A new Scorpio (Scorpiones, Scorpionidae) species from Northern Iraq

E. A. Yagmur; H. S. Kachel; F. S. Hussen; A. M.  Al-Khazali; F. R. Ali; M. A. K. Al-Jubouri; I. I. Hamad; A. B. Sdiq

doi:10.15407/zoo2026.01.001

E. A. Yagmur Manisa Celal Bayar University, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0396-3975
H. S. Kachel Department of Biology, College Science, University of Zakho, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7231-8267
F. S. Hussen Department of Biology, College of Science, Salahaddin University, Erbil, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8748-0470
A. M. Al-Khazali Department of Science / Branch Biology, College of Basic Education, University of Sumer, Dhi Qar, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7268-696X
F. R. Ali Department of Biology, College Science, University of Zakho, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8645-6564
M. A. K. Al-Jubouri Department of Science / Branch Biology, College of Basic Education, University of Sumer, Dhi Qar, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0007-8928-292X
I. I. Hamad Department of Biology, College of Science, Salahaddin University, Erbil, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4868-708X
A. B. Sdiq Department of Biology, College of Science, Salahaddin University, Erbil, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0009-6161-6267

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15407/zoo2026.01.001

Keywords: Mesopotamia, endemic, fauna, description, taxonomy

Abstract

Scorpio assyriacus sp. n., from northern Iraq is described illustrated and compared with all known species of the genus Scorpio Linnaeus, 1758, occurring in Turkey, the Middle East, and Iran. Aspects of the ecology and distribution of the new species are discussed and compared with those of other closely related Scorpio species from nearby localities in Turkey. The new species can be distinguished by its reduced number of pectinal teeth, the cardial-triangular configuration of the genital operculum (which is not posteriorly elongated in females), a more hirsute body, globular vesicle, flattened and discrete granules on the external surface of the chela manus, and significantly longer chela fingers compared to other species. With this discovery, the total number of documented scorpion species in Iraq has reached 23.

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