Fig. 1

Morphological characteristics of the scorpion species of the current study. From the family Scorpionidae, which is characterized by a pentagonal sternum (a), is the only representative Scorpio maurus which is characterized by no-granule prosoma (b1) and a short and bulky pincer (b2). Species belonging to the family Buthidae have a triangular sternum as a diagnostic character (c). The Hottentotta saulcyi has a dark colored Prosoma (d1) and regular teeth of the abdominal region of the fifth segment of the post-abdominal and caudal vesicle (d2). The morphological characteristics of Androctonus crassicauda are the dark color of this species and the special tufts in the tail (e1) and, most importantly, the existence of three granules under the tooth of the fingers of the pincer (e2). Odontobuthus doriae has circular-end long teeth in the abdominal region of the tail (f). Mesobuthus eupeus has special decorations of the Prosoma (g1), absence of protrusion of the end pellet in the tergite (g2) and irregular teeth with a specific design in the abdominal region of the tail (g3). Mesobuthus caucasicus has granules along each other in carapace (h1), the complete protrusion of the end granule in the tergite region (h2), as well as the presence of an outer sub-granule being smaller than the inner sub-granule in the dental rows of the pincer (h3)