First molecular phylogeny of scorpions of the family Buthidae from India

Abstract

Scorpions of the family Buthidae are widespread species in India. While studies are available on diversity and distribution of Indian buthid scorpions, no information is available on the phylogenetic relationships among the members of the family, within India and Asia in general. In the current study, we provide the first molecular phylogeny of buthid scorpions from central western India based on the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Our analysis confirms the current placement of the species, previously assigned to Mesobuthus in the genus Hottentotta. However, the analysis also suggests that the member of this genus from India form a monophyletic group distinct from the members of Hottentotta from Africa. Species of Lychas formed a monophyletic group. Although Orthochirus was nested within the larger clade of buthidae comprising genera such as Androctonus, Buthacus, Buthus and Odontobuthus, the exact phylogenetic placement will require more taxonomic sampling of the known genera of Buthidae. We also show that there is a substantial genetic variation among the populations of medically important scorpion species Hottentotta tamulus, and the genetic distance is linearly correlated with the geographical distance between the populations.

Keywords:

• Cytochrome oxidase subunit I
• Hottentotta
• Lychas
• Orthochirus

Acknowledgements

VS and ND are thankful to Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Pune, for providing infrastructural facilities. SP and ADP are thankful to the Principal and Heads, Department of Biodiversity and Department of Zoology, Abasaheb Garware College for providing infrastructural facilities. We thank Sanjay Molur, Zoo Outreach Organization (ZOO) and Wildlife Information Liaison Development (WILD) Society, Coimbatore, for holding our specimens in the museum collection.

Disclosure statement

Authors declare that there are no competition interests.

Funding information

The work was partially funded by INSPIRE Research Grant [IFA12-LSBM-21] to ND.