Formalization of a few taxonomcial decisions

 

Victoria Tang has previously published a number of nomenclatural, taxonomic, and faunistic acts in a an article that is formally not valid according to the Code of Zoological Nomenclature. She has now published some of these decisions formally in the journal Euscorpius. Here are some main takeaways;

Scorpiops langxian Qi et al., 2005 and S. pococki Qi et al., 2005 (Scorpiopidae) are declared nomina dubia and junior subjective synonyms of S. tibetanus Hirst, 191.

Reddyanus wenjieae Huang et al., 2025 (Buthidae) is considered  nomen dubium.

Chaerilus tessellatus Qi et al., 2005 (Chaerilidae) is considered  nomen dubium.

Scorpiops hardwickii (Gervais, 1843) and S. petersii Pocock, 1893 (Scorpiopidae) are not distributed in China.

The article has also an discussion about the status of some of the populations of Scorpiops tibetanus Hirst, 1911 in China.

The author encourages readers to also read the original article for a deeper understanding of the arguments for her decisions. Readers are also recommended to read her article "Misapplication of statistics in scorpiology: a case study" for more information about the challenges in scorpion taxonomy that Tang addressees.

The author has asked me to mention an error in the article: The term "ventral pectinal teeth count" should be "patella ventral trichobothrium count", as defined in Abbreviation. 

Abstract:
Several nomenclatural, taxonomic, and faunistic decisions put forth in Tang (2026) are formalized herein: (1) four nomina dubia, Chaerilus tessellatus Qi et al., 2005, Scorpiops langxian Qi et al., 2005, S. pococki Qi et al., 2005, and Isometrus (Reddyanus) wenjieae Huang et al., 2025; (2) two junior subjective synonyms, Scorpiops langxian = S. pococki = S. tibetanus Hirst, 1911 syn. n.; (3) one new “aspidonym”, Scorpiops obluda Tang, 2026 sp. indet. nomen nudum; and (4) removal of Scorpiops hardwickii (Gervais, 1843) and S. petersii Pocock, 1893 from the Chinese scorpiofauna. Reddyanus tibetanus (Lourenço & Zhu, 2008) is maintained as a junior subjective synonym of R. assamensis (Oates, 1888). Alloscorpiops Vachon, 1980, Dasyscorpiops Vachon, 1974, Euscorpiops Vachon, 1980, Neoscorpiops Vachon, 1980, Plethoscorpiops Lourenço, 2017, Vietscorpiops Lourenço & Pham, 2015, and Alloscorpiops ( Laoscorpiops) Lourenço, 2013 are maintained as junior subjective synonyms of Scorpiops Peters, 1861.

Reference:
Tang V. Formalization of nomenclatural acts proposed in Tang (2026) (Scorpiones: Buthidae, Chaerilidae, Scorpiopidae). Euscorpius. 2026(438):1–14. [Open Access]

Thanks to Victoria for sending me her articles and for alle her help and information with The Scorpion Files!

An updated checklist of the Chaerilus species from Vietnam and a description of the female of Chaerilus honba

 

Wilson Lourenco and co-workers recently published some updated data om the Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Chaerilidae) in Vietnam. The female of Chaerilus honba Lourenço, 2019 is also described. 

Abstract:
Chaerilus honba Lourenço, 2019 is recorded for the first time from Nui Chua National Park, Vietnam. The single specimen found within the dry forest represents at the same time the first female known, which is described in detail. Furthermore, an updated checklist of the Chaerilus species from Vietnam is provided and biogeographical relations between southern Vietnamese coastal forests are discussed.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Nguyen TQ, Luu TH, Bressel J, Ziegler T. New insights on the genus Chaerilus Simon, 1877 from Vietnam and description of the female of Chaerilus honba Lourenço, 2019 based on a new record from Nui Chua National Park (Scorpiones: Chaerilidae). Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2025(46):76–80. [No full text found]

Thanks to Professor Thomas Ziegler for sending me their article!

Family Chaerilidae

A new species of Chaerilus from Pakistan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Eric Ythier & Wilson Lourenco have recently described a new species of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Chaerilidae) from northern Pakistan.

