A review of the scorpion fauna of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The scorpions of Saudi Arabia were surveyed in the major regions of Jazan, Al-Medina, Al-Baha, Hail, and Riyadh, in addition to nine provinces surveyed more superficially. Jazan (1,440 specimens) had 10 buthids and two scorpionid species and subspecies; Al-Medina (867) had seven buthid and two scorpionid species and subspecies, one of which, the scorpionid Scorpio maurus (palmatus?), needs further confirmation of identity. The Al-Baha region (2421 specimens) contained five buthids and two scorpionid species and subspecies; Hail (1,921) had eight buthid and two scorpionid species and subspecies - the most common subspecies here was Scorpio maurus kruglovi. Androctonus crassicauda and Leiurus quinquestriatus were only found in Hail and Al-Baha; Androctonus bicolor was newly recorded in Hail and Riyadh. Riyadh (4,164 specimens) had nine buthid, one scorpionid and at least two hemiscorpiid species and subspecies. The Saudi fauna was found to comprise at least 28 species and subspecies of the families Buthidae, Scorpionidae and Hemiscorpiidae.

Keywords: Buthidae, Scorpionidae, Diplocentridae