Systematics, evolution and biogeography of the Southern African burrowing scorpions, Opistophthalmus C.L. Koch (Scorpiones, Scorpionidae)

Bibliography: p. [597]-643.The primary aims of this research were to delimit and define Opistophthalmus and its component species, determine their geographical distributions, ecological predilections and conservation status, and infer a phylogenetic hyothesis for their relationships, using organismal (morphological and behavioural) and molecular (DNA sequence) data. Futher aims were to test the monophyly of Opistophthalmus and of the family Scorpionidae, and to determine their phylogenetic positions with respect to other scorpionoid families and genera

East African scorpion genus Pandinoides.

66 pages : illustrations (some color), color map ; 26 cm.The scorpion fauna of East Africa, encompassing Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda, is more diverse than those of West and Central Africa, but a systematic survey has never been conducted and the distributions of its species remain poorly understood. A recent opportunity to examine two extensive collections of East African, and predominantly Kenyan, scorpions and new material acquired by the author permitted a reassessment of the fauna of the region. The present contribution, the first of several emanating from this research, comprises two parts. The first part presents a redefinition and revision of the scorpionid genus Pandinoides Fet, 1997, with a redescription of the type species, Pandinoides cavimanus (Pocock, 1888), a revalidation and redescription of Pandinoides militaris (Pocock, 1900), and a description of Pandinoides duffmackayi, sp. nov. Pending reassessment of the genera and subgenera of Pandinus, sensu lato, based on quantitative phylogenetic analysis, Pandinoides is restricted to the three species with a marked concave depression in the retrodorsal surface of the pedipalp chela manus of the adult male, and Pandinus platycheles Werner, 1916, transferred to Pandinus subgenus Pandinoriens Rossi, 2015, creating a new combination: Pandinus (Pandinoriens) platycheles (Werner, 1916), comb. nov. The availability of large series comprising both sexes and all stages of the three Pandinoides species covered herein revealed considerable variation in counts of pedipalp trichobothria, spiniform macrosetae of the leg telotarsi, and pectinal teeth, among and even within individual conspecifics, calling into question the widespread practice of defining species and supraspecific taxa almost exclusively on trivial meristic differences between small samples of material (often singletons, female or immature). Furthermore, whereas neobothriotaxic patterns with low counts may provide appropriate diagnostic characters for genera and species, in combination with other characters, this is generally inadvisable when trichobothrial counts are high, due to the greater instability of the patterns. The second part of this contribution assesses the validity of several putative species of Pandinus, sensu lato, recently described or revalidated, in light of data presented in the first part, and presents 10 new synonyms: Heterometrus roeseli Simon, 1872 = Pandinus (P.) imperator (C.L. Koch, 1841), syn. nov.; Pandinus (P.) camerounensis Lourenço, 2014 = Pandinus (P.) imperator (C.L. Koch, 1841), syn. nov.; Pandinurus (P.) prendinii Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (P.) sudanicus (Hirst, 1911), syn. nov.; Pandinurus (Pandicaporiaccous) Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandiborellius) Rossi, 2015, syn. nov.; Pandinurus (Pandicaporiaccous) janae Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandiborellius) percivali (Pocock, 1902), syn. nov.; Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) bartolozii Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) viatoris (Pocock, 1890), syn. nov.; Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) flagellicauda Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) viatoris (Pocock, 1890), syn. nov.; Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) lorenzoi Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) viatoris (Pocock, 1890), syn. nov.; Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) pantinii Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) viatoris (Pocock, 1890), syn. nov.; Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) pygmaeus Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) viatoris (Pocock, 1890), syn. nov

Redescription of Hadogenes zumpti Newlands & Cantrell 1985: an unusual rock scorpion (Scorpiones, Ischnuridae) from the Richtersveld, South Africa

Hadogenes zumpti Newlands & Cantrell 1985 (Scorpiones, Ischnuridae), from the Richtersveld, South Africa, is redescribed. This is the only species of Hadogenes Kraepelin 1894 in which the adults of both sexes are without a lobe at the base of the movable finger of the chela. The significance of the presence or absence of this lobe as a character within Hadogenes, particularly with respect to the taxonomically difficult Hadogenes tityrus (E Simon) species complex, is discussed.S. Afr. j. Zool. 1997,32(3

African whip scorpion, Etienneus africanus (Hentschel, 1899) (Thelyphonida, Thelyphonidae).

