A new species of Guyanochactas from French Guiana

 

A new species in the small genus  Guyanochactas Lourenço, 1998 (Chactidae) have been described from the cloud forest of Mount Itoupé in French Guiana by Eric Ythier and co-workers recently.

Gyuanochactas itoupe Ythier, Chevalier & Lourenco, 2025

The authors also confirms the validity of the genus Auyantepuia González-Sponga, 1978 in the same family.

Abstract:
A new species of scorpion belonging to the genus Guyanochactas Lourenço, 1998 (family Chactidae Pocock, 1893), is described on the basis of one specimen collected in the cloud forest of Mount Itoupé, the second highest peak of French Guiana. Guyanochactas itoupe sp. n. represents the fourth species of the genus reported from French Guiana and the total number of
Guyanochactas species is now raised to six. The new species is a possible vicariant of Guyanochactas touroulti Lourenço, 2018, equally described from a massif formation of French Guiana, the Mitaraka.

Reference:
Ythier E, Chevalier J, Lourenco WR. Cloud forest scorpions: a new species of Guyanochactas Lourenço, 1998 (Scorpiones, Chactidae) from Mount Itoupé in French Guiana. Faunitaxys. 2025;13(48):1–9. [Article supplied by authors]

Thanks to Eric for informing me about the new species.

Family Chactidae

A new species in Guyanochactas from French Guiana

Lourenco & Ythier have recently described a new species in the genus Guyanochactas Lourenco, 1998 (Chactidae) from French Guiana.

Guyanochactas flavus Lourenco & Ythier, 2011

The genus Guyanochactas was synonymized with Broteochactas by Soleglad & Fet, 2003, 2005. Lourenço & Ythier (2011) have chosen not to accept this synonymization, and described the new species in Guyanochactas. The taxonomy of The Scorpion Files follows Soleglad & Fet (2005), but it is impossible for me to know where to put the new species. I have chosen to reinstate Guyanochactas with its original species in The Scorpion Files based on Lourenço & Ythier (2011) until a new revision on the family Chactidae is published.

Abstract:
A new species of scorpion belonging to the genus Guyanochactas Lourenço, 1998 (family Chactidae Pocock, 1893), is described on the basis of three specimens collected in French Guiana. The new species is characterized by reddish-yellow to pale yellow coloration and moderate to small size, 35 to 38 mm in total length. This is the second species of the genus Guyanochactas reported from French Guiana.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Ythier E. A new species of Guyanochactas Lourenco, 1998 (Scorpiones, Chactidae) from French Guyana. Boletin de la SEA. 2011(48):203-6.

Thanks to Professor Lourenco for sending me this paper!

Family Chactidae