The King Salman bin Abdulaziz Royal Reserve Development Authority, in cooperation with the participating research team, has documented the first confirmed record of the Arabian Black Death Scorpion (Leiurus nigellus) in northern Saudi Arabia in the Hail region, along with the first-ever genetic identification of the species. The study's findings were published in the international journal 'Diversity,' underscoring their significance and global recognition.

The study, prepared by the authority's environmental conservation experts and the participating research team, revealed an unprecedented expansion in the species' distribution range, adding more than 200 kilometers to its previously known range in AlUla. This is a clear indication of its ability to adapt to rocky mountain environments and semi-arid habitats in northern Saudi Arabia.

This discovery represents a significant scientific leap, as it redraws the species' distribution map northward and opens the door for updating previous data, thereby enhancing the accuracy of biodiversity knowledge and supporting scientifically based conservation plans.