Integrative taxonomy reveals the existence of a new species of fat-tailed scorpions, Androctonus (Buthidae), in Iran Author Barahoei, Hossein Author Mirshamsi, Omid Author Amiri, Masoumeh Author Moeinadini, Asma Author Rakhshani, Ehsan text Turkish Journal of Zoology 2025 2024-12-12 49 2 48 74 https://doi.org/10.55730/1300-0179.3213 journal article 10.55730/1300-0179.3213 1303-6114 16968099 Androctonus crassicauda crassicauda : Vachon, 1959: 124; Vachon, 1966: 210; Habibi, 1971: 42; Vachon, 1979: 34; Levy and Amitai, 1980: 23–29 , figures 30–34; Kovařík, 1997: 49. = Prionurus crassicauda orientalis Birula, 1900: 355 ; Birula, 1903: 67 (considered a synonym by Fet, 1989: 79). Buthus ( Prionurus ) crassicauda orientalis : Birula, 1917: 93, 240. Buthus crassicauda orientalis : Kraepelin, 1913: 124. Androctonus crassicauda orientalis : Vachon, 1959: 124; Vachon, 1966: 210; Habibi, 1971: 42; Pérez Minocci, 1974: 18. Androctonus amoreuxi baluchicus : Kovařík, 1997: 39. Type locality Persia , now Iran , Esfahan Province , Kashan ( MNHN ) . Geographical distribution Central Iran between Alborz , Zagros, and the eastern belt of Iran ( Barahoei et al., 2020b ). Material examined ( 11 specimens including five female and six male ) 1♂ * ( Figure 1 ) ( ZMFUM ), Esfahan prov. , Maranjab , 33°57′N , 51°25′E , 8 September 2008 , O. Mirshamsi leg. ; 2♀ * ( Figure S1 ) ( RIZ ), Khur and Biabanak , 33°52′N , 55°07′E , 10 June 2023 , M. Elahi leg. ; 1♀ * ( Figure S2 ) ( RIZ ), Nain , 32°52′N , 53°04′E , 2020, M. Elahi leg. ; 1♂ * ( ZMFUM ), Hamadan prov. , Akenloo , 35°36′N , 48°11′E , June 2011 , A. Mahmoudi leg. ; 1♂ * ( RIZ ), Qom prov., Qom , 35°05′N , 51°41′E , 9 August 2023 , K. Seyedabadi leg. ; 2♀ *, 1♂ * ( RIZ ), Yazd prov. , Ardakan , 32°19′N , 54°02′E , 2022, M. Elahi leg. ; 2♂ * ( RIZ ), Bafgh , 31°37′N , 55°23′E , 2021, M. Elahi leg. Diagnostic characters Scorpions with medium to large size, adult body length from 67.1 to 83.3 mm for male and 70.3 to 88.9 mm for female individuals ( Table S1 ); overall body color black ( Figure 1A ), pectin cream, sometimes end of third to fifth sternite is light ( Figures 1B and 2B ); width of end carapace longer than its length ( Table S1 ), surface densely granulated except for lateral end, carinae fully developed, central median and posterior median carinae not connected ( Figure 2A ); pedipalp segments almost elongated ( Figure 2C ), length of femur 3 times the width, length of patella about 2.5 times the width, chela smooth, carinae faded, manus wider than patella ( Figures 2C and S 3 ), movable finger with 14–16 rows of oblique teeth, with external and internal accessory granules and four terminal granules; beginning of mesosomal tergites smooth and their ends granulated, ends of first to sixth tergites with three carinae, seventh tergite with five carinae, seventh sternite with four almost developed carinae, presence of submedian carinae only in front half of segment; number of pectin teeth 27–32 in male ( Figures 1B and 2B ) and 22–26 in female specimens ( Figures S1 and S 2 ), in males the tip of pectin reaches first half of fifth sternite and after the junction of the trochanter with coxa on fourth leg ( Figure 1B ), but in females it reaches first half of fourth sternite and before the junction of the trochanter with coxa ( Figure S3 ); dorsal lateral carinae with long cuneiform granules in posterior part of all metasomal segments ( Figures 2D, 2F , and S 3 ), all segments with sparse setae, segment I wider than long, segment II equal to or wider than length, other segments longer than wide, anal arch with three toothed lobes in lateral part ( Figure 2F ); telson elongate in both sexes, with sparse setae, dorsal surface smooth, telson depth/length = 0.41 in males and females, telson width/length = 0.42 in males and 0.43 in females ( Table S1 ). Androctonus rostami sp. nov. ( Figures 3–7 ) Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) : Barahoei et al., 2020b: 