A new species of Diplocentrus from Mexico

 

Hector Hugo Villa-Corella and co-workers have recently published a new species of Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Diplocentridae) from the state of Sonora in Mexico.

Diplocentrus leptomanus Villa-Corella, Silva-Kurumiya, Barrales-Alcala, Van Devender & Francke, 2023

Abstract:
A new species of scorpion, Diplocentrus leptomanus sp. nov., is described from northeastern Sonora, Mexico. This contribution increases the number of species in the genus Diplocentrus present in the state to five, two of which are endemic to the state. Morphological comparisons are provided with other species in the region, Diplocentrus williamsi Sissom & Wheeler, 1995, Diplocentrus peloncillensis Francke, 1975, and Diplocentrus spitzeri Stahnke, 1970.

Reference:
Villa-Corella HH, Silva-Kurumiya H, Barrales-Alcalá D, Van Devender TR, Francke OF. Una especie nueva de Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae) del estado de Sonora, México. Acta Zoologica Mexicana Nueva Serie. 2023;39:1-14. [Open Access]

Thanks to Gerard Dupre for sending me this article!

Family Diplocentridae

Description of the female of Diplocentrus lachua from Guatemala

Rony E. Trujillo and co-workers have recently published a description of the adult female of the species  Diplocentrus lachua  (Diplocentridae) from Guatemala. Information of the known distribution of all described Guatemalan Diplocentrus species is also presented.

Abstract:
The female of the scorpion Diplocentrus lachua Armas, Trujillo & Agreda, 2011 is herein described, on the basis of a single specimen collected at Parque Nacional Laguna Lachuá, Alta Verapaz Department, Guatemala, type locality for this species. An emended diagnosis is provided and the known distribution of all described Guatemalan Diplocentrus species is graphically presented.

Reference:
Trujillo RE, de Armas LF, Gaitan CA. Description of the adult female of Diplocentrus lachua (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae: Diplocentrinae) from northeastern Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Euscorpius. 2019(289):1-9. [Open Access]

Family Diplocentridae

Scorpion venom can kill dangerous, resistant bacterias in a safe way

I usually do not post much about biochemical and toxicology research on scorpion venom as I have very little expertise on these topics. As many of you probably have noticed, there is a lot of research on scorpion venom trying to identify components in the venom that can be used for medical and/or commercial purposes. Because of this, scorpion venom is now considered one of the most expensive materials on earth. This week a very interesting study was published.

Edson Norberto Carcamo-Noriegaa and co-workers have identified twopreviously unknown benzoquinones in the venom of the Mexican scorpion Diplocentrus melici Armas, Martin-Frias & Berea, 2004 (Scorpionidae). The study shows that these two compounds can kill dangerous staphylococcus and tuberculosis bacteria in a safe way. The researchers also were able to synthesize the two compounds, making this a very promising tool for a future medicine against dangerous and resistant bacterias.

If you can not access the article, you can check out this news report from Stanford University summing up the main findings.

Abstract:
Two 1,4-benzoquinone derivatives, found in the venom of the scorpion Diplocentrus melici following exposure to air, have been isolated, characterized, synthesized, and assessed for antimicrobial activities. Initially a white, viscous liquid, the extracted venom colors within minutes under ambient conditions. From this colored mixture, two compounds, one red, the other blue, were isolated and purified using chromatography. After a variety of NMR and mass spectrometry experiments, the red compound was determined to be 3,5- dimethoxy-2-(methylthio)cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione, and the blue compound was determined to be 5-methoxy-2,3- bis(methylthio) cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione. Because extremely small amounts of these compounds were isolated from the scorpion venom, we developed laboratory syntheses from commercially available precursors, allowing us to produce sufficient quantities for crystallization nd biological assays. The red benzoquinone is effective against Staphylococcus aureus [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 4 μg/mL], while the blue benzoquinone is active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MIC = 4 μg/mL) and even against a multidrug-resistant (MDR) strain with nearly equal effectiveness. The bactericidal effects of both benzoquinones show comparable activity to commercially available antibiotics used against these pathogens and were cytotoxic to neoplastic cell lines, suggesting
their potential as lead compounds for the development of novel antimicrobial and anticancer drugs. Importantly, the blue benzoquinone was also effective in vivo with mouse models of MDR tuberculosis infection. After treatment for 2 mo, four mice with late-stage active MDR tuberculosis had a significant decrease in pulmonary bacillary loads and tissue damage. Healthy mice served as negative controls and tolerated treatment well, without adverse side effects.

