Taibah University Achieves a Scientific Breakthrough in Documenting the Kingdom’s Biodiversity

Taibah University in Madinah has achieved a new scientific milestone in documenting the Kingdom’s biodiversity by recording and describing a newly discovered species of burrowing scorpion, scientifically named Scorpio furvus, as part of a research study conducted in Harrat Uwayrid in AlUla Governorate. The findings were published in the international scientific journal Taxonomy.

The discovery was made with the participation of Dr. Abdulhadi bin Ahmed Al-Oufi, Associate Professor of Biodiversity at Taibah University, in collaboration with a scientific team from Jordan, reflecting research cooperation in exploring the Kingdom’s unique natural environments.

The study explained that the Latin name “furvus” means “dark,” referring to the scorpion’s coloration, which blends dark brown with reddish-black tones. It is also distinguished by yellow legs and a strongly curved stinger with a red base and a black tip, highlighting its unique biological characteristics.

This discovery further strengthens the Kingdom’s position in global environmental research and documents the richness of its pristine natural habitats, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in environmental protection and the promotion of sustainable scientific research