Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier, 1807)

Alshammari, Maram M., Afifeh, Bassam Abu, Al-Quraan, Nisreen, Abuharfil, Nizar M. & Amr, Zuhair S., 2024, Scorpions of the State of Kuwait, Ecologica Montenegrina 75, pp. 52-66 : 56-58

Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier, 1807)

Material examined: Total number 19 (8 ♀, 11 ♂): 1 ♀, 1 subadult ♂, Al-Mutla’a (Al-Jahra Province), 21.08.2022, leg. M. Al-Shammari. 1 ♀, Kabd (Al Farwaniyah Province), 2.09.2022, leg. M. Al-Shammari. 1 subadult ♂, Kabd (Al Farwaniyah Province), 14.09.2022, leg. M. Al-Shammari. 1 ♂, 1 subadult ♀, Al- Huwaymiliyah (Al-Jahra Province), 21.09.2022, leg. M. Al-Shammari. 1 ♀, 1 ♂, Al- Jahra Natural Reserve (Al-Jahra Province), 12.10.2022, leg. M. Al-Shammari. 3 ♀♀, 3 ♂♂, Al- Abrak Farm (Al-Jahra Province), 30.07.2023, leg. M. Al-Shammari. 2 ♂♂ juveniles, Al-Abrak Farm (Al-Jahra Province), 25.09.2023, leg. M. Al-Shammari. 1 ♂, 1 ♀ subadult, 1 ♂ juvenile, Al-Wafra (Al-Ahmadi Province), 28.09.2023, leg. M. Al-Shammari.

Previous records: 1 ♂, 1 immature, Ahmadi, S of Kuwait, 28.III.1986, W. Al- Houty, MEB 353 ; 1 ♂, 1 immature, Jal al-Zour, 29°27'N 47°44'E, 15 m, 24.III.1988, W. Büttiker, MEB 442 ; 1 ♂, Subeiliya , 10.III.1985, W. Al-Houty, MEB 736 ; 1 ♀, Doha / Dewha, 14.I.1986, W. Al-Houty, MEB 741 ; 1 ♂, Umm al- Heman, 28°57'N 48°12'E, 12 m, 9.III.1988, W. Büttiker, NHMB ; 1 ♂, Jal al- Zour, 29°27'N 47°44'E, 15 m, 24.III.1988, W. Büttiker, WDS ( Hendrixson, 2006) .

Diagnosis of examined material (♂ and ♀) ( Figures 4-6 ): Medium to large scorpions, adults reaching 100 mm in length; females generally more heavy-bodied. Coloration usually black to dark brown. Carapace coarsely granular; all carinae well developed, strong, granulose. Tergites granulate throughout; tergites I-VI with three carinae; carinae on anterior tergites represented by only a few granules; tergite VII with five carinae; median carina represented by a few coarse granules on an elevated hump. Sternites III-VI without carinae; sternite VII with two pairs of moderate, crenulate lateral carinae. Pectinal tooth counts 30-35 in males (1 comb with 30 teeth, 5 combs with 31 teeth, 6 combs with 32 teeth, 8 combs with 33 teeth, 4 combs with 34 teeth, 2 combs with 35); average pectinal tooth count per pecten is 32.6 (26 combs, n=13), 25-29 in females (1 comb with 25 teeth, 2 combs with 26 teeth, 5 combs with 27 teeth, 8 combs with 28 teeth, 2 combs with 29 teeth); average pectinal tooth count per pecten is 27.4 (18 combs, n=9), pectines extending to the coxa-trochanter joint of leg IV in females and well beyond this articulation in males. Table (1) shows morphometric measurements for Androctonus crassicauda from Kuwait.

Remarks: This species is widely distributed and recorded from several localities in Kuwait, also known from much of Middle Eastern Asia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Sinai ( Egypt), Iran, Iraq, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Yemen (Hendrixon, 2006).

Figures

Figure 4. Androctonus crassicauda. Male from Al-Jahra Natural Reserve, A. Dorsal aspect. B. ventral aspect. Female from Al-Mutla’a, C. Dorsal aspect. D. ventral aspect. Scale bar = 10 mm.

Figure 5. Androctonus crassicauda, male from Al-Jahra Natural Reserve (A-B), and female from Al-Mutla (C- D), under UV light source. (A, C) Carapace and tergites. (B, D) Coxosternal area and sternites. (Scale bar = 10 mm.

Figure 6. Androctonus crassicauda, metasoma and telson under UV light source, male from Al-Jahra Natural Reserve (A-C), and female from Al-Mutla’a (D-F). Dorsal (A & D), ventral (B & E), and lateral (C & F) aspects. (Scale bar = 10 mm).