Old and cold: Diverse phylogenomic datasets support an ancient transantarctic dispersive route on the scorpion family Bothriuridae in temperate Gondwana.

In this contribution we try to unveil the diversification process of Bothriuridae in temperate Gondwana through dated phylogenomic analyses using UCE and transcriptomics, and including in the analyses species of genera Urophonius and Cercophonius, the most closely related genera of Bothriuridae from South America and Australia respectively. Additionally we explored the hypothesis that the winter activity period of some species of Urophonius, as well as the cold environmental preferences of this genus, could be related to the climatic conditions of the time frame and area in which it evolved. Genus Urophonius was recovered as sister group to Cercophonius using amino acids and UCE. The time frame obtained for the split between South American and Australian bothriurids is 94 Ma., which suggests a dispersal event through temperate Gondwana, before the final breakup of the land bridge of South America-Antarctica-Australia ca. 35 Ma. The split between summer and winter species of Urophonius, taking place at 64 Ma, is considered representative to the turnover time from the summer activity period to the winter activity period in some species of the genus. This time frame is compatible with a period of global warming of the late Cretaceous greenhouse episode that could have triggered this change.

Five new scorpion species of genus Brachistosternus (Scorpiones: Bothriuridae) from the deserts of Chile and Peru, with comments about some poorly studied diagnostic characters of the genus.

Five new scorpion species of genus Brachistosternus of Chile and Peru are described. Brachistosternus gayi n. sp. is a high Andean species of north central Chile. Brachistosternus philippii n. sp. occurs near the coast of Antofagasta. Brachistosternus misti n. sp. occurs at intermediates altitudes of southern Peru. Brachistosternus contisuyu n. sp. occurs in Lomas formation in southern Peru. Brachistosternus anandrovestigia n. sp. occurs in coastal areas of southern Peru, and is the second known species of the genus without metasomal glands or androvestigia. Two diagnostic characters are discussed: the Internal Laminar Apophysis of the right hemispermatophore, and the sternum macrosetae.

Differences in mating behavior between two allopatric populations of a Neotropical scorpion.

Courtship and mating behavior generally evolve rapidly in diverging populations and species. The adaptation to different environments may cause behavioral divergence in characteristics involved in mate choice. Our objective in this study was to compare the sexual behavior of two distant populations of the scorpion Bothriurus bonariensis. This species has a broad distribution in South America, inhabiting Central Argentina, Uruguay and south-eastern Brazil. It is known that in this species there is a divergence in morphological patterns (body size, coloration, allometry and fluctuating asymmetry indexes) among distant populations. Considering the differences in environmental conditions between localities, we compare the sexual behavior in intra-population and inter-population matings from Central Argentina and southern Uruguay populations. We found significant differences in mating patterns, including differences in the frequency and duration of important stimulatory courtship behaviors. In addition, most inter-population matings were unsuccessful. In this framework, the differences in reproductive behavior could indicate reproductive isolation between these populations, which coincides with their already known morphological differences. This is the first study comparing the sexual behavior of allopatric populations of scorpions; it provides new data about the degree of intraspecific geographical divergence in the sexual behavior of B. bonariensis.

Checklist dos escorpiões (Arachnida, Scorpiones) do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil / Checklist of the scorpions (Arachnida, Scorpiones) from Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil

In this paper it is provided a checklist of Scorpiones species in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. There are 16 species and one non-nominotypical subspecies recorded for the state, although it is discussed the presence and/or the taxonomic status of three of these species. This, it is considered that the scorpiofauna of the Mato Grosso do Sul is actually composed of 13 species, which represents more than 50% of all known species from Central-western Brazil. Two bothriurid species are known only for this state and are considered endemics: Bothriurus pora Mattoni & Acosta, 2005 and Brazilobothriurus pantanalensis Lourenço & Monod, 2000. The distribution of the scorpion registries in the Mato Grosso do Sul is heterogeneous, being the areas dominated by Atlantic Forest and Pantanal is sampled worse than those covered by the Cerrado domains.(AU)

