Compsobuthus matthiesseni Birula, 1905 is one of two scorpion species of the genus Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949 that is currently recognised in the scorpion fauna of Iraq. Although its morphology has been well documented, its molecular phylogeny remains poorly understood. In this study, 28 specimens of C. matthiesseni were collected from various locations across Duhok province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Morphological examination confirmed their identification based on established diagnostic characters. To complement the morphological data, DNA barcoding of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene was employed to infer phylogenetic relationships. The resulting maximum likelihood tree revealed that the Duhok specimens clustered with C. matthiesseni from Turkey in a strongly supported clade, while an Iraqi C. matthiesseni sequence from GenBank (MT229839.1) grouped with Comsobuthus …

A new species, Androctonus ishtar sp. n., is described and illustrated from the Dohuk and Nineveh provinces of Iraq. This new species was previously misidentified as A. crassicauda Olivier. Androctonus sumericus Al-Khazali and Yağmur, and A. turkiyensis Yağmur, are distributed in territories close to those of A. ishtar sp. n. The new species differs from A. crassicauda in the morphology of the fifth metasomal segment, from A. sumericus in its elongate chela, and from A. turkiyensis in the trichobothrial arrangement on the fixed fingers of the chela.

This study of scorpion fauna was conducted in the Duhok province of northern Iraq, from June to October 2024. In this survey 273 specimens were collected from different districts, representing six species: Androctonus sp., Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880), Orthochirus fomichevi (Kovařík, Yağmur, Fet & Hussen, 2019), Compsobuthus matthiesseni (Birula, 1905), Scorpio kruglovi (Birula, 1910), and Mesobuthus faiki (Yağmur, Kovařík & Fet, 2024). Hottentotta saulcyi was the most abundant species (35.9% of total individuals) followed by Orthochirus fomichevi 29.7%. Compsobuthus matthiesseni, Mesobuthus faiki, Androctonus sp. and Scorpio kruglovi, were less frequent (less than 16% each). A significant finding was the first-time documentation of Mesobuthus faiki in Duhok province, marking it a new record for Iraq.

Specimens of the genus Phalangium Linnaeus, 1758 (Phalangiidae Latreille, 1802) are reported from northern Iraq and were identified as Phalangium punctipes (L. Koch, 1878). These represent the first record of both, genus and species, for the Iraqi Opiliones fauna. The characteristic features of the species and illustrations of their habitat are presented. This record increases the number of known Opiliones in Iraq to six species, which is a very low number compared to the Opiliones checklists from two nearby countries, namely Iran with 28 species and Türkiye with 89 species and five subspecies. Nineteen species and two subspecies records from the Türkiye checklist are considered misidentifications and therefore omitted in our revised checklist

New data on the wolf spiders of Iraq are provided. Two species, Arctosa similis Schenkel, 1938 and Lycosa piochardi Simon, 1876, are reported from Iraq for the first time, and additional records and a redescription are provided for Evippa amitaii Armiach Steinpress, Alderweireldt, Cohen, Chipman & Gavish-Regev, 2021. Photographs of specimens of both sexes of all three species and their copulatory organs and habitats are provided, and the known distribution records for the last two species, are mapped.

An updated and annotated checklist of the spiders of Iraq, currently comprising 104 species in 75 genera and 29 families is presented, including six endemic and four subendemic species. Twenty-three records are considered misidentifications and therefore omitted from the checklist. Where possible, the misidentified records are attributed to other species based on their distribution and morphology; as a result of this, three species are recorded in Iraq for the first time: Dictis striatipes L. Koch, 1872 (Scytodidae), Hippasa deserticola Simon, 1889 (Lycosidae) and Latrodectus cinctus Blackwall, 1865 (Theridiidae). The history of studies and the geographical distribution of records are reviewed and discussed. The list is dominated by members of the families Gnaphosidae, Lycosidae, and Salticidae, comprising 15.4%, 13.5% and 10.6% of the total number of species, respectively.

Abstract. This study gives the first record of the scorpion species Orthochirus mesopotamicus (Birula, 1918) from the Al-Muthanna Province, Iraq. This is the first scorpion record from the Al-Muthanna Province that has been given until now. The scorpion sample was collected in the Al-Warka area of Al-Muthanna Province. In the current investigation, illustrations of O. mesopotamicus are given too.

