A new Androctonus from Togo - Corrections

On a few occations I blog information before I have read the whole article (based on the abstract available), and sometimes this is not a smart thing to do.

Early in August, I blogged the news about a new Androctonus from Togo based on the abstract. The problem is that I missed the new species (which wasn't named in the abstract) and only told about a revalidation of another species which was also a part on the paper. I big thanks to Laszlo Pudleiner for letting me know about this mistake.

So here is a complete informationreview of the Lourenco paper:

Wilson Lourenco has described a new species of Androctonus from Togo:

Androctonus togolensis Lourenco, 2008 (Buthidae)

This species is only known from savannah-like formations in the north of Togo.

In the same paper, Lourenco also revalidate Prionurus eburneus Pallary, 1928, which was previously synonymised with Androctonus amoreuxi (Audouin, 1826). Valid name is now:

Androctonus eburneus (Pallary, 1928) (Buthidae)

Abstract:
A new species of scorpion belonging to the genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (the family Buthidae C. L. Koch, 1837), is described on the basis of a large series of specimens collected in the savannah-like formations in the North of Togo. The new species is characterized by yellowish to pale yellow coloration and a moderate size in relation to other species of the genus. The species Androctonus eburneus (= Prionurus eburneus Pallary, 1928), previously synonymised to Androctonus amoreuxi (Audouin, 1826), is revalidated.

Reference:
Lourenco WR. A new species of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 from Togo (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Entomol Mitt Zool Mus Hamburg. 2008 Oct 1;15 (179):37-44.

Family Buthidae

A new Heterometrus species from Vietnam

A just learned about a new species of Heterometrus (Scorpionidae) described from Vietnam:

Heterometrus liangi Zhu & Yang, 2007

I have not read this paper myself (it is in Chinese), so this information is based on the papers bibliographical data. This species is not included in Kovarik's latest revision of this genus in his recently published "Illustrated Catalog of Scorpions".

Reference:
Zhu MS, Yang X-F. Two species of the genus Heterometrus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpionidae) from South Vietnam sold in pet shops in China. Acta Arachnologica Sinica. 2007;16 (2):92-103.

Thanks to Gérard Dupre for informing me about this paper!

Family Scorpionidae

Scorpion fauna of Venezuela: Four new Tityus species

The works of the late Manuel Gonzalez Sponga continues to increase the knowledge of the scorpion fauna of Venezuela. Four new species of Tityus (Buthidae) are described in a recent paper:

Tityus acananensis Gonzalez Sponga, 2009
Tityus maniapurensis Gonzalez Sponga, 2009
Tityus ventuarensis Gonzalez Sponga, 2009
Tityus yerenai Gonzalez Sponga, 2009

Abstract:
Four new species of Venezuelan scorpions are described: Tityus acananensis, Tityus maniapurensis, Tityus ventuarensis & Tityus yerenai. The inhabit in localities situated in the Bolivar and Amazonas States in variable altitudes between 100 and 500 meters. Drawings of significant morphological characters are presented to diagnostic species, those were determinated by the author using a stereoscope; this same quipment were used to take morphometrics characters. Typical localities are signaled on a map.

Reference:
Gonzalez Sponga MA. Biodiversidad en Venezuela. Aracnidos. Descripcion de cuatro nuevas especies del genero Tityus Koch, 1836 (Escorpiones: Buthidae) de los estados Bolivar y Amazonas. Rev Invest (Guadalajara). 2009; (66):227-55.

Family Buthidae

A new paper on Rhopalurus abudi from Hispaniola

Lorenzo Prendini and co-workers have recently published a paper on Rhopalurus abudi (Buthidae). The species is redescribed and the male is described for the first time. The authors also report the species form mainland Hispaniola for the first time.

Abstract:
Rhopalurus abudi Armas & Marcano Fondeur 1987 was originally described on the basis of a single female specimen from Isla Saona, La Romana Province, off the southeast coast of the Dominican Republic. The species is redescribed here based on a series of new specimens including 19 adult males and 14 adult females collected at two nearby localities on the eastern side of Parque Nacional del Este, La Altagracia Province, southeastern Dominican Republic. These specimens represent the first records of R. abudi on mainland Hispaniola and the first male specimens of the species to be collected.

Reference:
Prendini L, Esposito LA, Huff JC, Volschenk ES. Redescription of Rhopalurus abudi (Scorpiones, Buthidae), with first description of the male and first record from mainland Hispaniola. Journal of Arachnology. 2009;37 (2):206-24. [Subscription required for fulltext, but free fulltext after one year]

Family Buthidae

14 new species from Venezuela

The scorpion biodiversity of Venezuela was studied by the late Manuel Gonzalez Sponga for many years. In four papers authored by Gonzalez Sponga, 14 new species have been described:

Buthidae:

Tityus duacaensis González Sponga, 2007
Tityus elizabethebravoi González Sponga, 2007
Tityus ivani González Sponga, 2008
Tityus kalettai González Sponga, 2007
Tityus maimirensis González Sponga, 2007
Tityus maturinensis González Sponga, 2008
Tityus pampanensis González Sponga, 2007
Tityus urachichensis González Sponga, 2007
Tityus walli González Sponga, 2007

Chactidae:

Chactas granulosus González Sponga, 2007
Chactas hatilloensis González Sponga, 2007
Chactas iutensis González Sponga, 2008
Chactas turguaensis González Sponga, 2007
Chactas venegasi González Sponga, 2008

References:
(References corrected 24.08.09)
Gonzales-Sponga MA. Biodiversidad en Venezuela. Arachnidos. Descripcion de cuatro nuevas especies del genero Tityus Koch, 1836 (EScorpiones: Buthidae) de la region centro occidental de Venezuela. Bol Acad C Fis Mat y Nat. 2007;67 (1-2):37-63.