Nesse artigo é fornecida uma lista de espécies de Scorpiones do estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Até o momento 16 espécies e uma subespécie não-nominotípica estão registradas para o estado, porém é discutida a presença e/ou o status taxonômico de três destas espécies. Assim, considera-se que a escorpiofauna do Mato Grosso do Sul é composta, até o momento, por 13 espécies, o que representa mais de 50% de todas as espécies de escorpiões conhecidas para o Centro-Oeste brasileiro. Duas espécies de bothriurídeos são conhecidas apenas para este estado e consideradas endêmicas Bothriurus pora Mattoni & Acosta, 2005 e Brazilobothriurus pantanalensis Lourenço & Monod, 2000. A distribuição dos registros de escorpiões no Mato Grosso do Sul é heterogênea, uma vez que as áreas dominadas por Mata Atlântica e pelo Pantanal são menos amostradas em relação àquelas de domínios do Cerrado.(AU)

Checklist dos escorpiões (Arachnida, Scorpiones) do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil

ABSTRACT In this paper it is provided a checklist of Scorpiones species in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. There are 16 species and one non-nominotypical subspecies recorded for the state, although it is discussed the presence and/or the taxonomic status of three of these species. This, it is considered that the scorpiofauna of the Mato Grosso do Sul is actually composed of 13 species, which represents more than 50% of all known species from Central-western Brazil. Two bothriurid species are known only for this state and are considered endemics: Bothriurus pora Mattoni & Acosta, 2005 and Brazilobothriurus pantanalensis Lourenço & Monod, 2000. The distribution of the scorpion registries in the Mato Grosso do Sul is heterogeneous, being the areas dominated by Atlantic Forest and Pantanal is sampled worse than those covered by the Cerrado domains.

RESUMO Nesse artigo é fornecida uma lista de espécies de Scorpiones do estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Até o momento 16 espécies e uma subespécie não-nominotípica estão registradas para o estado, porém é discutida a presença e/ou o status taxonômico de três destas espécies. Assim, considera-se que a escorpiofauna do Mato Grosso do Sul é composta, até o momento, por 13 espécies, o que representa mais de 50% de todas as espécies de escorpiões conhecidas para o Centro-Oeste brasileiro. Duas espécies de bothriurídeos são conhecidas apenas para este estado e consideradas endêmicas Bothriurus pora Mattoni & Acosta, 2005 e Brazilobothriurus pantanalensis Lourenço & Monod, 2000. A distribuição dos registros de escorpiões no Mato Grosso do Sul é heterogênea, uma vez que as áreas dominadas por Mata Atlântica e pelo Pantanal são menos amostradas em relação àquelas de domínios do Cerrado.

Checklist dos escorpiões (Arachnida, Scorpiones) do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil / Checklist of the scorpions (Arachnida, Scorpiones) from Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil

In this paper it is provided a checklist of Scorpiones species in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. There are 16 species and one non-nominotypical subspecies recorded for the state, although it is discussed the presence and/or the taxonomic status of three of these species. This, it is considered that the scorpiofauna of the Mato Grosso do Sul is actually composed of 13 species, which represents more than 50% of all known species from Central-western Brazil. Two bothriurid species are known only for this state and are considered endemics: Bothriurus pora Mattoni & Acosta, 2005 and Brazilobothriurus pantanalensis Lourenço & Monod, 2000. The distribution of the scorpion registries in the Mato Grosso do Sul is heterogeneous, being the areas dominated by Atlantic Forest and Pantanal is sampled worse than those covered by the Cerrado domains.

Nesse artigo é fornecida uma lista de espécies de Scorpiones do estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil. Até o momento 16 espécies e uma subespécie não-nominotípica estão registradas para o estado, porém é discutida a presença e/ou o status taxonômico de três destas espécies. Assim, considera-se que a escorpiofauna do Mato Grosso do Sul é composta, até o momento, por 13 espécies, o que representa mais de 50% de todas as espécies de escorpiões conhecidas para o Centro-Oeste brasileiro. Duas espécies de bothriurídeos são conhecidas apenas para este estado e consideradas endêmicas Bothriurus pora Mattoni & Acosta, 2005 e Brazilobothriurus pantanalensis Lourenço & Monod, 2000. A distribuição dos registros de escorpiões no Mato Grosso do Sul é heterogênea, uma vez que as áreas dominadas por Mata Atlântica e pelo Pantanal são menos amostradas em relação àquelas de domínios do Cerrado.

