- Zuhair S. Amr & Mohammad Abu Baker, Jordan -

German Version / Deutsche Version

The Scorpions of Jordan

Introduction

Scorpions are members of class Arachnida of the greater phylum Arthropoda. They are one of the most ancient animals, and perhaps they appeared about 350 million years ago during the Silurian period, where they invaded terrestrial habitats from an amphibious ancestor (Vachon 1953). Scorpions are characterized by their elongated and segmented body that consists of the cephalothorax or prosoma, abdomen or mesosoma and tail or the metasoma. These animals are adapted to survive under harsh desert conditions.

Due to their medical importance, the scorpions of Jordan received considerable attention of several workers (Vachon 1966, Levy et al . 1973, Wahbeh 1976, Amr et al . 1988, El-Hennawy 1988, Amr et al. 1994, Amr & El-Oran 1994). The diversity, distribution and zoogeographic affinities of the scorpions of Jordan are discussed.

Systematics of the Scorpions of Jordan

A total of 15 species and subspecies representing 10 genera within three families (Buthidae, Diplocentridae** and Scorpionidae) have been recorded in Jordan (Amr et al. 1988, Amr & El-Oran 1994, Lourenço et al . 2002) . Family Buthidae includes 8 genera (Leiurus, Buthotus*, Androctonus, Orthochirus, Buthacus, Compsobuthus, Birulatus and Buthus) and 12 species and subspecies. Both Diplocentridae and Scorpionidae are represented by a single genus for each (Nebo and Scorpio).

Family Buthidae

Triangular sternum is the prominent feature of representatives in this family. Three to five eyes are usually present and the telson is usually equipped with accessory spines. This family includes most of the venomous scorpions.

Leiurus quinquestriatus Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1829

Diagnosis: Yellow in colour. The first two mesosomal tergites have 5 keels. Adult specimens may reach 9cm. in length.

Measurements : Total length 3-7.7cm (average 5.8cm.), prosoma 3.8-9.6mm., mesosoma 16.8-19.8mm., metasoma 19.3-42.4mm. Pectines 29-41.

Remarks: This is the most common species in Jordan . Wahbeh (1976) reported that L. quinquestriatus constituted 85% of the scorpions collected from 13 different localities. Warburg et al . (1980) noted that L. quinquestriatus is quite common in the Northern Jordan Valley . It was collected from Mafraq (Levy et al . 1970), Wadi Deba (Levy & Amitai 1980), and from Wadi Musa, Wadi Al-Mujib, Aqaba, Wadi Ram and Jabal Nebo (Kinzelbach 1984), and Azraq and Wadi Sheib (El-Hennawy 1988).

Leiurus quinquestriatus has rather scattered populations. It was collected from Dana area (between Shoubak and Petra), where it was the only scorpion species with dense populations. Similar observations were seen near El-Hemma in the North, Wadi Al-Walah, Madabah area and Karak. We have few collections from southern Jordan (Amr & El-Oran 1994).

It is usually found under stones or rocks with no definite burrows. Stone walls are preferred hiding places for this species. Several specimens were brought from houses in Irbid and surrounding villages. This is the most poisonous species in the area (Amr et al. 1994). Warburg (1997) stated that this scorpion penetrated deeper into the Mediterranean biotope in Palestine .

Leiurus jordenensis Lourenço, Modry & Amr , 2002

Diagnosis : Body coloration generally blackish brown with some diffused pale spots on prosoma and mesosoma. Five carines present on tergites I and II. Metasomal carinae are strongly marked and intercarinal spaces are smooth to shagreened. Ventral side of tarsi with numerous setae not arranged in straight rows.

Measurements : Total length 7.4cm, carapace length 0.85cm, length of metasomal segment I 0.6cm, length of metasomal segment V 1.06cm, vesicle width 0.34cm, length of movable finger 1.36cm.

Remarks : the species was recently described from a desert habitat composed of sandstone cliffs surrounded by flat sand dunes from southern Jordan on the basis of a female specimen (Lourenço et al . 2002). According to Lourenço et al . (2002) the species distribution appear limited to an enclave within the area in which its most related species (Leiurus quinquestriatus) is distributed.

Leiurus jordanensis (Lourenço, Modry & Amr, 2002), Jordan
Photo: Dr. David Modry

Buthotus* judaicus Simon, 1872

Diagnosis : Black in color, prosoma granulated, pedipalps thin and long., terminating with brown. Sole of tarsi with small spines.