16 p. : ill. (some col.), 1 map ; 26 cm. "August 28, 2009." Includes bibliographical references (p. 14-16).An illustrated redescription of the monotypic African whip scorpion, Etienneus africanus (Hentschel, 1899), is provided based on examination of material newly collected in Guinea-Bissau and Senegal, as well as material from the Gambia, Guinea and Senegal studied by previous workers. The species is reported for the first time from Guinea-Bissau. Several character systems are documented in this species for the first time, new characters that appear to be autapomorphic are described, and notes on its natural history provided. The phylogenetic position of E. africanus is discussed, supporting the opinion that it is a Gondwana relict, most closely related to the Neotropical hypoctonine genera, Thelyphonellus Pocock, 1894 and Ravilops Viquez and Armas, 2005

South African flat rock scorpions

32 p. : ill., maps ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 30-32).Two new flat rock scorpions, both endemic to South Africa, are described in the bicolor group of Hadogenes Kraepelin, 1894: H. polytrichobothrius n.sp.; H. soutpansbergensis n.sp. Both occupy discrete distributional ranges, allopatric with the other three species in the bicolor group: H. bicolor Purcell, 1899; H. longimanus Prendini, 2001; H. newlandsi Prendini, 2001. The distributions of the five species in the group are mapped, and a key provided for their identification

New Uroplectes (Scorpiones, Buthidae).

32 pages : illustrations (some color), color map ; 26 cm.The scorpion fauna of tropical central Africa is poorly known and may be more diverse than generally recognized. The present contribution describes three morphologically similar, and probably monophyletic species of Uroplectes Peters, 1861, which have gone undetected, despite being distributed across a large area, extending from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Uroplectes malawicus, sp. nov., and Uroplectes zambezicus, sp. nov., occurring south of Lake Malawi and in the Zambezi River Valley, respectively, appear to be sister species. Uroplectes katangensis, sp. nov., is based on a single female from the southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Based on their punctate metasomal segments, the new species appear to be most closely related to Uroplectes chubbi Hirst, 1911. The markedly concave, shagreened dorsomedian surfaces on metasomal segments I-IV resemble the stridulatory surfaces on the metasomal segments of most Parabuthus Pocock, 1890, and, together with the robust metasoma and worn tips of the aculeus observed in some specimens, suggest that these species may also be capable of stridulation. Based on examination of type material, the following synonyms were confirmed: Scorpiobuthus apatris Werner, 1939 = Uroplectes chubby Hirst, 1911; Uroplectes jutrzenkai Penther, 1900 = Uroplectes vittatus (Thorell, 1876). The following new synonyms are presented: Uroplectes andreae Pocock, 1899 = Uroplectes occidentalis Simon, 1876, new synonym; Uroplectes chubbi briodi Schenkel, 1932 = Uroplectes vittatus (Thorell, 1876), new synonym. Lectotypes are designated for U. chubbi and U. jutrzenkai

Scorpion family Typhlochactidae.

94 p. : ill. (some col.), maps ; 26 cm. "Issued September 3, 2009." Includes bibliographical references (p. 85-89).The scorpion family Typhlochactidae Mitchell, 1971, endemic to eastern Mexico, comprises nine troglomorphic species specialized for life in hypogean and endogean habitats. Due to their cryptic ecology, inaccessible habitat, and apparently low population density, Typhlochactidae are poorly known. Only 29 specimens have been collected in 40 years. Four species are known from a single specimen, two species are known only from the male and three only from the female. We provide an illustrated revision of the family based on a reexamination of most specimens in the world’s collections, including new specimens collected after the original descriptions and older specimens not previously described. Based on results of a recent cladistic analysis, Typhlochactidae are elevated, for the first time, from their former rank as subfamily, first of Chactidae and, more recently, of Superstitioniidae. Alacraninae, new subfamily is created to accommodate Alacran Francke, 1982. Stygochactas, new genus, is created to accommodate Typhlochactas granulosus Sissom and Cokendolpher, 1998 in a new combination. Sotanochactas Francke, 1986, Stygochactas and Typhlochactas Mitchell, 1971 are retained in subfamily Typhlochactinae Mitchell, 1971. Diagnoses of the family and subfamilies are presented, followed by a key to the genera and species, revised diagnoses of the genera, revised diagnoses and descriptions, tabulated meristic data, and distribution maps of the species. Descriptions and diagnoses are illustrated with ultraviolet fluorescence and visible light photographs, providing a visual atlas to the morphology of these remarkable scorpions. A review of their taxonomic history is provided, the importance of trichobothriotaxy for their systematics discussed, and several misconceptions in the literature clarified

Short-tailed whipscorpion genus Stenochrus.

