Three new species from Colombia

Three new species have been described from Colombia by Botero-Trujillo, 2008 and Botero-Trujillo & Noriega, 2008:

Ananteris arcadioi Botero-Trujillo, 2008
Ananteris dorae Botero-Trujillo, 2008

Microtityus franckei Botero-Trujillo & Noriega, 2008

This is the first report of Microtityus in Colombia.

Botero-Trujillo, 2008 also includes a discussion about the taxonomy of the Colombian Ananteris.

References:
Botero-Trujillo R. The scorpion genus Ananteris in Colombia: comments on the taxonomy and description of two new species (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Journal of Arachnology. 2008;36:287-99. [Subscription required for fulltext, but articles older than 12 months are freely available]

Botero-Trujillo R, Noriega JA. First reccord of the scorpion genus Microtityus from Colombia, with the description of a new species (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Journal of Arachnology. 2008;36:259-66. [Subscription required for fulltext, but articles older than 12 months are freely available]

Family Buthidae

Life history data on Chaerilus philippinus

Chaerilus is the only genus in the family Chaerilidae and has now 24 species, all distributed in southern and southeastern Asia. Very little is known about the biology and life history of this genus., but Lourenco & Ythier (2008) has recently published a paper with observations on the life history of Chaerilus philippinus. Here is the abstract from the paper:

Biological observations on Chaerilus philippinus were based on specimens from the region of Appari, North of Luzon in the Philippines. The total duration of embryonic development was estimated as being between 110 to 136 days, while the moults between successive juvenile instars and adulthood took place at ages that averaged 7, 39, 73, 190 and 327 days. These developmental periods are shorter and different from those previously observed among species of non-buthid scorpions. They prove to be rather similar to those observed in buthid scorpions, however. Morphometric growth values of the different instars are similar or smaller than those of other species of scorpions that have been studied. Aspects of maternal care and social behaviour are also commented.

Reference:
Lourenço WR, Ythier E, Cloudsley-Thompson JL. Observations on the life history of Chaerilus philippinus Lourenço & Ythier, 2008 (Scorpiones, Chaerilidae) from the Philippines. Comptes Rendus Biologies. 2008;331(11):896-900. [Subscritpion required for fulltext]

Family Chaerilidae