25 July, 2012

Two new species of Tityus and a revison of Tityus clathratus

Wilson Lourenco is continuing his great work on the complex genus Tityus C. L. Koch, 1836 (Buthidae) from South America. This is the largest scorpion genus with its 211 species (The scorpion Files). Professor Lourenco has now published two new Tityus species.

Tityus grahami Lourenco, 2012 (Brazil)
Tityus mana Lourenco, 2012 (French Guiana)

A revised diagnosis for Tityus clathratus C. L. Koch is also presented.

Abstract:
The type material of Tityus (Archaeotityus) clathratus C. L. Koch, originally described from “Cabo da Boa Esperança” (Cape of Good Hope) in South Africa is reanalyzed. Since no Tityus species exist in Africa, this locality is obviously fallacious. Descriptions of historical expeditions to South America may suggest that the possible American type locality should be in Venezuela rather than in Guyana as often indicated by several authors. Two new species, close to T. (A.) clathratus, are respectively described from French Guiana and from the region of the Upper Rio Negro in Brazilian Amazon.

Reference:
Lourenco WR. Further considerations on Tityus (Archaeotityus) clathratus C. L. Koch, 1844 and description of two associated new species (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Boletin de la SEA. 2012(50):277-83.

Thanks to professor Lourenco for sending me this paper!

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