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Figure 1: Shape of sternum. A. triangular. B. pentagonal.

Figure 3: A. Anterior tergal crests of mesosoma distinct B. Anterior tergal crests of mesosoma not distinct or absent.

Figure 4: A. Tergal crests of mesosoma projecting beyond the posterior margins B. Tergal crests of mesosoma not projecting beyond the posterior margins.

Figure 5: A. Sole of tarsi with spines. B. Sole of tarsi with hairs and bristles.

Figure 6: A. Metasoma with several rows of small depressions. B. Metasoma without several rows of small depressions.

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 scorpions dangerous to humans.

Androctonus amoreuxi (Audouin, 1826)                                                     

Diagnosis: Olive to chocolate brown in colour. Prosoma: densely granulated. Mesosoma: with distinct crests, the seventh sternite with four smooth or granulated crests. Metasoma: first segment of the tail wider than long, while segments 2-5 are longer than wide. Pectines 27-33 in males and 18-29 in females. 

Measurements: Total length up to 9cm (average 5.5cm.), prosoma 5-8mm., mesosoma 11.7-17.7 mm., metasoma 18.9-34.4mm.

Habitat and distribution: It has a wide distribution along the coastal plains of Palestine and Sinai (Levy and Amitai, 1980). Its habitat is similar to A. crassicauda. Recorded from Wadi Araba and the lower Jordan Valley (Amr and El-Oran, 1994). Figure 3 shows the distribution of A. amoreuxi in Jordan.

Figure 7: Androctonus bicolor.

Androctonus bicolor Ehrenberg, 1828                                                           Figure (7)

Diagnosis: Dark brown to olive black. The colour of the terminal segments of the legs and pedipalps are light brown. Prosoma: crests are distinct, Mesosoma: densely granulated with distinct tergal crests. Metasoma: median lateral keels of segments two and three are developed and possess few granules. Pectines with 23-29 teeth in males and 19-24 in females.

Measurements: Total length may reach 9cm, prosoma 6.9mm, mesosoma 15.6mm., metasoma 33.2mm.

Habitat and distribution: This species is known from few localities. El-Hennawy (1988) reported it from Ma'an, Aqaba and Petra, and Amr and El-Oran (1994) indicated a locality from Karak and Kovařík and Whitman (2004) from Wadi Rum. Figure 2 shows the distribution of A. bicolor in Jordan.

Figure 8: Androctonus crassicauda.

Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier, 1807)                                          Figure (8)

Diagnosis: Black in colour to dark brown in colour. Prosoma: covered by distinct granules. Mesosoma: with moderately distinct granules. Metasoma: segments thick and wider than long. Lateral keels of the second and third segments are reduced to only a few granules. Pectines 27-32 in males and 23-27 in females.

Measurements: Total length up to 10cm (average 8.5 cm), prosoma 10.3-11.5mm, mesosoma 19.6-23.9mm, metasoma 42.1-49.9mm.

Habitat and distribution: This is a desert adapted species with wide distribution in the eastern desert and Wadi Araba to Aqaba (Levy and Amitai 1980; Amr et al. 1988; Amr and El-Oran, 1994), from Azraq, Jarash, Ν Shuna (Stathi and Mylonas, 2001), and from Wadi Rum (Kovařík and Whitman, 2004). Figure 3 shows the distribution of A. crassicauda in Jordan.

It was also collected from the Mediterranean region with dense forests but in low numbers. It lives in horizontal burrows in dry soil in desertic regions or in rodent burrows.  A. crassicauda is one of the venomous species in the Middle East.

Birulatus haasi Vachon, 1974

Diagnosis: This is a small-sized scorpion, with an average length of 20mm. Prosoma: 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).

Habitat and distribution: 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 and Lourenço, 2003). Figure 3 shows the reported distribution of B. haasi in Jordan.

Figure 9: Buthacus leptochelys.

Buthacus leptochelys (Ehrenberg, 1829)                                                        Figure (9)

Diagnosis: Yellow to yellowish brown in colour. Prosoma: entirely smooth. Mesosoma: smooth without crests. Metasoma: tails segments with hairs, and telson with many hairs. Pectines with 27-35 teeth in males and 18-29 in females.

Measurements: Total length may reach up to 6cm (average 4.1 cm.), prosoma 4.4-4.6mm., mesosoma 9-10.3mm., metasoma 22.7-25mm.

