Integrative taxonomy reveals the existence of a new species of fat-tailed scorpions, Androctonus (Buthidae), in Iran

Authors

HOSSEIN BARAHOEIFollow
OMID MIRSHAMSIFollow
MASOUMEH AMIRIFollow
ASMA MOEINADINIFollow
EHSAN RAKHSHANIFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

HOSSEIN BARAHOEI: 0000-0001-5195-7679

OMID MIRSHAMSI: 0000-0003-1237-0634

MASOUMEH AMIRI: 0000-0001-9008-5500

ASMA MOEINADINI: 0009-0005-0613-6835

EHSAN RAKHSHANI: 0000-0001-5199-762X

DOI

10.55730/1300-0179.3213

Abstract

Two species of Androctonus have been reported to date from Iran: Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) and A. sistanus Barahoei and Mirshamsi, 2022, which is distributed only in the southeast of Iran. Investigating and identifying the distribution range of dangerous species is critically important for scorpion management. A total of 105 specimens of Androctonus were collected from representative locations in Esfahan, Yazd, Kerman, Hormozgan, Hamadan, and Khuzestan provinces. These samples were studied morphologically, morphometrically, molecularly (COI gene sequencing), and through species distribution modeling (SDM) using the MaxEnt model. Four Androctonus species were identified through the morphological and molecular studies: A. crassicauda, A. sistanus, A. sumericus, and A. rostami sp. nov. (from eastern Iran). The four described species of Androctonus in Iran form well-defined phenotypic groups based on morphometric analyses. SDM results indicated that all predicted models have high accuracy and some overlap with each other. Temperature seasonality for A. crassicauda and annual precipitation for A. sistanus, A. rostami, and A. sumericus were the highest contributing variables. With this first Iranian report of A. sumericus, the description of a new species, and the presence of A. kunti in the northwest of Iran, the number of species of this genus in the country is increased to five. The distribution range of the studied species in Iran is outlined and mapped. The potential distribution modeling for the current period delineated the distribution range of each of the four sampled species. Considering the lethality of the venom of Androctonus scorpions, determination of species distribution ranges provides theoretical backing for studies of significant importance for the prevention of scorpion stings, as well as a foundation for further biochemical and serological studies to develop specific antivenoms for each species.

Keywords

Androctonus, morphology, morphometry, COI, taxonomy, niche modeling

First Page

48

Last Page

74

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

BARAHOEI, HOSSEIN; MIRSHAMSI, OMID; AMIRI, MASOUMEH; MOEINADINI, ASMA; and RAKHSHANI, EHSAN (2025) "Integrative taxonomy reveals the existence of a new species of fat-tailed scorpions, Androctonus (Buthidae), in Iran," Turkish Journal of Zoology: Vol. 49: No. 2, Article 2. https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0179.3213
Available at: https://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/vol49/iss2/2