Iranobuthus krali Kovařík, 1997

Vignoli, Valerio, Kovařík, František & Crucitti, Pierangelo, 2003, Scorpiofauna of Kashan (Esfahan Province, Iran) (Arachnida: Scorpiones), Euscorpius 9, pp. 1-7 : 2-3

Iranobuthus krali Kovařík, 1997

Specimens. 2 adult ♀♀, No. 01, 04, 1 adult ♂, No. 02 , 1 juv. ♂, No. 03, 1 km West of Kashan , 09 August 2000 ; 1 adult ♀, No. 08, 11 August 2000; 1 immature ♂, No. 14 ( FKCP), Kashan, 12 August 2000 ; leg. V. Vignoli & P. Crucitti .

Comments. This monotypic genus was described recently (Kovařík, 1997) and the type locality is Sivand Village situated in the Fars province, which was hitherto the only known distribution locality. Kashan is located more than 300 km further north, and this site extends the distribution area of this species. Six specimens were collected, four adults and two subadults. Several specimens were seen during night in “sit-and-wait” behavior; they were concentrate inside a rudimental drystone wall, 1 km east outside the city, between a road and a rocky desert (hammada) with little arid bushes. The scorpions were extremely fast and therefore difficult to catch. The other specimens (Nos. 08, 14) were collected inside city, around semi derelict buildings and walls on the entry of their refuges.

I. krali was never found in the other localities we examined, as sandy desert habitats and other villages; moreover, this large scorpion (total length range: 53–74 mm) was never found together with Androctonus crassicauda .