Measurements : Total length 5-7cm (average 5.9cm.), prosoma 6.4mm., mesosoma 16.6-19.9mm., metasoma 27.5-38mm. Pectines 22-28.

Remarks : This species was reported from Irbid and Salt (Wahbeh 1976), Kinzelbach 1984) and Amman (El-Hennawy 1988). It seems that this species may be confined to mountainous areas of Jordan (Amr & El-Oran 1994). It is quite common in the Ajlune Mountains , and associated with the terra rosa soil, where it coexist with Scorpio maurus palmatus . It constructs burrows that are usually located under stones and also found under rocks without burrows.

Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier , 1807)

Diagnosis : Black in colour. Tail segments thick and wide. Lateral keels of the second and third segments of the postabdomin are reduced to only a few granules.

Measurements : Total length 4-9cm (average 8.5 cm), prosoma 10.3-11.5mm., mesosoma 19.6-23.9mm., metasoma 42.1-49.9mm. Pectines 24-33.

Remarks : Wahbeh (1976) showed that only 6% of collected scorpions belong to this species. It has been collected from Amman and Qaser Amra (Levy & Amitai 1980) as well as from Aqaba (Amr et al. 1988). This is a desert adapted species as the localities suggest. A. crassicauda is one of the venomous species in the Middle East .

It lives in horizontal burrows in dry soil in desertic regions or in rodent burrows. This species was recovered from pellets of the Eagle Owl in Eastern Desert of Jordan (Rifai et al. 2000).

Androctonus bicolor Hemprich & Ehrenberg , 1829

Diagnosis: The colour of the terminal segments of the legs and pedipalps are light brown. Median lateral keels of the postabdominal segments two and three are developed and possess few granules. Adults may reach 9cm.

Measurements : Total length 5.5cm., prosoma 6.9mm., mesosoma 15.6mm., metasoma 33.2mm. Pectines 28-26.

Remarks : El-Hennawy (1988) reported this species from Ma'an, Aqaba and Petra . Additional records are from Karak (Amr & El-Oran 1994).

Androctonus amoreuxi (Audouin , [1827])

Diagnosis : Yellow to dark brown, prosoma densely granulated, the seventh segment with four crests. Adult specimens may reach 7cm.

Measurements : Total length 4.5-7cm (average 5.44cm.), prosoma 5-8mm., mesosoma 11.7-17.7 mm., metasoma 18.9-34.4mm. Pectines 23-25 in females and 27-32 in males.

Remarks : This species was collected from Western Jordan . It has a wide distribution along the coastal plains of Palestine and Sinai (Levy & Amitai 1980). Its habitat is similar to A. crassicauda . All the localities for this species are within the Saharo-Sindian region that penetrates Jordan from Wadi Araba to the lower Jordan Valley (Amr & El-Oran 1994).

Orthochirus scrobiculosus (Grube , 1873)

Diagnosis : Black in color. Prosoma smooth. Metasoma covered with small depressions. Small in size (about 3cm)

Measurements : Total length 2.6 cm, prosoma 3mm., mesosoma 7.6mm., metasoma 15.2mm. Pectines 16-20.

Remarks : Wahbeh (1976) reported this species from Madabah area. Orthochirus scrobiculosus negebensis (Shulov & Amitai 1960) is the known subspecies occurring in Jordan , Palestine and Sinai (Levy & Amitai 1980), while other subspecies occur in Iraq , Iran and Turkestan .

This is a desert inhabitant; where it is usually found in small crevices under stones and burrows. High population densities were noticed in Azraq area. We placed alive specimens of this species along with L. quinquestriatus , where it was immediately preyed upon. Specimens from Wadi Rum were found in deep sand burrows that extends more than 50 cm deep. Other specimens were observed during the early morning hours basking on small shrubs, perhaps to absorb humidity.

Buthacus leptochelys (Hemprich & Ehrenberg , 1829)

Diagnosis : Yellow to yellowish brown in color, first segment with 10 keels, fifth segment lacks dorsal keels. cephalothorax entirely smooth. Total length is about 6cm.

Measurements : Total length 3.8-4.3cm (average 4.1 cm.), prosoma 4.4-4.6mm., mesosoma 9-10.3mm., metasoma 22.7-25mm. Pectines 20-26.

Remarks : This species is known from Southwest Jordan (Kinzelbach 1984). It was collected from rodent burrows in extreme desertic conditions near El Jafr (Amr & El-Oran 1994). Kinzelbach (1984) revised the systematic position of Buthacus leptochelys nitzani (Levy et al . 1973) and suggested synonymy with Buthacus leptochelys (Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1829).

