DOCSLIB.ORG

Research Article ISSN 2336-9744 (Online) | ISSN 2337-0173 (Print) the Journal Is Available on Line At

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Research Article ISSN 2336-9744 (Online) | ISSN 2337-0173 (Print) the Journal Is Available on Line At Research Article ISSN 2336-9744 (online) | ISSN 2337-0173 (print) The journal is available on line at www.biotaxa.org/em Arachnogeographical comparison between West Palearctic and Afrotropical Areas PETAR BERON National Museum of Natural History, Tsar Osvoboditel Bld 1, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria e-mail: [email protected] Received 5 September 2016 │ Accepted 25 November 2016 │ Published online 28 November 2016. Abstract Comparison is made between the Arachnofaunas of Western Palearctic (Europe, SW Asia and North Africa to 20oN) and Afrotropical (from 20oN to the line Zambezi – Kunene) areas. This border (actually transition zone) divides two Kingdoms – Holarctic and Paleotropic. What concerns Arachnida so far such comparison has never been made (for all the orders). Outlined are the endemic taxa and it is clear that the difference is due mostly to climatic difference (for the warm preferring groups like Schizomida, Amblypygi, Solifugae, Scorpiones, Ricinulei). Some groups in tropical Africa are relict (suborder Paleoamblypygi). In the Western Palearctic such groups (endemic and relics) are the scorpions of the genera Belisarius and Akrav (with Southamerican affinities). In our time the vast deserts like Sahara and the Arabian desert are a very important barrier for many groups. Key words: Palearctic, Afrotropical, Arachnogeography. Introduction The northern part of Africa is included in the Palearctic Region and the boundary (usualy at 20oN) is separating two Kingdoms – Holarctic and Paleotropical. It is common knowledge that a biogeographical boundary is not a line, but rather a more or less wide transitional zone. We have also to take into account the historical changes during the last several thousand years. Part of these changes is due to climatic factors, other – to human activities (also causing changes in the climate), like deforestation, diverting of rivers, etc. The traditional zoogeographic regions are delimitated mainly on the distribution of terrestrial vertebrates. The difference between the regions and kingdoms are usually on much higher taxonomical level when we consider vertebrates, than with the Arachnida. Differences between Afrotropical and Neotropical regions, or between Holarctic and Paleotropical are between orders or suborders and very much between families. Historically it was not as it is today. In green Sahara and Mediterranean Africa lived elephants, crocodiles, giraffes, in Atlas mountains there were until recently ostriches, lions and bears. They were exterminated by Man. We do not speak about geological periods when these animals (plus Tubulidentata, Marsupialia, tapirs and many others) lived in Europe. The present day biogeographical subdivision should consider the picture of the last several thousand years. We don‘t know what was the distribution of many Arachnids over the green Sahara. It was not influenced by the rare human population during the millenia, as it certainly was in Europe and North America with the disappearing of forests and their replacement with anthropogenic landscape. Important were also new crops like maiz and potatoes, chemization and other kinds of human intruding into the ecosystems. Ecol. Mont., 7, 2016, 464-506 BERON If we follow the classical subdivision (Africa south of Sahara and the southernmost Arabia form the Afrotropical Region), north of this ―line‖ is the Palearctic (different subregions). This ―line‖ (actually transitional zone) is separing two kingdoms, so differences should be substantial. Let us check how the known distribution of Arachnida fits into the classical scheme. Geography and General Zoogeography of Western Palearctic Here Western Palearctic is understood as embracing Europe, Africa North of 20oN and SW Asia (from Bosphorus to Sind). Included is also Siberia west of Yenisey (Johanssen‘s line). Europe is divided into Eurosiberian and Mediterranean Subregions. North Africa near Mediterranean Sea has also Mediterranean fauna, to the South it changes into Saharo-Sindian desert fauna. Neither Europe, nor North Africa and Sahara have always been as they are today. The glaciations changed the older fauna of Europe, than came the destructive human activities. The forests have been very much reduced, and this brought a total desappearence of many invertebrate communities. Such was also the case of the deforestation of circummediterranean territory. South of the barren Atlas mountains once there was a green Sahara, gradually desiccated (Bodenheimer, 1935, Darlington, 1957, de Lattin, 1967, Geptner, 1936, Udvardy, 1975). Analyzing the Zoogeography of the Levant, Por (1975) reached to the conclusion that the Levant province is a peculiar and complex ―subtraction-transition zone‖ (following the expression of Darlington, 1957). The Levant is ―a stretch of land about 150 km wide, wedged in between the [Mediterranean] sea and the Syrio-Arabian desert, stretching from the mouth of the River Orontes and the Amanus and Taurus mountain ranges in the north, to the Isthmus of Suez in the south‖(POR, 1975). This ―subtraction-transition zone‖ between the Palae-arctic and Ethiopian Regions, born by the desertification, is called Palaeo-eremic region. Usually the biota of the Levant is considered to be Palearctic (Mediterranean), but, according to Por (1975), the inclusion of the Old World deserts in the Holarctis is due to a certain ―Europa-centrism‖ of the scientists. ―According to this scheme, the Ethiopis begins only south of the Sahara, in the Savannas, where the last of the typical Palaearctic animals fade out. However, if at all, the connections of of the Palaeo-eremic faunal inventory are much closer to the Ethiopis than to Palaearctis….Our [Israel‘s] typical desert animals, such as scorpions, agamas, gerbils, sand grouse and gazelles, have Ethiopian rather than Holarctic connections, even if some species are so-called ―Mediterraneans‖ (Por, op. cit.). According to the systems of Bodenheimer (1935) and Por (1975), in the Levant could be distinguished four faunal elements: Palaearctic, Palaeo-eremic, Ethiopian and Oriental, with clear prevalence (especially in the north) of the Palaearctics in most of the animal groups. The line along the foothills of Northern Galilee and the Golan Heights was called by Por (1975) ―Nehring Line‖. South of it follows a ―transitional zone‖, where Palaearctic elements mingle with Palaeo-eremic elements. More to the south Por (1975) outlines a ―Bodenheimer Line‖, which is the end of the transitional zone. Follow Ramon Mountains and the mountains of Sinai. The ―Ethiopian element does not prevail in any area. The Oriental species are even more scattered, without showing any geographical pattern. The endemic species among the animals are chiefly of Palaeo-eremic, Ethiopian and also of Oriental origins.…This suggests a higher age of the tropical element, and perhaps a younger and more expansive character of the Holarctic species‖ (Por). In conclusion, ―The Levant province is a meeting place and transitional area between the Palaearctic, Oriental and Ethiopian zoogeographic regions. The broad ―Palaeo-eremic desert belt serves as a filtering barrier between the three faunal regions‖. The islands of Macaronesia (Canaries, Madeira, Azorean Island) are here treated as part of the Palearctic Region, Cabo Verde islands as part of the Afrotropical Region. Africa between 20oN and Zambezi – Kunene (tropical, or intertropical Africa) Geography, General Zoogeography and Paleogeography The sub-Saharan Africa is situated between the usually accepted southern border (actually transition belt) of the Palearctic (Holarctic), a frontier between one kingdom and another (Paleotropica). South of the Sahara follow the belts of semidesert (Sahel) and the different types of savanna. In the described area there are also high mountains with afroalpine vegetation and mountain rainforest. Tropic rain forests are tropical moist forests of semi-deciduous varieties distributed across nine West African countries. In the first half of the 1980s, an annual forest loss of 7200 square kilometers was note down along the Gulf of Guinea, a figure equivalent to 4-5 percent of the total remaining rain forest area. By Ecol. Mont., 7, 2016, 464-506 465 ARACHNOGEOGRAPHICAL COMPARISON BETWEEN WEST PALEARCTIC AND AFROTROPICAL REGION 1985, 72 percent of West Africa's rainforests had been transformed into fallow lands and an additional 9 percent had been opened up by timber exploitation. It is generally believed that firewood provides 75 per cent of the energy used in sub-Sahara Africa. With the high demand, the consumption of wood for fuel exceeds the renewal of forest cover. The rain forests which remain in West Africa now merely are how they were hardly 30 years ago. In Guinea, Liberia and the Ivory Coast, there is almost no primary forest cover left unscathed; in Ghana the situation is much worse, and nearly all the rain forest are cut down. Guinea-Bissau loses 200 to 350 km² of forest yearly, Senegal 500 km² of wooded savanna, and Nigeria 6,000,050,000 of both. Liberia exploits 800 km² of forests each year. Tropical Africa is about 18% of the world total covering 20 million km² of land in West and Central Africa. Recent estimates show that the annual pace of deforestation