The majority of scorpion species are local or regional endemics, inhabiting particular substrates or geological formations and known from one or a few localities (Prendini 2001b, Barahoei et al. 2020). The world scorpion fauna remains poorly sampled, especially in Africa and Asia, with new species regularly discovered. Few studies have addressed the conservation status of scorpions. Despite a massive international trade in these arachnids, only five species are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES 2020). Stricter regulation of the harvesting of wild scorpions by the conservation authorities of several countries (e.g. Iran and Pakistan) has not impacted the venom-extraction business, which continues to escalate illegally. For example, although the Iranian Department of Environment permits legal harvesting and venom-extraction from six scorpion species (Fig. 2), this is difficult to enforce due to the limited expertise available to verify the taxonomic identity of material harvested and traded commercially. For similar reasons, entrepreneurs are unlikely to discriminate but rather to collect all individuals encountered.