Habitat and distribution: This species is known from Southwest Jordan (Kinzelbach, 1984) and from Wadi Rum (Stathi and Mylonas, 2001). It was collected from rodent burrows in extreme desertic conditions near El Jafr (Amr and 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).

The records of Kovařík and Whitman (2004) of Buthacus arenicola and Buthacus tadmorensis from Wadi Rum are considered as Buthacus leptochelys in this study until further validation of the status of species of the genus Buthacus in the Middle East. Figure 3 shows the distribution of B. leptochelys in Jordan.

Buthus amri Lourenço, Yagmur & Duhem, 2010

Diagnosis: yellowish to pale yellow in colour. Prosoma: intensely spotted with small granules with visible crests. Mesosoma: three longitudinal stripes are distinct; the median one narrower than the lateral. Metasoma: segments yellowish with some diffuse spots over crests; spots better marked on the fifth segment. Pectines with 27- 29 teeth in males, 21-23 in females.

Measurements: Small scorpion with a total length of 44 mm in males and 50 mm in females.

Habitat and distribution: This species was collected from Wadi Rum. It inhabits hard sandy soil with sparse bushes (Lourenço et al., 2010).

Lourenço (2003) revised the genus Buthus and sateted that the true "Buthus occitanus" is confined to France and Spain. All previous records of Buthus occitanus such as that of Kinzelbach (1984) from Jordan require validation, since they could be either Buthus israelis or the newly described species Buthus amri. Figure 3 shows the distribution of B. amri in Jordan.

Compsobuthus carmelitis Levy, Amitai & Shulov, 1973

Diagnosis: Colouration usually light yellow to light yellowish brown. Prosoma: with fine granules and visible crests, Mesosoma: tergites with small granules, Metasoma: second segment with eight complete crests.  Pectines 23-25 in males and 20-22 in females.

Measurements: Total length 32–40 mm

Habitat and distribution: A single record from Wadi Ζarqa (Ν of Sihan) was indicated by Stathi and Mylonas (2001). Figure 3 shows the distribution of C. carmelitis in Jordan.

Figure 10: Compsobuthus jordanensis.

Compsobuthus jordanensis Levy, Amitai & Shulov, 1973                           Figure (10)

Diagnosis: Yellow to light-brown in colour. Prosoma densely granulated. Mesosoma: each tergite equipped with three rows of crests extending beyond the tergite's margin. Metasoma: with narrow segments. Pectines 18-23 in males and 16-21 in females.

Measurements: Total length of the adult approximately 3cm.

Habitat and distribution: This species was collected from deserts around Wadi Dabaa' (Southeast of Amman) and Al Hassa towards Ma'an (Levy et al., 1973). Figure 3 shows the distribution of C. jordanensis in Jordan.

Compsobuthus levyi Kovařík, 2012

Diagnosis: yellow to yellowish brown in colour. Prosoma: covered with granules, Mesosoma: tergites I–VI bear very strong, denticulate lateral crests. Metasoma: all metasomal segments of both sexes slender and longer than wide. Pectines 18–23.

Measurements: Total length 28–38.4 mm.

Habitat and distribution: This species was collected from Qasr Burqu, in the eastern desert of Jordan (Kovařík, 2012). Figure 3 shows the distribution of C. levyi in Jordan.

Compsobuthus schmiedeknechti Vachon, 1949

Diagnosis: Yellow to yellowish brown. Prosoma: with distinct granules. Mesosoma: each tergite with three rows of crests extending beyond tergite margins. Metasoma: with narrow segments and telson usually orange to dark yellow in colour. Pectines 15-18.

Measurements: Adult specimens may reach up to 3cm.

Habitat and distribution: Not much is known about the habitat of this scorpion. It was reported from Jordan by Vachon (1949). Records from Jordan include Bonifica and Petra (Kovařík and Whitman, 2004). Figure 3 shows the distribution of C. schmiedeknechti in Jordan.

Compsobuthus werneri (Birula, 1908)

Diagnosis: Light yellow in color. Prosoma: smooth except for small granules in front of the ocular crest and lateral eyes. Mesosoma: each tergite with three rows of crests extending beyond the tergite margins. Metasoma: intermediary crests of the third segment not distinct with few granules. Pectines 18-23 in males and 16-21 in females.

