Leiurus jordanensis Lourenço, Modrý & Amr, 2002

Afifeh, Bassam Abu, Al-Saraireh, Mohammad & Amr, Zuhair, 2025, Revision of the genus Leiurus in Jordan, with a description of a new species and a new record (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Ecologica Montenegrina 86, pp. 81-118 : 103-115

Leiurus jordanensis Lourenço, Modrý & Amr, 2002

( Figures 5-6 , 67-86 , 94 , 100 ; Tables 2, 3)

Type locality and type depository. Adult holotype ♀, Jordan, NW of Al-Mudawwarah, 29°19'22.3"N, 35°59'24.3"E, ca. 700 m a.s.l., 14.VII.2000, leg. D. Modrý ( MHNG) (not examined) .

Material examined. Jordan: 1 ♂, 1 subadult ♂, 4 ♀♀, 1 subadult ♀, Al Mudawwarah, Ma'an Governorate, 29°23'05.7"N 35°54'10.2"E, 765 m a.s.l., 24 October 2020, leg. B. Abu Afifeh and M. Al-Saraireh ; 4 ♀♀, Wadi Rum / 13 km SE Al Ghal, Aqaba Governorate, 29°26'00.1"N 35°40'56.8"E, 890 m a.s.l., 15 July 2022, leg. B. Abu Afifeh and R. Abu Afifeh ; 2 ♂♂, 5 ♀♀, Batn El-Ghol , Ma'an Governorate, 29°42'48.4"N 36°08'53.6"E, 879 m a.s.l., 7 July 2023, leg. B. Abu Afifeh , R. Abu Afifeh , and H. Al-Bdareen ; 1 ♂, 1 ♀, 20 km S Al-Sheidiah Mine , Ma'an Governorate, 29°44'28.5"N 36°06'47.1"E, 964 m a.s.l., 7 July 2023, leg. B. Abu Afifeh , R. Abu Afifeh , and H. Al-Bdareen .

Diagnosis. Large size Leiurus , adults 84-101 mm in total length, carapace length 9.72–10.08 mm in males, 9.60 – 11.40 in females, general colour black to blackish brown; pedipalps blackish-brown overall excepted for the chelae fingers which are yellow to slightly brownish-yellow; vesicle of telson pale yellow; legs with the four proximal segments brownish-yellow and the three most distal yellow to pale yellow; anterior margin of carapace slightly concave, all carapace carinae strongly developed; central lateral and posterior median carinae fused to form lyre shaped row of granules, carapace anteromedian intercarinal surface smooth with few isolated granules, carapace posteromedian furrow moderately deep and flanked by arcs of medium or fine granules, chelicerae with characteristic buthid dentition ( Vachon, 1963); tergites I–II, VII pentacarinate, III–VI tricarinate; medial intercarinal surfaces of tergites II-III moderately shagreened, sternites III with moderate to strong median carinae in females; strong in males; sternite IV-V with median carinae strong in males, weak to moderate in females; sternite IV-V with lateral carinae strong in males, moderate to strong in females, sternite VII medial intercarinal surface finely granulated anteriorly, pectinal tooth counts ranging from 35–39 in males, and 29–33 in females. Pedipalps slender; femur L/ W 4.52 –4.75 in males, 4.04–4.38 in females; patella L/ W 4.29 -4.52 in males, 3.64 – 4.00 in females; chela L/ W 8.67 –9.00 in males, 7.68–7.84 in females; fixed and movable finger of pedipalps with 12 rows of granules and marked accessory granules; trichobothrial pattern orthobothriotaxic, type A-β ( Vachon, 1974, 1975); pedipalp chela fixed finger trichobothrium db distal to est; metasoma I–III with 10 carinae, median lateral carinae complete on I, reduced on II–III; metasoma IV with 8 carinae; metasoma V with 7 carinae; metasoma V with slightly enlarged subtriangular denticles on ventrolateral carinae, metasoma slender; metasoma I L/ W 1.33 –1.44 in males, 1.37–1.42 in females, metasoma II L/ W 1.89 -2.11 in males, 1.92–1.98 in females; metasoma III L/ W 2.11 –2.33 in males, 2.1S 4 – 2.24 in females; metasoma IV L/ W 2.62 –2.92 in males, 2.69–2.76 in females; metasoma V L/ W 3.28 -3.74 in males, 3.13–3.31 in females.

