Morphological and molecular identification of the scorpion Androctonus crassicauda (Olivier, 1807), using COI and 12S rRNA genes from the Provinces of Dhi Qar and Wasit, Iraq

الملخص

The scorpion fauna of Iraq remains comparatively less studied than that of several neighboring Middle Eastern countries. This study aimed to identify and characterize one scorpion species found in northern Dhi Qar Province and southern Wasit Province, both morphologically and molecularly. Samples were collected in the field. Morphological identification relied on external features and morphometric measurements, while COI gene expression, 12S rRNA, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were used for molecular identification. The results identified a scorpion species belonging to the Buthidae family, A. crassicauda, which the abundant and widespread. Morphological and molecular findings confirmed the identification. BLAST analysis showed a 99% similarity with reference sequences, and phylogenetic trees indicated high genetic convergence with limited variation within the species.