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.

Habitat and distribution: It was collected from Petra and Wadi Al-Hasa, Shaumari, Wadi Sheib, Amman, Bqueuiah and Quasr Burga (Kinzelbach, 1984; Amr and El-Oran 1994; El-Hennawy, 1988; Kovařík, 2003). This species was recovered from pellets of the Eagle Owl in the Eastern Desert of Jordan (Rifai et al., 2000). Other records are from Ajlun, ΑΙ Manshiyya, ΑΙ Mazar al Janubi, W Azraq, Jerash, N Shuna, Um Quays, Wadi Musa, Zai park (Stathi and Mylonas, 2001) and Petra (Kovařík and Whitman, 2004). Figure 3 shows the distribution of C. werneri in Jordan.

Figure 11: Hottentotta judaicus.

Hottentotta judaicus (Simon, 1872)                                                    Figure (11)

Diagnosis: Black to dark brown in colour. Prosoma: heavily granulated. Mesosoma: with densely granulated tergites. Metasoma: dorsal segments smooth, while the lateral and ventral sides are granulated. Sole of tarsi with small spines. Pectines 27-33 in males and 22-27 in females.

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

Habitat and distribution: This species was reported from Irbid and Salt (Wahbeh, 1976), Kinzelbach 1984) and Amman (El-Hennawy, 1988), and Ajlun, Jarash and Ν Shuna (Stathi and Mylonas, 2001). It seems that this species is confined to mountainous areas of Jordan with relatively high rain fall (Amr and 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.

Figure 12: Leiurus jordenensis.

Leiurus jordenensis Lourenço, Modry & Amr, 2002                        Figure (12)

Diagnosis: Body coloration generally blackish brown. Prosoma: black and heavily granulated. Mesosoma: five keels present on the first and second tergites. Metasoma: crests are strongly marked and inter crestal spaces smooth to shagreened. Ventral side of tarsi with numerous setae not arranged in straight rows. Pectines 30 in females.

Measurements: Total average 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.

Habitat and distribution: the species was 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 appears limited to an enclave within the area in which its most related species (Leiurus quinquestriatus) is distributed. Figure 4 shows the distribution of L. jordenensis in Jordan.

Figure 13: Leiurus quinquestriatus.

Leiurus quinquestriatus (Ehrenberg, 1828)                                       Figure (2H)

Diagnosis: Yellow in colour. Prosoma granulated. Mesosoma: the first two tergites have 5 keels. Metasoma: segments 1-4 yellow in colour, segment 5 black. Pectines 31-36 in males and 26-32 in females.

Measurements: Adult specimens may reach 9cm. in length (average 6cm.), prosoma 3.8-9.6mm., mesosoma 16.8-19.8mm., metasoma 19.3-42.4mm.

Habitat and distribution: 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 Dabaa' (Levy and 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), Dair Alla, Bireen, Dana Reserve, Wadi Musa, Shemakh (Shoubak), Tafilah, Karak, Mashreh Dam, El-Karameh, Dair El-Warak (Mafraq), Wadi El-Yotom (Aqaba), Okader, Irbid (Amr and El-Oran, 1994). Other localities include southern part of the Dead Sea, Manshiyya, ΑΙ Mazar al JanιIbi, Dana Nature Reserve, Wadi Zarqa (Dead Sea), Ν Shuna, Wadi Zarqa (Ν of Sihan), Perra, Thagrat al Jubb, SE of Um Quays, Zai National Park, King Talal Dam, Wadi Rum (Stathi and Mylonas, 2001) and Wadi Rum, Petra (Kovařík and Whitman, 2004). Figure 4 shows the distribution of L. quinquestriatus in Jordan.

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, Madaba area and Karak. We have few collections from southern Jordan (Amr and El-Oran, 1994). High number of individuals was also collected from Wadi Al Mujib Nature Reserve. 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.

Figure 14: Orthochirus scrobiculosus.

Orthochirus scrobiculosus (Grube, 1873)                                                      Figure (5)

Diagnosis: Black in colour. Prosoma: entirely smooth. Mesosoma: densely granulated. Metasoma: tail segments covered with small depressions. Pectines 19-20 in males and 15-18 in females.

Measurements: Total length can reach up to 3 cm. (Average 2.6 cm), prosoma 3mm., mesosoma 7.6mm., metasoma 15.2mm.