Reference:
Carcamo-Noriega EN, Sathyamoorthi S, Banerjee S, Gnanamani E, Mendoza-Trujillo M, Mata-Espinosa D, et al. 1,4-Benzoquinone antimicrobial agents against Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium tuberculosis derived from scorpion venom. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 2019:201812334. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Matt Simon for informing me about this interesting article!

A new species of Diplocentrus from Mexico

Carlos E. Santibanez-Lopez and Edmundo Gonzalez-Santillan have recently described a new species of Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpionidae) from Mexico.

Diplocentrus duende Santibanez-Lopez & Gonzalez-Santillan, 2017

Abstract:
Diplocentrus duende n. sp. is described based on adult males collected from a locality in the Tehuaca´n–Cuicatla´n Valley, Mexico. This species has punctate pedipalp surfaces, a condition present only in four other species of this specious genus. As suggested here, this condition has evolved independently in these species within the ‘‘mexicanus’’ group of Diplocentrus from the rest of the diplocentrids.

Reference:
Santibanez-Lopez CE, Gonzalez-Santillan E. A new species of Diplocentrus (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae) with punctate pedipalp surfaces, a diagnostic character within the "mexicanus" group. C R Biol. 2017; In Press. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Carlos for sending me their article!

Family Scorpionidae

And another new species of Diplocentrus from Guatemala

Luis de Armas and Rony Trujillo have recently published a second new species of Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpionidae) from Guatemala (the first one was mentioned in my blog June 1th.).

Diplocentrus izabal Armas & Trujillo, 2016

Abstract:
Diplocentrus izabal sp. n. is herein described on basis to one male (holotype) and two females from El Estor municipality, Izabal department, eastern Guatemala. It seems to be a close relative of Diplocentrus lachua Armas, Trujillo & Agreda, 2012, from which it differs by having carapace almost smooth, with anteromedian notch V-shaped; pectines with 11 teeth in both sexes, and carapace clearly longer than pedipalp manus and metasomal segment V (D. lachua has carapace minutely granulate, with anteromedian notch U-shaped; pectines with 13 teeth in the males (female unknown), and carapace as long as both pedipalp manus and metasomal segment V).

Reference:
De Armas LF, Trujillo RE. A new species of Diplocentrus (Scorpionidae: Diplocentrinae) from western Izabal, Guatemala. Euscorpius. 2016(225):1-8. [Open Access]

Thanks to Rony Trujillo for sending me this article!

Family Scorpionidae

A new species of Diplocentrus from Guatemala

Rony E. Trujillo and Luis F. de Armas have recently published an article describing a new species of Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 from Unión Cantinil in Guatemala.

Diplocentrus popti Trujillo & Armas, 2016

Abstract:
A new species of the genus Diplocentrus Peters, 1861, is herein described from Unión Cantinil (1704 m a.s.l.; 15° 35’ 46.3’’ N – 91° 45’ 43.6’’ W), Huehuetenango department, Guatemala, based on a single adult male. It differs from Diplocentrus chol Francke, 2007 in the following characters: (1) tarsomere II of legs II-IV with 4/4:5/5:5/5:5/5 ventral spiniform setae (4-5/5: 5/5-6: 6/6 in D. chol); (2) pectines with 9 teeth (10-13 in D. chol); (3) pedipalp femur more granulose; (4) telson less globose (length/height ratio = 2,9 vs 2,5 in D. chol). With this new species the number of Guatemalan species of Diplocentrus is raised to seven.

Reference:
Trujillo RE, de Armas LF. Nueva especie de Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae: Diplocentrinae) del occidente de Guatemala. Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2016(28):103-6. [Subscription required for full text]

Family Scorpionidae

A new species of Diplocentrus from Honduras

Kevin Sagastume-Espinoza and co-workers have recently published a new species of Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpionidae) from Cayos Cochinos in north Honduras, and from a nearby island locality of Utila.

Diplocentrus insularis Sagastume-Espinoza, Longhorn & Santibanez-Lopez, 2015

 An identification key for the genus in Honduras is included.

