Azizi K.1, Ebrahimi M.2, Paksa A.1, Soltani Z.1, Ainvand M.H.3, Shahabi S.1* 2024. Faunistic composition and spatial distribution of scorpions in Fars Province, south of Iran // Invertebrate Zoology. Vol.21. No.2: 193–209 [in English].
1 Department of Biology and Control of Disease Vectors, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
2 Student Research Committee, Department of Biology and control of disease vectors, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
3 Student Research Committee, Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Kourosh Azizi azizik@sums.ac.ir https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7051-2536
Mohammad Ebrahimi m.ebrahimi148@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5814-3253
Azim Paksa a.paksa@yahoo.com https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4167-5843
Zahra Soltani zahra.soltani57@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5347-1952
Marziyeh Hamyali Ainvand hamyali-m@medilam.ac.ir https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9023-7022
Saeed Sharabi DNA1390@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2768-1497
* Corresponding author
doi. 10.15298/invertzool.21.2.07
ABSTRACT. The major type of animal envenomation in Iran is related to scorpion stings. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the faunistic composition and spatial distribution of scorpions in Fars Province. Collected scorpions were transformed to the Entomo-Zoology Museum at Shiraz University of Medical Science (EZMSUMS) and identified at the species level using valid morphological keys. Furthermore, we performed a literature review containing data on species composition and distribution of the scorpion recorded from Fars counties. Finally, the map of the scorpion’s distribution was drawn by the software ArcGIS. Based on the specimens examined in the present study and the literature review, the scorpion fauna of Fars Province included 27 species belonging to 11 genera and three families of Buthidae (24 species), Scorpionidae (one species), and Hemiscorpiidae (two species). Of 27 species recorded from Fars Province, 15 are endemic to Iran. Androctonus crassicauda and Mesobuthus eupeus were the Province’s most abundant and widespread species. The counties with warmer bioclimate located in the west and south of the Province, including Larestan, ZarrinDasht, Kazeroun, and GhirKarzin, had the richest scorpion diversity.
KEY WORDS: Biodiversity, Buthidae, Hemiscorpiidae, Scorpionidae, fauna, Iran.