A New Species of Scorpio from Saudi Arabia (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae)

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  A New Species of Scorpio from Saudi Arabia (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae)  Abstract A new species of  Scorpio  Linnaeus, 1758 is described from Al Ula Governorate, Al Madinah Province, Saudi Arabia.  Scorpio furvus  sp. nov. is distinguished from closely related congeners, including  S. fuscus ,  S. kruglovi ,  S. palmatus ,  S. jordanensis , and  S. yemenensis , by a unique combination of morphological characters notably the granulation pattern of the pedipalp chela, metasomal proportions, pectinal structure and length, and overall dark coloration. Morphometric comparisons further support its distinct status. The discovery of this species highlights the underestimated diversity of the genus  Scorpio  in the Arabian Peninsula and reinforces the view that the  Scorpio maurus  complex comprises multiple geographically restricted taxa requiring continued integrative taxonomic investigation. Aloufi, A., Afifeh, B. A., ...

A revision of the genus Monoblemma Gertsch, 1941 (Araneae: Tetrablemmidae) in Central America and the Caribbean

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A revision of the genus Monoblemma Gertsch, 1941 (Araneae: Tetrablemmidae) in Central America and the Caribbean

Abstract

The armored spider genus Monoblemma Gertsch, 1941 is revised. The examination of the type specimens of Caraimatta cambridgei (Bryant, 1940) from Soledad, Cuba indicates that the species is misplaced in the genus Caraimatta. It is here transferred to Monoblemma based on morphological evidence and is designated as the senior synonym of Monoblemma muchmorei Shear, 1978. A new species, Monoblemma cubaensis sp. nov., is described from Santiago de Cuba based on both sexes. The transfer of Monoblemma browni Shear, 1978 to Shearella Lehtinen is reinstated, the species is redescribed, and the female is described for the first time. Images of the type species Monoblemma unicum Gertsch, 1941 are provided, along with an updated distribution map and an identification key for the species of the genus.

Martínez, L. (2025) A revision of the genus Monoblemma Gertsch, 1941 (Araneae: Tetrablemmidae) in Central America and the Caribbean. Zootaxa, 5636 (2), 287–315. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5636.2.4