CAPTURE METHODS AND BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF SCORPIONS: TRENDS IN RESEARCH PUBLISHED IN BRAZIL (2013-2023)

Abstract

The global and Brazilian context of research involving scorpions faces challenges in the identification of samples at different taxonomic levels. Predominantly, studies in different areas require the collection and identification of scorpions to achieve these objectives. In this scoping review, we aim to identify the most common methods of situ collection and biological classification of scorpions in scientific articles published between 2013 and 2023, in addition to providing an overview of the main lines of research involving the management of these animals. To this end, a comprehensive search was conducted on the Web of Science, Science Direct, and PubMed databases, subjecting the results to a thorough four-step eligibility analysis. The results revealed that the amount of research involving the collection and/or identification of scorpions significantly increased from 2018 to 2022, in addition to the fact that the leading state in the production of these studies was Pernambuco. With respect to the collection method, the studies predominantly used an active search with ultraviolet light, in addition to morphological identification being dominant in these products. With respect to research strands, studies focused predominantly on the ecology and ethology of scorpions. The survey revealed that the studies of these animals remain in a traditional pattern, with little expressiveness of methods such as integrative taxonomy. This review can contribute significantly to the training of beginning researchers, especially those focused on issues related to scorpionism.