Scorpio basraensis sp. n. from southern Iraq (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae)

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  Scorpio basraensis sp. n. from southern Iraq (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae) Abstract A new scorpion species, Scorpio basraensis sp. n. , is described and illustrated from Basra Province, southern Iraq. Scorpio basraensis sp. n. is compared with all known species of the genus Scorpio Linnaeus, 1758 occurring in countries surrounding Iraq. The new species can be distinguished by the circular genital operculum in males and the cordiform genital operculum in females (not posteriorly elongated), a densely hirsute body, appendages and metasoma, a distinctly elongated telson vesicle, discrete granules on the external surface of the chela manus that are not flattened, and pectinal tooth counts of 11–13 in males and 9–11 in females. With the description of this species, the number of scorpion species known from Iraq increases to 22, whereas the number of recognized species in the genus Scorpio reaches 33. Yağmur, Ersen A.; Makki, Jafar A.; and Najim, Shurooq A. (2026) " Scorpio basraen...

On new genera and species of crack-leg spiders (Araneae, Udubidae) from Madagascar

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On new genera and species of crack-leg spiders (Araneae, Udubidae) from Madagascar


Abstract

Two new genera, Tabiboka gen. nov. and Zorascar gen. nov., are described to accommodate five new Udubidae species from Madagascar: Tabiboka milleri gen. et sp. nov. (type species; ♂♀), T. milloti gen. et sp. nov. (♂♀), T. polotowae gen. et sp. nov. (♂♀), Zorascar pasunepipe gen. et sp. nov. (type species; ♂♀) and Z. pasunepomme gen. et sp. nov. (♀). In addition, two new species of Zorodictyna Strand, 1907 are described: Zorodictyna almae sp. nov. (♂♀) and Z. silvadavilae sp. nov. (♂♀). Uduba inhonesta Simon, 1906 is declared to be a junior synonym of Zorodictyna oswaldi (Lenz, 1891). The descriptions of the new species are complemented with a phylogenetic analysis to tentatively place them into an existing phylogenetic framework. Phylogenetic analyses based on COI and 16S rRNA genes and morphological data show that they are separate species and confirm their familial and supraspecific placement within the Udubidae. The new species are further described using high quality colored photographs, drawings, SEM and (for Zorascar gen. nov. ssp.) by the use of X-Ray micro-computed tomography to recreate virtual 3D models without destroying the original specimens. A dichotomous key to identify Malagasy Ububidae is provided. Whereas many undescribed Udubidae remain in Madagascar, the phylogenetic and generic arrangement that we present here succinctly summarizes the higher classification of Madagascar Udubidae.

Henrard, Arnaud, Charles Griswold, and Rudy Jocqué. 2024. “On New Genera and Species of Crack-Leg Spiders (Araneae, Udubidae) from Madagascar”. European Journal of Taxonomy 966 (1):1–80. https://doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2024.966.2697.