91 pages : illustrations, maps ; 26 cm.The short-tailed whipscorpion genus, Stenochrus Chamberlin, 1922 (Schizomida: Hubbardiidae Cook, 1899), occurring in North and Central America, is redefined and revised based on simultaneous phylogenetic analysis of 61 morphological characters and 2968 aligned DNA nucleotides from two markers in the nuclear genome, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 28S rDNA, and two markers in the mitochondrial genome, cytochome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and 12S rDNA, for a comprehensive taxon sample. Six new genera are described: Ambulantactus, gen. nov.; Baalrog, gen. nov.; Harveyus, gen. nov.; Nahual, gen. nov.; Schizophyxia, gen. nov.; Troglostenochrus, gen. nov. Heteroschizomus Rowland, 1973, stat. rev., is revalidated and its type species, Heteroschizomus goodnightorum Rowland, 1973, reinstated. Six new species are described: Ambulantactus aquismon, sp. nov.; Ambulantactus montielae, sp. nov.; Baalrog yacato, sp. nov.; Harveyus contrerasi, sp. nov.; Heteroschizomus kekchi, sp. nov.; Nahual bokmai, sp. nov. Eighteen new combinations are created by transferring species, previously accommodated in Stenochrus, to other genera: Ambulantactus davisi (Gertsch, 1940), comb. nov.; Baalrog magico (Monjaraz-Ruedas and Francke, 2018), comb. nov.; Baalrog sbordonii (Brignoli, 1973), comb. nov.; Harveyus mexicanus (Rowland, 1971a), comb. nov.; Harveyus mulaiki (Gertsch, 1940), comb. nov.; Harveyus reddelli (Rowland, 1971a), comb. nov.; Heteroschizomus meambar (Armas and Víquez, 2010), comb. nov.; Heteroschizomus orthoplax (Rowland, 1973a), comb. nov.; Heteroschizomus silvino (Rowland and Reddell, 1977), comb. nov.; Nahual caballero (Monjaraz-Ruedas and Francke, 2018), comb. nov.; Nahual lanceolatus (Rowland, 1975), comb. nov.; Nahual pallidus (Rowland, 1975), comb. nov.; Pacal moisii (Rowland, 1973), comb. nov.; Pacal tepezcuintle (Armas and Cruz-López, 2009), comb. nov.; Schizophyxia bartolo (Rowland, 1973), comb. nov.; Schizophyxia lukensi (Rowland, 1973), comb. nov.; Troglostenochrus palaciosi (Reddell and Cokendolpher, 1986), comb. nov.; Troglostenochrus valdezi (Monjaraz-Ruedas, 2012), comb. nov. The male of B. sbordonii is determined to be heterospecific with the holotype female and described as B. yacato. The females of H. goodnightorum and N. lanceolatus are described for the first time. Following these revisions, seven species remain within Stenochrus: Stenochrus alcalai Monjaraz-Ruedas and Francke, 2018; Stenochrus chimalapas Monjaraz-Ruedas and Francke, 2018; Stenochrus gruta Monjaraz-Ruedas and Francke, 2018; Stenochrus guatemalensis (Chamberlin, 1922); Stenochrus leon Armas, 1995; Stenochrus pecki (Rowland, 1973); Stenochrus portoricensis Chamberlin, 1922. Olmecazomus, nom. nov., is proposed as a replacement name for the junior homonym, Olmeca Monjaraz-Ruedas and Francke, 2017, creating three new combinations: Olmecazomus brujo (Monjaraz-Ruedas and Francke, 2017), comb. nov.; Olmecazomus cruzlopezi (Monjaraz-Ruedas and Francke, 2017), comb. nov.; Olmecazomus santibanezi (Monjaraz-Ruedas and Francke, 2017), comb. nov. A key to identification of the hubbardiid genera of North America is provided and the utility of various character systems for the diagnosis of schizomid genera discussed. The integration of morphological and molecular data not only increased knowledge of the schizomid diversity in the New World but disentangled what was once considered a homoplastic and variable morphology in a large "catch-all" genus into discrete units each diagnosable by unique character combinations

New data on Chilean Urophonius Pocock, 1893 (Scorpiones, Bothriuridae), with description of a new species

New data are provided on Chilean species of the bothriurid genus Urophonius Pocock, 1893. Urophonius mondacai, n. sp., from central Chile is described. Urophonius tumbensis Cekalovic, 1981, is redescribed according to modern standards, and information about its distribution and ecology provided. Urophonius transandinus Acosta, 1998, is redescribed, its known distribution enlarged, and data on the morphological variation among its populations provided. A modification to Maury's (1973) group division of the genus is presented. Urophonius is divided into two groups instead of three as proposed by Acosta (1988). A distribution map for the three species covered in this contribution is provided, together with a key to the Chilean species of the genus.Fil: Ojanguren Affilastro, Andres Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales “Bernardino Rivadavia”; ArgentinaFil: Pizarro Araya, Jaime. Universidad de La Serena; ChileFil: Prendini, Lorenzo. American Museum of Natural History; Estados Unido

Revision of Syntropinae.

