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 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.
Human interaction Hemiscorpius has a strong venom; especially that of Hemiscorpius lepturus 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 Loewe, 2010 Hemiscorpius gaillardi (Vachon, 1974) Hemiscorpius hierichonticus Simon, 1872 Hemiscorpius kashkayi Karatas & Gharkheloo, 2013 Hemiscorpius lepturus Peters, 1861 Hemiscorpius maindroni Kraepelin, 1900 Hemiscorpius novaki Kovarik & Mazuch, 2011 Hemiscorpius persicus Birula, 1903 Hemiscorpius shahii Kovarík & Navidpour, 2017 Hemiscorpius socotranus Pocock, 1899 Hemiscorpius somalicus Lourenço, 2011 Hemiscorpius tellinii Borelli, 1904
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