Geometric morphometric analysis of the sternocoxal structure in the genus Hottentotta (Birula 1908) (Arachnida: Scorpiones)

The genus Hottentotta Birula, 1908 is one of the most widely distributed buthid scorpion, with more than 40 described species from Africa, across the Middle East, to India. Currently, the genus is represented by ten morphological species in Iran (H. akbarii, H. jayakari, H. juliae, H. khoozestanus, H. lorestanus, H. navidpouri, H. saulcyi, H. schach, H. sistanensis and H. zagrosensis), all of which endemic or subendemic in Iran. The members of this genus have not been properly studied from the taxonomic point of view. A tool that could contribute to studies scorpiones taxonomic is the geometric morphometry, which is defined as the fusion between geometry and biology (Bookstein, 1982). In this study to the size and shape variations in sternocoxal structure in the genus Hottentotta has been examined using geometric morphometric method. We photographed 100 individuals of Hottentotta genus in Iran. Coordinate (x, y) configurations from landmarks were registered in sternocoxal structures. The results clearly showed divergence in the shape and size of sternocoxal structure among the studied taxa.