2007. The Journal of Arachnology 35:102–112 A NEW SPECIES OF BRACHISTOSTERNUS (SCORPIONES, BOTHRIURIDAE) FROM CHILE, WITH REMARKS ON BRACHISTOSTERNUS CHILENSIS Andre´s A. Ojanguren-Affilastro and Cristina Luisa Scioscia: Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘‘Bernardino Rivadavia’’ (CONICET), Divisio´n Aracnologı´a, Av. A´ ngel Gallardo 470, 1405 DJR Buenos Aires, Argentina. E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT. Brachistosternus (Leptosternus) aconcagua new species, from the Chilean central Andes, is described. Brachistosternus (L.) chilensis Kraepelin 1911 is redescribed. Both species are related to other Andean species of the genus and with other species from central and northern Chile. RESUMEN. Se describe a Brachistosternus (Leptosternus) aconcagua nueva especie de los Andes cen- trales Chilenos. Se redescribe a Brachistosternus (L.) chilensis Kraepelin 1911. Ambas especies se en- cuentran relacionadas con las especies andinas del ge´nero y con algunas especies del centro y norte de Chile. Keywords: Taxonomy, morphology, Neotropics, South America, Brachistosternus aconcagua The scorpion fauna of central Chile is still description (E. Maury, unpublished data). Af- poorly known, with most of the published lit- ter that, he implicitly accepted the validity of erature consisting of short species descriptions B. chilensis as a valid species, listing it as a dating from the late 19th century and early member of the subgenus Leptosternus (Maury 20th century (Pocock 1893, 1898; Kraepelin 1973). We have been able to study this spec- 1894, 1911; Lo¨nnberg 1897; Mello-Leita˜o imen at the MIZT, along with Maury’s notes, 1932; Werner 1939). Little subsequent taxo- and we found a difference in the number of nomic work on this fauna is available and the pectinal teeth with respect to the specimen de- identity of most of the species from this area scribed by Kraepelin (28–29 in the specimen needs to be confirmed. from the MIZT, 30 in the specimen described One of the most enigmatic Chilean species by Kraepelin); so we can not be sure that this is Brachistosternus (Leptosternus) chilensis specimen was used by Kraepelin (1911) to de- Kraepelin 1911. This species was briefly de- scribe the species. The original locality men- scribed by Kraepelin (1911) in a key, as a va- tioned by Kraepelin is now highly altered by riety of B. (L.) intermedius Lo¨nnberg 1902, human activities and the surrounding region based on a female specimen from la Ligua, has been subjected to intense agricultural ac- Valparaiso Region, Chile. No illustrations and tivities. Species of Brachistosternus are very no data were provided about collectors, dates, sensitive to environmental changes, and after depositories, or type material, and no other several collection trips to this place we only name-bearing specimen was previously des- obtained specimens of Bothriurus coriaceus ignated. Since the original description, only a Pocock 1893 that is more resistant to environ- few authors mentioned this species again. Dr. mental changes. However, in nearby localities E. Maury revised the scorpion collection of around La Ligua with better preserved envi- the Museo ed Instituto di Zoologia di Torino ronments, we were only able to collect a sin- (MIZT) and found a scorpion from the type gle species of Brachistosternus. This species locality labeled: ‘‘Br. intermedius chilensis n. is very common throughout this area and its var. La Ligua; Aconcagua; Chile (Sc. 64),’’ external morphology matches the few char- and he supposed that this could be the speci- acteristics described by Kraepelin (1911) in men used by Kraepelin (1911) to prepare his his description of B. chilensis, and corre- 102 OJANGUREN-AFFILASTRO & SCIOSCIA—BRACHISTOSTERNUS FROM CHILE 103 sponds to the characteristics of the specimen Subgenus Brachistosternus deposited at the MIZT. Therefore, to maintain (Leptosternus) Maury 1973 stability we consider this species as B. chilen- sis, which is redescribed in this paper. Type species.—Telegonus weijenberghii While revising material from central Chile Thorell 1876, by original designation. we have also recognized an undescribed spe- Brachistosternus (Leptosternus) cies of Brachistosternus that is herein de- aconcagua new species scribed. This species is very similar to B. chi- Figs. 1–13, 27 lensis but inhabits a slightly different environment at intermediate altitudes of the Material examined.—Holotype male, western central Andes. Both species described CHILE, Valparaiso, between Rı´o Blanco and in this paper are similar to the Andean species Juncal, 32Њ54Ј00ЉS, 70Њ11Ј00ЉW, 1950 m a.s.l., of the genus as well as to other species from 6 January 1984, Roig Alsina (MACN-Ar central and northern Chile. 