''Hemiscorpius'' is the sole genus of the scorpion family Hemiscorpiidae, with about 16 described species. Before Hemiscorpiidae, the term used for the family was Ischnuridae, which had to be changed due to a naming conflict with the

damselfly Damselflies are flying insects of the suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies (which constitute the other odonatan suborder, Epiprocta) but are usually smaller and have slimmer bodies. Most species fold the win ...

family of the same name. They at one point also held the name Liochelidae. In 2015, research on the evolution, biogeography and phylogeny of the families Hormuridae, Hemiscorpiidae, and Heteroscorpionidae left Hemiscorpiidae with a single genus, ''Hemiscorpius'', the remaining 15 merged or transferred to other families.

Description

Most species of ''Hemiscorpius'' have a very flat and broad body plan, due to their main habitat in tight rock crevices.

Distribution

''Hemiscorpius'' is distributed throughout the Middle East and

Indomalaya The Indomalayan realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms. It extends across most of South and Southeast Asia and into the southern parts of East Asia. Also called the Oriental realm by biogeographers, Indomalaya spreads all over the Ind ...

Human interaction

''Hemiscorpius'' has a strong venom; especially that of ''

Hemiscorpius lepturus ''Hemiscorpius lepturus'' is a species of scorpion in the family Hemiscorpiidae. It is found in deserts of the Middle East, especially in southern Iraq and Iran, where it is sometimes referred to as the "Gadim scorpion". These scorpions have long ...

'' can result in deadly accidents.

Species

These 17 species belong to the genus ''Hemiscorpius'': * '' Hemiscorpius acanthocercus'' Monod & Lourenço, 2005 * '' Hemiscorpius arabicus'' Pocock, 1899 * '' Hemiscorpius egyptiensis'' Lourenço, 2011 * '' Hemiscorpius enischnochela'' Monod & Lourenço, 2005 * '' Hemiscorpius falcifer'' Lowe, 2010 * ''

Hemiscorpius flagelliraptor ''Hemiscorpius'' is the sole genus of the scorpion family Hemiscorpiidae, with about 16 described species. Before Hemiscorpiidae, the term used for the family was Ischnuridae, which had to be changed due to a naming conflict with the damselfly fa ...

'' Loewe, 2010 * ''

Hemiscorpius gaillardi ''Hemiscorpius'' is the sole genus of the scorpion family Hemiscorpiidae, with about 16 described species. Before Hemiscorpiidae, the term used for the family was Ischnuridae, which had to be changed due to a naming conflict with the damselfly fa ...

'' (Vachon, 1974) * ''

Hemiscorpius hierichonticus ''Hemiscorpius'' is the sole genus of the scorpion family Hemiscorpiidae, with about 16 described species. Before Hemiscorpiidae, the term used for the family was Ischnuridae, which had to be changed due to a naming conflict with the damselfly fa ...

'' Simon, 1872 * ''

Hemiscorpius kashkayi ''Hemiscorpius'' is the sole genus of the scorpion family Hemiscorpiidae, with about 16 described species. Before Hemiscorpiidae, the term used for the family was Ischnuridae, which had to be changed due to a naming conflict with the damselfly fa ...

'' Karatas & Gharkheloo, 2013 * ''

'' Peters, 1861 * ''

Hemiscorpius maindroni ''Hemiscorpius'' is the sole genus of the scorpion family Hemiscorpiidae, with about 16 described species. Before Hemiscorpiidae, the term used for the family was Ischnuridae, which had to be changed due to a naming conflict with the damselfly fa ...

'' Kraepelin, 1900 * ''

Hemiscorpius novaki ''Hemiscorpius'' is the sole genus of the scorpion family Hemiscorpiidae, with about 16 described species. Before Hemiscorpiidae, the term used for the family was Ischnuridae, which had to be changed due to a naming conflict with the damselfly fa ...

'' Kovarik & Mazuch, 2011 * ''

Hemiscorpius persicus ''Hemiscorpius'' is the sole genus of the scorpion family Hemiscorpiidae, with about 16 described species. Before Hemiscorpiidae, the term used for the family was Ischnuridae, which had to be changed due to a naming conflict with the damselfly fa ...

'' Birula, 1903 * ''

Hemiscorpius shahii ''Hemiscorpius'' is the sole genus of the scorpion family Hemiscorpiidae, with about 16 described species. Before Hemiscorpiidae, the term used for the family was Ischnuridae, which had to be changed due to a naming conflict with the damselfly fa ...

'' Kovarík & Navidpour, 2017 * ''

Hemiscorpius socotranus ''Hemiscorpius'' is the sole genus of the scorpion family Hemiscorpiidae, with about 16 described species. Before Hemiscorpiidae, the term used for the family was Ischnuridae, which had to be changed due to a naming conflict with the damselfly fa ...

'' Pocock, 1899 * ''

Hemiscorpius somalicus ''Hemiscorpius'' is the sole genus of the scorpion family Hemiscorpiidae, with about 16 described species. Before Hemiscorpiidae, the term used for the family was Ischnuridae, which had to be changed due to a naming conflict with the damselfly fa ...

'' Lourenço, 2011 * ''

Hemiscorpius tellinii ''Hemiscorpius'' is the sole genus of the scorpion family Hemiscorpiidae, with about 16 described species. Before Hemiscorpiidae, the term used for the family was Ischnuridae, which had to be changed due to a naming conflict with the damselfly fa ...

'' Borelli, 1904

References

Scorpion genera Taxa named by Wilhelm Peters {{Scorpion-stub