Litter size, effects of maternal body size, and date of birth in South American scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones)

We present new data on litter size and date of birth (month) for 21 South American scorpions species. We provide data for one katoikogenic species, the liochelid Opisthacanthus cayaporum Vellard, 1932 (offspring = 3; birth month: Jan); and for several apoikogenic species, such as the bothriurids Bothriurus araguayae Vellard, 1934 (53; Sep), B. rochensis San Martín, 1965 (22-28; Jan, Aug); the buthids Ananteris balzanii Thorell, 1891 (10-34; Jan-Mar), Physoctonus debilis (Koch, 1840) (2; Sep), Rhopalurus amazonicus Lourenço, 1986 (19; Nov), R. lacrau Lourenço & Pinto-da-Rocha, 1997 (30; Dec), R. laticauda Thorell, 1876 (41; Nov), R. rochai Borelli, 1910 (11-47; Dec-Jan, Mar-Apr), Tityus bahiensis (Perty, 1833) (4-23; Oct-Mar), T. clathratus Koch, 1844 (8-18; Nov-Jan), T. costatus (Karsch, 1879) (21-25; Jan, Apr), T. kuryi Lourenço, 1997 (4-16; Mar), T. mattogrossensis Borelli, 1901(8-9; May), T. obscurus (Gervais, 1843) (16-31; Jan-Feb, May, Jul), T. serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 (8-36; Dec, Feb-Apr), T. silvestris Pocock, 1897 (5-14; Dec-Jan, Apr), T. stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) (10-18; Nov, Jan, Mar), Tityus sp. 1 (T. clathratus group - 7-12; Feb-Apr), Tityus sp. 2 (T. bahiensis group - 2; Mar); and the chactid Brotheas sp. (8-21; Jan, Apr). We observed multiple broods: R. lacrau (offspring in the 2nd brood = 27), T. kuryi (6-16), T. obscurus (2-32), T. silvestris (8), T. stigmurus (4-9), T. bahiensis (offspring in the 2nd brood = 2-18; 3rd = 1), and T. costatus (2nd brood = 18; 3rd = 4). We found statistically significant positive correlation between female size and litter size for T. bahiensis and T. silvestris, and nonsignificant correlation for T. serrulatus.

Litter size, effects of maternal body size, and date of birth in South American scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones)

We present new data on litter size and date of birth (month) for 21 South American scorpions species. We provide data for one katoikogenic species, the liochelid Opisthacanthus cayaporum Vellard, 1932 (offspring = 3; birth month: Jan); and for several apoikogenic species, such as the bothriurids Bothriurus araguayae Vellard, 1934 (53; Sep), B. rochensis San Martín, 1965 (22-28; Jan, Aug); the buthids Ananteris balzanii Thorell, 1891 (10-34; Jan-Mar), Physoctonus debilis (Koch, 1840) (2; Sep), Rhopalurus amazonicus Lourenço, 1986 (19; Nov), R. lacrau Lourenço & Pinto-da-Rocha, 1997 (30; Dec), R. laticauda Thorell, 1876 (41; Nov), R. rochai Borelli, 1910 (11-47; Dec-Jan, Mar-Apr), Tityus bahiensis (Perty, 1833) (4-23; Oct-Mar), T. clathratus Koch, 1844 (8-18; Nov-Jan), T. costatus (Karsch, 1879) (21-25; Jan, Apr), T. kuryi Lourenço, 1997 (4-16; Mar), T. mattogrossensis Borelli, 1901(8-9; May), T. obscurus (Gervais, 1843) (16-31; Jan-Feb, May, Jul), T. serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 (8-36; Dec, Feb-Apr), T. silvestris Pocock, 1897 (5-14; Dec-Jan, Apr), T. stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) (10-18; Nov, Jan, Mar), Tityus sp. 1 (T. clathratus group - 7-12; Feb-Apr), Tityus sp. 2 (T. bahiensis group - 2; Mar); and the chactid Brotheas sp. (8-21; Jan, Apr). We observed multiple broods: R. lacrau (offspring in the 2nd brood = 27), T. kuryi (6-16), T. obscurus (2-32), T. silvestris (8), T. stigmurus (4-9), T. bahiensis (offspring in the 2nd brood = 2-18; 3rd = 1), and T. costatus (2nd brood = 18; 3rd = 4). We found statistically significant positive correlation between female size and litter size for T. bahiensis and T. silvestris, and nonsignificant correlation for T. serrulatus.

