Abstract
Scorpions represent one of the most ecologically and medically significant
arachnid groups in tropical and subtropical regions, with the Kurdistan Region of
Iraq recognized as an important biogeographical zone due to its diverse habitats,
varied topography, and transitional climatic conditions. Despite this ecological
importance, the scorpion fauna of Kurdistan region of Iraq remains insufficiently
studied, and comprehensive integrative taxonomic investigations are scarce. The
genus Hottentotta spp. Birula, 1908 (Buthidae) is widely distributed across arid
and semi-arid regions and includes species of notable medical relevance,
however its taxonomy in Iraq has long been complicated by morphological
similarity and intraspecific variation.
In this study, a total of 339 specimens were collected from both Erbil and
Duhok governorates, that describes two species of Hottentotta ssp. from the
Kurdistan Region of Iraq based on an integrative taxonomic framework
combining four complimentary approaches: morphology, morphometric
analysis, ultrastructural examination of sensory organs, and molecular data.
The findings indicated the existence of two separate Hottentotta species in
the research region. A lineage identified as Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880), a
species previously documented in the area, is thoroughly re-characterized
utilizing existing integrative methodologies. The second lineage constitutes a
novel taxon, officially known in this study as Hottentotta adiabenesis sp. nov.,
named in honor of the ancient Assyrian province of Adiabene. Unique patterns
of mesosomal carination, unusual diameters of the pedipalp segments, specific
telson morphology, and a distinct trichobothrial arrangement distinguish this new species from H. saulcyi and other congeners. Statistical morphometric comparisons revealed consistent diagnostic differences separating the two taxa from closely related congeners.Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the sensory organs, particularly trichobothria, pectinal teeth, and cuticular sensilla, several types of sensilla were also distinguished, such as trichobothria, slit sensilla, peg sensilla, and constellation array each having specific morphological characteristics and a regular spatial arrangement that provided additional microstructural characters supporting species delimitation. Molecular phylogenetic investigations utilizing 12S and 16S rRNAmitochondial genes supported the species-level distinction between H. saulcyiand H. adiabenesis sp. nov., with genetic distances beyond standard intraspecific variation. Phylogenetic trees reliably positioned both species within the genus Hottentotta, with strong bootstrap support, currently, all scorpion in the present study sequences are recognized under sequences PX697841, PX697842, PX697843, PX697844, PX697845, PX697846, PX697847, PX697848, PX699362, PX699363, PX699364, PX699365, PX699366, PX699367 and PX699369 accession numbers in the GenBank.This study represents the inaugural comprehensive ultrastructural and molecular characterization of Hottentotta species from the Erbil and Duhok governorates. The characterization of H. adiabenesis sp. nov. underscores the Kurdistan Region as a significant hub of scorpion diversity and stresses the imperative of integrating morphological, ultrastructural, and molecularmethodologies for precise species delineation within medically relevant taxa.