Habitat and distribution: Wahbeh (1976) reported this species from Madaba area. Amr and El Oran (1994) listed several localities for this species from arid and mid regions in Jordan. Collected also from Azraq, Jerash and Thygrat al Jubb (Stathi and Mylonas, 2001) and from Wadi Rum (listed as Orthochirus innesi) by Kovařík and Whitman (2004). Figure 4 shows the distribution of O. scrobiculosus in Jordan.

Orthochirus scrobiculosus negebensis is the known subspecies occurring in Jordan, Palestine and Sinai (Levy and 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. 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.

Family Scorpionidae

The pentagonal sternum is the prominent feature of this family. Species of the genus Scorpio lack subaculear tubercle on the telson, while present in Nebo. In the Middle East, members of this family are not considered venomous.

According to Vachon and Kinzelbach (1987), three subspecies of the genus Scorpio occur in Jordan, namely: Scorpio maurus fuscus distributed in the north, Scorpio maurus palmatus south western Jordan and Scorpio maurus kruglovi occurring in the Eastern Desert.

Figure 15: Nebo hierichontichus.

Nebo hierichontichus (Simon, 1872)                                                 Figure (6A)

Diagnosis: Dark-brown in colour. Pedipalps thick and long. Prosoma smooth with granules on the lateral side. Mesosoma entirely smooth. Metasoma: tail segments long and narrow, subaculear tubercle present on the telson. Pectines 14-22 in males and 11-17 in females.

Measurements: Adult may reach 14 cm. (average 7.3cm.), prosoma 7.1-12.9mm., mesosoma 17.4-35.2mm., metasoma 20.2-47.4mm.

Habitat and distribution: This species is endemic to Syria, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan and Arabia (Vachon and Kinzelbach, 1987). Wahbeh (1976) collected this species from Madaba 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 and El-Oran, 1994). Also collected from W Karak, Al Mazar Al Janobi and Wadi Rum (Stathi and Mylonas, 2001) and from Wadi Rum (Kovařík and Whitman, 2004). Nebo hierichontichus has a scattered distribution. The localities indicated represent a wide range of biotops. It constructs its own burrows and could be found under rocks and between crevices. Figure 7 shows the distribution of N. hierichontichus in Jordan.

Figure 16: Scorpio maurus fuscus.

Scorpio maurus fuscus (Hemprich & Ehrenberg, 1829)                                Figure (16)

Diagnosis: Dark brown in colour. Pedipalpal claw similar to the lobster. Prosoma entirely smooth. Mesosoma smooth and without crests. Metasoma tail segments yellow brown with scattered hairs and telson is usually yellow in colour. Pectines 9-11 in males and 6-10 in females.

Measurements: Total length may reach 8cm (average 6.), prosoma 6.5-9.1mm, mesosoma 18.6-20.3mm, metasoma 19.1-25.7mm. Pectines 9-10

Habitat and distribution: 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 (Amr and El-Oran 1994; Stathi and Mylonas, 2001). At Zubya, an oak forested area, over 15 specimens were collected within an area of about 500 m² (Amr and El-Oran, 1994). However, Warburg (1997) stated that, this oak wood scorpionid, formerly the most abundant scorpion in the Mediterranean region, showed a marked decline in numbers. Figure 7 shows the distribution of S. m. fuscus in Jordan.

Figure 17: Scorpio maurus palmatus.

Scorpio maurus palmatus (Hemprich & Ehrenberg , 1829)                          Figure (17)

Diagnosis: Yellow to light olive brown in colour. Pedipalpal claw similar to the lobster. Prosoma entirely smooth. Mesosoma smooth and without crests. Metasoma: tail segments yellow brown with scattered hairs. Pectines 9-13 in males and 7-13 in females.

Measurements: Total length 5-7 cm (average 5.25cm), prosoma 7.6-8.3mm, mesosoma 14.9-18.6mm, metasoma 18.9-22.9mm.

Habitat and distribution: 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; Amr and El-Oran 1994). This species was recovered from pellets of the Eagle Owl in the Eastern Desert of Jordan (Rifai et al., 2000) and from Wadi Rum (Kovařík and Whitman, 2004). Figure 7 shows the distribution of S. m. palmatus in Jordan.

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