Abstract:
Three species of genus Diplocentrus are found in north-northwestern Honduras. These species represent the southern east limits of Diplocentrus’ distribution. In recent years, a broad survey of arachnids in Honduras has yielded a collection of several specimens of an undescribed species from two islands in northern Honduras. This new species represents the second species of the genus inhabiting an island. The present contribution describes this new species, and compares it against its most similar relatives. A dichotomous key for the identification of the species of Diplocentrus in Honduras is also included.

Reference:
Sagastume-Espinoza KO, Longhorn SJ, Santibanez-Lopez CE. A new scorpion species of genus Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae) endemic to Islas de la Bahia, Honduras. C R Biol. 2015 May 27. [Subscription required for full text]

Family Scorpionidae

The phylogeny of the genus Diplocentrus

The genus Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpionidae) is a very diverse genus with species in North and Central America (Mexico being the hotspot for this genus).

Carlos Santibanez-Lopez and co-workers have now conducted a phylogenetic analysis of the genus based on 29 species. The conclusions are presented in the abstract below.

Abstract:
Karsch, 1880. There is considerable morphological variation among the species of Diplocentrus. It is necessary to test the monophyly and phylogenetic position of Diplocentrus in order to revise its diagnosis and taxonomic limits. The present contribution provides a phylogenetic analysis of 29 species of Diplocentrus, five exemplar species representing the three putatively most closely related diplocentrid genera, and an exemplar of a more distantly related diplocentrid genus. The analysis was based on 95 morphological characters and 4202 aligned nucleotides from DNA sequences of five markers in the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Separate and simultaneous parsimony analyses of the morphological and DNA sequence data were conducted with equal weighting and six implied weighting regimes. The nuclear and mitochondrial DNA datasets were also analyzed separately and simultaneously with Bayesian inference. The resulting topologies recovered the monophyly of Diplocentrus, with the exception of two neobothriotaxic species from central Mexico, for which a new genus Kolotl Santibáñez-López et al., 2014, is justified. The keyserlingii group, as previously defined, was not monophyletic due to the placement of two species in the mexicanus group; the rest of its component species were monophyletic, however. A third clade was recovered that has not been previously recognized: the zacatecanus group, comprising four species from northern Mexico and the southwestern U.S.A. New insights are provided concerning relationships among Diplocentrus and the diplocentrid genera Bioculus Stahnke, 1968 and Didymocentrus Kraepelin, 1905, the phylogenetic positions of which were previously ambiguous.

Reference:
Santibanez-Lopez CE, Francke OF, Prendini L. Phylogeny of the North American scorpion genus Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae) based on morphology, nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny. 2014;72(3):257-79. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Carlos Santibanez-Lopez for sending me his paper!

Family Scorpionidae

Kolotl - A new genus from Mexico

Carlos Santibanez-Lopez and co-workers have done phylogenetic analysis of the diverse genus Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpionidae) from Mexico. Based on these results, two species of this genus was found to be special and a removal from Diplocentrus was justified. The genus Kolotl Santibanez-Lopez, Francke & Prendini, 2014 is created to accommodate the two species, Kolotl magnus (Beutelspacher and López-Forment, 1991) and Kolotl poncei (Francke and Quijano-Ravell, 2009).

Abstract:
The monophyly and phylogenetic position of Diplocentrus Peters, 1861, has remained ambiguous since the first published phylogenetic analysis of diplocentrid relationships, in which it was rendered paraphyletic by the placement of exemplar species from two other diplocentrid genera, Bioculus Stahnke, 1968, and Didymocentrus Kraepelin, 1905. The discovery of two diplocentrids with neobothriotaxic pedipalps, Diplocentrus magnus Beutelspacher and López- Forment, 1991, and Diplocentrus poncei Francke and Quijano-Ravell, 2009, from the central Mexican states of Guerrero and Michoacán, respectively, raised further questions about the limits of Diplocentrus. A recent phylogenetic analysis of 29 species of Diplocentrus and five exemplar species of the most closely related genera, based on 95 morphological characters and 4202 aligned nucleotides from DNA sequences of five markers in the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes, recovered the monophyly of Diplocentrus, excepting two neobothriotaxic species from central Mexico, justifying their removal from Diplocentrus. In the present contribution, Kolotl, n. gen. is created to accommodate the two species, Kolotl magnus (Beutelspacher and López-Forment, 1991), n. comb., and Kolotl poncei (Francke and Quijano-Ravell, 2009), n. comb., and both are redescribed.

