TAXONOMIC STUDY OF ANDROCTONUS CRASSICAUDA (OLIVER, 1807) (SCORPIONES: BUTHIDAE) IN IRAQ

The genus of Androctonus is widely distributed in Asia and Africa .It is found in Egypt, Palestine, Iran, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. The present study is the first taxonomic study to describe Androctonus crassicauda (Oliver,1807) in Iraq .The genus Androctonus recognized by three main characters which are: color it is ranges from light brown to raddish to blackish brown to black, pedipalp (Chelae) is narrower than patella in adults, and pedipalp fingers with many denticles. Among other characters by which the genus can be distinguished by body hairs and, the rows of denticles on pedipalp fingers. The main morphological characters of the species are figured of Androctonus crassicauda, and the samples were collected from Baghdad, Diyala, Saladin, Qadissiya, Wasit and Thi-Qar Provinces.