Broad-Scale Climatic Gradients Drive Multiple Facets of Scorpion Beta Diversity in Northeastern Brazil

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  Broad-Scale Climatic Gradients Drive Multiple Facets of Scorpion Beta Diversity in Northeastern Brazil ABSTRACT Aim Beta diversity analyses clarify mechanisms structuring ecological communities, but their multidimensional facets remain poorly explored in arthropods. Here, we quantified taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional beta diversity in scorpions, partitioned these facets into species replacement and richness differences, and evaluated the relative importance of spatial structure and environmental conditions in driving community assembly. Location Northeastern Brazil, South America. Taxon Scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Methods Taxonomic beta diversity was estimated using species presence across 70 sites in northeastern Brazil. Phylogenetic turnover was calculated from a multi-locus molecular tree, and functional beta diversity was derived from morphometric and ecological traits. All beta diversity facets were decomposed into replacement and richness-difference component...

Troglorhopalurus araras (Scorpiones: Buthidae) a new subterranean scorpion from Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

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Troglorhopalurus araras (Scorpiones: Buthidae) a new subterranean scorpion from Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

ABSTRACT

We describe Troglorhopalurus araras sp. n. based only on females, as a new obligatory and exclusively subterranean scorpion occurring in three caves from Ituaçu, State of Bahia, Brazil. The caves of Ituaçu belong to an isolated portion of the Una geomorphological group. Troglorhopalurus araras is the third known species of Troglorhopalurus and differs from its congeners by size, carination mainly in chela hand and metasoma, teeth of pecten, shape of telson spine, and colour. This new species enhances the diversity of cave-dwelling species in Brazilian caves, as well as the knowledge of cave scorpions. Troglorhopalurus araras must be considered threatened due to its restricted endemism at caves in the Chapada Diamantina.

Gallão, J. E., & Ribeiro, D. B. (2026). Troglorhopalurus araras (Scorpiones: Buthidae) a new subterranean scorpion from Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil. Journal of Natural History, 60(9–12), 557–572. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2026.2618697