (e.g., sexual or parthenogenesis) depending on the environmental conditions. In this study, we described the courtship repertoire of the parthenogenetic scorpion Tityus stigmurus, a species with inconspicuous sexual populations distributed throughout northeastern Brazil. Specimens of both sexes (10 males, 10 females) were obtained from field expeditions in three locations in northeastern Brazil and were paired under laboratory conditions in an intrapopulation design. All observations were conducted at night using red light positioned above an experimental arena. From the 10 courtship interactions observed in this study, only one pair successfully completed the reproductive repertoire that included the insemination process. The incomplete interactions were abruptly terminated by the females immediately after deposition of the spermatophore. Overall, the reproductive repertoire of T. stigmurus was similar to that of other scorpions, especially its congeners, possibly because this reproductive behavior emerged at a basal point in the evolution of scorpions. The acquisition of new insights into the reproductive biology of different scorpion species may improve the theoretical background for applications ranging from evolutionary biology to public health strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on scorpion diversity of Telangana State is meager and an attempt was made to compile an updated checklist of these poorly studied groups of arthropods based on published literature and field studies between 2014 and 2021. A total of 13 species of scorpions belonging to nine genera and three families are known to be present in Telangana State, India. Recent taxonomic changes with respect to the giant forest scorpions have been included in the present checklist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A checklist of the scorpion fauna of Saudi Arabia was reviewed and scrutinized published scorpion records considering new taxonomic findings and geographical distribution data. A new checklist to the scorpion fauna of Saudi Arabia is presented. The listed species consisting of 26 species belong to 15 genera and the four families Buthidae (12 genera, 21 species), Diplocentridae (one genus, one species), Hemiscorpiidae (one genus, one species), and Scorpionidae (one genus, three species). The list is dominated by members of the family Buthidae C. L. Koch, 1837 (85.3% of total species) and the genus Compsobuthus is the most species-rich taxon. In addition, a total of 10 dubious records were removed from the list and listed separately pending validations by specimens collected in the country. A dichotomic identification key to the Saudi Arabia scorpion species has been provided.

A new species of buthid scorpion, Orthochirus arenicola sp. n. is described from the coasts of Somalia. The scorpion was collected on the beach sand under bush-like herbaceous vegetation by our late Italian colleague Professor P. M. Brignoli. New considerations are also proposed for other related taxa. Orthochirus afar Kovařík & Lowe, 2016 described from Afar, Ethiopia is suggested to be a synonym of Orthochirus aristidis (Simon, 1882); no final decision is taken however face to the impossibility of consulting the types of Orthochirus afar. Orthochirus aristidis is restored from its synonymy with Orthochirus olivaceus (Karsch, 1881). Finally, the genus Orthochiroides Kovařík, 1998 is placed as a junior synonym of Orthochirus Karsch, 1891. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One more new species is described for the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg from Africa. The description is based on one juvenile female collected in the region NE of Maghra, east of the Qattara Depression, Egypt. Although some affinities may be suggested with L. quinquestriatus and L. hebraeus, species distributed in Egypt and Israel, several characteristics attest however that this population is certainly distinct. The type locality of the new species corresponds to a very poorly prospected zone in Egypt and further studies in the area should provide new material confirming the present decision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge of the scorpion fauna of Iraq and its geographical distribution is limited. Our review reveals the presence in this country of 19 species belonging to 13 genera and five families: Buthidae, Euscorpiidae, Hemiscorpiidae, Iuridae and Scorpionidae. Buthidae is, with nine genera and 15 species, the richest and the most diverse family in Iraq. Synonymies of several scorpion species were reviewed. Due to erroneous identifications and locality data, we exclude 18 species of scorpion from the list of the Iraqi fauna. The geographical distribution of Iraqi scorpions is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Annually, 1.2 million humans are stung by scorpions and severely affected by their venom. Some of the scorpion species of medical importance have a similar morphology to species with low toxicity. To establish diagnostic tools for surveying scorpions, the current study was conducted to generate three mitochondrial markers, Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI gene), 12S rDNA and 16S rDNA for six species of medically important Iranian scorpions: Androctonus crassicauda, Hottentotta saulcyi, Mesobuthus caucasicus, M. eupeus, Odontobuthus doriae, and