Reference:
Santibanez-Lopez CE, Francke OF, Prendini L. Kolotl, n. gen. (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae), a New Scorpion Genus from Mexico. American Museum Novitates. 2014 (3815):1-28.[Free full text]

Thanks to Dr. Santibanez-Lopez for sending me his paper.

Family Scorpionidae

New species of Diplocentrus from Mexico

Carlos Santibanez-Lopez has recently published a new species of Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpionidae) from Oaxaca, Mexico.

Diplocentrus franckei Santibanez-Lopez, 2014

Abstract:
A new species of the genus Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 is described, based on several specimens collected in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is characterized by a high telotarsal spiniform setae count (4- 5/5:5/6:6/6:6/6-7), and the pectinal tooth counts of 12–15, mode = 13 (male) or 11–13, mode = 12 (female). With the description of this species, the diversity of the genus is increased to 51 species in Mexico.

Reference:
Santibanez-Lopez CE. A new species of the genus Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones, Diplocentridae) from Oaxaca, Mexico. Zookeys. 2014 (412):103-16. [Free full text]

Thanks to Oscar Francke for sending me this paper!

A revision of a Mexican Diplocentrus group with three new species

Santibanez-Lopez, Francke and Prendini have recently published a revision of the keyserlingi group of Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpionidae) in Mexico. Revised, updated diagnosis are presented for alle species belonging to this group and three new species are described (all from Mexico):

Diplocentrus krapelini Santibanez-Lopez, Francke & Prendini, 2013
Diplocentrus sagittipalpus Santibanez-Lopez, Francke & Prendini, 2013
Diplocentrus sissomi Santibanez-Lopez, Francke & Prendini, 2013

In addition, Diplocentrus formosus Armas & Martin-Frias, 2003 is reinstated as valid species after previous synonymization with Diplocentrus tehuano Francke, 1977.

Abstract:
The scorpion genus Diplocentrus Peters, 1861, comprising more than 50 species, most of which are endemic to Mexico, is the most diverse in the family Diplocentridae Karsch, 1880 (Santibáñez-López et al., 2011). Hoffmann (1931) divided the Mexican species into two groups, the whitei group and the keyserlingi group, based largely on differences in size and coloration. Francke (1977) redefined these groups. The whitei group, renamed the mexicanus group because it included the type species of the genus, comprised species with short cheliceral fingers and the pedipalp femur wider than high. The keyserlingii group comprised species with long cheliceral fingers and the pedipalp femur higher than wide. Several new species of Diplocentrus were since described, but no attempt was made to synthesize the taxonomy of the species assigned to either group or further clarify the validity of the groups. In the present contribution, the species of Diplocentrus with the pedipalp femur higher than wide are reviewed. An operational diagnosis is provided for the keyserlingii group. Diplocentrus formosus Armas and Martín-Frías, 2003, previously synonymized with Diplocentrus tehuano Francke, 1977, is reinstated. Revised, updated diagnoses are provided for all previously described species and three new species, Diplocentrus kraepelini, n. sp., Diplocentrus sagittipalpus, n. sp., and Diplocentrus sissomi, n. sp., are described. The female of Diplocentrus mitlae Francke, 1977, is described for the first time. A dichotomous key is provided for identification of the 10 species in the keyserlingii group.

Reference:
Santibanez-Lopez CE, Francke OF, Prendini L. Systematics of the keyserlingii group of Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae), with descriptions of three new species from Oaxaca, Mexico. American Museum Novitates. 2013 (3777):1-47. [Free full text]

Thanks to Gerard Dupre for sending me this paper!

Family Scorpionidae

A redescription of Diplocentrus zacatecanus and a discussion of the taxonomic use of the male hemispermatophore

Carlos Santibanez Lopez and Oscar Francke have recently published a redescription of Diplocentrus zacatecanus Hoffmann, 1931 (Scorpionidae). The paper also discuss the limitations of using the male hemispermatophore as a diagnostic character for the genus Diplocentrus.