Chaerilus pakistanus Ythier & Lourenco, 2025

Abstract:
A new species belonging to the genus Chaerilus Simon, 1877 is described from northern Pakistan. The new species is morphologically compared with the geographically closest species occurring in northern Pakistan, northern India and Nepal. This new taxon represents the 60th decribed species among the currently recognized species for the genus Chaerilus.

Reference:
Ythier E, Lourenco WR. A new species of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 from Pakistan (Scorpiones: Chaerilidae). Faunitaxys. 2025;13(27):1–6. [Open Access]

Family Chaerilidae

A review of the members of the genus Chaerilus in China with the description of one new species

 

Recently, Victoria Tang has published an extensive review of the species of Chaerilus Simon, 1877(Chaerilidae) from China. One new species is described.

Chaerilus herta Tang, 2025

The paper reviews the species found in China and discuss taxonomical challenges for the family and for scorpions in general. Also, the presence and level of UV fluorescence in this genus is discussed.  

Abstract:
The genus Chaerilus Simon, 1877 in China is preliminarily revised on a morphological basis, derived from the available literature and newly examined specimens. The robustness of several commonly applied species-level diagnostic criteria are evaluated. Ten species are provisionally recognized for China, including one new morphospecies, Chaerilus herta sp. n., described from 9 females, 40 males, and 2 juvenile females collected in Mêdog County. The current study only reveals and resolves several most elementary issues in the taxonomy of Chinese Chaerilus. Further molecular investigations are warranted until topotypes of certain species become available.

Reference:
Tang V. Current challenges and preliminary morphological reassessment of the genus Chaerilus Simon, 1877 in China (Scorpiones: Chaerilidae). Euscorpius. 2025(406):1-89. [Open Access]

Family Chaerilidae

A new cave-dwelling species of Chaerilus from Myanmar

 

Eric Ythier and Wilson Lourenco recently published a study describing a new cave-dwelling species in the genus Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Chaerilidae) from Myanmar (Burma). Even though the new species was found in caves, it is not a true troglobite, but rather a trogloxene. 

Here are the taxonomical decision in this paper:

Chaerilus adrianoi Lourenco & Ythier, 2024 (new species)

Chaerilus birmanicus Thorell, 1899 (restored from synonymy with Chaerilus variegatus Simon, 1877)

Chaerilus anneae Lourenço, 2012 (restored from synonymy with Chaerilus julietteae Lourenço, 2011)

Chaerilus kampuchea Lourenço, 2012 (species status confirmed. Previous status "Nomen dubium"

Abstract:
A new species belonging to the genus Chaerilus Simon, 1877 is described from Myanmar: Chaerilus adrianoi sp. n., which was collected in a cave located in the East of the country. The new species is compared with some other Chaerilus species also described from Southeast Asia and in particular from Myanmar. The comparative study of the new species with other congenerics suggests, as in previous cases, that different species do not show very marked morphological differences, but rather correspond to micro-endemic populations. The new species is the second Chaerilus collected from Myanmar, together with Chaerilus birmanicus Thorell, 1899, restored from its synonymy with Chaerilus variegatus Simon, 1877. Chaerilus anneae Lourenço, 2012 is also restored from its synonymy with Chaerilus julietteae Lourenço, 2011 and the validity of Chaerilus kampuchea Lourenço, 2012 is confirmed.

Reference:
Lourenço WR, Ythier E. A new cave species of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 from Myanmar (Scorpiones: Chaerilidae). Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2024(44):51-6. [Full text provided by authors]

Thanks to Eric for sending me their article!

Family Chaerilidae

Two new species of Chaerilus from southern Asia

 

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers have recently published an article describing two new species of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Chaerilidae) from Laos and Thailand.

Chaerilus kautti Kovarik, Lowe, Stockmann & Stahlavsky, 2020 (Thailand)

Chaerilus pulcherrimus Kovarik, Lowe, Stockmann & Stahlavsky, 2020 (Laos)

Abstract:
Chaerilus kautti sp. n. from Thailand and C. pulcherrimus sp. n. from Laos are described and fully illustrated with color photographs of live and preserved specimens. C. kautti sp. n. is characterized by the unique combination of two characters: movable finger of pedipalp with 11 imbricated rows of granules; and pedipalp chela length/width ratio in male 4.55. C. pulcherrimus sp. n. is characterized by the unique combination of four characters: movable finger of pedipalp with 8 imbricated rows of granules; total length 16–19 mm; pedipalp chela length/width ratio in male 2.57, in female 2.69; and sternite VII smooth. In addition to analysis of external morphology and hemispermatophores, we also specify the number of chromosomes of both species: C. kautti sp. n. (2n=118) and C. pulcherrimus sp. n. (2n=102).