Gonzales-Sponga MA. Biodiversidad en Venezuela. Arachnidos. Descripcion de una nueva especie del genero Tityus Koch, 1836 (Buthidae) y tres del genero Chactas Gervais, 1844 (Chactidae). Escorpiones de los alrededores del Carcas, Distrito Metropolitano. Acta Biol Venez. 2007;27 (1):7-24.

Gonzales-Sponga MA. Biodiversidad en Venezuela. Descripcion de dos nuevas especies del genero Tityus Koch, 1836 (Buthidae) y dos especies del genero Chactas Gervais, 1844 (Chactidae). Bol Acad C Fis Mat y Nat. 2008;58 (1):39-65.

Gonzales-Sponga MA, Wall Gonzalez VM. Biodiversidad en Venezuela. Descripcion de dos nuevas especies del genero Tityus Koch, 1836 (Scorpionidae: Buthidae) del Parque Nacional "Cueva del Guacharo". Bol Acad C Fis Mat y Nat. 2007;57 (3-4):9-23.

Thanks to Dr. Rojas-Runjaic for sending me these papers!

Family Buthidae
Family Chactidae

Three new Ananteris species from southeast Brazil

Alessandro Ponce de Leao Giupponi and co-workers have described three new species of Ananteris (Buthidae) from Brazil:

Ananteris bernabei Giupponi, Vasconcelos & Lourenco, 2009
Ananteris chagasi Giupponi, Vasconcelos & Lourenco, 2009
Ananteris kuryi Giupponi, Vasconcelos & Lourenco, 2009

Abstract:
A new synthesis of the geographical distribution of the genus Ananteris Thorell, 1891 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) in Brazil is proposed. Three new species, Ananteris chagasi sp. n., Ananteris kuryi sp. n., and Ananteris bernabei sp. n. are described from the States of Bahia, Espirito Santo and Minas Gerais. Only isolated records of Ananteris species where known up to now, for the States of Minas Gerais and Bahia. The record of an Ananteris species from the State of Espirito Santo is new. The total number of Ananteris species is now raised to 67 and from this, 16 species are found in Brazil. The geographical distribution of the genus is considerably enlarged in the country.

Reference:
Giupponi APD, de Vasconcelos EG, Lourenco WR. The genus Ananteris Thorell, 1891 (Scorpiones, Buthidae) in southeast Brazil, with the description of three new species. ZooKeys. 2009; (13):29-41. [Free fulltext]

Family Buthidae

A new Androctonus from Togo

Wilson Lourenco has revalidated Prionurus eburneus Pallary, 1928, which was previously synonymised to Androctonus amoreuxi (Audouin, 1826). The new species is known from Togo.

Androctonus eburneus (Pallary, 1928) (Buthidae)

Abstract:
A new species of scorpion belonging to the genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (the family Buthidae C. L. Koch, 1837), is described on the basis of a large series of specimens collected in the savannah-like formations in the North of Togo. The new species is characterized by yellowish to pale yellow coloration and a moderate size in relation to other species of the genus. The species Androctonus eburneus (= Prionurus eburneus Pallary, 1928), previously synonymised to Androctonus amoreuxi (Audouin, 1826), is revalidated.

Reference:
Lourenco WR. A new species of Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 from Togo (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Entomol Mitt Zool Mus Hamburg. 2008 Oct 1;15 (179):37-44.

Family Buthidae

A new Brotheas from Bolivia

Wilson Lourenco has described a new species in the genus Brotheas (Chactidae) from Bolivia (South America):

Brotheas bolivianus Lourenco, 2008 (Chactidae)

Abstract:
A new species of scorpion belonging to the genus Brotheas C. L. Koch, 1837 (family Chactidae Pocock, 1893), is described on the basis of one male specimen collected in Bolivia (W of Manoa, nearby the Abuna river) at the border with Brazil. The new species is characterized by reddish-yellow coloration, the carapace strongly convex and body and appendix weakly granulated. This new species is the first element of the family Chactidae ever reported from Bolivia.

Reference:
Lourenco WR. A new species of Brotheas C. L. Koch, 1837 (Scorpiones, Chactidae) from Bolivia. Entomol Mitt Zool Mus Hamburg. [Article]. 2008 Jul 1;15 (178):1-6.

Family Chactidae

Androctonus australis reported for the first time from Morocco

Morocco has been a hotspot for the genus Androctonus (Buthidae) with five known species (A. amoreuxi, A. gonneti, A. liouville, A. mauritanicus & A. sergenti). Now Philippe Geniez reports about the presence of Androctonus australis in southeastern Morocco, increasing the number of species to six. This is finding is important because A. australis is one of the most dangerous species in the genus.

Abstract:
Androctonus australis, a Saharo-Sindian scorpion, is new for Morocco. With six species, this country is the greatest centre of diversity for the genus Androctonus. This scorpion, responsible for several deadly envenomations each year in Algeria and Tunisia, is potentially dangerous in Morocco.

Reference:
Geniez P. Decouverte au Maroc d'Androctonus aunstralis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Poiretia. 2009; (1):1-4. [Free fultext]

Thanks to Jean-Michel Pacaud (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle) for sending me this paper!

Family Buthidae

A scorpion biography for Gershom Levy has been published

Arachnologist Gershom Levy from Israel died in March 2009. Dr. Henk K. Mienis (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) has now written an article presenting articles and new taxa dealing with scorpions authored by Dr. Levy.

Reference:
Mienis HK. Articles and new taxa dealing with scorpions authored by Dr. Gershom Levy (1937-2009). The Scorpion Files - Occational Papers. 2009; (3):1-3. [Free fulltext]