379 , figure 3. Androctonus cf. crassicauda (Olivier, 1807) : Barahoei, 2022: 37–40, figures 2 and 3. Geographical distribution Populations of this species are distributed in the east of the eastern mountainous belt of eastern Iran ( Barahoei et al., 2020b ; Barahoei, 2022). Material examined ( 71 specimens including 28 female , 42 male , and 1 subadult ) 1♂ *† ( RIZ ), Hormozgan prov. , Bandar Abbas , 27°13′N , 56°20′E , 23 October 2022 , M. Shahi leg. ; 2♂ * ( ZMFUM ), 27°24′N , 56°24′E , 12 February 2018 , H. Barahoei leg. ; 2♂ ( ZMFUM ), 27°16′N , 56°20′E , 11 May 2018 , H. Barahoei leg. ; 1♀ * ( RIZ ), 27°21′N , 56°41′E , 29 November 2021 , M. Shahi leg. ; 1♀ *, 1♂ ( RIZ ), Khamir , 27°28′N , 55°24′E , 14 June 2023 , M. Shahi leg. ; 2♀ * ( ZMFUM ), Port of Moallem , 26°40′N , 55°04′E , 10 April 2018 , H. Barahoei leg. ; 1♂ ( ZMFUM ), Qeshm , 8 April 2018 , H. Barahoei leg. - 1♀ * ( RIZ ) ( PP535683 ), Kerman prov. , Dalfard , 28°08′N , 57°31′E , 25 October 2022 , H. Barahoei leg. ; - 1♂ * ( ZMFUM ), Razavi Khorasan prov. , Khaf , 34°32′N , 60°09′E , 4 June 2017 , H. Zanganeh leg. - 1♀ ( RIZ ) ( PP535676 ), Sistan and Baluchestan prov., Chabahar , 25°15′N , 60°50′E , 25 February 2022 , H. Barahoei leg. ; 3♂ *† ( RIZ ), 27°18′N , 62°24′E , 6 July2023 , H. Barahoei leg. ; 1 ♂ ( ZMFUM ), Iranshahr , 27°15′N , 60°43′E , 26 March 2017 , H. Barahoei leg. ; 1♀ ( ZMFUM ), 26°50′N , 60°10′E , 1 August 2017 , H. Barahoei leg. ; 2♀ ( ZMFUM ), 21°19′N , 60°45′E , 27 October 2017 , H. Barahoei leg. ; 1♀ ( RIZ ), Khash , 28°11′N , 60°41′E , 12 June 2023 , F. Vahidinia leg. ; 2♀ , 1♂ ( ZMFUM ), 28°22′N , 61°01′E , 25 September 2017 , H. Barahoei leg. ; 1♂ ( RIZ ) ( PP535677 ), Nikshahr , 26°04′N , 60°10′E , 28 February 2022 , H. Barahoei leg. ; 1♂ ( ZMFUM ), 26°05′N , 60°01′E , 3 May Figure 3. Paratype male of Androctonus rostami sp. nov. collected from Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Nimruz: A) Dorsal view; B) ventral view (RIZ-And-235). Figure 4. Body parts of paratype male Androctonus rostami sp. nov. collected from Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Nimruz: A) Carapace and mesosoma; B) sternopectineal region and sternites; C) chela and patella. Metasomal segment and telson: D) Ventral view; E) lateral view (RIZ-And-235). Figure 5. Female holotype of Androctonus rostami sp. nov. collected from Sistan and Baluchestan province, Nimruz: A) Dorsal view; B) ventral view (RIZ-And-237). Figure 6. Body parts of holotype female Androctonus rostami sp. nov. collected from Sistan and Baluchestan Province, Nimruz: A) Carapace and mesosoma; B) sternopectineal region and sternites; C) pedipalp. Metasomal segment III–V and telson: D) Dorsal view; E) ventral view; F) lateral view (RIZ-And-237). BARAHOEI et al. / Turk J Zool Figure 7. Live female Androctonus rostami sp. nov. , collected from Sistan and Baluchestan Province, city of Zahedan (FV-Scor-011). 2017, H. Barahoei leg.; 1♂ ( ZMFUM ), 26°03′N , 59°46′E , 6 June 2017 , H. Barahoei leg.; 1♂ ( RIZ ) ( PP535678 ), 26°04′N , 59°43′E , 3 September 2017 , H. Houti leg.; 2♀ * ( Figure 5 ) ( RIZ ), Nimruz , 30°58′N , 60°31′E , 5 July 2017 , M.N. Barahoei leg.; 1♂ * ( Figure 3 ) ( RIZ ), 9 June 2020 , M.N. Barahoei leg.; 1♀ † ( RIZ ) ( PP535679 ), 30°39′N , 60°44′E , 10 May 2021 , H. Barahoei leg.; 1♀ † ( RIZ ), 30°53′N , 60°26′E , 19 March 2022 , H. Barahoei leg.; 1♂ *† ( RIZ ) ( PP535680 ), 30°58′N , 60°31′E , 21 March 2022 , H. Barahoei leg.; 1♂ * ( RIZ ) ( PP535681 ), 31°00′N , 60°38′E , 9 July 2022 , H. Barahoei leg.; 1♂ † ( RIZ ) ( PP535682 ), 31°08′N , 60°23′E , 17 October 2023 , M.N. Barahoei leg.; 3♀ *, 2♂ * ( RIZ ) ( PP535684 ), Saravan , 27°36′N , 62°41′E , 15 September 2022 , H. Barahoei leg.; 2♀ †, 3♂ *† ( RIZ ) ( PP535686 - PP535688 ), 27°28′N , 62°11′E , 21 September 2022 , H. Barahoei leg.; 2♂ ( RIZ ), 27°16′N , 62°26′E , 7 October 2022 , M. Nouri leg.; 1♀ ( ZMFUM ), Zahedan , 29°26′N , 60°30′E , 3 February 2018 , H. Barahoei leg.; 