Loading...

Agricultural Science Digest

Morphological Identification and Geographical Distribution of Scorpions in Azilal Province (Morocco)

DOI: 10.18805/ag.D-284    | Article Id: D-284 | Page : 289-294
Citation :- Morphological Identification and Geographical Distribution of Scorpions in Azilal Province (Morocco).Agricultural Science Digest.2021.(41):289-294
Oulaid Touloun, Naima Moudden o_touloun@yahoo.fr
Address : Polyvalent Laboratory of Research and Development, Department of Biology, Polydisciplinary Faculty, University Sultan Moulay Slimane, Beni Mellal 23000, Morocco.
Submitted Date : 28-05-2020
Accepted Date : 9-09-2020
First Online:

Abstract

Background: Scorpionism is considered as one of the health and medical problem in undeveloped tropical and subtropical countries in the world. In Morocco, Azilal province is considered among the most Moroccan regions affected by the scorpion sting and envenomation. Despite of its epidemiological status, little is known about the distribution of scorpions in Azilal province. Any strategy against these envenomation must first go through a good knowledge of the composition and distribution of scorpion fauna involved. The current study aimed to study the scorpion fauna of this province in order to manage and control scorpionism related problems.
Methods: In this field-laboratory investigation during 2014-2017, different localities of Azilal province were surveyed. 14 sampling localities were selected based on geographical situation, climate and local data. In the laboratory, the collected scorpions were determined morphologically based on the valid taxonomic keys.
Conclusion: Our investigations in the Azilal province have allowed to us to inventory seven species. Among the inventoried species some are deemed dangerous for humans. The geographical distribution of collected species was discussed. The present work will be a complementary contribution to the comprehensive study of the scorpion sting syndrome in Morocco.

