Biometry and inventory of scorpions in the Algerian Northwest

Abstract

The present study consists in making an inventory of the scorpionic fauna at the level of the Algerian north-west (Tlemcen, Naama and Bechar). Following a 10-month survey, we were able to collect a total of 117 living scorpions, they are grouped into 8 species belonging to two large families (Buthidae and Scorpionidae). Indeed, it is at the Teiher station in the wilaya of Tlemcen where the large number of scorpions was collected about 90 individuals. According to the results of the outings and among the scorpions sampled, it appears that the animals belong to the Buthidae family of which 6 species have been identified namely: Androctonus amoreuxi, Androctonus australis, Buthus tuneatanus, Buthus oudjanii, Hottentotta franzwerneri and Orthochirus innesi. Concerning the Scorpionidae family, two species of which have been identified, namely: Scorpio maurus and Scorpio punicus. The largest species in size is Hottentota franzwerneri with a total length of 101 mm (cephalothorax 12 mm, abdomen 29 mm and tail 60 mm). Equitability is close to one for the Zebche station, we noticed at this station that the species tend to be in numerical equilibrium, however in the Teiher station, the fairness is zero which is a result of dominance of only one species.