1♀ † ( Figure 7 ) ( RIZ ), 30°09′N , 60°45′E , 16 March 2023 , F. Vahidinia leg.; 1♂ ( ZMFUM ), 28°36′N , 60°46′E , 9 July 2017 , H. Barahoei leg.; 1♂ † ( RIZ ) ( PP535685 ), 29°25′N , 60°10′E , 13 August 2023 , H. Barahoei leg. - 1♀ , 4♂ ( RIZ ), South Khorasan Prov. , Nehbandan , 31°32′N , 60°00′E , 5 June 2022 , M. Hashemzahi leg.; 2♀ *, 6♂ * ( 2 male and 2 female specimens sent to ZMCBSU), 31°23′N , 60°43′E , 2 July 2022 , N. Hashemzahi leg.; 3♀ , 2♂ (sent to MHNG ), 31°27′N , 60°40′E , 10 September 2022 , N. Hashemzahi leg.; 1 subadult ( RIZ ), 31°24′N , 60°41′E , 2 October 2022 , N. Hashemzahi leg. Etymology This species is named after Rostam, a legendary hero of Persian mythology whose life and work was immortalized by the 10th-century Persian poet Ferdowsi in the Shahnameh , or Epic of King s. Diagnosis Scorpions with body length 61.3 to 83.7 mm for male and 61.2 to 87.4 mm for female individuals ( Table S1 ); overall body color black ( Figures 3 , 5 , and 7), carapace with dense granules except for lateral ends ( Figures 4A and 6A ); pedipalp slightly elongated, length of femur 3 to 3.4 times the width, patella 2.3 to 2.7 times the width ( Table S1 ), chela smooth, manus wider than patella ( Figures 4C and 6C ), movable and fixed fingers with 13–15 rows of oblique teeth; beginning of mesosomal tergites smooth and their ends granulated, sternite VII with four nearly developed carinae, submedian carina present only in anterior half of segment, number of pectin teeth 27–34 in males ( Figures 3B and 4B ) and 22–26 in females ( Figures 5B and 6B ); metasomal segment I wider than long, other segments longer than wide; dorsal lateral carina of metasomal segment V with granule at beginning and a smooth edge posteriorly, ventral lateral carina toothed, with large cuneiform granule posteriorly ( Figures 4D, 4E , and 6D– 6F ), anal arch with three almost rounded lobes in lateral part ( Figures 4E and 6F ). Description: Female , holotype (RIZ-And-237) ( Figures 5 and 6 ). Size: Body length 80.0 mm ( Table S1 ). Coloration: Body’s overall color black, pectin cream, sternites III–V and end part of legs brown ( Figures 5 and 6 ). Chelicera: With two lateral teeth on ventral surface of fixed finger, movable finger with equal internal and external end teeth. Carapace: Trapezoid, width at end greater than length, surface with dense granules except for lateral end part, carinae fully developed and central median and posterior median carinae not connected ( Figure 6A ), front margin of carapace straight in lateral view, with two to five very long setae, median eyes located in front part of prosoma, with five pairs of lateral eyes, two of which are smaller and may be confused with granules. Central median and posterior median carina with almost large continuous granules, central lateral carina with large and separate granules, intercarinal surface with few granules and smooth areas especially in the margins. Legs: Tarsomeres densely setose, with dense hair comb on all legs ( Figure 5 ). Pedipalp: Slightly elongated, femur 3.3 times longer than wide ( Figure 6C ), intercarinal surface with granules, with five distinct carinae, prodorsal and retrodorsal carinae with dense granules, retroventral carinae faded and with only a few granules, proventral carina with dense granules, promedian carina with large and separate cuneiform granules; patella 2.5 times longer than wide ( Figure 6C ), intercarinal surface with small granules, with eight carinae, prodorsal and proventral carinae with large and separate cuneiform granules, prodorsal carina densely granulated, retrodorsal and dorsal median and retroventral carinae obliterated (with smooth ridges), proventral carina with dense granules; chela smooth, carina faded, manus wider than patella, finger length slightly longer than manus length ( Figure 6C ), movable finger with 14 or 15 rows of oblique teeth with external and internal accessory granules and three terminal