Scorpio maurus. Results: Phylogenetic analyses of the obtained sequences corroborated the morphological identification. For the first time, 12S rDNA sequences are reported from Androctonus crassicauda, Hottentotta saulcyi, Mesobuthus caucasicus and M. eupeus and also the 16S rDNA sequence from Hottentotta saulcyi. We conclude that the mitochondrial markers are useful for species determination among these medically important species of scorpions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The twelve Arab countries of the Middle East are inhabited by 117 species of scorpions of varying medical importance within six families. Scorpion stings are a very common occurrence throughout the region. Twenty-two scorpion species are considered to be dangerously venomous, causing potentially life threatening stings. Accessible literature in English and Arabic on scorpions, scorpion stings and available antivenoms was reviewed to document the scorpion fauna and scorpion stings in each country. Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Jordan report the highest numbers of stings and envenomings. Clinically, the most important toxins in Old World scorpion venoms are α-toxins that target voltage-gated sodium (Na v) channels at neurotoxin binding site 3, causing sympathetic excitation and the endogenous release of catecholamines that is responsible for transient, but life-threatening myocardial damage. Most victims of scorpion stings suffer severe local pain, but a few, especially children, develop systemic envenoming which, in the case of most Middle Eastern buthid species, such as Androctonus and Leiurus species, is dominated by the cardiovascular and respiratory consequences of hypercatecholinaemic myocarditis. Other syndromes include paralysis (Parabuthus leiosoma), coagulopathy (Nebo hierichonticus and Hemiscorpius species), and local tissue damage, haemolysis and acute kidney injury (H. lepturus). Early antivenom treatment is recommended but its value remains controversial. However, intensive care, with the ancillary use of vasoactive drugs such as prazosin and dobutamine, has proved effective. Image 1 • The taxonomy and occurrence of medically important scorpion species in each Arab country in the Middle East is reviewed. • Epidemiology and clinical features of envenoming by dangerous species are described. • Based on current practice, use of antivenoms and ancillary treatments in Arab countries in the Middle East is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sexual dimorphism (SD) in body size is very common among the scorpions. In this study, the SD was investigated in two aspects of size and shape in the genus Odontobuthus Vachon, 1950 as a small genus of the family Buthidae. This genus has six fossorial species of which four are distributed in Iran. For this purpose, 43 morphometric variables, consisting of 38 metric measurements and five meristic characters were digitized in the six species, O. bidentatus, O. doriae, O. tavighiae, O. tirgari, O. sp.1 and O. sp.2. The results show that Sexual Size Dimorphism (SSD) were significant in three species: O. doriae, O. tavighiae and O. sp.2. While O. sp.1 represented a SD for more aspects of shape, O. bidentatus did not show a significant SD for all studied traits. The amount of SD in size and shape were not the same in different species. The results showed that males have larger metasoma than females even when they are pulled to the same size. Having larger metasoma may correspond to a more efficient performance during mating, predation or combat with other males, so it should be under a high sexual selection. Type II ANOVA showed a significant interaction between species and sex for shape, but not for size. It suggests that the evolution of SD for size has been in parallel for all studied species, while it has been in different directions for shape. Among meristic variables, only the number of pectin denticles were sexually dimorphic, with males having more denticles than females in all studied species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This contribution attempts to bring some general information on the evolution and, in particular, on the geographic distribution of scorpion species noxious to humans. Since 95% of the scorpions incidents are generated by specimens of the family Buthidae C. L. Koch, the analysis will be limited to this familial group. As in previous similar contributions, the content of this work is mostly addressed to non-specialists whose research embraces scorpions in several fields such as venom toxins and public health. Only in recent years, efforts have been made to create better links between ‘academic scorpion experts’ and other academic non-specialists who use scorpions in their research. Even if a larger progress can yet be expected from such exchanges, crossed information proved to be useful in most fields of scorpion studies. Since the taxonomy of scorpions is complex, misidentifications and even more serious errors concerning scorpion classification/identification are often present in the general literature. Consequently, a precise knowledge of the distribution patterns presented by many scorpion groups and, in particular, those of infamous species, proves to be a key point in the interpretation of final results, leading to a better treatment of the problems caused by infamous scorpion species.

