A new species of Microtityus from the British Virgin Islands

Luis de Armas has recently published a new species of the small buthid genus Microtityus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1966 from the British Virgin Islands.

Microtityus eustatia Armas, 2018

Abstract:
Microtityus (Parvabsonus) eustatia sp. n. is herein described from the British Virgin Islands (West Indies): Eustatia Island (type locality), Virgin Gorda Island, and Camanoe Island, based on seven specimens (three males and four females). The new species closely resembles M. waeringi Francke & Sissom, 1980 from St. John Island and St. Thomas Island, U.S. Virgin Islands, differing mainly by the fixed finger of pedipalp having ten rows of denticles (nine in M. waeringi) and more attenuated metasoma. Also, new localities are recorded for Heteronebo yntemai Francke & Sissom, 1980 (Scorpionidae) and Centruroides griseus (C. L. Koch, 1844) (Buthidae).

Reference:
de Armas LF. A New Species of Microtityus from the British Virgin Islands, West Indies, and New Localities for Other Scorpions (Scorpiones: Buthidae, Scorpionidae). Euscorpius. 2018(264):1-10.

Family Buthidae

Two new species of Hottentotta from Iran

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers recently published an article describing two new species of Hottentotta Birula, 1908 (Buthidae) from Iran.

Hottentotta navidpouri Kovarik, Yagmur & Moradi, 2018

Hottentotta sistaensis Kovarik, Yagmur & Moradi, 2018

In addition, Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880) is redescribed.

Abstract:
Two new buthid species from Iran, Hottentotta navidpouri sp. n. (Hormozgan Province) and H. sistanensis sp. n. (Sistan and Baluchestan Province) are described, compared with H. saulcyi (Simon, 1880), and fully illustrated with color photos. The two new species differ from H. saulcyi mainly in shape of chela, which is strongly elongated in both new species.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Yagmur EA, Moradi M. Two New Hottentotta Species from Iran, with a Review of Hottentotta saulcyi (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2018(265):1-14. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A new species of Gint from Kenya

Frantisek Kovarik has described a new species of Gint Kovarik, Lowe, Pliskova & Stahlavsky, 2013 (Buthidae) from Kenya.

Gint childsi Kovarik, 2018

Abstract:
Gint childsi sp. n. from Kenya is described and compared with other species of the genus. Additional information is provided on the taxonomy and distribution of the genus Gint, fully complemented with color photos of preserved specimens of both sexes of the new species, as well as of their habitat.

Reference:
Kovarik F. A New Scorpion Species from Kenya, Gint childsi sp. n. (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius. 2018(266):1-9. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

A surprise from Crete - A second Mesobuthus species discovered

Mesobuthus gibbosus (Brulli, 1832) (Buthidae) has been well known from the Greek island Crete, but very recently Eric Ythier has published an article describing a second species from the Lassithi Plateau in Crete.

Mesobuthus gallianoi Ythier, 2018

Abstract:
A new species of scorpion belonging to the genus Mesobuthus Vachon, 1950 (family Buthidae C. L. Koch, 1837) is described on the basis of one specimen collected on the Lassithi Plateau, in Crete (Greece). The new species is characterised by a high number of rows of granules on mobile (14 rows) and fixed fingers (13 rows), lateromedian carinae vestigial on metasomal segment IV, an interspace between median carina and each paramedian carina 1.2-1.7 times as wide as the paramedian carina on tergites IV-VI, and a rather high pectinal tooth count with 26-27 teeth in female. This is the second species of the genus Mesobuthus reported from Crete.

Reference:
Ythier E. A new species of Mesobuthus Vachon, 1950 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Crete (Greece). Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2018(32):87-92.

Thanks to Eric for sending me his new article!

Family Buthidae

Environmental variation and seasonal changes as determinants of the spatial distribution of scorpion in Neotropical forests

Andre Lira and co-workers have recently published a new article on the population dynamics of scorpions in Neotropical forests. They found 12 species in the study area and collected data on microhabitat preferences, foraging activity, spatial distribution, seasonal changes effects etc.

Their main conclusion is that spatiotemporal resource partitioning and refuge sharing are important drivers of the population dynamics and spatial distribution of scorpion species in Neotropical forests. See abstract or article for more details.