granules, fixed finger with 14 rows of oblique teeth with internal and external teeth. Trichobothriotaxy: Aβ type , with 39 trichobothria on each pedipalp; femur with 11 trichobothria (five dorsal, four internal lateral, two external lateral); patella with 13 trichobothria (five dorsal, one internal, seven external); chela with 15 trichobothria (eight on manus, seven on fixed finger); esb , Esb , and Eb3 trichobothria reduced; trichobothria et located near beginning of tooth row 5 and trichobothria est located near middle part of tooth row 7. Mesosoma: Beginning of tergites smooth and their ends granulated, end of first to sixth tergites with three carinae, seventh tergite with five carinae, presence of median carina only at first half of segment and weakly granulated ( Figure 6A ); third to fifth sternites without carina, middle part of median carina (near the setae) and end half of submedian carina and upper part of respiratory opening (horizontally) granulated in sixth sternite. Seventh sternite with four developed carinae, sublateral carina faded in anterior and end part of segment, intercarinal surface without granule ( Figure 6B ); number of pectin teeth 25|26, tip of pectin reaching first half of fourth sternite and before the junction of the trochanter with coxa of fourth leg ( Figure 6B ); pectins with three marginal lamellae and eight middle lamellae, lamellae with many brown setae, each fulcrum with 2–4 brown setae; sternum pseudopentagonal type I , longer than wide, with deep median depression; genital operculum completely bisected lengthwise, with short and smooth spines ( Figure 6B ). Metasoma: Segment I wider than long with 10 carinae, dorsal lateral and lateral median carinae with long cuneiform granules posteriorly, lateral inframedian, ventral lateral and ventral submedian carinae with distinct granules; segments II–III longer than wide, with eight carinae, dorsal lateral and lateral median carinae with long cuneiform granules posteriorly, lateral inframedian carina obliterated, with one or two large granules at end of segment, ventral lateral carina granulated, ventral submedian carina granular and with smooth edges; segment IV longer than wide, with eight carinae, dorsal lateral and lateral median carinae with long cuneiform granules posteriorly, absence of lateral inframedian carina, ventral lateral carina granulated, ventral submedian carina granulated and with smooth edges, end half with irregular granules ( Figures 6D–6F ); segment V longer than wide, with five carinae, dorsal lateral carina with a granule at the beginning and smooth edge posteriorly, absence of lateral median and lateral inframedian carinae, ventral lateral carina toothed, with large cuneiform granule posteriorly, ventral median carina with serrated granules on front part and smooth edge at end, presence of five long setae on lateral surface of segment ( Figures 6D–6F ); all segments with very sparse setae, anal arch with three lobes in lateral part, first lobe rounded, large, and always with groove ( Figure 6F ); ventral intercarinal surface of segments II–V granulated ( Figure 6E ). Telson: Elongate, with sparse setae, without subcaval tooth, ventral surface with ridge and granulated, dorsal surface smooth ( Figures 6D–6F ); telson depth/length = 0.37, telson width/length = 0.46 ( Table S1 ). Description: Male , paratype (RIZ-And-235) ( Figures 3 and 4 ). Male same as female with the following differences: Body length 83.6 mm ( Table S1 ), body color darker than female, end of third to fifth sternite light yellow, length of femur 3.2 longer than wide, length of patella 2.5 longer than wide, movable finger with 15 rows of oblique teeth, fixed finger with 14 or 15 rows of oblique teeth, number of pectin teeth 31 ( Figure 3B ), tip of pectin reaching middle of fifth sternite and after the junction of the trochanter with coxa of fourth leg ( Figure 3B ), telson depth/length = 0.38, telson width/length = 0.46 ( Table S1 ).