01 November, 2016

An update on the Saharan scorpion fauna in Morocco


Oulaid Touloun and co-workers have recently published an article on the species composition and geographical distribution of the Saharan scorpion fauna of Morocco.

Abstract:
Objective: To describe the species composition of scorpions and to study its geographical distribution in Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra and Dakhla-Oued Ed Dahab regions in July 2014.
Methods: To locate scorpions, the ground was examined through searching the places under the stones, rocks and in burrows. The nocturnal missions were also conducted using portable ultraviolet lamps. The scorpions were subsequently identified in the laboratory.
Results: The results of the investigations in these regions showed the presence of five scorpion species, two of which Androctonus gonneti and Buthus bonito were endemic in Morocco.
Conclusions: This work is allowed to complete the inventory of the studied scorpion fauna and provides some considerations on the distribution patterns in the study area.


Reference:
Touloun O, Hidan MAE, Boumezzough A. Species composition and geographical distribution of Saharan scorpion fauna, Morocco. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease. 2016;6(11):878-81. [Open Access]

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