First Record of Androctonus finitimus (Pocock, 1897) from Punjab, Pakistan

Scorpions are primitive (Ozkan et al., 2007), venomous (Gomes et al., 2010) and widely distributed terrestrial arachnids (Rein, 2017). Their venom has wide range of applications especially in medical and biological sciences. Scorpion venom has historically been proposed for the treatment of certain diseases and disorders. It has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial (Harrison et al., 2014), anti-tumor (Cheong et al., 2010) and strong insecticidal potentials (Menez, 1998; Zlotkin et al., 2000).

Ecology and distribution of scorpions are not well documented in Pakistan especially in Punjab province. Fauna of British India monograph contains limited information about scorpion fauna of the Subcontinent i.e. Pakistan and India (Pocock, 1900). Since 1900, there are only few reports on scorpions in the country. However, several studies (Tikader and Bastawade, 1983; Lourenço and Vachon, 1997; Lourenço, 2005; Kovařík and Fet, 2006; Kovařík, 2000, 2004, 2007; Tahir et al., 2014; Tahir and Prendini, 2014; Lourenço and Monod, 1998) added new species to Pocock scorpion data, around the globe. According to unauthentic data, Pakistan has approximately 50 species belonging to 17 genera and five families, and most of them are reported by Pocock (1900), Tahir et al. (2014) and Tahir and Prendini (2014).

Androctonus finitimus (Pocock, 1897) is an important scorpion species due to medical importance of its venom. However, unfortunately it was not previously reported from Punjab, Pakistan. Kovařík and Ahmed (2013) have reported this species from Sindh province of Pakistan. Therefore, the present study was designed to record the distributional patterns and habitat preference of Androctonus finitimus in the Punjab province of Pakistan.

The current study was conducted to locate the occurrence and habitats of scorpion species Androctonus finitimus in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. A wide range of area was surveyed for possible collection of this scorpion species (i.e., Mirza Goryia 32.37º N, 74.45º E; Abadi Adda Bosan 30.39º N, 71.56º E; Chak # 3 Hans 30.23º N, 71.83º E; Chak 87/E.B 30.23º N, 73.03º E; Hakumat Garh 30.43º N, 73.73º E; Chak 6/1 AL 30.93º N, 73.70º E; Bhatti Dhilwan 31.69º N, 74.07º E; Kolowala 32.55º N, 74.15º E; Padhrala 32.85º N, 73.17º E; Ahmadal 33.30º N, 72.50º E; Attock 33.08º N, 71.83º E; Shadia 32.40º N, 71.79º E; Dhllewala 31.88º N, 71.53º E; Mankera 31.35º N, 71.53º E; Dera Dhalla 30.31º N, 71.30º E; Chak # 1 Hans 30.27º N, 71.81º E; Kotala Sultan Shah 29.71º N, 70.93º E; Ali Pur Road 29.30º N, 70.89º E; Cholistan 29.00º N, 72.12º E; Bahawalpur Desert 28.58º N, 71.41º E) but the A. finitimus was only found in Shorkot (30.85º N, 72.13º E), Jhang (31.33º N, 72.35º E), Maulomor (31.66º N, 72.15º E), Midh Ranjha (30.82º N, 72.09º E) and Dodha (31.98º N, 73.06º E). The scorpion habitat structure was also observed in those areas. Previously unauthentic information about presence of this scorpion species in Punjab was present, but no published record was available in literature.

A team of four researchers visited the sampling sites. Scorpions were collected by digging the sand dunes, pitfall traps and by using ultra violet (UV) lights. During the day times, scorpions were collected by digging sand dunes with shovel while pitfall traps and ultra violet (UV) lights were used at night.

Pitfall jars (10 cm length and 10 cm diameter) were buried in the semi-arid and sandy areas of selected sites in a way that their rims remained at the ground level. About 400 ml of alcohol (60%) was added to each jar. Alcohol of the jars was replaced after every fourth day and trapping session was repeated after every 15 days from June to September 2015.

Scorpions can glow under ultraviolet light (Lowe et al., 2003). After detection of scorpion in their habitat by battery operated ultraviolet (UV) lights (SOGO-JPN-139), the scorpions were picked up by using forceps that were 12 inches in length. From the fields, scorpions were transferred to plastic jars (15 cm in length and 5 cm in diameter). All scorpions were transferred to the Department of Zoology, University of Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan for further study.

In this method the burrows in sand dunes were dug during daytime. When we found a scorpion, it was picked up with 12 inches forceps and transferred to a plastic jar containing alcohol.

Garmin™ GPS V Plus device (portable) was used to record the geo-coordinates of each sample that was collected from field. Other information like temperature and humidity levels, time and date, type and locality of sampling site was also recorded. For the map preparation of the study areas, the software Arc GIS 10.2 was used.

The scorpions that were collected from field were first washed with absolute alcohol and then transferred in to special plastic bags with the absolute alcohol and then stored in refrigerator at -40ºC in the laboratory. All collected scorpions were identified using the Key to Asian species of Androctonus (Kovařík and Ahmed, 2013). Scorpion identification was also confirmed by Dr. Lorenzo Prendini, Curator, Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York in 2013-2014.

Previously, A. finitimus was only reported form Sindh province, Pakistan. In this paper we reported this scorpion species from areas of Punjab province. District Jhang and district Sargodha were hotspots for this specie (Figure 1).

Phylum: Arthropoda

Subphylum: Chelicerata

Class: Arachnida

Subclass: Dromopoda

Order: Scorpiones

Family: Buthidae C.L. Koch, 1837

Genus: Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828

Androctonus finitimus (Pocock, 1897)

Androctonus finitimus is 9-12 mm in length and is brownish in colour. The venom pouch and last two segments of tail are black. The last two segments are larger in diameter as compared to remaining 3 segments. Female is always larger than male in size. Pedipalps including trochanter and legs are always yellow. Chelicerae yellow, pectinal teeth number 28–32 in males, 22–24 in females. Anal arch contains two or three lobes.

Figure 2 is showing habitats of A. finitimus in province Punjab, Pakistan. The habitat of this scorpion species was sand dunes with lower vegetation. These scorpions dug burrow approximately 1.5 to 2 meter in length and remain in the burrow at daytime. But at night they leave their burrows and travel a long journey searching for food and mate. Sometime the members of this scorpion species visit up to 100 meters from their original burrows. It was observed that if the adults visit long area than they make new burrows; on the other hand after their normal activities they returned to their original burrows. They were found more active during 7 to 11 PM. High temperature and humidity is directly proportional to the scorpion activity at night.

Fights are more important feature of this scorpion species. These scorpions are highly aggressive and powerful. When adults come across each other, they began to fight that may last for 2-3 h. Result comes in the shape of cannibalism of one member. This type of observation was also reported by Ahsan et al. (2016a); Buskirk et al. (1984) and Peretti et al. (1999).

A. finitimus scorpions were more active in dark nights comparing to nights when moon light present. Similar results were reported by Ahsan et al. (2016b). These scorpions aggressively attack on every living and moving objects, smaller in size, even some cases the adults attacked on larger sized prey (small lizards). But the more common scorpion prey were white crickets, hoppers, black crickets, moths and spiders that were already reported by Ahsan et al. (2016b). Owl, rats, lizards, shrews were more noticeable predators for this scorpion species (Ahsan et al., 2016b).

This publication is based on the research that has been supported in part by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan. We are also grateful to Dr. Lorenzo Prendini (Division of Invertebrate Zoology, American Museum of Natural History, New York) for his help in identifying the material.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.