A striking feature of most scorpion species is fluorescence under ultraviolet light, but few studies have investigated the adaptive benefit of this trait. A hypothesis is that fluorescence may lure prey towards the scorpion improving foraging success. In this study, we investigated whether the fluorescence of the scorpion Centruroides granosus Thorell, 1876 lures the house cricket Acheta domesticus Linnaeus, 1758. We performed two experiments: 1) an arena in which crickets were exposed to both fluorescing and black-painted non-fluorescing scorpions and 2) a tunnel in which crickets could walk out through one of the two exits, each with a scorpion treatment. None of the experiments provided evidence that the scorpion fluorescence is attractive to house crickets since they did not show preference for any of the two scorpion types. Variables such as cricket sex or scorpion sex did not influence their response towards the fluorescence; however, crickets were on average closer to male scorpions in the outdoor arena and closer to female scorpions in the laboratory arenas. Moreover, male crickets were more active than females in the tunnel experiment, in line with the results of the arena experiment showing that male crickets were on average closer to the scorpions in the laboratory. We discuss potential implications and suggest that more experimental work is required to investigate potential adaptive benefits of the scorpion fluorescence under various biotic and abiotic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brazil, the Caatinga ecoregion is the only biome that lies completely within the country, covering approximately 11% of the national territory. This biome exhibits a strong climatic seasonality that may affect the activity of its fauna. We aimed to assess the effects of seasonality on scorpion foraging activity in an area of hypoxerophytic Caatinga, located in the municipality of Caetés, Pernambuco. Scorpions were collected through active nocturnal searching using ultraviolet flashlights during the rainy (May, June, and July) and dry (September, October, and November) seasons in 2017. A total of 96 specimens were collected, belonging to the Buthidae and Bothriuridae families, comprising seven species, Ananteris sp., Tityus pusillus, T. stigmurus, T. neglectus, Jaguajir rochae, Bothriurus asper, and B. rochai. No differences in foraging activity (rainy season, n = 47; dry season, n = 49) were found between rainy and dry seasons. These findings indicate that the studied area has a high scorpion richness, emphasizing the importance of conserving the area, as these animals are sensitive to habitat changes. In addition, the lack of variation between seasons found in this work may reflect the ecotonal nature of hypoxerophytic Caatinga. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular phylogenetic relationship among two species of genus Leiurus , from Saudi Arabia with additional comparative sequence data available from Egypt, Oman and Turkey is presented. The molecular phylogeny was performed using maximum parsimony, neighbor joining and bayesian inference. Our results indicate a clear deep splitting between the Western clade, which represented by L. quinuestriatus sequences from Egypt and those from the Eastern clade which encompassing different Leiurus species from Saudi Arabia, Oman and Turkey was shown. Also, the phylogenetic relationship represents additional support for the taxonomic status of Arabian Leiurus species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study the scorpion fauna of southern parts of Sistan and Baluchestan province Southeast of Iran, were investigated. The samples were collected from 27 localities around the eight cities (Delgan, Iranshahr, Fanuj, Nikshahr, Sarbaz, Qasr-e Qand, Konarak and Chabahar) and a total of 338 specimens were collected. Androctonus baluchicus, Hottentotta sistanensis, Odontobuthus tirgari, O. tavighiae, Orthochirus fuscipes, Sassanidotus gracilis, Mesobuthus eupeus (Buthidae), Hemiscorpius acanthocercus, H. lepturus (Hemiscorpiidae) are identifed. Besides, Androctonus baluchicus (Pocock, 1900) is recorded from Iran for the first time herein and its existence in Iran is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sri Lanka harbours 20 scorpion species belonging to four families, of which 15 are endemic. The distribution and ecology of scorpion fauna in Sri Lanka is poorly known. In this study, we surveyed the diversity of scorpions in the Polonnaruwa Archaeological Reserve