in the region can vary from 150 km² in Gabon to 2900 km² in Ivory Coast. Remaining tropical forest still cover major areas in Central Africa but are abridged by patches in West Africa. The tropical environment is rich in terms of bio-diversity. Tropical African forest is 18 per cent of the world total and covers over 3.6 million square kilometers of land in West, East and Central Africa. This total area can be subdivided to 2.69 million square kilometers (74%) in Central Africa, 680,000 square kilometers (19%) in West Africa, and 250,000 square kilometers (7%) in East Africa. In West Africa, a chain of rain forests up to 350 km long extends from the eastern border of Sierra Leone all the way to Ghana. In Ghana the forest zone gradually dispels near the Volta river, following a 300 km stretch of Dahomey savanna gap. The rain forest of West Africa continues from east of Benin through southern Nigeria and officially ends at the border of Cameroon along the Sanaga river.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • A New Species of the Genus Buthacus Birula, 1908 from the United Arab Emirates
    A new species of the genus Buthacus Birula, 1908 from the United Arab Emirates (Scorpiones: Buthidae) Wilson R. Lourenço, Elise-Anne Leguin Abstract. Since the revision of the genus Buthacus Birula, 1908 given by LOURENÇO (2006), fur- ther new species have been recorded from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. One new species, collected in United Arab Emirates, is described here. It was collected in the region of Fujairah, in sandy de- sert with sparse bushes. It is associated with Buthacus buettikeri Hendrixson, 2006, recently de- scribed from Saudi Arabia, and Buthacus tadmorensis (Simon, 1892), described from Syria. The new species is distinguished by its smaller overall size, a smaller number of pectinial teeth, and an aculeus that is only slightly longer than vesicle. Key words. Scorpion, Buthacus, United Arab Emirates, Middle East, new species. Introduction The taxonomic difficulties that stimulated the revision of the genus Buthacus Birula, 1908 have previously been explained, especially in the revision by LOURENÇO (2006). In attempt- ing to clarify the status of various species in the genus, attention was focused mainly on the North African fauna (LOURENÇO 2006). Those distributed throughout most of the countries of the Middle East were largely disregarded in the initial stages of these studies, although at least some new species have been described from these regions (LOURENÇO 2004, LOURENÇO & QI 2006, HENDRIXSON 2006). However, the chaotic situation that still exists in the taxonomy of certain species requires that consideration be given to other species in the genus. One of these, from the United Arab Emirates, is described here as new. It is associ- ated with Buthacus buettikeri Hendrixson, 2006, recently described from Saudi Arabia.
    [Show full text]
  • Arachnozoogeographical Analysis of the Boundary Between Eastern Palearctic and Indomalayan Region
    Historia naturalis bulgarica, 23: 5-36, 2016 Arachnozoogeographical analysis of the boundary between Eastern Palearctic and Indomalayan Region Petar Beron Abstract: This study aims to test how the distribution of various orders of Arachnida follows the classical subdivision of Asia and where the transitional zone between the Eastern Palearctic (Holarctic Kingdom) and the Indomalayan Region (Paleotropic) is situated. This boundary includes Thar Desert, Karakorum, Himalaya, a band in Central China, the line north of Taiwan and the Ryukyu Islands. The conclusion is that most families of Arachnida (90), excluding most of the representatives of Acari, are common for the Palearctic and Indomalayan Regions. There are no endemic orders or suborders in any of them. Regarding Arach- nida, their distribution does not justify the sharp difference between the two Kingdoms (Paleotropical and Holarctic) in Eastern Eurasia. The transitional zone (Sino-Japanese Realm) of Holt et al. (2013) also does not satisfy the criteria for outlining an area on the same footing as the Palearctic and Indomalayan Realms. Key words: Palearctic, Indomalayan, Arachnozoogeography, Arachnida According to the classical subdivision the region’s high mountains and plateaus. In southern Indomalayan Region is formed from the regions in Asia the boundary of the Palearctic is largely alti- Asia that are south of the Himalaya, and a zone in tudinal. The foothills of the Himalaya with average China. North of this “line” is the Palearctic (consist- altitude between about 2000 – 2500 m a.s.l. form the ing og different subregions). This “line” (transitional boundary between the Palearctic and Indomalaya zone) is separating two kingdoms, therefore the dif- Ecoregions.
