27 July, 2009

New buthid genera and species from Western Sahara and Afghanistan

Lourenco and Duhem has described two new genera and species of Saharo-Sindian buthids:

Pantobuthus Lourenco and Duhem, 2009 (Afghanistan)
Pantobuthus complicatus Lourenco and Duhem, 2009 (Afghanistan)

Saharobuthus Lourenco and Duhem, 2009 (Occidental Sahara (Western Sahara))
Saharobuthus elegans Lourenco and Duhem, 2009 (Occidental Sahara (Western Sahara))

The paper also discuss the distribution of related genera like Odontobuthus, Mesobuthus, Hottentotta, Compsobuthus, Buthus, Leiurus and Vachoniolus.

Abstract:
Two new genera and species of Saharo-Sindian buthid scorpions are described on the basis of single specimens collected respectively in the deserts of Occidental Sahara and the North of Afghanistan. These new scorpion taxa represent further endemic relicts in the Saharo-Sindian faunas. Comments are also included on the evolution of the desert regions of North Africa and the Middle East, as well as the possible consequences of these events on the distribution of the extant scorpion fauna.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Duhem B. Saharo-Sindian buthid scorpions; description of two new genera and species from Occidental Sahara and Afghanistan. ZooKeys. 2009;14:37-54. [Free fulltext]

Family Buthidae

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