in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Microhabitats were thoroughly observed using the direct visual encounter method and UV lights from July to November 2018 for about seven hours (19.00-02.00 h) by two to three observers. Species, abundance, age/sex, and microhabitat features were recorded. Diversity indices, including α-diversity and β-diversity, were calculated. Heterometrus swammerdami was the most abundant species recorded, while Isometrus thwaitesi was the rarest. Reddyanus loebli and R. besucheti were common in both open and forest habitat types. Charmus laneus was recorded for the first time in Polonnaruwa. The highest Shannon Index and Margalef Diversity Index values were recorded in open habitats, but species evenness was low compared to forest habitats. Sørensen index values showed a 58% species similarity between two habitats. The results presented here contribute to the knowledge of the diversity of scorpions in these historically significant sites. This can serve as a basis for future research on the impact of habitat modification and fragmentation on populations, distribution and ecology of scorpions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scorpionism is a serious public health problem in various regions of the world. In Brazil, a high number of accidents by scorpions have been reported. From 2014 to 2018, about 547,000 cases were recorded, resulting in 466 deaths. The scorpion Tityus stigmurus is the predominant species in the northeast of Brazil, being responsible for most scorpionism cases in this region. With the aid of the transcriptomic approach of the venom gland of this species, components as neurotoxins, antimicrobials, metal chelating peptides and hypotensins, have been identified and characterized in silico , showing different biologic activity in vitro. In addition, the neuronal, pancreatic, renal, and enzymatic effects have been demonstrated for the crude T. stigmurus venom. Therefore, the T. stigmurus scorpion venom constitutes a rich arsenal of bioactive molecules with high potential for therapeutic and biotechnological application. • T. stigmurus is the major cause of accidents in northeastern Brazil. • The venom is one of the most lethal for mices among Brazilian species. • The venom causes neuronal, pancreatic, renal damage, and has enzymatic properties. • The venom has neurotoxic, antimicrobial, hypotensive and metal chelating molecules. • Components of the venom have evident biotechnological and therapeutic potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southern Africa contains a diverse and endemic scorpion fauna, but with biological aspects remaining largely unexplored for this group. In order to gain biological insights into an understudied scorpion species, the current study investigates fine-scale spatial distributions and sexual dimorphism in the South African endemic Drab Thick-tail Scorpion (Parabuthus planicauda). The species closely track rocky areas, with the sexes homogenously distributed across habitats. Varying adult sex ratios are evident at each sampling area, likely influenced by differing vegetation cover and predation pressures. When considering size-corrected measurements, several characters are significantly sexually dimorphic in P. planicauda; this sexual dimorphism is not readily observable (<10% difference in size) based on uncorrected measurements, thereby rendering the identification of males and females in the field difficult. Even so, sexually dimorphic characters in females appear to be shaped mainly by natural selection (e.g. carapace width, pedipalp patella and metasoma), likely for enhanced feeding ability, fecundity, parental care and juvenile survival. In contrast, the male morphology may be primarily subject to sexual selection pressures on features used during courtship and mating (e.g. pectines, chela movable finger, pedipalp femur, 2nd and 4th legs). Taken together, the results reported on here add novel preliminary information on the understudied biological aspects of a South African endemic scorpion species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations on the entire life history of scorpion species are uncommon, and these studies primarily focus on postembryonic development. So far, little is known on how changes in temperature or humidity could affect communities of scorpions. Here, we present data on the embryonic and postembryonic development of Tityus forcipula (Gervais, 1843), a scorpion living in the Colombian Central Cordillera that was subjected to different