Compsobuthus werneri werneri (Birula , 1908)

Diagnosis : Light yellow in color, prosoma smooth except for small granules in front of the ocular crest and lateral eyes. Adults reach about 4cm in total length.

Measurements : Total length 2.5-3.8cm (average 3.4cm.), prosoma 3.3-4.2mm., mesosoma 7.1-8.9mm., metasoma 14.6-15.5mm. Pectines16-20.

Remarks : It was collected from Ptera and Wadi Al-Hasa, Shaumari, Wadi Sheib and Amman (Kinzelbach 1984; El-Hennawy 1988). This species was recovered from pellets of the Eagle Owl in the Eastern Desert of Jordan (Rifai et al. 2000).

Compsobuthus acutecarinatus jordanensis Levy, Amitai & Shulov , 1973

Diagnosis : Yellow to light-brown in color, prosoma densely granulated. Total length of the adult approximately 3cm.

Remarks : This species was collected from Wadi Deb'em (Southeast of Amman) and Hassa towards Ma'an (Levy et al . 1973).

Birulatus haasi, Vachon, 1974

Diagnosis : This is a small-sized scorpion, with an average length of 20mm. Body heavily granulated. Median eyes small separated by two ocular diameters, lateral; eyes absent. Body basically pale yellowish, median eyes surrounded by black pigment. Mesosoma, vesicle, chelicera, pedipalps and legs yellowish.

Measurements : Average total length 2cm, carapace 2.8mm, metasomal segment I length 1.4mm, metasomal segment V length 2.3mm, vesicle width 0.5mm, length of movable finger 2.9mm. Measurements based on the female holotype (Lourenço 1999).

Remarks : This species was originally described from Tafila area (Vachon 1974). The species was redescribed by Lourenço (1999). He suggested that this species is a cave dwelling scorpion. We were unable to collect further specimens of this species. Perhaps the specimen collected from southern Jordan represents a relict population with limited distribution.

Two additional species of the genus were Birulatus have been described recently; Birulatus israelensis from Palestine (Lourenço 2002) and Birulatus astariae from Syria (Stathi & Lourenço 2003).

Buthus occitanus (Amoreux , 1789)

Diagnosis : Color yellow to dark brown, eight keels on the second and third segment, lateral ventral keels of the fifth segment equipped with distinct teeth. Adult specimens may reach 7cm.

Remarks : This species was reported by Kinzelbach (1984) from Wadi Rum and Ma'an. In Wadi Rum, this species was found around intermediate areas between rocky and sand areas. This is the third most dangerous venomous species in Jordan .

Family Diplocentridae**

The presence of accessory spine on the telson is the major distinctive character of this family. It is very similar to the family Scorpionidae in possessing a pentagonal sternum. Only one species belonging to this family occurs in Jordan .

Nebo hierichontichus Simon , 1872

Diagnosis : Dark-brown in color, prosoma smooth, pedipalps thick and long. Adult may reach 14 cm.

Measurements : Total length 4.5-10.5cm (average 7.3cm.), prosoma 7.1-12.9mm., mesosoma 17.4-35.2mm., metasoma 20.2-47.4mm. Pectines 13-22.

Remarks : This species is endemic to Syria , Palestine , Lebanon , Jordan and Arabia (Vachon & Kinzelbach 1987). Wahbeh (1976) collected this species from Madabah and Karak. Levy & Amitai (1980) reported other localities in Amman and Petra . Kinzelbach (1984) collected specimens from Petra . Other records in our collection are from several localities in Wadi Araba Jordan Valley and near Jarash (Amr & Al-Oran 1994).

Nebo hierichontichus has a scattered distribution. The localities indicated represent a wide range of biotops. This is in agreement with Warburg et al. (1980) and Rosin & Shulov (1963). It constructs its own burrows and could be found under rocks and between crevices. This is the largest scorpion species known to occur in Jordan . Its venom has a negligible effect on human (Rosin 1972).

Family Scorpionidae

The pentagonal sternum is the prominent feature of this family. Species belonging to this family lack the accessory spine on the telson. In the Middle East, members of this family are not considered venomous.

According to Vachon & Kinzelbach (1987), three subspecies occur in Jordan, namely: Scorpio maurus fuscus distributed in the North, Scorpio maurus palmatus southwestern Jordan and Scorpio maurus kruglovi occurring in the Eastern Desert .