Reference:
Kovarik F, Lowe G, Stockmann M, Stahlavsky F. Two new Chaerilus from Thailand and Laos (Scorpiones: Chaerilidae). Euscorpius. 2020(324):1-20. [Open Access]

Family Chaerilidae

A review of the scorpions of Nepal

 

Binu Shrestha and Tobias Dörr have recently published a review of the scorpion fauna of Nepal. At the moment, 12 species in four families are known, but the scorpion fauna of Nepal is understudied and these numbers may change in the future. An identification key to the known taxa is presented.

Abstract:

The arachnid fauna of Nepal is poorly studied. Here, we present a literature review summarizing the current state of knowledge about the occurrence and distribution of scorpion species reported from Nepal. In addition, we offer field notes about scorpion observations made during several visits to Nepal between 1998 and 2018. Finally, we present a genus-level identification key to the scorpion taxa likely to be encountered in Nepal.

Reference:
Shrestha B, Dörr T. Scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones) of Nepal: literature review and field notes. Arachnology. 2020;18(5):430-5, 6. [Subscritpion required for full text]

 

A new species of Chaerilus from Vietnam

Wilson Lourenco has recently published a new species of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Chaerilidae) from Vietnam.

Chaerilus honba Lourenco, 2019

Abstract:

Reference:
Lourenco WR. The genus Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Scorpiones: Chaerilidae) in Vietnam, with the description of a new species. Arachnology. 2019;18(1):32-6.

Family Chaerilidae

A new species of Chaerilus from Malaysia

Frantisek Kovarik has recently published a new species of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Chaerilidae) from Malaysia.

Chaerilus alberti Kovarik, 2019

Abstract:
Chaerilus alberti sp. n. from Malaysia (Cameron Highlands) is described and fully illustrated with color photographs of preserved specimens, as well as of their habitat. Males of C. alberti sp. n. have a unique shape of chela which is stout with the manus swollen anteriorly. They are compared to other species from Southeast Asia from all of which C. alberti sp. n. differs by the shape of pedipalp chela parallel or swollen posteriorly or medially. Pedipalp chela is illustrated with color photographs of 21 of these species.

Reference:
Kovarik F. Chaerilus alberti sp. n. from Malaysia (Scorpiones: Chaerilidae). Euscorpius. 2019(274):1-9. [Open Access]

Family Chaerilidae

A new cave-dwelling Chaerilus species from the Philippines

Happy New Year!

Wilson Lourenco and Andrea Rossi have recently published an article on the cave population of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Chaerilidae) from Palawan, Philippines. A new species is described.

Chaerilus agnellivanniorum Lourneco & Rossi, 2018

The biogeography of the genus in Borneo and Palawan is also discussed.

Abstract:
The study of an important collection of scorpions, belonging to the genus Chaerilus, recently collected from a cave in the Palawan Island, Philippines, allows the clarification of the identity of this population, often misidentified with Chaerilus chapmani Vachon & Lourenco, 1985 known from caves in the Gunong Mulu National Park in Sarawak (Borneo). Chaerilus agnellivanniorum sp. n. is described from the Puerto Princesa Underground River Cave in Palawan Island based on 14 specimens, males, females, and juveniles. The new species is totally distinct morphologically from Chaerilus chapmani, a true troglobitic species. Chaerilus agnellivanniorum sp. n. may also be a true troglobitic element, but with a less marked degree of regression for several characters. Some comments on the ecology of the new species and on regional biogeography of Borneo and Palawan islands are also proposed.