Keywords

Azilal province Distribution Inventory Scorpions

References

  1. Arroyo, H. (1963). Etude biométrique préliminaire sur la variété oranaise du scorpion Buthus occitanus. Archives de l’Institut Pasteur d’Alger. 41: 72-74.
  2. Charrab, N., El Oufir, R., Soulaymani, A., Semlali, I., Mokhtari, A. and Soulaymani, R. (2009). Risk factors for scorpion stings in the BeniMellal province of Morocco. Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins including Tropical Diseases. 15(4): 707-717.
  3. Chippaux, J.P. and Goyffon, M. (2008). Epidemiology of scorpionism: a global appraisal. Acta Tropica. 107(1): 71-79.
  4. Ehrenberg, C.G. (1828). Naturgeschichfliche Reisen durch Nord-Afrika und West-Asien in den Jahren 1820 bis 1825 von Dr. F.W. Hemprich und Dr. C.G. Ehrenberg. Herausgegeben von Dr. Ehrenberg. Erster Band, Erste Abteilung. Historischer Teil. Emst Siegfried Mittler, Berlin, Posen und Bromberg.
  5. Fet, V., Sissom W.D., Lowe G. and Braunwalder, M.E. (2000). Catalog of the scorpions of the world (1758-1998). New York Entomological Society. New York, 690 p.
  6. Goyffon, M. and Heurtault, J. (1995). La fonction venimeuse. Editions Masson, 284 p.
  7. Hirst, S. (1925). On some scorpions from Morocco, with the description of a new genus and species. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, ser. 9. 15: 414-416. 
  8. Koch, C.L. (1839). Die Arachniden. Getreu nach der Natur abgebildet und beschrieben. 5. C.H. Zeh’schen Buchhandlung, Nürnberg, 158 pp. http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/110884.
  9. Kovarik, F. (2009). Illustrated catalog of scorpions; Part I. Clarion Productions, Prague, 169 p.
  10. Leach, W.E. (1815) A tabular View of the external Characters of Four Classes of Animals, which Linné arranged under INSECTA; with the Distribution of the Genera composing Three of these Classes into Orders andc. and Descriptions of several New Genera and Species. Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 11: 306-400. https://doi. org/10.1111/j.1096-3642.1813.tb00065.x.
  11. Linnaeus C. (1758). Scorpio. In: Systema naturæ per regna tria naturæ, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Tomus I. Editio decima, reformata. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae [Stockholm], 624-625. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title. 542
  12. Lourenço, W.R. (2003). Compléments à la faune de scorpions (Arachnida) de l’Afrique du nord avec des considérations sur le genre Buthus Leach, 1815. Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 110(4) : 875-912.
  13. Lourenço, W.R. (2005). Nouvelles considérations taxonomiques sur les espèces du genre Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 et description de deux nouvelles espèces (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 112(1): 145-171.
  14. Lourenço, W.R. (2010). A new species of Butheoloides Hirst, 1925 from Morocco (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Entomologische Mitteilungen aus dem Zoologischen Museum Hamburg. 15(183): 183 189.
  15. Lourenco, W.R. (2009). Reanalysis of the genus Scorpio Linnaeus 1758 in sub-Saharan Africa and description of one new species from Cameroon (Scorpiones, Scorpionidae). Entomologische Mitteilungen aus dem Zoologischen Museum Hamburg. 15(181): 99-113.
  16. Lourenço, W.R., Touloun, O. and Boumezzough, A. (2011). The genus Butheoloides Hirst, 1925 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) in Morocco, with a description of a new species. Euscorpius.113: 1-7.
  17. Lourenço, W.R., Touloun, O. and Boumezzough, A. (2012). Un nouveau ButhusLeach, 1815 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) du Nord du Maroc ; possible lien entre les populations marocaines et européennes. Revista Ibérica de Aracnología. 21: 21-25.
  18. Lourenço, W.R. and Vachon, M. (2004). Considérations sur le genre ButhusLeach, 1815 en Espagne, et description de deux nouvelles espèces (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Revista Ibérica de Aracnologia. 9: 81-94. 
  19. Ministère de l’Intérieur (2015). La Région de Béni Mellal-Khénifra: Monographie générale. Publication de la direction régionale des collectivités locales: 51p.
  20. Oukkache, O., El Jaoudi, R., Ghalim, N., Chgoury, F., Bouhaouala, B., El Mdaghri, N. and Sabatier, J.M. (2014). Evaluation of the Lethal Potency of Scorpion and Snake Venoms and Comparison between Intraperitoneal and Intravenous Injection Routes. Toxins. 6 : 1873-1881.
  21. Pocock R. I. (1902). A contribution to the systematic of scorpions. Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. London, 10: 364-380.
  22. Schenkel, E. (1949). Mitteilungen über Spinnentiere. Skorpioneaus Marokko. Verhandlungen der Naturforschenden Gesellschaftin Basel. 60: 186-201.
  23. Soulaymani, R., Faraj, Z., Semlali, I., Khattabi, A., Skalli, S., Benkirane, R. and Badri, M. (2002). Epidémiologie des piqûres des scorpions au Maroc. Revue Epidemiologique de. Santé Publique. 50: 341-347.
  24. Soulaymani, R. and El Oufir, R. (2009). Stratégie nationale de lutte contre les piqfires et les envenimations scorpioniques. Revue Toxicologie Maroc. 2: 3-9.
  25. Touloun, O. (2012). Les peuplements de scorpions du sud-ouest marocain: Ecologie, Biogéographie et Epidémiologie des envenimations. Publications des Editions Universitaires Européennes. 157 p.
  26. Touloun, O. (2019). liste actualisée et commentée de la faune scorpioniquedu Maroc (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Revista Ibérica de Aracnología. 34: 126-132.
  27. Touloun, O. and Boumezzough, A. (2011). Une nouvelle espèce du genre Buthus Leach, 1815 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) du Maroc. Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa (S.E.A.). 48: 183 187. 
  28. Touloun, O. and Boumezzough, A. (2013). Nouvelle donnée sur la répartition de Butheoloides (Butheoloides) slimanii Lourenço, 2010 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) au Maroc.Poiretia. 5: 15-19.
  29. Touloun, O., Elhidan, M. A. and Boumezzough, A. (2014). Inventory and distribution of scorpion fauna in eastern Morocco (Arachnida, Scorpiones). Serket. 14(2): 73-79.
  30. Touloun, O., Slimani, T. and Boumezzough, A. (2001). Epidemiological survey of scorpion envenomation in southwertern Morocco. Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxines. 7(2) : 199-218.
  31. Vachon, M. (1952). Etude sur les scorpions. Arch. Inst. Pasteur Alger: 482 p.
  32. Vachon, M. (1974). Etude des caractères utilisés pour classer les familles et les genres de Scorpions (Arachnides). 1. La trichobothriotaxie en arachnologie. Sigles trichobothriaux et types de trichobothriotaxie chez les Scorpions. Bulletin du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle. Paris, 3ème série, n°140, Zool. 104: 857-958.

Global Footprints