Background: Annually, thousands of scorpion stings and rare mortalities are recorded in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. In the present study, we prepared a checklist for the geographical distribution of scorpion fauna composition, new localities data, and scorpion sting profile for the years 2019–2020 in the region. Methods: Random field surveys for scorpion collection were carried out in 22 localities in the Kurdistan Region from June 2020 to October 2021. Clinical data related to scorpion stings in 2019 and 2020 were obtained from the medical records of public health offices in the region. Results: In this survey, 166 specimens were collected. They were composed of seven scorpion species belonging to three families including: Buthidae, Hemiscorpiidae, and Scorpionidae. The collected species were Androctonus crassicauda, Compsobuthus matthiesseni, Hottentotta saulcyi, Mesobuthus mesopotamicus, Orthochirus fomichevi, Hemiscorpius lepturus, and Scorpio kruglovi. Moreover, three scorpion species comprising Buthacus tadmorensis, Hottentotta mesopotamicus, and Calchas anlasi were recorded in the previous study conducted in the Kurdistan region. In 2019–2020, 3726 scorpion stings were reported, with a peak in the summer season. Most of the patients were 15–49 years old. In the current study, medically significant scorpion species have been identified. Conclusion: The outcome of the present work will increase the awareness of the Kurdish community regarding the distribution of dangerous scorpion species and consequently reduce their stings.

The Iraqi spider fauna includes several dozens of species described and reported mostly by local researchers but still there are considerable sampling gaps. For the first time in Iraq, Agelena orientalis C. L. Koch 1837 (Agelenidae), Oxyopes globifer Simon, 1876 (Oxyopidae), and Thanatus formicinus (Clerck, 1757) (Philodromidae) are recorded. In addition, newly collected material of Bassaniodes tristrami (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1872) (Thomisidae) and Eusparassus mesopotamicus Moradmand & Jäger, 2012 (Sparassidae) are also presented. The characteristic features, habitus and copulatory organs of all species are presented here along with their geographic distribution.

The knowledge of the scorpion fauna of Iraq and its geographical distribution is limited. Our review reveals the presence in this country of 19 species belonging to 13 genera and five families: Buthidae, Euscorpiidae, Hemiscorpiidae, Iuridae and Scorpionidae. Buthidae is, with nine genera and 15 species, the richest and the most diverse family in Iraq. Synonymies of several scorpion species were reviewed. Due to erroneous identifications and locality data, we exclude 18 species of scorpion from the list of the Iraqi fauna. The geographical distribution of Iraqi scorpions is discussed. Compsobuthus iraqensisAl-Azawii, 2018, syn. nov. is synonymized with C. matthiesseni (Birula, 1905).

Information regarding scorpion diversity and their envenoming within Iraq in general, and the Northern Iraq in particular, is limited. The number and distribution of scorpion sting cases and some details of the scorpion fauna of Zakho province were reported for the first time in this study. Overall, 2675 scorpion sting cases were reported between 2008 and 2017 consisting of 1362 male victims (51%) and 1313 female (49%). The highest percentage of victims was between 15 and 49 years old and accounted for 59% of the overall incidence. The highest incidence of scorpion sting cases occurred in the summer, particularly in July when 537 cases were reported. In total, 85 scorpions belonging to two families (Scorpionidae and Buthidae) were captured in the present study. Of the collected samples, Scorpio maurus 47 (55%) was the most abundant followed by Hottentotta saulcyi 28 (33%), and Androctonus crassicauda 10 (12%).

Philanthotoxin-433 (PhTX-433) is an active component of the venom from the Egyptian digger wasp, Philanthus triangulum. PhTX-433 nonselectively inhibits several excitatory ligand-gated ion channels, and we recently showed that its synthetic analogue, PhTX-343, exhibits strong selectivity for neuronal over muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Here, we examined the action of 17 analogues of PhTX-343 against ganglionic (α3β4) and brain (α4β2) nAChRs expressed in Xenopus oocytes by using a two-electrode voltage clamp at −100 mV. IC50 values for PhTX-343 inhibition of α3β4 and α4β2 receptors were 7.7 and 80 nM, respectively. All the studied analogues had significantly higher potency at α3β4 nAChRs with IC50 values as low as 0.16 nM and with up to 91-fold selectivity for α3β4 over α4β2 receptors. We conclude that PhTX-343 analogues displaying both a saturated ring and an aromatic moiety in the hydrophobic headgroup of the molecule demonstrate exceptional potency and selectivity for α3β4 nAChRs.