Measurements: See table 2.

Distribution: Jordan, Saudi Arabia.

Remarks: Sherwood et al., 2024 reported captative-bred adult female and a group of juveniles of Leiurus jordanensis exhibit “albinism”; almost absent of total dark pigmentation, this phenomena has been previously observed on Leiurus jordanensis specimens posted on social media platforms and among European scorpions breeders websites, we report here a case of partial absence of dark pigmentation and generalized lighter than usual colour pattern on a wild specimen of Leiurus jordanensis in its natural habitat; an adult female ( Fig. 1-5 ) has been collected from Al-Ghal area, southern Jordan, the specimen observed in a healthy status and was captured while predating on small gecko ( Hemidactylus sp. ), the term Piebaldism can describe this kind of irregular partial absence of black pigmentation in regions that are typically uniformly black (see Lucati & López- Baucells, 2017 and Tang & Liu, 2024 for more details).

Sexual dimorphism

Males differed from females as follows: Males with more robust carination on tergites and sternites III– V, more slender pedipalps and metasoma, longer pectines with larger teeth.

Habitat

Based on the locality records of Leiurus abdullahbayrami in Türkiye, Syria, and Lebanon, it is not surprising that its distribution extends further south within the Mediterranean biogeographical region, an area characterized by relatively low endemism. This expansion reaches the eastern Jordanian mountains. Observations indicate that this species tends to avoid areas associated with dense forests, particularly those dominated by Quercus calliprinos and Pinus halepensis , as well as regions with thick vegetation at high altitudes. Instead, L. abdullahbayrami shows a preference for semi-arid rocky steppe biotopes. The southern mountains in the Ma'an region likely represent the southernmost extent of its distribution (see map in Fig. 107 and habitat in Fig. 103 ).

On the other hand, Leiurus hebraeus exemplifies an Afro-tropical species that is largely confined to the Jordan Valley on both sides of the Jordan River. It avoids the extreme desert conditions of Wādī Rum and the Arabian Desert to the east and south. However, scattered records suggest its presence in higher elevations near Karak, Irbid, and Amman, areas that fall within a semi- Mediterranean biotope ( Fig. 105 ). Meanwhile, Leiurus jordanensis appears to have a more restricted geographic range, primarily inhabiting sandstone cliffs that are isolated by extensive sand dune fields in southern Jordan and northern Saudi Arabia ( Fig. 106 ). Additional records are needed to determine the precise geographic range of the newly described species, Leiurus aylaensis sp. n. Initial findings suggest that its distribution is limited to the mountainous regions surrounding Aqaba and Wādī Rum ( Fig. 104 ).

Discussion

Species of the genus Leiurus have a wide range of distribution extending along North Africa and parts of the African Sahara, Cameroon, Nigeria, and Somalia reaching as far as the Middle East near Kuwait, with 24 described species ( Rein, 2025). Lowe et al. (2014) stated that the genus Leiurus consists of a group of allopatric or parapatric species distributed across a wide geographical range, however they are separated by physical barriers, and predicted additional new species.

Within the Middle East, 12 species are known to occur. Leiurus abdullahbayrami has a wide range of distribution extending from Türkiye, Syria, and Lebanon (Yağmur et al., 2009; Khalil & Yağmur, 2010; Borges & Yağmur, 2022). The new record from Jordan expands its distribution to the south. This species is distributed along the Irano-Turanian biogeographic region that reaches its southern range in southern Jordan. It was found in sympatry with L. hebraeus areas of overlap with the Mediterranean biotope. Leiurus jordanensis is confined to southern Jordan and northwestern Saudi Arabia, and its distribution range is close to the newly described L. aylaensiss. Sympatry of related species was reported in Wadi Araba, whereas Buthacus arava Cain, Gefen & Prendini, 2021 and Buthacus yotvatensis Levy, Amitai & Shulov, 1973 were collected from the same locality in Wadi Khanzeerah, Karak Governorate, Jordan ( Levy et al., 1970; Cain et al., 2021). Similarly, Nebo jazanensis and Nebo yemenensis were found in sympatry in southwestern Saudi Arabia ( Abu Afifeh et al., 2023b).

Leiurus hebraeus is mostly distributed along the Mediterranean regions and the upper Jordan Valley of Jordan, characterized by rocky terrain and humid soil. It is considered by far the most common species in Jordan.

