The evolution and distribution of noxious species of scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones)

Abstract

This contribution attempts to bring some general information on the evolution and, in particular, on the geographic distribution of scorpion species noxious to humans. Since 95% of the scorpions incidents are generated by specimens of the family Buthidae C. L. Koch, the analysis will be limited to this familial group. As in previous similar contributions, the content of this work is mostly addressed to non-specialists whose research embraces scorpions in several fields such as venom toxins and public health. Only in recent years, efforts have been made to create better links between 'academic scorpion experts' and other academic non-specialists who use scorpions in their research. Even if a larger progress can yet be expected from such exchanges, crossed information proved to be useful in most fields of scorpion studies. Since the taxonomy of scorpions is complex, misidentifications and even more serious errors concerning scorpion classification/identification are often present in the general literature. Consequently, a precise knowledge of the distribution patterns presented by many scorpion groups and, in particular, those of infamous species, proves to be a key point in the interpretation of final results, leading to a better treatment of the problems caused by infamous scorpion species.

Keywords: Biased results; Buthidae; Noxious species; Patterns of distribution; Scorpion.

Fig. 1

Protobuthus elegans Lourenço & Gall. Fossil scorpion from Early Triassic, France. The specimen, an adult male, clearly presents a telson

Fig. 2

Vietbocap thienduongensis Lourenço & Pham (Pseudochactidae). A cave scorpion from Vietnam, the specimen is an adult male (copyright by D.-S. Pham, reproduced with permission)

Fig. 3

Grosphus flavopiceus Kraepelin from Madagascar. An adult female feeding respectively on (a) an insect (Orthoptera) and on (b) a gecko (Reptilia)

Fig. 4

The very strong pedipalp-chela of a Pandinus imperator from Africa (copyright by E. Ythier, reproduced with permission)

Fig. 5

Telson of an extant buthid, Buthus lienhardi Lourenço. An adult female from Morocco

Fig. 6

Telsons of two Early Cretaceous amber fossils from Burma, Myanmar. a Palaeoburmesebuthus grimaldi Lourenço (Palaeoburmesebuthidae). b Chaerilobuthus schwarzi Lourenço (Chaerilobuthidae) (b copyright by J. Velten, reproduced with permission)

Fig. 7

Division of biogeography into the three spatial-temporal scales of Udvardy (modified from Udvardy [42])

Fig. 8

Betaburmesebuthus bellus Lourenço (Palaeoburmesebuthidae). Young male from Early-Cretaceous amber of Burma (copyright by C. Gröhn, reproduced with permission)

Fig. 9

Palaeoananteris ribnitiodamgartensis Lourenço & Weitschat (Buthidae). Adult male from Early-Cenozoic Baltic amber

Fig. 10

Ananteris charlescorfieldi Lourenço (Buthidae, Ananterinae). Adult female from Bolivia

Fig. 11

Grosphus ankarana Lourenço & Goodman (Buthidae). Female from the north of Madagascar