PHOTO
WANTED!

HEMISCORPIIDAE
Pocock, 1893

PHOTO
WANTED!
This small family, which consists only of 2 genera and 7 species [Updated 07.05.03], was recently elevated to family status by Lorenzo Prendini. This is not mentioned in Fet et al. (2000), but the family status is recognized by Dr. Fet (pers. comm.). This genus was originally placed in the Scorpionidae (subfamily Hemiscorpiinae). The elevation to family status was based on a cladistic study of the "superfamily" Scorpionoidea. See Prendini's publication for details (see below).

The members of this family are known from Africa (Eritrea and Somalia) and Asia (Iran, Iraq, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Samha Island, Socotra Island, United Arab Emirates and Yemen).

Scorpions in this family are probably not kept in captivity.

Hemiscorpius lepturus is a very dangerous species of serious medical significance (see species link for more information). No data have been available for other members of this family. The members of this family should be handled with care as long as their venom status is unknown.

This family was not included in Fet et al.(2000). The subfamily Hemiscorpiinae was elevated to family status by Lorenzo (2000) - se reference below. Subspecies is not included in the list. I try to update the list as additions and changes are published. * denotes changes after Fet et al. (2000). I will be grateful for information about new development in the taxonomy of this family. For information about synonyms and bibliographies, see Fet et al. (2000)

Prendini, L. (2000). Phylogeny and classification of the superfamily Scorpionoidea Latreille 1802 (Chelicerata, Scorpiones): An exemplar approach. Cladistics, 16, pp. 1-78.

SPECIES FILES:

Habibiella Vachon, 1974
H. gaillardi Vachon, 1974
Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861
H. arabicus (Pocock, 1899)
H. lepturus Peters, 1861
H. maindroni (Kraepelin, 1900)
H. persicus Birula, 1903
H. socotranus Pocock, 1899
H. tellinii Borelli, 1904

Jan Ove Rein (C) 2024