The Levantine region is a transitional zone between the Palaeartic and the Saharo-Arabian Desert. Por (1987) discussed the biogeographic significance and function in shaping the current fauna of the Levantine region, he stated that the geographical location of this region meant that it acted as a changeable corridor and as a dynamic filter. Kosswig (1955) stated that there are difficulties in distinguishing natural biogeographic barriers within the Levant and that led to the Coexistence of species descended from different biogeographical realms been seen everywhere in the Levant, which leads to extreme biogeographical heterogeneity. Jordan forms the southern part of the Levant, particularly Wādī Rum and the Rift Valley act as a “biological filter” where there are dramatic intermingling faunas. In this region, geomorphology, soil types and climatic variations have enabled these species, descended from different biogeographic realms, to find suitable habitats for their success in the region.

We presented differential diagnosis based on morphometric characters that demonstrated differences between the four species in Jordan that warrants the description of Leiurus aylaensis sp. n. as a new species. further studies incorporating molecular evidence are urgently needed to confirm the taxonomic identity of Leiurus species in Jordan and across their broader distribution range within the Middle East.

Figures

Figure 107. Map showing the distribution of Leiurus species in Jordan. Red circle: Leiurus abdullahbayrami. Blue circle: Leiurus jordanensis. Green circle: Leiurus hebraeus. Black circle: Leiurus aylaensis sp. n.

Figures 1–6. In vivo habitus. Figure 1. Leiurus aylaensis sp. n., female holotype from Aqaba. Figure 2. Leiurus aylaensis sp. n. male paratype from Aqaba. Figure 3. Leiurus abdullahbayrami, female from Ma’an southern Jordan. Figure 4. Leiurus hebraeus, female from Um Al-Dananeer, Balqa Governorate. Figure 5. Leiurus jordanensis, female with partial absence of dark pigmentation, from Al-Ghal area southern Jordan. Figure 6. Leiurus jordanensis, female with dark pigmentation, from Al Mudawwarah, southern Jordan.

Figures 67–70. Leiurus jordanensis from Jordan, habitus under white light. Figures 67–68. Male, in dorsal (67), and ventral (68) views. Figures 69-70. Female, in dorsal (69), and ventral (70) views. Scale bar: 10 mm.

Figures 71–72. Leiurus jordanensis male from Jordan under UV light. Figure 71. Carapace and mesosoma. Figure 72. Coxal and sternopectinal regions and sternites. Scale bar: 5 mm.

Figures 73–74. Leiurus jordanensis female from Jordan under UV light. Figure 73. Carapace and mesosoma. Figure 74. Coxal and sternopectinal regions and sternites. Scale bar: 5 mm.

Figures 75-80. Metasoma segments and telson under UV light. Leiurus jordanensis. (Figures 75-77). Male in dorsal (75), ventral (76), and lateral (77) views. (Figures 78-80). Female in dorsal (78), ventral (79), and lateral (80) views.

Figure 81-86. Leiurus jordanensis female from Jordan, pedipalp segments under UV light. Figure 81. Femur internal view. Figure 82. Femur dorsal view. Figure 83. Patella dorsal view. Figure 84. Patella external view. Figure 85. Chela external view. Figure 86. Chela ventral view.

Figures 91–96. Comparsion of carapace of six Leiurus species under white light, Figure 91. Leiurus abdullahbayrami. Figure 92. Leiurus aylaensis sp. n. Figure 93. Leiurus hebraeus. Figure 94. Leiurus jordanensis. Figure 95. Leiurus quinquestriatus. Figure 96. Leiurus haenggii.

Figures 97–102: Comparison of carapace of six Leiurus species under UV light. Figure 97. Leiurus abdullahbayrami. Figure 98. Leiurus aylaensis sp. n. Figure 99. Leiurus hebraeus. Figure 100. Leiurus jordanensis. Figure 101. Leiurus quinquestriatus. Figure 102. Leiurus haenggii.

Figures 103–106. Natural habitats, Figure 103. Al Ekaider, Mafraq Governorate. Figure 104. Titin, Aqaba Governorate. Figure 105. Um Al-Dananeer, Balqa Governorate. Figure 106. Wadi Rum /Al Ghal, Aqaba Governorate.