Insect toxins comprise a diverse array of chemicals ranging from small molecules, polyamines and peptide toxins. Many target nervous system and neuromuscular ion channels and so rapidly affect the behaviour of animals to which the toxin is applied or injected. Other modes of action have also been identified. Wasps, bees, flies, beetles and ants generate a rich arsenal of channel-active toxins, some of which offer selective pharmacological probes that target particular ion channels, while others act on more than one type of channel. Philanthotoxins from the digger wasp have been fruitful in adding to our understanding of ligand-gated ion channels both in the nervous system and at neuromuscular junctions. Fire ants produce the toxic alkaloid solenopsin, a molecule which has stimulated attempts to generate synthetic compounds with insecticidal activity. Apamin from bee venom targets calcium-activated potassium channels, which can in turn influence the release of neuropeptides. Melittin, another bee venom component, is a membrane-acting peptide. The saliva of the assassin bug contains toxins that target the voltage-gated calcium channels of their insect prey. Certain beetles produce diamphotoxin, a haemolytic peptide toxin with traditional use as an arrow poison and others generate leptinotarsin with similar properties. Mastoparan is a powerful peptide toxin present in the venom of wasps. Its toxic actions can be engineered out leaving a potent antimicrobial molecule of interest. In this short review we describe the actions of selected insect toxins and evaluate their potential as neuroactive pharmacological tools, candidate lead molecules for insect control and therapeutic candidates with potential antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-cancer applications.

Knowledge regarding the smoking prevalence among the Kurdistan general population is not clear, at least for males. Here in the Kurdistan Youth Smoking Survey and Behaviours (KYSS&B) we tried to further expand our knowledge about the smoking profile of school students across Kurdistan. Five hundred students from four Zakho male basic schools were taken to participate in the study to determine the prevalence of smoking and socio-demographical factors associating with smoking among students aged 12 to 15 years. The KYSS&B questionnaire included various parameters such as age, gender, friends, parent history and blood groups. This study showed that the prevalence of students who ever tried smoking was 74%; about 65% of them started at age 12 years or less. Although the majority of participants (95%) knew that smoking is harmful and had negative impact on human health, 18% of them thought that they will never quit smoking. The study concluded that there was no strong association between family monthly income, parent education level and blood groups. On the other hand, the three most critical factors connected with smoking habit reported by students were age, peer influence and father smoking.

Philanthotoxin-433 (PhTX-433) is an active component of the venom from the Egyptian digger wasp, Philanthus triangulum. PhTX-433 inhibits several excitatory ligand-gated ion channels, and to improve selectivity two synthetic analogues, PhTX-343 and PhTX-12, were developed. Previous work showed a 22-fold selectivity of PhTX-12 over PhTX-343 for embryonic muscle-type nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in TE671 cells. We investigated their inhibition of different neuronal nAChR subunit combinations as well as of embryonic muscle receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Whole-cell currents in response to application of acetylcholine alone or co-applied with PhTX analogue were studied by using two-electrode voltage-clamp. α3β4 nAChRs were most sensitive to PhTX-343 (IC50 = 12 nM at −80 mV) with α4β4, α4β2, α3β2, α7 and α1β1γδ being 5, 26, 114, 422 and 992 times less sensitive. In contrast α1β1γδ was most sensitive to PhTX-12 along with α3β4 (IC50 values of 100 nM) with α4β4, α4β2, α3β2 and α7 being 3, 3, 26 and 49 times less sensitive. PhTX-343 inhibition was strongly voltage-dependent for all subunit combinations except α7, whereas this was not the case for PhTX-12 for which weak voltage dependence was observed. We conclude that PhTX-343 mainly acts as an open-channel blocker of nAChRs with strong subtype selectivity.