بررسی تنوع گونه‌ای عقرب‌ها (Arachnida: Scorpiones) در مناطق مرکزی استان سیستان و بلوچستان

Despite the presence of many species of scorpions in the country, very brief and limited studies have been conducted in some places with high diversity. In this study, the species diversity of Zahedan, Khash and Mirjaveh cities in Sistan & Baluchestan province was investigated during 2022 and 2023. In addition, samples were collected from Zabol and Saravan cities. For this purpose, sampling was done at night with the help of a UV light and during the day by digging in the leaves and trunks of trees, under stones and lumps, in the cracks of the ground, etc. Examining the samples led to the identification of eight species belong seven genera of the Buthidae family. Identified species are including: Androctonus cf. crassicauda (Olivier, 1807), A. sistanus Barahoei & Mirshamsi, 2022, Compsobuthus sp., Hottentotta sistanensis Kovarik et al., 2018, Mesobuthus rakhshanii Barahoei, 2022, Odontobuthus tirgari Mirshamsi et al., 2013, Orthochirus persa (Birula, 1900) and Sassanidotus gracilis (Birula, 1900). Specimens of the Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949 seem to belong to the new species. All four species collected from Mirjaveh County are new report for the fauna of this region. Five species are new for the fauna of Zahedan County and three species are new for the fauna of Khash County. This information will be useful and important in determining the fauna of scorpions in the region and determining the range of distribution of the studied species, to help in prevention, management and treatment as well as medical and health education.