References:
Lourenco WR, Rossi A. The cave population of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 from Palawan, Philippines, and description of a new species (Scorpiones: Chaerilidae). C R Biol. 2018. In Press. [Subscription required for full text]

Family Chaerilidae

Three new species of Chaerilus from Malaysia and Thailand

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers have recently published a new article describing three new species of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Chaerilidae) from Malaysia and Thailand.

Chaerilus majkusi Kovarik, Lowe & Stahlavsky, 2018 (Malaysia)

Chaerilus neradorum Kovarik, Lowe & Stahlavsky, 2018 (Thailand)

Chaerilus stockmannorumi Kovarik, Lowe & Stahlavsky, 2018 (Thailand)

The articles have pictures of live speciemens of the new species.

Abstract:
Chaerilus majkusi sp. n. from Malaysia (Tioman Island), C. neradorum sp. n. and C. stockmannorum sp. n. from Thailand are described and fully illustrated with color photographs of live and preserved specimens, as well as of their habitat. They are compared to the species C. cimrmani Kovařík, 2012, C. sejnai Kovařík, 2005, and C. tichyi Kovařík, 2000, which we also illustrate with color photographs of live unpublished specimens. Hemispermatophores of C. cimrmani, C. majkusi sp .n., C. stockmannorum sp. n., and C. tichyi are illustrated and compared, and we also describe the karyotypes of C. cimrmani, C. majkusi sp. n., C. neradorum sp. n., C. stockmannorum sp. n., C. sejnai and C. tichyi. The diploid numbers of chromosomes range from 76 to 186 and the karyotypes show distinct inter-specific variability among analyzed species. C. stockmannorum sp. n. (2n=186) possesses the highest number of chromosomes within the order Scorpiones and the class Arachnida.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Lowe G, Stahlavsky F. Three New Chaerilus from Malaysia (Tioman Island) and Thailand (Scorpiones: Chaerilidae), with a Review of C. cimrmani, C. sejnai, and C. tichyi. Euscorpius. (268):1-27. [Open Access]

Family Chaerilidae

A checklist of the scorpion fauna of Vietnam

Dinh-Sac Pham and co-workers have recently published an updated checklist of the scorpion fauna of Vietnam.

Abstract:
A faunistic inventory is proposed for the known Vietnamese scorpion species. The aim of this contribution is to bring an up-to-date checklist of all known species in Vietnam, prior to a more detailed study of the Vietnamese fauna to be performed by one of the authors (T.- H.T.) in the context of the preparation of a doctoral degree. Final taxonomic decisions should be taken at the end of the doctoral dissertation.

Reference:
Pham DS, Tran TH, Lourenco WR. Diversity and endemicity in the scorpion fauna of Vietnam. A preliminary synopsis. C R Biol. 2017;340(2):132-7. [Open Access]

A checklist of the scorpion fauna of Vietnam

The scorpion fauna of Vietnam has previously received little attention. Dinh-Sac Pham and co-workers have now published a checklist of the scorpion fauna of Vietnam based on the available literature. The aim of the study is to make ready for future taxonomic studies of the scorpions of Vietnam.

In the article the authors raise the subgenus Vietscorpiops (Lourenço and Pham, 2015) (Euscorpiidae) to genus status and the species Scorpiops dentidactylus Lourenço and Pham, 2015 is moved to the new genus (as Vietscorpiops dentidactylus (Lourenço and Pham, 2015) ).

Abstract:
A faunistic inventory is proposed for the known Vietnamese scorpion species. The aim of this contribution is to bring an up-to-date checklist of all known species in Vietnam, prior to a more detailed study of the Vietnamese fauna to be performed by one of the authors (T.- H.T.) in the context of the preparation of a doctoral degree. Final taxonomic decisions should be taken at the end of the doctoral dissertation.

Reference:
Pham DS, Tran TH, Lourenco WR. Diversity and endemicity in the scorpion fauna of Vietnam. A preliminary synopsis. C R Biol. 2016. [Open Access]

Family Euscorpiidae

Major review of the scorpions of Sri Lanka with several taxonomcal changes

Frantisek Kovarik and several co-workers have recently published a major review of the scorpion fauna of Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon). A identification key for the 18 species in the island is provided, as are many color pictures of species and habitats.

Four new species are described and several taxonomical changes are proposed.