Scorpio maurus fuscus (Hemprich & Ehrenberg , 1829)

Diagnosis : Dark brown in colour, pedipalpal claw similar to the lobster, prosoma smooth. Total length may reach 8cm

Measurements : Total length 4-5.5cm (average 4.5cm.), prosoma 6.5-9.1mm, mesosoma 18.6-20.3mm, metasoma 19.1-25.7mm. Pectines 9-10

Remarks : This species construct its burrows either under stones or in the tera rosa soil. It was collected from areas with high rain fall and cold winters. It is usually found in dense populations within the same area. At Zubya, an oak forested area, over 15 specimens were collected within an area of about 500 m 2 . However, Warburg (1997) stated that, this oakwood scorpionid, formerly the most abundant scorpion in the Mediterranean region, showed a marked decline in numbers.

Scorpio maurus palmatus (Hemprich & Ehrenberg , 1829)

Diagnosis : Yellow to light olive brown in color, pedipalpal claw similar to the lobster, prosoma smooth. Total length may reach 7 cm

Measurements : Total length 5-5.5 cm (average 5.25cm), prosoma 7.6-8.3mm, mesosoma 14.9-18.6mm, metasoma 18.9-22.9mm. Pectines 11-13.

Remarks : Scorpio maurus palmatus is of African origin that penetrated into southern Jordan . It was reported from Wadi Musa, Theban, Amman and Ajlun (Wahbeh 1976; El-Hennawy 1988). This species was recovered from pellets of the Eagle Owl in the Eastern Desert of Jordan (Rifai et al. 2000).

Klick! for a bigger plate!

(TOP/OBEN) Leiurus jordanensis (Lourenço, Modry & Amr, 2002)

(Left/LINKS) Orthochirus scrobiculosus (Grube , 1873), Scorpio maurus fuscus (Hemprich & Ehrenberg , 1829)

(RIGHT/RECHTS)Leiurus quinquestriatus (Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1829), Compsobuthus werneri werneri (Birula , 1908)

Zoogeography

The scorpions of Jordan are mostly eremic species. Buthacus leptochelys, Scorpio maurus palmatus, Androctonus bicolour, Androctonus crassicauda and Androctonus amoreuxi are considered xerophilic species as suggested by their distribution. They are found in the Saharo-Arabian region. This type of habitat is characterized by low rain fall that does not exceed 10 mm annually. Soil varies from sandy to limestone and sandstone. As indicated by Vachon & Kinzelbach (1988), S. m. palmatus is of African origin that penetrated into southern Jordan . Vachon (1979) reported this species from southern Arabia along the western coasts of the Red Sea . Buthacus leptochelys distribution is restricted to the southern deserts of Jordan . It occurs in the extreme deserts of Saudi Arabia (Vachon 1979). Although the majority of A. crassicauda specimens were collected from dry regions, it was collected from the Mediterranean territory (Warburg et al., 1980).

Both B. judaicus and S. m. fuscus are truly Mediterranean species. However, B. judaicus penetrated into arid regions as the southern parts of the Jordan Valley . Orthochirus scrobiculosus was collected from the three main biogeographical regions as well as N. hiericontichus of which showed a varied habitat preference.

Birulatus haasi was described from Tafila area. No further specimens were collected from this area. It is suggested here that B. haasi is a relict species with restricted distribution. It seems that is a Mediterranean form where as two other species were described from Palestine and Syria (Lourenço 2002; Stathi & Lourenço 2003).

Compsobuthus werneri was collected from the Irano-Turanian ecozone. Most of our collection originated from basalt and granite deserts, however, other few were collected from steppe regions (Karak area). This is a problematic genus that requires further studies.

Leiurus quinquestriatus was the most common species all over Jordan . It prefers steppe regions, although several locations represent the Mediterranean ecozone, few specimens were collected from the eastern desert or from Wadi Araba. We have no records from Zobya or Ajlun, both are typical Mediterranean areas. Previous reports indicated its presence in very dry regions (Kinzelbach 1984; El-Henawy 1988). It has a rather scattered populations, where it was collected from Dhana area (between Shoubak and Petra) and seems not to coexist with other scorpions. Similar observations were made in other areas. Warburg et al . (1980) indicated that L. quinquestriatus distribution is restricted to areas with low precipitation.

Further studies are required to reveal the taxonomic status of species of the genus Compsobuthus as well as Orthochirus. Ecological and behavioural studies on various species are highly recommended.