10767). Paratypes: CHILE: Valparaiso: 1 fe- male, 1 juvenile, Guardia Vieja, 32Њ53Ј60ЉS, METHODS 70Њ16Ј60ЉW, 1600 m, 19 January 1984, E. Maury (MACN-Ar 10768); 3 females, 3 ju- The terminology used for the hemisperma- Њ Ј Љ Њ Ј Љ tophore structures follows Maury (1974). Tri- veniles, Juncal, 32 52 00 S, 70 10 00 W, 1950 chobothrial terminology follows Vachon (1974). m, 5 January 1984, E. Maury (MACN-Ar 10769); 1 juvenile, 20 km from Portezuelo, Terminology of the androvestigia follows Ce- 32Њ53Ј00ЉS, 70Њ13Ј00ЉW, 2100 m, 13 February kalovic (1973). Terminology of the telson gland 2005, Ojanguren & Korob (MACN-Ar follows Roig Alsina & Maury (1981). Termi- 10770). nology of the metasomal carinae follows Stahn- Etymology.—The specific name is a noun ke (1970), abbreviated as follows: DL ϭ dorsal in apposition referring to the Aconcagua lateral; LSM ϭ lateral supramedian; LIM ϭ lat- mountain, the highest peak of America, situ- eral inframedian; VL ϭ ventral lateral; VM ϭ ated very close to the type locality. ventral median. Specimens from the following Diagnosis.—Brachistosternus aconcagua institutions were examined: Museo Argentino is most similar to B. chilensis, and both spe- de Ciencias Naturales ‘‘Bernardino Rivadavia,’’ cies can be distinguished by the pigmentation National Arachnological Collection, Argentina pattern of the ventral surface of the metasoma: (MACN-Ar); Museo ed Instituto di Zoologia, in B. aconcagua the VM stripe of segments I- Torino, Italia (MIZT); American Museum of IV is thick, faint, and joins distally with the Natural History, New York, USA (AMNH); Ca´- LV stripes (Fig. 10), whereas in B. chilensis tedra de Diversidad Animal I, Universidad de the VM stripe is very thin and well marked, Co´rdoba, Co´rdoba, Argentina (CDA); Museo and never joins with the LV stripes (Fig. 25). Zoolo´gico del Instituto de Biologı´a de la Uni- Other morphological differences between versidad de Concepcio´n, Concepcio´n, Chile these species include: the metasomal glands or (MZUC). All measurements are given in mm, androvestigia of B. aconcagua are very small and were taken using an ocular micrometer. Il- (Fig. 7) whereas in B. chilensis they are of lustrations were produced using a stereomicro- medium size (Fig. 22); in B. chilensis the VM scope and camera lucida. The hemispermato- carinae of metasomal segment V extends al- phores were dissected from surrounding tissues most the entire length of the segment, but is and observed in 80% ethanol. Localities of Bra- poorly developed (Fig. 21), whereas in B. chistosternus (Leptosternus) negrei Cekalovic aconcagua it is absent (Fig. 6). 1975 depicted in Fig. 27 were taken from Ojan- Brachistosternus (L.) aconcagua is also guren-Affilastro (2005). similar to B. negrei. Both species can be eas- ily distinguished because in B. negrei the VM TAXONOMY stripe of metasomal segments I–IV is divided Family Bothriuridae Simon 1880 into 2 thin PM stripes (Fig. 26). Genus Brachistosternus Pocock 1893 Description.—Color: general color dark yellow, with very dense dusky pattern. Cara- Type species.—Scorpio ehrenbergii Ger- pace with front edge densely pigmented; oc- vais 1841, by original designation. ular tubercle black, with a dark stripe from 104 THE JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY Figures 1–10.—Brachistosternus (Leptosternus) aconcagua new species: 1. Left pedipalp patella, ventral aspect; 2. Left pedipalp patella, external aspect; 3. Left pedipalp chela, male, ventral aspect; 4. Left pedipalp chela, female, ventral aspect; 5. Left pedipalp chela, female, external aspect; 6. Fifth metasomal segment, male, ventral aspect; 7. Fifth metasomal segment, male, dorsal aspect; 8. Telson, female, lateral aspect; 9. Telson, male, lateral aspect; 10. Metasoma, pigmentation pattern, ventral aspect. Scale bars ϭ 1 mm. postocular furrow to lateral ocelli, leaving an 2 well developed lateral dark spots that leave anterior depigmented triangle that only in an incomplete depigmented stripe between very pigmented specimens is pigmented; lat- them; these lateral spots are joined only by a eral surface with dark reticulated pigment; thin dark line on the posterior margin of seg- with 2 posterolateral dark spots. Tergites with ment. Pedipalps: femur and patella densely OJANGUREN-AFFILASTRO & SCIOSCIA—BRACHISTOSTERNUS FROM CHILE 105 Table 1.—Measurements (mm) of Brachistosternus aconcagua new species, male holotype (MACN-Ar 10767), and female paratype (MACN-Ar 10768), and Brachistosternus chilensis, male (MACN-Ar 10772) and female (MACN-Ar 10773). Brachistosternus (L.)aconcagua Brachistosternus (L.) chilensis Male holotype Female paratype Male Female Total length 43.20 57.12 49.33 53.36 Carapace, length 5.09 6.38 5.41 6.87 Carapace, anterior width 3.86 5.01 4.28 5.09 Carapace, posterior width 5.66 7.11 6.06 7.03 Mesosoma, total length 11.08 18.74 15.00 13.86 Metasoma,