A new cave-dwelling species of Chaerilus from Myanmar

 

Eric Ythier and Wilson Lourenco recently published a study describing a new cave-dwelling species in the genus Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Chaerilidae) from Myanmar (Burma). Even though the new species was found in caves, it is not a true troglobite, but rather a trogloxene. 

Here are the taxonomical decision in this paper:

Chaerilus adrianoi Lourenco & Ythier, 2024 (new species)

Chaerilus birmanicus Thorell, 1899 (restored from synonymy with Chaerilus variegatus Simon, 1877)

Chaerilus anneae Lourenço, 2012 (restored from synonymy with Chaerilus julietteae Lourenço, 2011)

Chaerilus kampuchea Lourenço, 2012 (species status confirmed. Previous status "Nomen dubium"

Abstract:
A new species belonging to the genus Chaerilus Simon, 1877 is described from Myanmar: Chaerilus adrianoi sp. n., which was collected in a cave located in the East of the country. The new species is compared with some other Chaerilus species also described from Southeast Asia and in particular from Myanmar. The comparative study of the new species with other congenerics suggests, as in previous cases, that different species do not show very marked morphological differences, but rather correspond to micro-endemic populations. The new species is the second Chaerilus collected from Myanmar, together with Chaerilus birmanicus Thorell, 1899, restored from its synonymy with Chaerilus variegatus Simon, 1877. Chaerilus anneae Lourenço, 2012 is also restored from its synonymy with Chaerilus julietteae Lourenço, 2011 and the validity of Chaerilus kampuchea Lourenço, 2012 is confirmed.

Reference:
Lourenço WR, Ythier E. A new cave species of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 from Myanmar (Scorpiones: Chaerilidae). Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2024(44):51-6. [Full text provided by authors]

Thanks to Eric for sending me their article!

Family Chaerilidae

A new species of Buthus from southern Spain

 

Antonio L. González-Moliné and Luis F. de Armas recently published an article describing a new, psammophilous spcies in the genus Buthus Leach, 1815 (Buthidae) from the province of Huelva in southern Spain.

Buthus gonzalezdelavegai Gonzalez-Moline & de Armas, 2024

Abstract:
Since the description of Buthus ibericus Lourenço & Vachon 2004, a total of 17 congeneric species have been identified in the Iberian Peninsula; nine of which are from the Andalucía region. As result of a recently published revision of specimens from the southwestern area of this peninsula, only two species were recognized for Huelva Province: Buthus baeticus Teruel & Turiel, 2020 and B. delafuentei Teruel & Turiel, 2020. A new Buthus population discovered in the onubense coast (southeast of Huelva) represent an undescribed psammophilous species, closely related to B. delafuentei but having well defined diagnostic characters that facilitates its easy identification. Also, new localities are recorded for Buthus delafuentei and B. baeticus Teruel & Turiel, 2020; as well as one specimen of the new species having an anomalous pectine and other specimen of B. delafuentei with teratological carapacial carinae.

Reference:
Gonzalez-Moline AL, de Armas LF. Una especie nueva del genero Buthus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) de la Provincia de Huelva, España. Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2024(44):75-84. [No full text available]

Thanks to Leo Lindvall for sending this article!

Family Buthidae

A new species of Vaejovis from Mexico

 

Gerardo A. Contreras Félix and José L. Navarrete Heredia have recently published a description of a new spcies of Vaejovis C.L. Koch, 1836 (Vaejovidae) from Michoacan in Mexico.

Vaejovis castanoae Contreras-Felix & Navarrete Heredia, 2024

Abstract:
A new species of Vaejovis is described for Michoacan, Mexico belonging to the nigrescens/nitidulus group, the less diverse group of species from the genus. This species has a preference for synanthropic environments and inhabits rock walls within the city limits. Additionally, the pictures of the hemispermatophore are presented and characters are named according to new terminology. This species is named honoring Dr. Gabriela Castaño Meneses for her great contributions to arthropods research in Mexico and the world.

Reference:
Félix GAC, Heredia JLN. Hidden in the cracks, a new species of Scorpion from Michoacan, Mexico (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Dugesiana. 2024;31(2):159-73. [Open Access]

Thanks to Gerard Dupre for sending me this article!

Family Vaejovidae

The scorpion fauna of Aguascalientes, Mexcio

 

Mexico has one of the highest diversity of scorpions in the world. Fernanda Chávez-Samayoa and co-workers have recently published an article on the richness and composition of the scorpion fauna
of Aguascalientes, Mexico.

The article has an identification key for the taxa in this area.

