Some new record of scorpion fauna found in different regions of district Pishin (Balochistan) Pakistan

The present study was aimed to ascertain the diversity of scorpion fauna of district Pishin, Balochistan province, Pakistan. Scorpion’s species were captured in field at night very carefully by using torch lights from April to October, 2018. A total of 130 specimens including 79 males and 51 females were collected. These were identified based on main diagnostic features. Five species of scorpions from five genera and one family (Buthidae) are recorded for the first from this region of Pakistan. The identified specimens include Andructonous rubustus, A. austrialis Mesobuthous cypirus, M. eupeus, Hottentotta (Buthotus), Buthacus (Birula), and Tityus serrulatus. The Androctonus austrialis showed high ratio of abundance 41(70.73% male, 29.26% female) followed by Hottentotta (Buthotus) sp. 31 (61.29% male, 38.71% female) and Buthacus (Birula) sp. 24 (62.5% male, 37.5% female) respectively. Among six localities, Pishin town showed high number (29) of scorpion species followed by Khanozai (26) and Baostan (25). Based on male specimen’s measurements, Hottentotta (Buthotus) sp. was found to be the larger scorpion with 11.1 cm total body length compared to the male specimens of the remaining four species. Color comparison indicated four species (A. austrialis, A. rubustus, Buthacus (Birula) sp., Tityus serrulatus) with yellow to yellowish body color, whereas M. cyprius, M. eupeus and Hottentotta (Buthotus) sp. showed yellowish brown, gray, and black to yellow body color respectively. Findings concluded that foremost and diverse assortment of scorpions in the study region are existed giving a criterion for further demographic and ecological studies, and stresses the necessity for impact assessment prior to undertaking developmental projects, since arachnids exhibit restricted movements and are vulnerable to habitat modification.