16 March, 2023

A new cryptic species in the genus Brachistosternus from the Argentinean central Andes

 


Andres Ojanguren-Affilastro and co-workers have discovered a new species in the genus  Brachistosternus Pocock, 1893 (Bothriuridae) from the Argentinean central Andes. 

 Brachistosternus diaguita Ojanguren-Affilastro, 2023

The new, high-altitude species is a cryptic species that is very difficult to separate from other related species in the area. A phylogenetic analysis supports the status of the new genus.

Abstract:
In this contribution we describe Brachistosternus diaguita n. sp. from the Argentinean central Andes, which is closely related to Brachistosternus montanus Roig-Alsina 1977, also from the same region. To corroborate reciprocal monophyly of the species, Bayesian inference was carried out on a selection of taxa, for which three mitochondrial (16S rDNA, 12SrDNA and COI) and two nuclear (28S rDNA and 18S rDNA) gene fragments had previously been sequenced for previous contributions on this genus by our group. Finally, we explored the potential distribution of Argentinean high Andean species of this genus using Maxent.

Reference:
Ojanguren-Affilastro AA, Ceccarelli FS, Mattoni CI, Salas L, Iuri H, Ochoa JA, et al. On the southernmost high Andean scorpion species, with the identification of a cryptic new species of Brachistosternus (Bothriuridae) through morphology, molecular data and species distribution models. Zoologischer Anzeiger. 2023;302:248–59. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Andres for sending me their new article!

Family Bothriuridae

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