10 January, 2012

A new species of Hemiscorpius from Egypt

Wilson Lourenco has recently published a paper describing a new species of Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861 (Hemiscorpiidae) from Egypt. This is the first record of Hemiscorpius in Egypt.

Hemiscorpius egyptiensis Lourenco, 2011

Previously, H. somalicus Lourenco, 2o11 and H. novaki Kovarik & Mazuch, 2011 are also described from Africa. Nothing is known about the African species' venom potency and if they are of medical importance like H. lepturus Peters, 1861 in Iran.

Abstract:
A new species, Hemiscorpius egyptiensis sp. n., is described from the Nubia region in the Upper Nile, Egypt. This is the first record of the genus Hemiscorpius Peters for this country. The total number of species in the genus Hemiscorpius is now raised to 14.

Reference:
Lourenco WR. More about the African species of Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Hemiscorpiidae), and a description of a new species from Egypt. Boletin de la SEA. 2011(49):23-6.

Thanks to professor Lourenco for sending me this paper!

Family Hemiscorpiidae

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