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Buthacus

Buthacus is a genus of scorpions in the family Buthidae. Species of the genus are distributed across northern and western Africa, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Syria, the Arabian Peninsula, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Taxonomy

The genus was erected in 1908 by A.A. Birula, originally as a subgenus of the genus Buthus. It was elevated to genus rank by M. Vachon in 1949.

Diversity

Species of the genus Buthacus are very similar to each other and have been considered subspecies in some examples. At least 36 species are known, some of need taxonomic revision:

General characteristics

Small to moderately sized scorpions (40–75 mm). Most species are yellow, some are brownish, yellow-grayish or yellow-greenish colored. They show a rather slim habitus with long walking legs and a slender metasoma; pedipalp chelae very gracile and elongate. Cephalothorax smooth or with very weak carinae.

Toxicity

As in other buthids the venom in at least some species of Buthacus is relatively potent and can be of medical importance to humans.

Habitat

Most species live in arid, rocky and sandy desert habitats, some in semi-arid steppe environments. As most other scorpions they shelter from daylight in rock crevices or burrows.

References

External links

Images of Buthacus leptochelys and Buthacus sp.. Exotics.nl