Two new papers on the reproduction in Tityus magnimanus

My friend Luc Ross has now published two papers dealing on various aspects of the reproduction of the Venezuelan buthid Tityus magnimanus Pocock, 1897.

Abstracts:
The frequency of spermatophore production and the amount of time between matings for laboratory-reared males of Tityus (Atreus) magnimanus to regenerate spermatophores were examined. Males attain sexual maturity at the fifth or sixth instar (after a period of 137 to 155 days) and can produce initial spermatophores shortly after maturation. After mating, males can regenerate spermatophores within a single 24-hour period and remate. The present contribution represents the first report on an aspect of reproductive biology in this species and is part of a continuing study of the life history and post-embryonic development of Tityus (Atreus) magnimanus.

Courtship and mating behaviors of the scorpion Tityus (Atreus) magnimanus are herein described, consisting of various components that pertain to four distinct behavioral stages. The courtship and mating rituals of Tityus (Atreus) magnimanus are similar to those of other scorpions. Behavioral components are presented in an ethogram to demonstrate their occurrence during mating sequences. The current report is presented as observational data that were acquired during life history studies of this species.

Referenences:
Ross LK. Frequency of spermatophore production and regeneration in the males of Tityus (Atreus) magnimanus Pocock, 1897 (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases. 2009 2009;15 (1):157-62.

Ross LK. Notes and observations on courtship and mating in Tityus (Atreus) magnimanus Pocock, 1897 (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Journal of Venomous Animals and Toxins Including Tropical Diseases. 2009 2009;15 (1):43-53.

Family Buthidae

A new Buthacus species from United Arab Emirates

Lourenco & Leguin have recently described a new species of Buthacus (Buthidae) from United Arab Emirates:

Buthacus williamsi Lourenco & Leguin, 2009 (Buthidae)

Abstract:
Since the revision of the genus Buthacus Birula, 1908 given by Lourenço (2006), further new species have been recorded from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. One new species, collected in United Arab Emirates, is described here. It was collected in the region of Fujairah, in sandy desert with sparse bushes. It is associated with Buthacus buettikeri Hendrixson, 2006, recently described from Saudi Arabia, and Buthacus tadmorensis (Simon, 1892), described from Syria. The new species is distinguished by its smaller overall size, a smaller number of pectinial teeth, and an aculeus that is only slightly longer than vesicle.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Leguin E-A. A new species of the genus Buthacus Birula, 1908 from the United Arab Emirates (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Zoology in the Middle East. 2009;46:103-11.

Family Buthidae

A review of the scorpion fauna of The Eastern Mediterranean

The Eastern Mediterranean region has a large and interesting scorpion fauna with representatives both from Europe, Africa and Asia. Kaltsas, Stathi & Fet have now published an updated review of the scorpion fauna of this region.

Abstract:
The scorpiofauna of the Eastern Mediterranean region is presented. Taxonomy and distribution data of species are reviewed based on scientific literature until August 2008. We report the presence of 48 valid species in the area, belonging to four families and 16 genera. Examined material of nine buthid species collected from Egypt (including the Sinai Peninsula) and Libya is recorded. The current knowledge on taxonomy, chorotypic status, and origins of species, complexes, and genera in relation to their biogeography and phylogeny is also discussed.

Reference:
Kaltsas D, Stathi I, Fet V. Scorpions of the Eastern Mediterranean. In: Makarov SE, Dimitrijevic RN, editors. Advances in arachnology and developmental biology - Papers dedicated to professor Bozidar Curcic. Vienna-Belgrade-Sofia 2008. p. 209-46.

A new Isometrus from China

Lourenco & Zhu recently described a new Isometrus species from China:

Isometrus tibetanus Lourenco & Zhu, 2008 (Buthidae)

Abstract:
A new species, Isometrus (Reddyanus) tibetanus sp. nov. from Tibet, China is described. For comparative purposes, Isometrus (Reddyanus) assamensis Oates, 1888, originally described from India, and also distributed in Nepal, is redescribed based on the original type materials (holotypes) and a series of specimens deposited in the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Zhu M-S. A new species of the genus Isometrus Ehrenberg 1828 from China (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica. 2008;33 (2):264-71.

Thanks to Gérard Dupre for informing me about the new species!

Family Buthidae

Scorpion findings in Norway

Scorpions are found in countries outside their natural distribution all the time. In 2008, a live scorpion was found in a house in Stavanger, Norway and it was sent to me. With the help of Rolando Teruel, the scorpion was identified to Vaejovis mexicanus (Vaejovidae).

Rolando and myself have now put together a research note about this special finding and a few other known scorpion findings in Norway.

Abstract:
In the present note we record the unusual finding of a live adult female Vaejovis mexicanus C. L. Koch, 1836 in southwestern Norway. Also, other exotic scorpion findings for this Scandinavian country are briefly summarized.

Reference:
Teruel R, Rein JO. On the findings of Vaejovis mexicanus C. L. Koch, 1836 and other scorpions in Norway (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae, Euscorpiidae, Hemiscorpiidae). Scorpion Files - Occational Papers. 2009; (2):1-3. [Free fulltext]

Family Vaejovidae

Revised diagnosis and redescription of Apistobuthus susanae

Apistobuthus is a remarkable genus in the family Buthidae because of the members incredible "winged" tail (the seccond tail segment is laterally flattened and disc-shaped). This characteristic is unique among scorpions.

For many years, only one species was known (A. pterygocercus Finnegan, 1932 from central and southern regions of the Arabian Peninsula). In 1998, another species was described (A. susanae Lourenco, 1998) from the Khoozestan Province in Iran.

A. susanae has only been known from one specimen, but Navidpour & Lowe (2009) have now published a redescription of the species based on several new specimens. New characteristics separating A. susanae from A. pterygocercus are also presented. Info on habitat is also presented.

Abstract:
The scorpion Apistobuthus susanae Lourenc¸o 1998 is redescribed based on new specimens collected from Khoozestan Province, Iran. It is distinct from A. pterygocercus Finnegan 1932 found in the dunes of Rub’ al-Khali. The two species cannot be separated by previously used diagnostic characters. Instead, A. susanae is differentiated from A. pterygocercus by new characters, including more robust legs and pedipalps, shorter pectines, stronger carination, and complete fusion of central lateral and posterior median carinae of the carapace.

Interestingly, Apistobuthus is the only new scorpion genus ever described by a woman (Dr. Susan Finnegan in 1932). A. susanae is named after her.

Reference:
Navidpour S, Lowe G. Revised diagnosis and redescription of Apistobuthus susanae (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Jornal of Arachnology. 2009;37(1):49-59. [Subscription required for fulltext, but free fulltext after 12 months]

Family Buthidae

Two new Chaerilus species from Laos and Vietnam

Lourenco & Zhu have described two new species in the genus Chaerilus (Chaerilidae) after investigating a large series of specimens from the collections of the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris collected by Professor Constantine Dawydoff in the period between 1929 and 1939:

Chaerilus laoticus Lourenco & Zhu, 2008 (collected in Laos)
Chaerilus vietnamicus Lourenco & Zhu, 2008 (collected in Vietnam)

In addition, Chaerilus petrzelkai Kovarik, 2000 from Vietnam is redescribed in the paper.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Zhu M-S. Description of two new species of the genus Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Scorpiones, Chaerilidae) from Laos and Vietnam. Acta Zootaxonomica Sinica. 2008;33(3):462-74.

Family Chaerilidae