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

Lychas news from the Philippines

Lychas armillatus is restored from synonymy.

Wilson Lourenco has recently rediscovered the type specimen of Lychas armillatus (Gervais, 1841) (Buthidae) from the Philippines. Based on the investigation of the type he concludes that this is a valid species and it is restored from its synonymy with Lychas mucronatus (Fabricius, 1798). 

In addition, Lychas infuscatus (Pocock, 1891) from Philippines is synonymized with L. armillatus.

Abstract:
The type specimen of Scorpio armillatus, described by Gervais in 1841, has been considered lost, or at least mislaid, for a very long time. After several months of research in the collections ofthe Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle in Paris, the female type specimen was rediscovered in the vial labelled RS-1498. A precise diagnosis of this species leadsto two new conclusions: (i) S. armillatus (= Lychas armillatus) is not a synonym of Lychas mucronatus (Fabricius, 1798), but rather a valid species; (ii) Isometrus infuscatus Pocock,  1891 (= Lychas infuscatus), also described from the Philippines, is a junior synonym of L. armillatus.

Reference:
Lourenco WR. Redécouverte du type de Scorpio armillatus Gervais, 1841 = Lychas armillatus (Gervais) (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2013 (23):117-8.

Thanks to professor Lourenco for sending me his article.

Family Buthidae

Taxonomic emendations in Liocheles - Three new species

Lionel Monod has recently published an article on the genus Liocheles Sundevall, 1833 (Hemiscorpiidae). Two species are revalidated and one species is restored from synonymy.

Liocheles boholiensis (Kraepelin, 1914) - Philippines
Liocheles longimanus (Werner, 1939) - Indonesia (north-western Sumatra)
Liocheles neocaledonicus (Simon, 1877) - New Caledonia

In addition, Liocheles australasiae brevidigitatus Werner, 1936 is synonymized with Liocheles australasiae (Fabricius, 1775).

The new species are redescribed and illustrated.

Abstract:
Examination of an extensive material that includes the type series and recently collected specimens enable a precise reassessment of the status of several taxa belonging to the genus Liocheles Sundevall, 1833 (Scorpiones, Liochelidae). Two species previously in synonymy, i. e. Liocheles boholiensis (Kraepelin, 1914) and Liocheles neocaledonicus (Simon, 1877), are revalidated. Liocheles australasiae longimanus (Werner, 1939) is elevated to species rank and Liocheles australasiae brevidigitatus Werner, 1936 is synonymized with Liocheles australasiae (Fabricius, 1775). L. boholiensis (Kraepelin, 1914), L. neocaledonicus (Simon, 1877) and L. longimanus (Werner, 1939) are thoroughly redescribed, diagnosed and illustrated, and their distribution ranges are accurately mapped.

Reference:
Monod L. Taxonomic emendations in the genus Liocheles Sundevall, 1833 (Scorpiones, Liochelidae). Revue Suisse de Zoologie. 2011;118(4):723-58.

Family Hemiscorpiidae

Life history data on Chaerilus philippinus

Chaerilus is the only genus in the family Chaerilidae and has now 24 species, all distributed in southern and southeastern Asia. Very little is known about the biology and life history of this genus., but Lourenco & Ythier (2008) has recently published a paper with observations on the life history of Chaerilus philippinus. Here is the abstract from the paper:

Biological observations on Chaerilus philippinus were based on specimens from the region of Appari, North of Luzon in the Philippines. The total duration of embryonic development was estimated as being between 110 to 136 days, while the moults between successive juvenile instars and adulthood took place at ages that averaged 7, 39, 73, 190 and 327 days. These developmental periods are shorter and different from those previously observed among species of non-buthid scorpions. They prove to be rather similar to those observed in buthid scorpions, however. Morphometric growth values of the different instars are similar or smaller than those of other species of scorpions that have been studied. Aspects of maternal care and social behaviour are also commented.

Reference:
Lourenço WR, Ythier E, Cloudsley-Thompson JL. Observations on the life history of Chaerilus philippinus Lourenço & Ythier, 2008 (Scorpiones, Chaerilidae) from the Philippines. Comptes Rendus Biologies. 2008;331(11):896-900. [Subscritpion required for fulltext]

Family Chaerilidae

A new species of Chaerilus from the Philippines

A new species of Chaerilus has been described from the northern parts of the island Luzon in the Philippines:

Chaerlius philippinus Lourenco & Ythier, 2008

The article also presents a redescription of Chaerilus celebensis based on new materials from the Celebes Islands (Sulawesi), Indonesia.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Ythier E. A new species of Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Scorpiones, Chaerilidae) from the Philippines. Boletin Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa. 2008(42):27-31.

Family Chaerilidae