71 pages : illustrations (some color), maps ; 26 cmThe endemic North American vaejovid scorpion subfamily Syntropinae Kraepelin, 1905, is redefined and its component genera revised, based on a simultaneous phylogenetic analysis of 250 morphological characters and 4221 aligned DNA nucleotides from three mitochondrial and two nuclear gene markers. Tribe Stahnkeini Soleglad and Fet, 2006, is removed from Syntropinae. Tribe Paravaejovini Soleglad and Fet, 2008, and subtribe Thorelliina Soleglad and Fet, 2008, are abolished: Paravaejovini Soleglad and Fet, 2008 = Syntropinae Kraepelin, 1905, syn. nov.; Thorelliina Soleglad and Fet, 2008 = Syntropinae Kraepelin, 1905, syn. nov. Eleven genera, six newly described, are recognized within Syntropinae: Balsateres, gen. nov.; Chihuahuanus, gen. nov.; Kochius Soleglad and Fet, 2008; Konetontli, gen. nov.; Kuarapu Francke and Ponce-Saavedra, 2010; Maaykuyak, gen. nov.; Mesomexovis, gen. nov.; Paravaejovis Williams, 1980; Syntropis Kraepelin, 1900; Thorellius Soleglad and Fet, 2008; Vizcaino, gen. nov. Hoffmannius Soleglad and Fet, 2008, is abolished: Hoffmannius Soleglad and Fet, 2008 = Paravaejovis Williams, 1980, syn. nov. Lissovaejovis Ponce-Saavedra and Beutelspacher, 2001 [nomen nudum] = Paravaejovis Williams, 1980, syn. nov. Ten species, formerly placed in Hoffmannius, are transferred to Paravaejovis: Paravaejovis confusus (Stahnke, 1940), comb. nov.; Paravaejovis diazi (Williams, 1970), comb. nov.; Paravaejovis eusthenura (Wood, 1863), comb. nov.; Paravaejovis flavus (Banks, 1900), comb. nov. [nomen dubium]; Paravaejovis galbus (Williams, 1970), comb. nov.; Paravaejovis gravicaudus (Williams, 1970), comb. nov.; Paravaejovis hoffmanni (Williams, 1970), comb. nov.; Paravaejovis puritanus (Gertsch, 1958), comb. nov.; Paravaejovis spinigerus (Wood, 1863), comb. nov.; Paravaejovis waeringi (Williams, 1970), comb. nov. Paravaejovis schwenkmeyeri (Williams, 1970), comb. nov., is removed from synonymy. Four species, formerly placed in Kochius, are transferred to Chihuahuanus, gen. nov.: Chihuahuanus cazieri (Williams, 1968), comb. nov.; Chihuahuanus crassimanus (Pocock, 1898), comb. nov.; Chihuahuanus kovariki (Soleglad and Fet, 2008), comb. nov.; Chihuahuanus russelli (Williams, 1971), comb. nov. Four species, formerly placed in Kochius, Thorellius, or Vaejovis C.L. Koch, 1836, are transferred to Mesomexovis, gen. nov.: Mesomexovis atenango (Francke and González-Santillán, 2007), comb. nov.; Mesomexovis oaxaca (Santibáñez-López and Sissom, 2010), comb. nov.; Mesomexovis occidentalis (Hoffmann, 1931), comb. nov.; Mesomexovis subcristatus (Pocock, 1898), comb. nov. Mesomexovis variegatus (Pocock, 1898), comb. nov., is reinstated to its original rank as species. Four subspecies are newly elevated to species: Kochius barbatus (Williams, 1971), stat. nov.; Kochius cerralvensis (Williams, 1971), stat. nov.; Kochius villosus (Williams, 1971), stat. nov.; Mesomexovis spadix (Hoffmann, 1931), comb. et stat. nov. Three subspecies are synonymized: Vaejovis diazi transmontanus Williams, 1970 = Paravaejovis diazi (Williams, 1970), syn. nov.; Vaejovis bruneus loretoensis Williams, 1971 = Kochius villosus (Williams, 1971), syn. nov.; Vaejovis hoffmanni fuscus Williams, 1970 = Paravaejovis hoffmanni (Williams, 1970), syn. nov