    [Show full text]
  • Comparative Functional Morphology of Attachment Devices in Arachnida
    Comparative functional morphology of attachment devices in Arachnida Vergleichende Funktionsmorphologie der Haftstrukturen bei Spinnentieren (Arthropoda: Arachnida) DISSERTATION zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades doctor rerum naturalium (Dr. rer. nat.) an der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel vorgelegt von Jonas Otto Wolff geboren am 20. September 1986 in Bergen auf Rügen Kiel, den 2. Juni 2015 Erster Gutachter: Prof. Stanislav N. Gorb _ Zweiter Gutachter: Dr. Dirk Brandis _ Tag der mündlichen Prüfung: 17. Juli 2015 _ Zum Druck genehmigt: 17. Juli 2015 _ gez. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang J. Duschl, Dekan Acknowledgements I owe Prof. Stanislav Gorb a great debt of gratitude. He taught me all skills to get a researcher and gave me all freedom to follow my ideas. I am very thankful for the opportunity to work in an active, fruitful and friendly research environment, with an interdisciplinary team and excellent laboratory equipment. I like to express my gratitude to Esther Appel, Joachim Oesert and Dr. Jan Michels for their kind and enthusiastic support on microscopy techniques. I thank Dr. Thomas Kleinteich and Dr. Jana Willkommen for their guidance on the µCt. For the fruitful discussions and numerous information on physical questions I like to thank Dr. Lars Heepe. I thank Dr. Clemens Schaber for his collaboration and great ideas on how to measure the adhesive forces of the tiny glue droplets of harvestmen. I thank Angela Veenendaal and Bettina Sattler for their kind help on administration issues. Especially I thank my students Ingo Grawe, Fabienne Frost, Marina Wirth and André Karstedt for their commitment and input of ideas.
    [Show full text]
  • Changes in the Midgut Diverticula Epithelial Cells of the European
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Changes in the midgut diverticula epithelial cells of the European cave spider, Meta menardi, under Received: 13 March 2018 Accepted: 24 August 2018 controlled winter starvation Published: xx xx xxxx Saška Lipovšek1,2,3,4, Tone Novak2, Franc Janžekovič2, Nina Brdelak5 & Gerd Leitinger 4 The European cave spider, Meta menardi, is among the most common troglophile species inhabiting the cave entrance zone in Europe, where prey is scarce in winter. Spiders feed only if prey is available; otherwise, they are subjected to long-term winter starvation. We carried out a four-month winter starvation of M. menardi under controlled conditions to analyze ultrastructural changes in the midgut diverticula epithelial cells at the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the starvation period. We used light microscopy, TEM and quantifed reserve lipids and glycogen. The midgut diverticula epithelium consisted of secretory cells, digestive cells and adipocytes. During starvation, gradual vacuolization of some digestive cells, and some necrotic digestive cells and adipocytes appeared. Autophagic structures, autophagosomes, autolysosomes and residual bodies were found in all three cell types. Spherites and the energy-reserve compounds were gradually exploited, until in some spherites only the membrane remained. Comparison between spring, autumn and winter starvation reveals that, during the growth period, M. menardi accumulate reserve compounds in spherites and protein granules, and energy-supplying lipids and glycogen, like many epigean, overwintering arthropods. In M. menardi, otherwise active all over the year, this is an adaptive response to the potential absence of prey in winter. Te European cave spider, Meta menardi (Latreille, 1804) (Araneae, Tetragnathidae) inhabit the twilight zone of most hypogean habitats across Europe.