The subgenus Reddyanus Vachon, 1972 in Isometrus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Buthidae) is elevated to genus level. Several species is transferred from Isometrus to Reddyanus. See the paper or the Buthidae family page for a list of the species now belonging til Reddyanus.

Four new species are described from Sri Lanka:

Charmus saradieli Kovarik, Loewe, Ranawana, Hoferek & Jayarathne 2016

Reddyanus ceylonensis Kovarik, Lowe, Ranawana, Hoferek, Jayarathne & Stahlavsky, 2016
Reddyanus jayarathnei Kovarik, 2016
Reddyanus ranawanai Kovarik, 2016

The following species is elevated to species status from synonymization:

Heterometrus serratus (Pocock, 1900) - Previously in synonymy with H. indus (Geer, 1778)

The following species are synonymized:

Charmus minor Lourenco, 2002 is synonymized with Charmus laneus Karsch, 1879

Isometrus garyi Lourenco, & Huber, 2002 is synonymized with Reddyanus loebli (Vachon, 1982)

Abstract:
Data about all 18 known scorpion species of Sri Lanka are summarized. All previously known species were newly collected and four new species discovered during a scorpiological expedition in 2015. Information is provided about their taxonomy, distribution, ecology, and reproductive biology, fully complemented with color photos of live and preserved specimens, as well as their habitat. Subgenus Isometrus (Reddyanus) Vachon, 1972 is elevated to genus level, Reddyanus stat. n., supported by new characters of setation on leg tarsomere II and hemi-spermatophore morphology. Charmus saradieli sp. n., Reddyanus ceylonensis sp. n., R. jayarathnei sp. n., and R. ranawanai sp. n. are described, compared with other species and fully illustrated. Heterometrus serratus (Pocock, 1900) is restored and differentiated from H. indus (Geer, 1778). Charmus minor Lourenço, 2002 is synonymized with Charmus laneus Karsch, 1879; Isometrus garyi Lourenço et Huber, 2002 is synonymized with Reddyanus loebli (Vachon, 1982) comb. n., and Heterometrus spinifer solitarius Couzijn, 1981 is synonymized with Heterometrus indus (Geer, 1778). A key and distribution maps for all 18 Sri Lankan scorpion species are presented. Hemispermatophores of Buthoscorpio sarasinorum (Karsch, 1892), Charmus laneus Karsch, 1879, Isometrus thwaitesi Pocock, 1897, Lychas srilankensis Lourenço, 1997, Reddyanus basilicus (Karsch, 1879) comb. n., R. ceylonensis sp. n., R. loebli comb. n. and Heterometrus gravimanus (Pocock, 1894) are illustrated and described for the first time. In additional to morphological analysis, we also describe the karyotype of Buthoscorpio sarasinorum (2n=14); Charmus laneus (2n=9); Isometrus thwaitesi (2n=8); Lychas srilankensis (2n=16); Reddyanus basilicus comb. n. (2n=15–16); R. ceylonensis sp. n. (2n=16); and R. loebli comb. n. (2n=17). The significance of cytogenetics and hemispermatophore morphology in buthid taxonomy are discussed.

Reference:
Kovarik F, Lowe G, Ranawana KB, Hoferek D, Jayarathne VAS, Pliskova J, et al. Scorpions of Sri Lanka (Arachnida, Scorpiones: Buthidae, Chaerilidae, Scorpionidae) with Description of Four New Species of the Genera Charmus Karsch, 1879 and Reddyanus Vachon, 1972, stat. n. Euscorpius. 2016 (220):1-133. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

Two new Chaerilus species from Vietnam

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers have recently published a new article with the description of two new species of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Chaerilidae) from Vietnam.

Chaerilus granulatus Kovarík, Lowe, Hoferek, Forman & Král, 2015

Chaerilus longimanus Kovarík, Lowe, Hoferek, Forman & Král, 2015

Abstract:
Chaerilus granulatus sp. n. and C. longimanus sp. n. from Vietnam are described and compared with other species of the genus. Both species are characterized by: median eyes present; movable finger of pedipalp with 7–9 rows of granules; total length of adults under 30 mm; male differing from female in having pedipalp chela much narrower and longer. The two new species are differentiated by: ventral sides of sternite VII are smooth in C. longimanus sp. n. and granulated in C. granulatus sp. n. Adults of both sexes of C. granulatus sp. n. and C. hofereki Kovařík et al., 2014 were raised from birth and their exuviae were retained and compared to the mature adults. Hemispermatophores of C. granulatus sp. n. and C. hofereki were extracted and illustrated. Karyotype of male holotype of C. granulatus sp. n. consists of high number of chromosomes (2n=96).