Abstract:
The scorpion fauna of the state of Aguascalientes was revised based on specimens deposited in scientific collections and fieldwork. We evaluated the completeness of the scorpion species inventory of the Colección Zoológica of the Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes (CZUAA) based on nonparametric estimators. The results indicate that the number of species increased from 11 to 13, recording for the first time Chihuahuanus glabrimanus (Sissom & Hendrixson, 2005), a psammophilic species, and Centruroides balsasensis Ponce-Saavedra and Francke, 2004, a medically relevant species for public health. Finally, an identification key to the scorpion species of Aguascalientes is provided and a recount of ecological and biological traits of the species herein is studied.

Reference:
Chávez-Samayoa F, Antonio Escoto-Moreno J, González-Santillán E. Richness analysis and completeness of the scorpion fauna of Aguascalientes, Mexico with an identification key to species. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad. 2024;95:e955380. [Open Access]

Thanks to Fernanda Chávez-Samayoa for sending me their article!

Scorpions of Kuwait

 

Maram Alshammari and co-workers have recently published a study on the scorpion fauna of Kuwait. Three species were registered, all in the family Buthidae.

Abstract:
This is the first preliminary study on the scorpions of Kuwait. Three species of scorpions were identified, described and illustrated from the State of Kuwait. Identified species belong to family Buthidae: Apistobuthus susanae, Androctonus crassicauda and Compsobuthus pallidus. Measurements were given for Apistobuthus susanae. Morphometric measurements were given for the three species, along with comparison of Apistobuthus susanae and Apistobuthus pterygocercus.

Reference:
Alshammari MM, Afifeh BA, Al-Quraan N, Abuharfil NM, Amr ZS. Scorpions of the State of Kuwait. Ecol Mont. 2024;75:52-66. [Open Access]

Thanks to Gerard Dupre for sending me this article!

A new checklist of scorpions in India is published

 

Pratyush Mohapatra has recently published a checklist of scorpion taxa in India. Currently, 153 species belonging to six families namely Buthidae, Chaerilidae, Hormuridae, Scorpiopidae, Scorpionidae and Rugodentidae and 30 genera have been reported from the Indian subcontinent.

Abstract:
No abstract.

Reference:
Mohapatra PP. Checklist of Fauna of India: Arthropoda: Arachnida: Scorpiones. Version 1.0. 2024 [cited 2024 28.06]. Available from: https://zsi.gov.in/uploads/documents/checklist/english/057_ARACHNIDA_SCORPIONES.pdf [Open Access]

Thanks to Gerard Dupre for sending me this report.

Hiding in water pools in Bromeliads

 

Vegetation is an important part of the scorpion's habitat in creating an optimal micro-climate and/or providing hiding places for predator avoidance. Maria Carolina de Oliveira Souza and co-workers have recently published an article on the use of Bromeliads by the buthid Tityus neglectus Mello-Leitao, 1932.

One of the discoveries in this study is that the scorpions used rainwater pools collected in the rosette-like leaf arrangements of this plant to hide for predators. This was done by diving into the pools and be completely submerge for several minutes. This has not been reported in scorpions previously.

Abstract:
The spatial arrangement of organisms is significantly influenced by the structure of vegetation. Bromeliads, characterized by a remarkable architectural design featuring rosette-like leaf arrangements for rainwater storage, act as habitats for various organisms. These organisms use bromeliads for shelter, foraging, reproduction and the supply of nutrients and moisture. This study investigated how specific aspects of bromeliad structure, such as the number, width and length of leaves, impact the behaviour and distribution patterns of the bromelicolous scorpion Tityus neglectus. In the examination of 110 sampled bromeliads, 33 scorpions were recorded, resulting in an occupancy rate of 30%. The likelihood of scorpion occurrence was associated with the plant's structure. The length and coefficient of variation in the width of leaves appeared as the main predictors, positively influencing scorpion presence while the number of leaves exhibited a negative relation with scorpion occurrence. The distribution of scorpions was uniform across the spatial design of bromeliads. Furthermore, T. neglectus demonstrated the ability to utilize water accumulated in the bromeliad to evade potential predators, submerging itself for, on mean, almost 8 min. We concluded that bromeliad structure is essential in shaping the distribution patterns and anti-predatory behaviour of T. neglectus.

Reference
de Oliveira Souza MC, Foerster SÍA, Salomão RP, Souza-Alves JP, de Moura GJB, Lira AFdA, et al. The role of bromeliad structural complexity on the presence, spatial distribution and predator avoidance in Tityus neglectus (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Ecology and evolution. 2024;14(6):e11522. [Open Access]