The species in the enigmatic genus Troglotayosicus Lourenco, 1981 (Troglotayosicidae) are are either cavernicolous (cave dwelling species) or living in areas just outside caves (endogean), but they all have troglomorphies like loss or reduction of eyes, depigmentation or appendage attenuation. Alberto Sánchez-Vialas and co-workers have recently described a new species in this interesting genus.
Troglotayosicus muranunkae Sanchez-Vialas, Blasco-Arostegui,Garcia-Gila & Lourenco, 2020
Abstract:
A new epigean species belonging to the genus Troglotayosicus Lourenço, 1981 is described from southern Ecuador based on morphological traits. This enigmatic group of scorpions was known from a single locality in Ecuador and four localities in Colombia. Troglotayosicus muranunkae sp. n. is morphologically similar to the hypogean (troglobite species) T. vachoni Lourenço, 1981, but it differs from it by the trichobothrial pattern, shape of the carapace, and tegument sculpture. The new species was found actively wandering on the surface at night, which provides relevant ecological information and expands the distribution range of the genus 130 km southwards.
Reference:
Sánchez-Vialas A, Blasco-Aróstegui J, García-Gila J, Lourenco WR. A new species of Troglotayosicus Lourenço, 1981 (Scorpiones: Troglotayosicidae) from southern Ecuador. Arachnology. 2020;18(6):612-8. [Subscription required for full text]
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