Reference:
Kovarik F, Lowe G, Hoferek D, Forman M, Kral J. Two New Chaerilus from Vietnam (Scorpiones, Chaerilidae), with Observations of Growth and Maturation of Chaerilus granulatus sp. n. and C. hofereki Kovařík et al., 2014. Euscorpius. 2015 (213):1-21. [Open Access]

Family Chaerilidae

A new species of Chaerilus from China

Shijin Yin and co-workers have recently described a new species of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Chaerilidae) from China.

Chaerilus pseudoconchiformus Yin, Qiu, Pan, Li & Di, 2015

The article has an identification key for the genus in China.

Abstract:
A new species, C. pseudoconchiformus sp. n., is described from Xizang, China. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a body length of 32−40 mm, carapace with the anterior margin straight, chela with length/width ratio average of 3.3 in males (3.2−3.4, two adults), and 2.5 in females (2.3−2.6, nine adults), eight or nine (eight usually) rows of denticles on fixed and movable fingers of pedipalp chelae, five pectinal teeth in males and three or four in females. To date, the chaerilid species fauna of China consists of nine species. An updated identification key to Chaerilus from China is presented.

Reference:
Yin S, Qiu Y, Pan Z, Li S, Di Z. Chaerilus pseudoconchiformus sp. n. and an updated key of the chaerilid scorpions from China (Scorpiones, Chaerilidae). ZooKeys. 2015;495:41-51. [Open Access]

Thanks to Gerard Dupre for sending me this article!

Family Chaerilidae

A new species of Chaerilus from Vietnam

Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers have recently published a new species of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Chaerilidae) from Vietnam.

Chaerilus hofereki Kovarik, Kral, Korinkova & Lerma, 2014

Abstract:
Chaerilus hofereki sp. n. from Vietnam is described and compared with C. cimrmani Kovařík, 2012 from Thailand. C. hofereki sp. n. is characterized mainly by sexual dimorphism. Chela of pedipalp is wide and ampullar, fingers shorter in male than in female. Ratio of chela length to movable finger length 2.2 in males and 1.7–2 in females. Movable finger of pedipalp with 9 or 10 cutting edges. Our study brings the first data on chromosomes of chaerilid scorpions. The karyotype of male paratype of C. hofereki sp. n. consists of high number of chromosomes (2n = 90).

Reference:
Kovarik F, Kral J, Korinkova T, Lerma ACR. Chaerilus hofereki sp. n. from Vietnam (Scorpiones: Chaerilidae). Euscorpius. 2014 (189):1-11. [Free full text]

Family Chaerilidae

A review of the scorpion biogeography of Southeast Asia

Wilson Lourenco has written a book chapter on the biogeography of scorpions of Southeast Asia in the book "Biodiversity, Biogeography and Nature Conservation in Wallacea and New Guinea, volume II". See abstract below for more details.

Abstract:
Biogeographic patterns observed among modern scorpions are the consequence of different major events which can be integrated in the schematic scales proposed by M. Udvardy. The distribution of the principal modern groups (i.e. families and genera) is derived from elements (protofamilies and protogenera of Pulmonate- Neoscorpionina) which originated in Pangea. The main factor in the phylogenetic/palaeobiogeographic scale was probably not the latitudinal and longitudinal overland migration (dispersion) of the ancestors Neoscorpionina, which followed the predominantly southward shift of the warm tropical belt, but a rather more passive vicariant process in association with dispersal in Haffer’s sense, in response to the progressive fragmentation of Pangea. This was followed by continental drift which led to the present configuration of the continents and climates. This suggestion seems to be in accordance with the very poor vagility observed in modern scorpions. On the millennial scale, Pleistocene and post-Pleistocene biogeography has been responsible for the regional level of the distribution pattern which, during its settlement, has led to the selection of some new specific lineages and to the extinction of others. On the secular scale, the ecological biogeography is a consequence of recent natural or anthropic events. This scale has been little used by scorpion biogeographers, mostly because of lack of data on scorpion life history strategies. In this chapter, examples from Southeast (and Wallacea) scorpions are proposed for and discussed in relation to the three biogeographic scales of Udvardy.

