Nouvelles considérations taxonomiques sur les espèces du genre Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 et description de deux nouvelles espèces (Scorpiones, Buthidae)

Abstract

New taxonomic considerations on the species of the genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 and description of two new species (Scorpiones, Buthidae).- Results of the study of an interesting collection of scorpions of the genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 from North African and the Middle East, now deposited in the Geneva Museum, are presented. The collection contains specimens of 13 species, two of which are new and described here: Androctonus maelfaiti sp. n. and Androctonus dekeyseri sp. n. A key to all these species is provided. The following taxonomic changes are proposed: Androctonus australis garzonii Goyffon & Lamy and Androctonus australis africanus Lamy, Le Pape & Weill are placed in the synonymy of Androctonus australis (Linnaeus). Androctbnus crassicauda gonneti Vachon and Androctonus australis baluchicus Pocock are raised to the status of species as Androctonus gonneti and Androctonus baluchicus. Androctonus aeneas C.L. Koch is placed in the synonymy of Androctonus bicolor Ehrenberg, whereas Androctonus bicolor liouvillei (Pallary) is reconsidered as a valid species. Finally, Androctonus mauritanicus bourdoni Vachon is placed in the synonymy of Androctonus mauritanicus (Pocock). Comments are given on the distributional patterns presented by the species of this genus.