A new species of scorpion from the Leiurus genus was identified in the Majami Al-Hadb Reserve, located in southern Riyadh

The Majami Al-Hadb Reserve in southern Riyadh has yielded a new species of scorpion belonging to the Leiurus genus, marking a significant finding made by the National Centre for Wildlife (NCW). The discovery, supported by in-depth morphological and genetic investigations, has been published in specialist international wildlife publications, underscoring the importance of this discovery.

Set apart from other species of scorpion found in the Kingdom, this finding brings the total number of recognised species worldwide to 22, five of which are found in Saudi Arabia. This newly discovered scorpion was featured in the Sept. 7, 2023, edition of the esteemed scientific magazine Zookeys, and the species has now been formally added to the lists of the Zoobank and Genbank.

The National Centre for Wildlife is actively involved in assessing the future condition of this species and figuring out how common it is. This programme is a key part of the center's dedication to wildlife conservation and is essential to preserving the Kingdom's biodiversity and environmental equilibrium.