A contribution to the scorpion fauna of Saudi Arabia, with an identification key (Arachnida: Scorpiones)

Alqahtani, Abdulaziz R.; Badry, Ahmed

doi:10.1016/j.jksus.2021.101396

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…The region has borders with three countries that have higher scorpion diversity than Iraq (19 species) ( 1 ). Iran, in the west, has the highest scorpion species diversity (78 species, 2 subspecies) as compared to the other neighbouring countries ( 2 ), followed by Turkey in the north with 41 species and 3 subspecies ( 3 ); then Saudi Arabia in the east with 26 species ( 4 ) and Syria with 21 species ( 5 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological Characterizations, New Localities, and a Checklist of the Known Scorpions in the Kurdistan Region, Northern Iraq

Hussen¹,

Kachel²,

Hama³

et al. 2023

JAD

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Background: Annually, thousands of scorpion stings and rare mortalities are recorded in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In the present study, we prepared a checklist for the geographical distribution of scorpion fauna composition, new localities data, and scorpion sting profile for the years 2019–2020 in the region. Methods: Random field surveys for scorpion collection were carried out in 22 localities in the Kurdistan Region from June 2020 to October 2021. Clinical data related to scorpion stings in 2019 and 2020 were obtained from the medical records of public health offices in the region. Results: In this survey, 166 specimens were collected. They were composed of seven scorpion species belonging to three families including: Buthidae, Hemiscorpiidae, and Scorpionidae. The collected species were Androctonus crassicauda, Compsobuthus matthiesseni, Hottentotta saulcyi, Mesobuthus mesopotamicus, Orthochirus fomichevi, Hemiscorpius lepturus, and Scorpio kruglovi. Moreover, three scorpion species comprising Buthacus tadmorensis, Hottentotta mesopotamicus, and Calchas anlasi were recorded in the previous study conducted in the Kurdistan region. In 2019–2020, 3726 scorpion stings were reported, with a peak in the summer season. Most of the patients were 15–49 years old. In the current study, medically significant scorpion species have been identified. Conclusion: The outcome of the present work will increase the awareness of the Kurdish community regarding the distribution of dangerous scorpion species and consequently reduce their stings.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological Characterizations, New Localities, and a Checklist of the Known Scorpions in the Kurdistan Region, Northern Iraq

Hussen¹,

Kachel²,

Hama³

et al. 2023

JAD

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“…However, Francke [ 15 ] and Sissom [ 16 ] considered allopatric populations to have consistent morphological characters, morphometric ratios and thus considered them to be valid species. In Saudi Arabia, two species of Nebo have been reported; N. hierichonticus and N. yemenensis [ 15 , 20 , 21 ]. Based on the specimens with very limited sample size studied by [ 17 ], some of their diagnostic characteristics were closer to N. hierichonticus while others closer to N. yemenensis .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The phylogenetic relationship among two species of genus Nebo (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae) from Saudi Arabia and Middle East

Alqahtani¹,

Alotaibi²,

Aly³

et al. 2023

BMC Zool

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Background The genus Nebo has been identified as a medically important scorpion species distributed across Arabia and the Middle East. However, its taxonomic status remains unclear. Aim The molecular phylogeny of two Nebo species from Saudi Arabia and comparative sequences from Palestine is presented based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Methodology Scorpion specimens were collected from two different localities, mainly the Southern part of Saudi Arabia. Then, DNA was extracted, amplified using invertebrate universal primers, and sequenced to identify the COI gene. The obtained sequences were analyzed, and phylogenetic trees based on maximum parsimony, neighbor-joining, and Bayesian inference were constructed. Results The inferred phylogeny indicates the monophyletic status of the family Diplocentridae and its subfamily Nebinae and Diplocentrinae. Also, the phylogenetic analyses support the existence of interspecific and intraspecific variations among/ within Nebo hierichonticus and Nebo yemenensis which may indicate distinct species. Conclusion Further morphological studies with additional specimens from the Arabian Peninsula may reveal possible undiscovered and cryptic species.

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“…Several studies have detailed with the systematics of this genus (e.g., Vachon, 1948 ; Vachon, 1952 ; Lourenço, 2005 ; Lourenço, 2008 ; Lourenço & Qi, 2006 ; Lourenço & Qi, 2007 ; Lourenço, Ythier & Leguin, 2009 ; Lourenço, Duhem & Cloudsley-Thompson, 2012 ; Lourenço, Rossi & Sadine, 2015 ; Kovařík & Ahmed, 2013 ; Teruel, Kovařík & Turiel, 2013 ; Rossi, 2015 ; Ythier & Lourenço, 2022 ). A. crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) is the most medically important species, distributed across Egypt (Sinai) and the Middle East including Iran ( Alqahtani & Badry, 2021 ; Amr et al, 2021 ). Scorpion is well-known to have significant regional variation in venom composition ( Devaux et al, 2004 ; Newton et al, 2007 ; Smertenko et al, 2001 ), and thus have a different response to antivenom treatment ( Omran & McVean, 2000 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphometric and meristic diversity of the species Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Saudi Arabia

Alqahtani

Badry

Galil

et al. 2022

PeerJ

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Intraspecific molecular and morphological variations among geographically isolated populations are useful for understanding the evolutionary processes, which is considered early stage of allopatric speciation. Also, the knowledge of the regional variation of scorpion venom composition is needed to improve antivenom therapeutic management. Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) is the most common and medically important species in Arabia and the Middle East. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the geographic morphological variation among A.crassicaudapopulations, regarding its geographical distribution in unexplored arid regions in Saudi Arabia. Samples were collected and examined morphologically under a dissecting microscope from different four eco-geographical regions. The results of ANOVA and multivariate statistical analyses provide strong evidence of geographical variation. The two populations from OTU3 and OUT4 showed the greatest degree of morphological difference from populations of OUT1 and OUT2. Each OTU3 and OTU4 populations showed significant speciation without overlapping in the two groups, while the remaining overlapped groups comprised two other populations. Several body variables influenced male separation, including carapace posterior width, metasoma 3rd length, and metasoma 2nd length. For females, telson length, metasoma 1st width, and sternite 7th width were highly influential variables. Such variation may suggest the existence of cryptic taxa within A. crassicauda populations in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, metasoma ratios can be used as good indicators in intraspecific variation studies of Scorpions.

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A contribution to the scorpion fauna of Saudi Arabia, with an identification key (Arachnida: Scorpiones)

Cited by 11 publications

References 28 publications

Epidemiological Characterizations, New Localities, and a Checklist of the Known Scorpions in the Kurdistan Region, Northern Iraq

Epidemiological Characterizations, New Localities, and a Checklist of the Known Scorpions in the Kurdistan Region, Northern Iraq

The phylogenetic relationship among two species of genus Nebo (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae) from Saudi Arabia and Middle East

Morphometric and meristic diversity of the species Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Saudi Arabia

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