Two new species in the "micro-scorpion" genus Chaneke from Mexico

Very small scorpion species are often informally referred to as "micro-scorpions". Many of these species have been hidden previously because of their size and habitat (e.g. leaf litter). Modern sampling techniques using UV-light have revealed many of these small and rare species in the last years.

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers have recently described two new species in the "micro-scorpion" genus Chaneke Francke, Teruel & Santibanez-Lopez, 2014 (Buthidae) from Mexico.

Chaneke baldazoi Kovarik, Teruel & Lowe, 2016

Chaneke hofereki Kovarik, Teruel & Lowe, 2016

Abstract:
Herein we describe two new species of the recently discovered buthid scorpion genus Chaneke Francke, Teruel et Santibáñez-López, 2014. Both are from Oaxaca State in southern Mexico: Chaneke hofereki sp. n. based upon adults of both sexes from a single coastal locality, and Chaneke baldazoi sp. n. based upon adult females and juveniles from a mountain site in the Sierra Madre. Additional information is given on their taxonomy, distribution, ecology, and reproductive biology, fully complemented with color photos of live and preserved specimens, and their habitat.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Teruel R, Lowe G. Two New Scorpions of the Genus Chaneke Francke, Teruel et Santibáñez-López, 2014 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Southern Mexico. Euscorpius. 2016 (218):1-20. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A new buthid genus and species from Mexico

Oscar Francke, Rolando Teruel and Carlos Santibanez-Lopez have recently described a new genus and species in the family Buthidae from southeastern Mexico.

Chaneke Francke Teruel & Santibanez-Lopez, 2014 (New genus)

Chaneke fogoso Francke, Teruel & Santibanez-Lopez, 2014 (New species)

Chaneke aliciae (Armas & Frias, 1998) (New combination, previous name Tityopsis aliciae Armas & Frias, 1998)

Abstract:
Chaneke fogoso gen. nov. et sp. nov., are described based on specimens collected near the coast in southeastern Guerrero, Mexico. The genus is characterized by the peculiar rhomboidal shape of the subaculear tubercle, and the lack of at least one trichobothrium on the femur, patella and chela of the pedipalp, which make it the second known buthid genus with decreasing neobothriotaxy on those three pedipalpal segments, together with Alayotityus Armas 1973. Tityopsis aliciae Armas & Martin-Frias 1998, from Oaxaca, Mexico, is transferred to the new genus, resulting in Chaneke aliciae (Armas & Martin-Frias 1998), comb. nov. A cladistic analysis including all other New World ‘‘microbuthids’’ with decreasing neobothriotaxy, with 30 morphological characters, indicates that Chaneke is monophyletic, clearly distinct from Alayotityus Armas 1973 (from eastern Cuba) and Tityopsis Armas 1974 (from western Cuba).

Reference:
Francke OF, Teruel R, Santibanez-Lopez CE. A new genus and a new species of scorpion (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from southeastern Mexico. Journal of Arachnology. 2014;42:220-32. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Dr. Santibanez-Lopez for sending me their article!

Family Buthidae