Abstract:
Habitat selection and seasonal changes are key drivers of the population dynamics of many species. We analyzed how the environmental structure influences species establishment in an area by comparing microhabitat preference and functional richness of scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones) in wet (Atlantic forest) and semiarid (Caatinga) areas. Variations in superficial foraging activity and microhabitat colonization during dry and rainy seasons were evaluated as an indication of the climatic impact on population dynamics. We collected twelve scorpion species using ultraviolet light lamps. We found that differential patterns in spatial distribution were independent of forest type, and we provide evidence for partial niche partitioning among scorpion species based on age class and climatic conditions. Foraging activity was also seasonally influenced. Functional richness was higher in wet forests than in dry forests, whereas taxonomical richness exhibited an opposite pattern. We conclude that spatiotemporal resource partitioning and refuge sharing are important drivers of the population dynamics and spatial distribution of scorpion species in Neotropical forests.


Reference:
Lira A, DeSouza A, Albuquerque C. Environmental variation and seasonal changes as determinants of the spatial distribution of scorpion (Arachnida: Scorpiones) in Neotropical forests. Can J Zool. 2018;In Press. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Andre Lira for sending me their article!

The response to edge effects in two sympatric litter-dwelling scorpions in a Brazilian Atlantic forest

The edge effects in ecology are changes in population or community structures that occur at the boundary of two or more habitats (Wikipedia). Welton Dionisio-da-Silva and co-workers have recently published a study on how the abundance of two sympatric scorpion species (Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893 and Ananteris mauryi Lourenço, 1982 (Buthidae)) and their potential prey varied as a function of microhabitat changes from edge to interior forest habitats.

The results show a different response to the edge effects in the two species, A. mauryi being not so much influenced by edge effects as T. pusillus. Se abstract and article for more details.

Abstract:
Edge effects have drastically affected species living in tropical forests. However, understanding how species respond to edge effects remains a challenge, owing to the many factors involved and different responses of each species thereto. Here, we analyzed how the abundance of two sympatric scorpion species (Tityus pusillus and Ananteris mauryi) and their potential prey varied as a function of microhabitat changes (litter depth, dry mass, and leaf shape) from edge to interior forest habitats. We further analyzed the contribution of potential prey to scorpion abundance and reproductive periods. Data were collected monthly at three 300-m² transects/site at distances of 10, 100, and 200 m from the forest edge in a fragment of the Atlantic forest in northeastern Brazil, between April 2016 and March 2017. Scorpions responded differentially to edge effects, with A. mauryi abundance being similar along the edge-interior gradient, whereas T. pusillus had a higher abundance in the interior. As T. pusillus inhabit the top layer of the leaf litter, this species will possibly be more influenced by edge effects. In contrast, being a humicolous scorpion and inhabiting the bottom layers of leaf litter, A. mauryi would not be influenced by edge effects as much as T. pusillus. The reproductive period also was distinct between the two species, with T. pusillus reproducing in the dry season and A. mauryi in the rainy season. The oscillation in the abundance of different groups of prey at different periods maintained the overall prey abundance at a relatively constant level throughout the year, mitigating the effects of prey availability on the abundance and reproductive period of the scorpions. These results suggest that microhabitat exploitation is a key factor to sustain litterdwelling scorpions in disturbed forest remnants and that T. pusillus can be an ecological indicator of edge effects.

Reference:
Dionisio-da-Silva W, de Araujo Lira AF, de Albuquerque CMR. Distinct edge effects and reproductive periods of sympatric litter-dwelling scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones) in a Brazilian Atlantic forest. Zoology. 2018;129:17-24. [NB! Open Access until 17.08.18, then subscription required for access]

Thanks to Welton Dionisio da Silva and Andre Lira for informing me about their article!

Family Buthidae

A revision of the cryptic genus Microbuthus and the description of a new species

Graeme Lowe and co-workers have recently published a review of the cryptic genus Microbuthus Kraepelin, 1898 (Buthidae) from western and eastern coasts of North Africa and the southern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. A new species is also described.

Microbuthus satyrus Lowe, Kovarik, Stockmann & Stahlavsky, 2018 (Oman, Yemen)

Abstract:
The taxonomy of the genus Microbuthus is reviewed, and a new species from Oman and Yemen, M. satyrus sp. n., is described and fully illustrated with color photographs of live and preserved specimens, as well as of its habitat. It is compared to the closely similar species M. litoralis, which we also illustrate. Synonymy of the type species M. pusillus Kraepelin, 1898 with M. litoralis (Pavesi, 1885) is confirmed, and the species is recorded for the first time from Yemen. Hemispermatophores of M. satyrus sp. n., M. gardneri Lowe, 2010, and M. kristensenorum Lowe, 2010 are illustrated and compared, and we also describe the karyotypes of these three Microbuthus species. The number of chromosomes is the same in all analyzed species (2n=26).

Reference:
Lowe G, Kovarik F, Stockmann M, Stahlavsky F. Review of Microbuthus with description of M. satyrus sp. n. (Scorpiones, Buthidae) from Oman and Yemen. Euscorpius. 2018(263):1-22. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae