10 June, 2015

New species in the enigmatic genus Palaeocheloctonus from northern Madagascar


As many of you already know, Madagascar is a hotspot for scorpion diversity and endemism. Wilson Lourenco and Lucienne Wilme have now described a new species in the enigmatic genus Palaeocheloctonus Lourenco, 1996 (Hormuridae) in northern Madagascar, far from the locations known for the other species in the genus.

Palaeocheloctonus septentrionalis Lourenço & Wilme, 2015

The new species is an indication for a micro-endemic and vicariant population within Madagascar. 

Abstract:
A new scorpion species, Palaeocheloctonus septentrionalis sp.n., is described from the North of Madagascar. The new species clearly suggests a new case of micro-endemic and vicariant population within the island. The number of Palaeocheloctonus species in Madagascar is now increased to two and the known geographical distribution of the genus is extended within that great island, but remains strongly disrupted.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Wilme L. Micro-endemic populations of Palaeocheloctonus Lourenço, 1996 (Scorpiones: Hormuridae) in Madagascar: A new case of vicariance among Malagasy scorpions. Arthropoda Selecta. 2015;24(2):189-95. [Open Access]

Thanks to professor Lourenco for sending me this paper!

Family Hormuridae

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