A new African species of the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 from Mali (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

 

A new African species of the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 from Mali (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

Abstract

A new species of Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 is described on the basis of one male specimen collected in the mountain system of Adrar des Iforas, Cercle of Kidal, in Mali. The new species, Leiurus tamajeq sp. n. is most certainly associated to Leiurus hoggarensis, described from the Hoggar mountain system in Algeria, both species presenting an almost parapatric geographic distribution. Nevertheless, these closed related mountain systems have been isolated during past palaeoclimatic vicissitudes leading to possible differentiation processes. The two species can be distinguished by a number of morphological characters which clearly suggest that the new species population is distinct from the one found in the Hoggar mountain system. Differences are noticeable notably for morphometric values as well as the relative position of several trichobothria. As for L. hoggarensis, the new species seems to inhabit a more mesic zone when compared to the central compartment of the Saharan desert and, apparently, do not present characteristics of a psamophilic species and may be considered as a lithophilic species.

Lourenço, Wilson & Ythier, Eric. (2024). A new African species of the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 from Mali (Scorpiones: Buthidae). SERKET The Arachnological Bulletin of the Middle East and North Africa.