    [Show full text]
  • The Short-Range Endemic Invertebrate Fauna of the Ravensthorpe Range
    THE SHORT-RANGE ENDEMIC INVERTEBRATE FAUNA OF THE RAVENSTHORPE RANGE MARK S. HARVEY MEI CHEN LENG Department of Terrestrial Zoology Western Australian Museum June 2008 2 Executive Summary An intensive survey of short-range endemic invertebrates in the Ravensthorpe Range at 79 sites revealed a small but significant fauna of myriapods and arachnids. Four species of short-range endemic invertebrates were found: • The millipede Antichiropus sp. R • The millipede Atelomastix sp. C • The millipede Atelomastix sp. P • The pseudoscorpion Amblyolpium sp. “WA1” Atelomastix sp. C is the only species found to be endemic to the Ravensthorpe Range and was found at 14 sites. Antichiropus sp. R, Atelomastix sp. P and Amblyolpium sp. “WA1” are also found at nearby locations. Sites of high importance include: site 40 with 7 species; sites 7 and 48 each with 5 species; and sites 18 and 44 each with 4 species. WA Museum - Ravensthorpe Range Survey 3 Introduction Australia contains a multitude of terrestrial invertebrate fauna species, with many yet to be discovered and described. Arthropods alone were recently estimated to consist of approximately more than 250,000 species (Yeates et al. 2004). The majority of these belong to the arthropod classes Insecta and Arachnida, and although many have relatively wide distributions across the landscape, some are highly restricted in range with special ecological requirements. These taxa, termed short-range endemics (Harvey 2002b), are taxa categorised as having poor dispersal abilities and/or requiring very specific habitats, usually with naturally small distributional ranges of less than 10,000 km2 and the following ecological and life-history traits: • poor powers of dispersal; • confinement to discontinuous habitats; • usually highly seasonal, only active during cooler, wetter periods; and • low levels of fecundity.
    [Show full text]
  • Arachnologische Mitteilungen 45: 40-44 Karlsruhe, Juni 2013
    Arachnologische Mitteilungen 45: 40-44 Karlsruhe, Juni 2013 A tropical invader, Coleosoma floridanum, spotted for the first time in Slovakia and the Czech Republic (Araneae, Theridiidae) Anna Šestáková, Jana Christophoryová & Stanislav Korenko doi: 10.5431/aramit4509 Abstract. The pantropical theridiid spider Coleosoma floridanum Banks, 1900 was recorded for the first time in Slo- vakia and in the Czech Republic. Both sexes and juveniles were collected in some numbers in heated greenhouses with high humidity. A description and photographs of the species are provided. Keywords: botanical garden, comb-footed spider, faunistics, first record, greenhouse, introduced species The small genus Coleosoma consists of nine tropical derside of plant leaves; some of them (ca. 10 %) were species distributed mostly in the Indo-Malayan eco- extracted from soil samples using Tullgren funnels. zone (Platnick 2012). Except for the largest species, They were identified using Nentwig et al. (2012) and C. matinikum Barrion & Litsinger, 1995 – known only compared to the original description (Banks 1900) from males, with a total length of ca. 4.8 mm – the re- and to the other species of the genus through the maining species are of small size (ca. 2 mm). They are detailed description and figures provided by several thus easily accidently imported to other countries on authors, e.g. Bryant (1940, 1944), Levi (1959), Bar- plants carried by ships. Despite this fact, only C. flori- rion & Litsinger (1995) and Saaristo (2006). danum has so far spread to Europe. This species is Microphotographs were made using EOS Utility commonly found in packages arriving from tropics, software and a digital camera (Canon EOS 1100D) thus it has been exported over the globe and may be connected to a Zeiss Stemi 2000-C stereomicroscope.