Abstract:
The scorpion Diplocentrus zacatecanus Hoffmann (1931) was originally described as a subspecies of Diplocentrus keyserlingi Karsch 1880 on the basis of six syntypes and was later elevated to species level. We designate a male lectotype and redescribe the species, including illustrations of the hemispermatophore of a male collected near the type locality. In this genus, the hemispermatophore is poorly sclerotized and lacks elaborate capsular structures, which are taxonomically useful in other genera. We review the variability in the hemispermatophores of males from one population, including five comparisons of the right and left hemispermatophores of the same males. Our results showed asymmetry in the length of the right and left hemispermatophores of the same individual. We also observed the presence of ‘‘crenulations’’ or ‘‘spines’’ in two different hemispermatophores (not complementary ones). We conclude that caution should be used when describing the hemispermatophore of only one male and considering it as diagnostic for the species, because of the high levels of intraspecific variation.

Reference:
Santibanez Lopez C, Francke OF. Redescription of Diplocentrus zacatecanus (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae) and limitations of the hemispermatophore as a diagnostic trait for genus Diplocentrus. Journal of Arachnology. 2013;41:1-10. [Subscritpion required for full text, but free full text after 12 months]

Thanks to Carlos Santibanez Lopez for sending me his paper!

Two new species of Diplocentrus from Guatemala

Rony Trujillo and Luis de Armas have recently published two new species of Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpionidae) from Guatemala.

Diplocentrus landelinoi Trujilo & Armas, 2012
Diplocentrus oxlajujbaktun Trujilo & Armas, 2012

Abstract:
Two new species of the genus Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 are described on the basis of three female specimens from the departments of Petén and Izabal, Guatemala. The species from Izabal resembles D. lourencoi Stockwell, 1988, from the same range (Cordillera del Merendón) but in Honduran territory. The species from Petén resembles D. maya Francke, 1977, recorded from Belize (Toledo District) and north-eastern Guatemala (departments of Petén and Izabal).

Reference:
Trujillo RE, de Armas LF. Dos especie nuevas de Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpionidae: Diplocentrinae) de Guatemala. Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2012 (21):131-8.

Family Diplocentridae

A new species of Diplocentrus from Guatemala

Armas, Trujillo & Agreda have recently published a new species of Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpionidae) from Guatemala.

Diplocentrus lachua Armas, Trujillo & Agreda, 2011

Abstract:
A new species of the scorpion genus Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 is described from the ecological region of Lachuá, Alta Verapaz department, Guatemala. It resembles D. maya Francke, 1977, but differs from it by having a darker pattern of coloration, chelicerae with dark reticulation, a sharper subaculear tubercle, trichobothrium Dt on the fixed finger, and other morphological differences.

Reference:
de Armas LF, Trujillo RE, Agreda EO. Nueva especie de Diplocentrus Peters, 1851 (Scorpionidae: Diplocentrinae) del noroeste de alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Boletin de la SEA. 2011(49):113-7.

Thanks to Rony Trujillo for sending me this paper!

Family Scorpionidae

Redescription of the adult male Diplocentrus maya

Ronny Trujillo and Luis de Armas have published a redescription of the adult male Diplocentrus maya Francke, 1977 (Scorpionidae*) from Guatemala. The paper also has a identification key for the species of Diplocentrus in Guatemala.

Abstract:
The male of Diplocentrus maya Francke 1977 is described, and new data are given on this taxon. A dichotomic key is provided for identification of the three Guatemalan species of the genus Diplocentrus Peters, 1861.

Reference:
Trujillo RE, de Armas LF. Descripcion del macho adulto de Diplocentrus maya Francke, 1977 (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae: Diplocentrinae). Boletin de la SEA. 2011(48):139-42.

Thanks to Ronny Trujillo for sending me this paper!

*Some authors have not accepted the inclusion of Diplocentrinae in Scorpionidae and have retained the family status for this taxa (Diplocentridae).

Family Scorpionidae

A new Diplocentrus from Mexico

Contreras-Felix and Santibanez-Lopez have described a new species in Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 from Jalisco, Mexico.

Diplocentrus bicolor Contreras-Felix & Santibanez-Lopez, 2011 (Scorpionidae)

Abstract:
Diplocentrus bicolor sp. n. from Huejuquilla el Alto, in northern Jalisco and two nearby localities in Zacatecas is described. It is compared to its geographically closer species from Zacatecas, Aguascalientes and Nayarit. A map with its known distribution is provided.

