23 May, 2014

A new cave species from Colombia


Ricardo Botero-Trujillo and Eduardo Florez D have recently published a new species from El Eden Cave in Colombia.

Tityus grottoedensis Botero-Trujillo & Florez D, 2014 (Buthidae)

The new species is not a true troglobite showing no morphological adaptions to cave life, but rather a partly troglophile, living both inside and just outside caves.

Abstract:
A new scorpion species, Tityus (Tityus) grottoedensis sp. nov., is herein described based on male and female specimens collected in El Edén Cave and its vicinities (Tolima department, Colombia). The new species, which becomes the first scorpion described from a Colombian cave, is probably a eutroglophile or subtroglophile element; however, additional studies are needed to determine the degree of association of the species to the cave. Among other features, the new species is characterized by having a relatively thin body, a yellow-to-chestnut coloration, sternites IV to VI with visible lateral longitudinal carinae, and the basal piece of the middle lamella of the pectines dilated in male and female.

Reference:
Botero-Trujillo R, Florez D E. A new species of Tityus (Scorpiones, Buthidae) from El Edén Cave, Colombia. Zootaxa. 2014;3796(1):108-20. [Subscription required for full text]

Family Buthidae

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