The Scorpion Files Newsblog

 

Wilson Lourenco has recently published an article describing a new species of the medical important genus Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Buthidae) from a savannah-like habitat in Nigeria.

Leiurus nigerianus Lourenco, 2021

Abstract:
One more African new species belonging to the genus Leiurus Ehrenberg is described. The description is based on two pre-adult male specimens collected in the region of Kaura Namoda, NW of Nigeria. The new species shows affinities with other Leiurus species distributed in the Western portion of Africa; however several characteristics attest that this population is certainly distinct. The ecological features of the type locality are particular since the area is characterised by savannah-like vegetation, instead of arid-desert formations; formation previously defined exclusively for Leiurus savanicola described from Cameroon. The type locality of the new species is the most Southwestern region of Africa in which a Leiurus species was collected.

Reference:
Lourenco WR. A new species of Leiurus Ehrenberg (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Nigeria, with extension of the distribution range of the genus to the Southwestern portion of the African continent. Serket. 2021;18(1):1-10. [Open Access]

Thanks to Dr.Hisham K. El-Hennawy for sending me this article from the journal Serket!

Buthidae

Not easy to identify the involved scorpion in this fatal sting case.

Oyedeji and co-workers have recently published a fatal scorpion sting case involving a child from Nigeria. Reports of scorpion stings in Nigeria in literature are rare, this is probably one of the first documented fatal cases involving scorpions in Nigeria.

The involved species is not identified (but a color picture of a crushed scorpion is included in the article). Based on the distribution list in Scorpiones.pl, buthid genera Babycurus, Buthacus, Butheloides, Hottentotta and Uroplectes are represented in Nigeria. Hottentotta is considered medical significant in North Africa, but the other genera are generally not considered dangerous. But with small children, many buthid species can cause more serious symptoms than those observed in adult victims.The scorpion fauna of Nigeria is not well known, so it is possible that other potent genera and/or species also are present in this country.

NB! After publishing this post, I got a suggestion from Dr. Rolando Teruel that this scorpion may be Hottentotta hottentotta, a species reported from Nigeria.

Abstract:
Fatal scorpion stings are rare in Nigeria. Hitherto, there has been no report from Nigeria of death following scorpion  stings. This report is that of a 2-year-old boy who was stung by a scorpion while playing outside his home environment in  Osogbo, South West Nigeria. He subsequently presented to the Children Emergency Unit of Ladoke Akintola University  of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, in pain and with features of shock. He died within 2 h of admission despite all  treatment given to relieve pain and manage shock. The case is reported in order to share the important lessons learned.

Reference:
Oyedeji OA, Musa TL, Adebami OJ, Oyedeji GA. Fatal scorpion sting in a child. Niger J Clin Pract. 2014 Jan-Feb;17(1):112-4. [Free full text]