Reference:
Contreras-Felix G, Santibanez-Lopez CE. Diplocentrus bicolor sp. n. (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae) from Jalisco, Mexico. Zootaxa. 2011(2992):61-8. [free fulltext?]

Thanks to dr. Santibanez-Lopez for sending me this paper!

Family Scorpionidae

A new Diplocentrus from Mexico

Carlos Santibanez-Lopez and co-workers have described a new species of Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpionidae*) from Mexico:

Diplocentrus longimanus Santibanez-Lopez, Francke & Athanasiadis, 2011

*Some scorpion scientists have retained the family status of Diplocentridae.

Abstract:
Sixteen scorpion species are recorded from the state of Morelos, including three species of the genus Diplocentrus Peters: one species had been previously reported, a second one represents a new state record for the species, and the third one is described as a new species. Diplocentrus longimanus sp. n., from the Sierra de Huautla in southern Morelos, is described based on adults of both sexes and it is clearly differentiated from its most similar relatives. Maps of the known distribution of the three species are provided.

Reference:
Santibanez-Lopez CE, Francke OF, Athanasiadis MC. The genus Diplocentrus Peters (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae) in Morelos, Mexico. Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2011;19:3-13.

Thanks to Carlos Santibanez-Lopez for sending me this paper!

Family Scorpionidae

Black Bears in Mexico eat scorpions

Carlos Lopez-Gonzalez and co-workers reports that investigations of Mexican Black Bear scats (yes, that's bear pooh ;) show that some bears eat scorpions. The scorpion remains that were found belong to Diplocentrus peloncillensis (Scorpionidae).

In addition, this is the first record of in Diplocentrus peloncillensis in Mexico.

Abstract:
The remains of the scorpion Diplocentrus peloncillensis Francke were found in 7 scats of black bears (Ursus americanus) collected in the Sierra de San Luis, Sonora, Mexico. The collection data and previously reported black bear population estimates for the study area suggested that, although scorpions are not a large part of black bear diets in Sonora, feeding on scorpions is not restricted to a single individual or family unit and is apparently a relatively common behavior in the population. Also, the discovery of D. peloncillensis in Sonora represents a new country record.

Reference:
Lopez-Gonzalez CA, Jones RW, Silva-Hurtado C, Sayago-Vazquez IA. Scorpions are food item of American black bears in Sonora, Mexico. West North Am Naturalist. 2009;69(1):131-3.

Thanks to Oscar Francke for sending me this paper!

New Diplocentrus from Guatemala

Luise de Armas & Rony Trujillo have recently described a new Diplocentrus (Scorpionidae) from Guatemala:

Diplocentrus motagua Armas & Trujillo, 2009

Abstract:
Both sexes of a new species of the scorpion genus Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpionidae: Diplocentrinae) is described from Zacapa Department, northeastern Guatemala. It is characterized by punctuation on the whole body, including appendages, a peculiarity shared with Diplocentrus melici Armas & Martín-Frías, 2004, from Veracruz state, Mexico, but it is smaller and has a lower pectinal tooth count, as well as a different tarsal ventral spine formula. A dichotomic key is provided for identification of the three Guatemalan species of the genus Diplocentrus.

Reference:
de Armas LF, Trujillo RE. Nueva especie de Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae) de Guatemala. Boletin Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa. 2009(45):67-72.

Thanks to Rony Trujillo for sending me this paper!

Family Scorpionidae

A new species of Diplocentrus from Mexico

Francke & Quijano-Ravell have described a new species of Diplocentrus (Scorpionidae) from Mexico:

Diplocentrus poncei Francke & Quijano-Ravell, 2009

The species is described in the family Diplocentridae, which some authors have included in Scorpionidae.

Abstract:
Diplocentrus poncei, sp. nov. from the state of Michoacán, Mexico is described. This is the first species in the genus and family with increasing neobothriotaxy on the patella and chela of the pedipalps. Diplocentrus magnus has been found to have increasing neobothriotaxy on the patella but not on the chela of the pedipalps.

Reference:
Francke OF, Quijano-Ravell AF. Una especie nueva Diplocentrus (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae) del estado de Michoacan, Mexico. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad. 2009;80:647-58. [Free fulltext, but current issue not published online yet]

Family Scorpionidae