The species of the genus Centruroides Marx, 1890 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Panama

This review examines the taxonomy, distribution, natural history and scorpionism of the Centruroides species (Scorpiones: Buthidae) of Panama. A taxonomic key is provided to easily identify the five confirmed species from Panama, but also including Centruroides edwardsii (Gervais, 1843) and Centruroides gracilis (Latreille, 1804). The recently reported first record of C. edwardsii in Panama seems to be based on misidentified specimens that belong to Centruroides granosus (Thorell, 1876), a Panamanian endemic species, or Centruroides margaritatus (Gervais, 1841), an introduced synanthropic species.

Centruroides gracilis may potentially be present in this country. Only C. granosus and Centruroides panamensis Quintero and Esposito, 2014 are Panamanian endemics, whereas C. granosus and C. bicolor (Pocock, 1898) are the most widely distributed species in this Central American country. Envenomations by these species are frequent in Panama, but generally cause mild symptoms.

Maps showing the distribution of the Panamanian Centruroides species are presented.