DNA barcoding of scorpions from Kosovo, with the first record of Alpiscorpius dinaricus (Di Caporiacco) (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae)

  DNA barcoding of scorpions from Kosovo, with the first record of Alpiscorpius dinaricus (Di Caporiacco) (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) ABSTRACT This study presents DNA barcoding data for Alpiscorpius dinaricus (Di Caporiacco) and Euscorpius hadzii Caporiacco. Barcode sequences were compared with publicly available reference data to support species identification, together with the evaluation of diagnostic morphological characters. Alpiscorpius dinaricus is recorded from Kosovo for the first time, representing a new national record and contributing to the knowledge of euscorpiid diversity in the region. Diagnostic illustrations of A. dinaricus are provided to facilitate reliable identification and to support future faunistic, taxonomic, and biogeographic studies. Euscorpius hadzii , previously known only from Prizren district, is now reported also from Bjeshkët e Nemuna Mountains (Western Kosovo). Geci, D., Ibrahimi, H., Bilalli, A., Musliu, M., Strohmeier, T., Koblmüller, S., … S...

Scorpion Fauna of Duhok Province, Iraq, with New Records for the Country (Arachnida: Scorpiones)

 


Scorpion Fauna of Duhok Province, Iraq, with New Records for the Country (Arachnida: Scorpiones)

Abstract

This study of scorpion fauna was conducted in the Duhok province of northern Iraq, from June to October 2024. In this survey 273 specimens were collected from different districts, representing six species: Androctonus sp., Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880), Orthochirus fomichevi (Kovařík, Yağmur, Fet & Hussen, 2019), Compsobuthus matthiesseni (Birula, 1905), Scorpio kruglovi (Birula, 1910), and Mesobuthus faiki (Yağmur, Kovařík & Fet, 2024). Hottentotta saulcyi was the most abundant species (35.9% of total individuals) followed by Orthochirus fomichevi 29.7%. Compsobuthus matthiesseni, Mesobuthus faiki, Androctonus sp. and Scorpio kruglovi, were less frequent (less than 16 % each). A significant finding was the first-time documentation of Mesobuthus faiki in Duhok province, marking it a new record for Iraq.

Ali, F., & Kachel, H. (2025). Scorpion Fauna of Duhok Province, Iraq, with New Records for the Country (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Commagene Journal of Biology, 9(1), 64-70. https://doi.org/10.31594/commagene.1651651