Updated catalogue and taxonomic notes on the Old-World scorpion genus Buthus Leach, 1815 (Scorpiones, Buthidae)

摘要

Since the publication of the ground-breaking ?￠????Catalogue of the scorpions of the world (1758?￠????1998)?￠???? (Fet et al. 2000) the number of species in the scorpion genus Buthus Leach, 1815 has increased 10-fold, and this genus is now the fourth largest within the Buthidae, with 52 valid named species. Here we revise and update the available information regarding Buthus. A new combination is proposed: Buthushalius (C. L. Koch, 1839), comb. n. from Portugal and Spain. B.halius is removed from junior synonymy with Buthusoccitanus (Amoreux, 1789), and proposed as a senior synonym of B.ibericus Louren???§o & Vachon, 2004, syn. n. Moreover, following I.C.Z.N. article 23.9.2 we propose to maintain as valid B.ibericus(nomen protectum) and to consider the disued B.halius as a nomen oblitum. Buthuseuropaeustridentatus Franganillo, 1918 is proposed as a junior synonym of B.occitanus (Amoreux, 1789), syn. n.Buthussabulicola Touloun, 2012 is proposed as a junior synonym of Buthusbonito Louren???§o & Geniez, 2005, syn. n.Buthusoccitanustunetanusneeli Gysin, 1969 is proposed as an informal senior synonym of Buthustassili Louren???§o, 2002, informal syn. n. Two taxa are rised to species rank, Buthusnigrovesiculosus Hirst, 1925, stat. n. and Buthusparroti Vachon, 1949, stat. n.. We further confirm the restricted distribution of B.occitanus that is confined to southeastern France and northwestern Iberian Peninsula and does not occur in North Africa. Additionally, Androctonusbarbouri (Werner, 1932), comb. n. from the Agadir region of Morocco, is hereby transferred to the genus Androctonus. We summarize and provide a critical appraisal of the diagnostic characters currently in use for the genus. The catalogue section considers the names for species, subspecies and varieties that have been used for Buthus scorpions. Information about types, including collection numbers and localities are included when available. Finally, an annotated listing of synonymies and an updated bibliography are given.