    [Show full text]
  • De Hooiwagens 1St Revision14
    Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 CHARACTERISTICS OF HARVESTMEN ............................................................................................................................ 2 GROUPS SIMILAR TO HARVESTMEN ............................................................................................................................. 3 PREVIOUS PUBLICATIONS ............................................................................................................................................. 3 BIOLOGY ......................................................................................................................................................................... 3 LIFE CYCLE ..................................................................................................................................................................... 3 MATING AND EGG-LAYING ........................................................................................................................................... 4 FOOD ............................................................................................................................................................................. 4 DEFENCE ........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 PHORESY,
    [Show full text]
  • Arachnida, Solifugae) with Special Focus on Functional Analyses and Phylogenetic Interpretations
    HISTOLOGY AND ULTRASTRUCTURE OF SOLIFUGES Comparative studies of organ systems of solifuges (Arachnida, Solifugae) with special focus on functional analyses and phylogenetic interpretations HISTOLOGIE UND ULTRASTRUKTUR DER SOLIFUGEN Vergleichende Studien an Organsystemen der Solifugen (Arachnida, Solifugae) mit Schwerpunkt auf funktionellen Analysen und phylogenetischen Interpretationen I N A U G U R A L D I S S E R T A T I O N zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades doctor rerum naturalium (Dr. rer. nat.) an der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald vorgelegt von Anja Elisabeth Klann geboren am 28.November 1976 in Bremen Greifswald, den 04.06.2009 Dekan ........................................................................................................Prof. Dr. Klaus Fesser Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Gerd Alberti Erster Gutachter .......................................................................................... Zweiter Gutachter ........................................................................................Prof. Dr. Romano Dallai Tag der Promotion ........................................................................................15.09.2009 Content Summary ..........................................................................................1 Zusammenfassung ..........................................................................5 Acknowledgments ..........................................................................9 1. Introduction ............................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The First Data on the Fauna and Geographical Distribution of Medically Important Scorpions in Golestan Province, Northeast of Iran
    The First Data on the Fauna and Geographical Distribution of Medically Important Scorpions in Golestan Province, Northeast of Iran Aioub Sozadeh Golestan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services Ehsan Allah Kalteh Golestan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services Shahin Saeedi Golestan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services Mulood Mohammmadi Bavani ( [email protected] ) Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences Research note Keywords: Scorpion, fauna, spatial distribution, Iran, Golestan Posted Date: December 3rd, 2020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-117232/v1 License: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Read Full License Page 1/14 Abstract Objectives: this study was conducted to determine the medically relevant scorpion’s species and produce their geographical distribution in Golestan Province for the rst time, to collect basic information to produce regional antivenom. Because for scorpion treatment a polyvalent antivenom is use in Iran, and some time it failed to treatment, for solve this problem govement decide to produce regional antivenom. Scorpions were captured at day and night time using ruck rolling and Ultra Violet methods during 2019. Then specimens transferred to a 75% alcohol-containing plastic bottle. Finally the specimens under a stereomicroscope using a valid identication key were identied. Distribution maps were introduced using GIS 10.4. Results: A total of 111 scorpion samples were captured from the province, all belonging to the Buthidae family, including Mesobuthus eupeus (97.3%), Orthochirus farzanpayi (0.9%) and Mesobuthus caucasicus (1.8%) species.
    [Show full text]
  • A Redescription and Family Placement of Uintascorpio Perry, 1995 from the Parachute Creek Member Of
    ARTÍCULO: A REDESCRIPTION AND FAMILY PLACEMENT OF UINTASCORPIO PERRY, 1995 FROM THE PARACHUTE CREEK MEMBER OF THE GREEN RIVER FORMATION (MIDDLE EOCENE) OF COLORADO, USA (SCORPIONES: BUTHIDAE) Jorge A. Santiago-Blay, Michael E. Soleglad & Victor Fet Abstract: The monotypic genus Uintascorpio Perry, 1995 from the Parachute Creek Member of ARTÍCULO: the Uinta Basin in the Green River Formation, Colorado, USA (Middle Eocene; ap- A redescription and family proximate age 48 Ma) is redescribed and placed in the family Buthidae (parvorder placement of Uintascorpio Perry, Buthida). The placement of this fossil in the Buthidae is supported by the diagnostic 1995 from the Parachute Creek carination of the pedipalp, metasoma, and other morphological details. This fossil is the Member of the Green River most ancient known record of the Buthidae in the New World and the oldest North Formation (Middle Eocene) of American scorpion fossil since Carboniferous. The existence of Uintascorpio halandra- Colorado, USA sorum reflects a long Cenozoic history of buthid evolution in North America. (Scorpiones: Buthidae) Key words: Scorpiones, Buthidae, Uintascorpio, Uintascorpio halandrasorum, Middle Eocene, morphology, Uinta Basin, Green River Formation, Colorado, USA. Jorge A. Santiago-Blay Department of Paleobiology, MRC-121 Redescripción y asignación familiar de Uintascorpio Perry, 1995 del and Department of Entomology, Eoceno Medio de Colorado, EEUU (Scorpiones: Buthidae) National Museum of Natural History, Resumen: Smithsonian Institution, El género monotípico Uintascorpio Perry, 1995 de Parachute Creek, en la Cuenca de P.O. Box 37012, Uinta, localizada en la Formación Green River, Colorado, Estados Unidos (Eoceno Washington, DC 20013-7012, USA Medio; edad aproximada 48 Ma) se redescribe y se asigna a la familia Buthidae (par- [email protected] vorder Buthida).