climate regimes. For a comparative approach, one group was raised under lower conditions (23-24°C) and another group was raised under higher temperatures (25-27°C, meaning a 2-3°C increase). Our results clearly demonstrate that T. forcipule reared under laboratory conditions is not able to thrive under constant higher temperatures. A minority of the latter group (, 10%) reached adulthood, but never reproduced. Of the 43 specimens kept under lower temperatures (with a mild diapause), 21 females and 19 males reached maturity in the 5th instar; only one female and two males required an extra molt to mature. Tityus forcipula specimens reached maturity after 463 days of postembryonic development. The average for embryonic development was 208 days, with an average of 12 neonates per litter. Twenty-four different morphometric measurements were taken from all specimens for each exuvium of the juveniles and the adult stage. The results indicated a relationship, albeit partly poorly developed, between the sexes, in several measured structures and the instars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of buthid scorpion belonging to the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg is described based on a single female collected in the region of Al-Abraq - Al-Khabari farms in Kuwait. The new species, Leiurus kuwaiti sp. n., shows affinities with Leiurus hebraeus (Birula, 1908) species distributed mainly in Jordan and Israel. The populations from Kuwait and Jordan/Israel apparently are totally isolated by a large and dry region now occupied by the An Nafud desert. Therefore in account of the disrupted distribution and some minor morphological differences presented by the two populations, a new species is proposed to accommodate the population from Kuwait. Further investigations should bring more precise conclusions about the status of these two populations. The type locality of the new species represents the most easterly record of the genus Leiurus in the North range of the Arabian Peninsula and represents the first confirmed record of the genus for Kuwait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Scorpions have always received attention in Iran because of their frequency and venom. In the past 50 years many aspects of scorpion biology have been studied in Iran, including venom. Identifying the species of these predators are of great interest to researchers. This study presents the latest checklist of species of scorpions in Iran. Materials and methods: Electronic databases including Web of Science, Ovid, PubMed, Systematic Review, SID, Iran Medex, Scirus, Google Scholar, and Medline were searched using scorpion, species, family, systematic, and Iran as keywords. Articles published with emphasis on Iran and fauna of scorpion in 1985 to 2016 were investigated. A total of 150 studies was found from which 75 were selected that were mainly about different species of scorpion in Iran. Results: So far, 64 species of scorpions are reported in Iran belonging to Buthidae family (86%), Hemiscorpiidae family (9.5%), and Scorpionidae family (4.5%). These species were found most in tropical regions of Iran. Conclusion: Scorpion species have considerably increased in last three decades, therefore, researchers are expected to provide latest checklist of species of scorpions regularly in Iran.

Scorpions are well known for their reduced resting metabolic rate (RMR) in comparison to typical arthropods. Since RMR is a key physiological trait linked with evolutionary fitness, it is expected that there may exist intraspecific RMR variation given the ecological and geographical heterogeneities across the distributional range of a species. Nevertheless, it is unclear whether RMR variation exists among scorpion populations. Here, we compared the RMR (VCO2) of 21 populations of the Chinese scorpion Mesobuthus martensii (Scorpiones: Buthidae) at 25°C after at least 3 months of laboratory acclimation. The following results were obtained. First, there was significant difference in RMR between sexes when body-weight effects were factored out. Second, significant local variation in RMR was detected by analyses of both variance and covariance, with one population showing significantly reduced RMR and another significantly increased RMR. Third, regression analysis indicated that the local mean temperature and mean annual days of rainfall were the two significant factors associated with the aforementioned inter-population difference in RMR. The implication of such an association was discussed.