Four new Vaejovis from Mexico

Carlos Santibanez-Lopez and Oscar Francke has published a new paper on new and poorly known species in the mexicanus group of Vaejovis (Vaejovidae):

Vaejovis darwini Santibanez-Lopez & Francke, 2010
Vaejovis dzahui Santibanez-Lopez & Francke, 2010
Vaejovis prendinii Santibanez-Lopez & Francke, 2010
Vaejovis zapoteca Santibanez-Lopez & Francke, 2010

The paper has an identification key for the species in the mexicanus genus group.

Abstract:
Four new species belonging to the mexicanus group of the genus Vaejovis C.L. Koch 1836 from Oaxaca, Mexico are described. The number of species of this group for the state is raised to seven. The males of V. franckei and V. setosus are described for the first time. A key to Oaxacan species of the mexicanus group is provided.

Reference:
Santibanez-Lopez CE, Francke OF. New and poorly known species of the mexicanus group of the genus Vaejovis (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae) from Oaxaca, Mexico. Journal of Arachnology. 2010;38:555-71. [Subscription required for fulltext, but free fulltext after one year

Thanks to Carlos Santibanez-Lopez for sending me this paper!

Family Vaejovidae

A new Chaerilus from Indonesia

Lourenco and Duhem are continuing their investigations into the Chaerilus fauna of Asia. In a recent paper they describe a new species from the island of Halmahera in Indonesia:

Chaerilus spinatus Lourenco & Duhem, 2010 (Chaerilidae)

Abstract:
A new species belonging to the genus Chaerilus Simon, 1877, Chaerilus spinatus sp. n. is described from the island of Halmahera, Indonesia. Chaerilus celebensis Pocock, 1894, originally described from Luwu, Celebes (Sulawesi) Island, is confirmed as a distinct species and as a possible endemic element to the Celebes. Two species of Chaerilus are at present known to Halmahera, the second one being Chaerilus telnovi Lourenco, 2009.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Duhem B. One more new species of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Scorpiones, Chaerilidae) from the island of Halmahera, Indonesia. Acta Arachnologica. 2010;59(1):25-30. [Free fultext]

Thanks to Gerard Dupre for sending me this paper!

Family Chaerilidae

News on rare Colombian scorpions

Rolando Teruel and Cesar Roncallo have published a new paper with news on rare and poorly known taxa from Colombia.

One of the main results are that Tityus erikae Lourenco, 1999 is synonymized with Tityus tayrona Lourenco, 1991.

Abstract:
The results of the study of new samples of scorpions from Colombia are presented. Tityus erikaeTityus tayrona Lourenço, 1991, and the adult female of Tarsoporosus macuira Teruel et Roncallo, 2007 is described for the first time. Also, new locality records and supplementary information on morphological variability (including some diagnosis updates) are given for Centruroides margaritatus (Gervais, 1841), Rhopalurus caribensis Teruel et Roncallo, 2008, Tityus tayrona, and Tarsoporosus macuira. Lourenço, 1999 is demonstrated to be a junior synonym of

Reference:
Teruel R, Roncallo CA. Rare or poorly known scorpions from Colombia. IV. Additions, synonymies and new records (Scorpiones: Buthidae, Scorpionidae). Euscorpius. 2010(105):1-15. [Free fulltext]

Family Buthidae

Review on Teuthraustes and a new species

Lourenco & Duhem have published an discussion on the biogeography of the South American genus Teuthraustes Simon, 1878 (Chactidae). In addition, a new species is described from Brazil:

Teuthraustes braziliensis Lourenco & Duhem, 2010

Abstract:
A new species of scorpion, Teuthraustes braziliensis sp. n. (Scorpiones, Chactidae), is described from the State of Amazonas, Brazil. This is the second species of the genus to be collected in the lowlands of SouthAmerica, and the third record of a scorpion of the genus Teuthraustes to be recorded from Brazilian Amazonia. The total number of species of Teuthraustes is now raised to 21. The patterns of distribution of the genus are commented upon, and its geographical distribution is also enlarged.

Reference:
Lourenço WR, Duhem B. The geographical pattern of distribution of the genus Teuthraustes Simon (Scorpiones, Chactidae) in South America and description of a new species. Comptes Rendus - Biologies. 2010;In Press. DOI:10.1016/j.crvi.2010.09.005. [Subscription required for fulltext]

Family Chactidae

Scorpion stings in Children - Treatment

Rajniti Prasad and co-workers have recently published a study on scorpion envenomation in children in India and the factors affecting the outcome. It is well known that children are at greater risk of developing severe cardiac, respiratory and neurological complications as compared to adults.

The current study present a management protocol for scorpion sting enevomation.

The most dangerous scorpion in India is Hottentotta tamulus (previously known as Mesobuthus tamulus) in the family Buthidae.

Abstract:
Objective To identify and correlate various factors affecting the outcome of children with scorpion sting envenomation treated with prazosin in a tertiary care hospital. Methods The study included 90 children admitted with scorpion sting envenomation over a period of four and half year. Grading of severity was done on the basis of local or systemic involvement, and management protocol was followed as per hospital guidelines. All cases with envenomation were given prazosin at a dose of 30 μg/kg/ dose;first repeat dose at 3 h followed by every 6 h till recovery. Patients with acute pulmonary edema (APE) were treated as per standard protocol. Results All patients had perspiration and cold extremities. Most of them had sting over extremities except two,having over the trunk. Shock was present in 48(53.3%), whereas myocarditis, encephalopathy, pulmonary edema and priapism were present in 38(42.2%), 32(35.5%), 34(37.8%), and
28(31.1%) children, respectively. Eight (8.9%) children had died. The mean value of blood pressure, sodium and potassium among survivors and non-survivors was insignificant. Mortality was significantly higher in children presented after 6 h of bite. Patients, who had metaboloic acidosis, tachpnea, myocarditis, APE, encephalopathy and priapism had significantly higher mortality (p<0.05).

Reference:
Prasad R, Mishra OP, Pandey N, Singh TB. Scorpion Sting Envenomation in Children: Factors Affecting the Outcome. Indian J Pediatr. 2010 Oct 13 [ePub ahead of print]. [Subscription required for fulltext]

Redescription of Scorpiops margerisonae from China

Zhi-Young Di and the late Ming-Sheng Zhu has published a redescription of Scorpiops margerisonae Kovarik, 2000 from China. The paper also described the female of the species for the first time.

Abstract:
Scorpiops margerisonae Kovařík, 2000 (Euscorpiidae: Scorpiopinae), from China (Xizang) is redescribed; its female is reported and depicted here for the first time.

Reference:
Di Z-Y, Zhu MS. Redescription of Scorpiops margerisonae Kovarik, 2000, with the first record of its female, from China (Xizang) (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae: Scorpiopinae). Euscorpius. 2010(104):1-9. [Free fultext]

Family Euscorpiidae