Scorpionidae of the great Arabic Maghreb. V. a telson with three stings in Buthus occitanus Amoureux
Zarrouk, K.; Zakour, L.B.
Archives de l'Institut Pasteur de Tunis 57(3): 249-256
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0020-2509 PMID: 7212866 Document Number: 166477
In this fifth part of a series on the scorpions of the Grand Maghreb region [see preceding abstract, etc.], the importance is stressed of the shape of the last 2 abdominal segments, including the sting and venom sac, for identifiying scorpions in Tunisia, of which 2 species are especially dangerous. Attention is therefore drawn to the discovery of an anomalous formation of the telson in a female of Buthus occitanus (Amoureux) from southern Tunisia, consisting of a sting with 2 small additional barbs at the base of the normal one; the 2 smaller barbs had no opening and could not have been used to inject venom. Other anomalies in the shape of the sting or venom sac are reviewed that have previously been recorded from other species of scorpions in Algeria.