Reference:
Lourenco WR. Biogeography of Southeast Asia (and Wallacea) scorpions, a review. In: Telnov D, editor. Biodiversity, Biogeography and Nature Conservation in Wallacea and New Guinea, volume II. Riga: Entomological Society of Latvia; 2014. p. 27-46.

Thanks to professor Lourenco for sending me this paper!

A new species of Chaerilus from Vietnam

Wilson Lourenco and Dinh-Sac Pham have recently published a new species of Chaerilus discovered in the Pa Thom Caves in the Dien Bien District in northern Vietnam.

Chaerilus pathom Lourenco & Pham, 2014 (Chaerilidae)

The new species was found in caves, but the paper doesn't report about any cave adaptions or if this is a troglophile species.

Recently, Frantisek Kovarik published a revision of Chaerilidae in his book project Illustrated Catalog of Scorpions, Part II. Lourenco & Pham strongly criticize and reject Kovarik's decisions in this revision, and state that species that are synonymized or declared Nomen dubium should be valid until more detailed studies are made.I will post a special blog message later with the consequences for the genus in regard to Kovarik's decisions (which is currently reflected in The scorpion Files species list).

Abstract:
A new species of the genus Chaerilus Simon, 1877 is described from a cave in Dien Bien District, West of Dien Bien Phu city in northern Vietnam. The new species is morphologically similar to other Chaerilus species distributed only in the south of Vietnam and Cambodia and suggests a case of a vicariant species between northern and southern populations in the Southeast Asian peninsula.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Pham D-S. The genus Chaerilus Simon, 1877 in Vietnam (Scorpiones; Chaerilidae): A possible case of a vicariant species. Comptes Rendus - Biologies. 2014;337:360-4. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to professor Lourenco for sending me this paper!

Family Chaerilidae

A review of the genus Chaerilus

Pregnant female of Chaerilus sp. from Nepal. Photo: Jan Ove Rein (C)

I've finally gotten Frantisek Kovarik's and Andres Ojanguren Affilastro's great book Illustrated Catalog of Scorpions, Part II. Bothriuridae; Chaerilidae; Buthidae I., genera Compsobuthus, Hottentotta, Isometrus, Lychas and Sassanidotus and I will update you with the taxonomical updates from the book in the time to come.

The following taxonomical updates have been done in the family Chaerilidae:

Chaerilus anneae Lourenco, 2012 is synonymized with Chaerilus julietteae Lourenco, 2011.

Chaerilus dibangvalleycus Bastawade, 2006 is synonymized with Chaerilus assamensis Kraepelin, 1913.

Chaerilus phami Lourenco, 2011 is synonymized with Chaerilus petrzelkai Kovarik, 2000.

Chaerilus philippinus Lourenco & Ythier, 2008 is synonymized with Chaerilus celebensis Pocock, 1894.

Chaerilus spinatus Lourenco & Duhem, 2010 is synonymized with Chaerilus celebensis Pocock, 1894.

Chaerilus thai Lourenco, Sun & Zhu, 2010 is synonymized with Chaerilus celebensis Pocock, 1894.

The following species are declared nomen dubium until further investigations:

Chaerilus kampuchea Lourenco, 2012
Chaerilus lehtrarensis Khatoon, 1999
Chaerilus vietnamicus Lourenco & Zhu, 2008

The book has an identification key to the valid species of the genus and a distributional table.

Reference:
Kovarik F. Family Chaerilidae. In: Kovarik F, Ojanguren Affilastro AA, editors. Illustrated catalogue of scorpions Part II Bothriuridae: Buthidae I, genera Compsobuthus, Hottentotta, Isometrus, Lychas and Sassanidotus. Prague: Clarion Production; 2013. p. 131-44.

Family Chaerilidae