    [Show full text]
  • Neotype Designation for Pectinibuthus Birulai Fet, 1984 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Turkmenistan, with Remarks on Pectine Teeth of Psammophile Scorpions
    Neotype designation for Pectinibuthus birulai Fet, 1984 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Turkmenistan, with remarks on pectine teeth of psammophile scorpions Victor Fet, František Kovařík & Graeme Lowe August 2019 — No. 286 Euscorpius Occasional Publications in Scorpiology EDITOR: Victor Fet, Marshall University, ‘[email protected]’ ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Michael E. Soleglad, ‘[email protected]’ Euscorpius is the first research publication completely devoted to scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Euscorpius takes advantage of the rapidly evolving medium of quick online publication, at the same time maintaining high research standards for the burgeoning field of scorpion science (scorpiology).Euscorpius is an expedient and viable medium for the publication of serious papers in scorpiology, including (but not limited to): systematics, evolution, ecology, biogeography, and general biology of scorpions. Review papers, descriptions of new taxa, faunistic surveys, lists of museum collections, and book reviews are welcome. Derivatio Nominis The name Euscorpius Thorell, 1876 refers to the most common genus of scorpions in the Mediterranean region and southern Europe (family Euscorpiidae). Euscorpius is located at: https://mds.marshall.edu/euscorpius/ Archive of issues 1-270 see also at: http://www.science.marshall.edu/fet/Euscorpius (Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia 25755-2510, USA) ICZN COMPLIANCE OF ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS: Electronic (“e-only”) publications are fully compliant with ICZN (International Code of Zoological Nomenclature) (i.e. for the purposes of new names and new nomenclatural acts) when properly archived and registered. All Euscorpius issues starting from No. 156 (2013) are archived in two electronic archives: • Biotaxa, http://biotaxa.org/Euscorpius (ICZN-approved and ZooBank-enabled) • Marshall Digital Scholar, http://mds.marshall.edu/euscorpius/.
    [Show full text]
  • Distribution of Cave-Dwelling Pseudoscorpions (Arachnida) in Brazil
    2019. Journal of Arachnology 47:110–123 Distribution of cave-dwelling pseudoscorpions (Arachnida) in Brazil Diego Monteiro Von Schimonsky1,2 and Maria Elina Bichuette1: 1Laborato´rio de Estudos Subterraˆneos – Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva – Universidade Federal de Sa˜o Carlos, Rodovia Washington Lu´ıs, km 235, Caixa Postal 676, CEP 13565-905, Sa˜o Carlos, Sa˜o Paulo, Brazil; 2Programa de Po´s-Graduac¸a˜o em Biologia Comparada, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Cieˆncias e Letras de Ribeira˜o Preto – Universidade de Sa˜o Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, CEP 14040-901, Bairro Monte Alegre, Ribeira˜o Preto, Sa˜o Paulo, Brazil. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract. Pseudoscorpions are among the most diverse of the smaller arachnid orders, but there is relatively little information about the distribution of these tiny animals, especially in Neotropical caves. Here, we map the distribution of the pseudoscorpions in Brazilian caves and record 12 families and 22 genera based on collections analyzed over several years, totaling 239 caves from 13 states in Brazil. Among them, two families (Atemnidae and Geogarypidae) with three genera (Brazilatemnus Muchmore, 1975, Paratemnoides Harvey, 1991 and Geogarypus Chamberlin, 1930) are recorded for the first time in cave habitats as, well as seven other genera previously unknown for Brazilian caves (Olpiolum Beier, 1931, Pachyolpium Beier 1931, Tyrannochthonius Chamberlin, 1929, Lagynochthonius Beier, 1951, Neocheiridium Beier 1932, Ideoblothrus Balzan, 1892 and Heterolophus To¨mo¨sva´ry, 1884). These genera are from families already recorded in this habitat, which have their distributional ranges expanded for all other previously recorded genera. Additionally, we summarize records of Pseudoscorpiones based on previously published literature and our data for 314 caves.
    [Show full text]