An integrative description of Euscorpius diagorasi sp. n. from Rhodes, Greece (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae)

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  An integrative description of Euscorpius diagorasi sp. n. from Rhodes, Greece (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) Abstract The genus  Euscorpius  Thorell, 1876 comprises a diverse and taxonomically challenging group of scorpions in the Mediterranean, with Greece representing one of its principal centers of diversity. In this study, we provide an integrative description of  Euscorpius diagorasi   sp. n. , a new species from Rhodes Island, Greece. The new species is described on the basis of adult male and female morphology and mitochondrial COI sequence data. It is a small oligotrichous species characterized by a total length of approximately 21–25 mm, pale yellow to light brown coloration with darker reddish-brown pedipalps, pectinal tooth count of 8 in the male and 7 in the females, Pv = 7–8, Pe-et = 5–6, and a distinct mitochondrial lineage. Phylogenetic analyses based on COI recovered the Rhodian specimens as a strongly supported monophyletic lineage, sister to...

Under pressure: mapping the distribution of medically important Tityus Koch, 1836 (Buthidae) scorpions in Brazil using a century of Instituto Butantan records

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Under pressure: mapping the distribution of medically important Tityus Koch, 1836 (Buthidae) scorpions in Brazil using a century of Instituto Butantan records

Abstract

The buthid scorpions Tityus serrulatus, T. bahiensis, T. obscurus, and T. stigmurus are considered the most medically significant species in Brazil. Since the early 1900s, their identification and distribution have been central to the zoological collections of the Instituto Butantan (IBSP). In this study, we map the distribution of these species using 7241 presence-only records from the IBSP collected since 1905. Species richness and record density were analyzed using 2° grid cells, and spatial overlap was assessed via a Jaccard similarity index. Based on our dataset of species records, Tityus serrulatus showed the broadest distribution, present in nearly all Brazilian states except Rio Grande do Norte, Maranhão, Amapá, and Roraima, with the highest densities in São Paulo and northern Paraná. Tityus bahiensis had the second widest range, with dense occurrences largely restricted to São Paulo. Mesoregions in São Paulo (Macrometropolitana Paulista, Metropolitana de São Paulo) and Paraná (Noroeste, Norte-Central) have the highest probability of encountering medically significant Tityus species, considering the density of records obtained from the IBSP collection. Also, we emphasize the importance of implementing long-term monitoring programs and conducting new species surveys, especially in high-risk areas and current species distribution gaps.
Goldoni, P. A., Brescovit, A. D., Castro-Souza, R. A., Cequinel, J., Marques-da-Silva, E., & Iniesta, L. F. (2025). Under pressure: Mapping the distribution of medically important Tityus Koch, 1836 (Buthidae) scorpions in Brazil using a century of Instituto Butantan records. Toxicon, 268, 108627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2025.108627