Phylogeographic structure, distribution and morphological variability of Mesobuthus bogdoensis (Birula, 1896) (Scorpiones: Buthidae)

Based on a study of a number of popula tions of Mesobuthus bogdoensis, the results of studying the phylogeographic structure and morphological vari ability are presented, and an analysis of the distribution of this species is carried out based on an analysis of the literature and our own data.An expanded diagnosis and morphological description for M. bogdoensis is presented.It has been proven that the indication in a number of lite rary sources of scorpions for the Guberlinsky Mountains (Orenburg Region, Russia) is a label error.In populations of M. bogdoensis from the right bank of the Volga River, a unique morphological character was identified -anal lobe divided in three parts; it is the first species of this genus to have two or three anal lobes; for other species the following combinations are known -two, three and three or four anal lobes.Principal component analysis (PCA) results based on comparative measurements of proportions indicate that the contribution of differences between different populations is less pronounced than the contribution of differences between males and females.