Litter size, effects of maternal body size, and date of birth in South American scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones)

We present new data on litter size and date of birth (month) for 21 South American scorpions species. We provide data for one katoikogenic species, the liochelid Opisthacanthus cayaporum Vellard, 1932 (offspring = 3; birth month: Jan); and for several apoikogenic species, such as the bothriurids Bothriurus araguayae Vellard, 1934 (53; Sep), B. rochensis San Martín, 1965 (22-28; Jan, Aug); the buthids Ananteris balzanii Thorell, 1891 (10-34; Jan-Mar), Physoctonus debilis (Koch, 1840) (2; Sep), Rhopalurus amazonicus Lourenço, 1986 (19; Nov), R. lacrau Lourenço & Pinto-da-Rocha, 1997 (30; Dec), R. laticauda Thorell, 1876 (41; Nov), R. rochai Borelli, 1910 (11-47; Dec-Jan, Mar-Apr), Tityus bahiensis (Perty, 1833) (4-23; Oct-Mar), T. clathratus Koch, 1844 (8-18; Nov-Jan), T. costatus (Karsch, 1879) (21-25; Jan, Apr), T. kuryi Lourenço, 1997 (4-16; Mar), T. mattogrossensis Borelli, 1901(8-9; May), T. obscurus (Gervais, 1843) (16-31; Jan-Feb, May, Jul), T. serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 (8-36; Dec, Feb-Apr), T. silvestris Pocock, 1897 (5-14; Dec-Jan, Apr), T. stigmurus (Thorell, 1876) (10-18; Nov, Jan, Mar), Tityus sp. 1 (T. clathratus group - 7-12; Feb-Apr), Tityus sp. 2 (T. bahiensis group - 2; Mar); and the chactid Brotheas sp. (8-21; Jan, Apr). We observed multiple broods: R. lacrau (offspring in the 2nd brood = 27), T. kuryi (6-16), T. obscurus (2-32), T. silvestris (8), T. stigmurus (4-9), T. bahiensis (offspring in the 2nd brood = 2-18; 3rd = 1), and T. costatus (2nd brood = 18; 3rd = 4). We found statistically significant positive correlation between female size and litter size for T. bahiensis and T. silvestris, and nonsignificant correlation for T. serrulatus.

Bothriurus pichicuy, nuevo escorpión chileno del grupo vittatus (Scorpiones, Bothriuridae)

Bothriurus pichicuy, a new scorpion species from the center coast of Chile, is described. It belongs to the vittatus species-group, and differs from the others species in the group by the pigmentation patterns of the prosoma, mesosoma and venter of metasoma, by the development and arrangement of the ventral keels of caudal segment V, and for its small size. The species is the only representative of the vittatus species-group that lives in sympatry with another Bothriurus species: B. coriaceus Pocock, 1893, from the coastal desert of Chile. Records of B. pichicuy came from the provinces of Petorca and Choapa.

Bothriurus pichicuy, nuevo escorpión chileno del grupo vittatus (Scorpiones, Bothriuridae)

Bothriurus pichicuy, a new scorpion species from the center coast of Chile, is described. It belongs to the vittatus species-group, and differs from the others species in the group by the pigmentation patterns of the prosoma, mesosoma and venter of metasoma, by the development and arrangement of the ventral keels of caudal segment V, and for its small size. The species is the only representative of the vittatus species-group that lives in sympatry with another Bothriurus species: B. coriaceus Pocock, 1893, from the coastal desert of Chile. Records of B. pichicuy came from the provinces of Petorca and Choapa.