A further new species for the genus Ananteris Thorell, 1891 (Scorpiones: Ananteridae) from a poorly prospected region of Brazilian Amazonia

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  A further new species for the genus Ananteris Thorell, 1891 (Scorpiones: Ananteridae) from a poorly prospected region of Brazilian Amazonia Abstract  A new species of the genus Ananteris Thorell, 1891 is described from the region which today defines the ‘Reserva Biológica do Río Trombetas’ in the state of Pará, Brazil. The collection of the unique specimen, presently study, took place previously to the definition of this reserve, in a joint field trip with a team of the Instituto Brasileiro de Desenvolvimento Florestal (IBDF). Ananteris antoni sp. n. is described based on one female specimen collected in a zone of dense humid forest, under death log. With this new description, the number of Ananteris species known for the scorpion fauna of Brazil is now raised to 33. Lourenço W. R., 2026. – A further new species for the genus Ananteris Thorell, 1891 (Scorpiones: Ananteridae) from a poorly prospected region of Brazilian Amazonia. Faunitaxys, 14(63): 1 – 5.  https://doi.o...

Biology, morphology and molecular study of Sassanidotus gracilis (Birula, 1900) (Arachnida: Scorpiones)

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Biology, morphology and molecular study of Sassanidotus gracilis (Birula, 1900) (Arachnida: Scorpiones)

Sassanidotus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) is a small genus of scorpions described by Farzanpay (1987). The size of adult members is about 50 mm and overall color of the body is yellow. This genus has two species. Sassanidotus gracilis (Birula, 1900) has been described morphologically from Zabol, southeast of Iran. Sassanidotus zarudnyi (Birula, 1900) was described based on a holotype from Teheran, North of Iran. Limitations in morphology-based identification systems indicate the need for molecular study to taxon identification. To confirm the validity and redescription of Sassanidotus gracilis, twenty specimens collected from Sistan & Baluchistan province were studied morphologically and molecularly. Sassanidotus gracilis were redescribed. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference phylogenetic trees show that members of Sassanidotus were placed at the top of trees as the sister group of the Mesobuthus. Both genera are very similar morphologically. The genetic difference between different genera confirms Sassanidotus validity. Five pairs of living specimens were studied to investigate the biology of the species. Litter size for S. gracilis was 15–19.

Hossein Barahoei. Biology, morphology and molecular study of Sassanidotus gracilis (Birula, 1900) (Arachnida: Scorpiones), 29 March 2024, PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square [https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4087398/v1]