A revision of the South American genus Orobothriurus with six new species

Jose Ochoa, Andres Ojanguren Affilastro, Carlos Mattoni and Lorenzo Prendini have now published a systematic revision of the Andean genus Orobothriurus Maury, 1976 (Bothriuridae). The following new species are described:

Orobothriurus calchaqui Ochoa, Ojanguren Affilastro, Mattoni & Prendini, 2011 (Argentina)
Orobothriurus campagnuccii Ochoa, Ojanguren Affilastro, Mattoni & Prendini, 2011 (Argentina)
Orobothriurus huascaran Ochoa, Ojanguren Affilastro, Mattoni & Prendini, 2011 (Peru)
Orobothriurus quewerukana Ochoa, Ojanguren Affilastro, Mattoni & Prendini, 2011 (Peru & Chile)
Orobothriurus ramirezi Ochoa, Ojanguren Affilastro, Mattoni & Prendini, 2011 (Chile)
Orobothriurus tamarugal Ochoa, Ojanguren Affilastro, Mattoni & Prendini, 2011 (Chile)

Most Orobothriurus occur at high altitudes in the Andes Mountains. The paper discuss the occurence of scorpions in high altitudes and a list of scorpions found above 3000 meters in the Andes is presented. The altitude record for scorpions is held by O. huascaran. This species has been found in the Ishinca ravine (Peru) at 4910 meters. Please note that the previous altitude record mentioned in the literature (5500 meters) is not correct (see paper for details).

Abstract:
The systematics of the Andean scorpion genus, Orobothriurus Maury, 1976 (Bothriuridae Simon, 1880), is revised. New locality records, obtained during recent field expeditions, distribution maps, and a key to identification of the 15 known species, are provided. Six new species are described: Orobothriurus calchaqui, n. sp., from northwestern Argentina; Orobothriurus compagnuccii, n. sp., from the central Andes of Argentina; Orobothriurus huascaran, n. sp., from central Peru; Orobothriurus quewerukana, n. sp., from southern Peru and northern Chile; Orobothriurus ramirezi, n. sp., from central Chile; and Orobothriurus tamarugal, n. sp., from northern Chile. The known distribution of Orobothriurus and the altitude record for scorpions are discussed. The world’s altitude record for a scorpion, previously reported as 5550 m, is demonstrated to be 4910 m.

Reference:
Ochoa JA, Ojanguren Affilastro AA, Mattoni CI, Prendini L. Systematic revision of the Andean scorpion genus Orobothriurus Maury, 1976 (Bothriuridae), with discussion of the altitude record for scorpions. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 2011(359):1-90. [Free fultext]

Thanks to Jacek Szubert for informing me about this paper!

Family Bothriuridae