* Comment from Tietz/Witt: According to. FET et al (2000), the genus Buthotus is a synonym for the genus Hottentotta.

** Comment from Tietz/Witt: According to SOLEGLAD & FET (2003) the family Diplocentridae has been abolished (given subfamily status under Scorpionidae) and all genera has been tranfered to the family Scorpionidae.

References

Amr Z., Hyland K., Kinzelbach R., Amr S. & Defosse, D. (1988): Scorpion et piqures de scorpions en Jordanie. Bull. Soc. Path. Ex. 81, 369-379.

Amr, Z. S. & Al-Oran, R . (1994): Systematics and distribution of scorpions (Arachnida, Scorpionida) in Jordan. Bollettino di Zoologia 61:185-190.

Amr, Z. S., Al- Oran , R. & Amr, S . (1994): Scorpion stings in Jordan . Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology 88(1):99-101.

El-Hennawy, H. (1988): Scorpions of Jordan . Serket 1:13-20.

Kinzelbach R. (1984): Die Skorpion des Naturhistorischen Museum der Stadt Mainz.- Teil II:Vorderasient. Mainzer Narturw. Archiv. 22:97-106

Levy G. & Amitai P. (1980): Fauna Palaestina. Arachnida I: Scorpiones. The Israel Academy of Science and Humanities. Jerusalem . 130 pp.

Levy G., Amitai P. & Shulov A. (1970): Leiurus quinquestriatus hebraeus (Birula, 1908) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) and its systematic position. Israel Journal of Zoology 19:231-242.

Levy G., Amitai P. & Shulov A. (1973): New scorpions from Israel , Jordan and Arabia . Zoological Journal of the Linnanean Society 52:113-140.

Lourenço W. R . (1999): On the phylogenetic position of the genus Birulatus Vachon, 1973 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) and redescription of Birulatus haasi . Zoology in the Middle East 18: 109-113.

Lourenço W. R., Modry D. & Amr Z. (2002): Description of a new species of Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) from the South of Jordan. Revue Suisse de Zoologie 109(3): 635-642.

Lourenço , W. R. (2002): Further morphological considerations on the genus Birulatus Vachon (Scorpiones, Buthidae), with the description of a new species from Israel . Revista Iberica de Aracnologia 6:141-145

Rifai, L. B., Al-Melhim, W. N., Gharaibeh, B. M. & Amr, Z. (2000): The diet of the Desert Eagle Owl, Bubo bubo ascalaphus , in the Eastern Desert of Jordan. Journal of Arid Environments 44(3):369-372.

Rosin, R. & Shulov, A. (1963): Studies on the scorpion Nebo hierochonticus . Proc. Soc. London, 140:547-575.

Rosin , R. (1972): Venom, venom effects and poison gland of the scorpion Nebo hierichonticus . Cienc. Cult. 24:246.

Stathi, I. & Lourenço, W. (2003): Description of a new scorpion species of the genus Birulatus Vachon, 1974 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) from Syria . Zoology-in-the-Middle-East 30:105-110.

Vachon , M. 1953. The biology of scorpions. Endeavour12:80-89.

Vachon M. (1966): liste des scorpions connus en Egypte, Arabie, Israel, Liban, Syrie, Jordanie, Turquie, Irak, Iran. Toxicon 4:209-218

Vachon M. (1974): Etude des caracteres utilises pour classer les familles et les genres de Scorpions (Arachnides). Bull. Nus. Nat. Hist 3 (140), Zoologie: 857-95

Vachon, M. (1979): Arachnids of Saudi Arabia : Scorpions. Fauna of Saudi Arabia 1:30-66.

Vachon M. & Kinzelbach R. (1987): On the taxonomy and distribution of scorpions of the Middle East . Mainz 1985. F. Krupp, W. Schinder and R. Kinzelbach, eds. Beihefte zum TAVO A.

Wahbeh Y. (1976): A study of Jordanian scorpions. Jordan Medical Journal 11:84-92.

Warburg , M. R. (1997): Biogeographic and demographic changes in the distribution and abundance of scorpions inhabiting the Mediterranean region in northern Israel.: Biodiversity and Conservation. 6(10):1377-1389.

Warburg, M. R., Goldenberg S. & Ben-Horin A. (1980): Scorpion species diversity and distribution within the Mediterranean and arid regions of northern Israel . Journal of Arid Environ 3:205-213.