On the Tityus stigmurus complex (Scorpiones, Buthidae)

Abstract

The species included in the Tityus stigmurus complex as established by Lourenço are revised. The male of Tityus serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 is redescribed. New diagnostic characters are given for T. kuryi Lourenço 1997, T. melici Lourenço 2003, T. serrulatus and T. stigmurus Thorell, 1876. Tityus lamottei Lourenço 1981 and T. acutidens Mello-Leitão, 1933 are considered a junior synonyms of T. serrulatus (syn. nov.). The female of Tityus kuryi and the male of Tityus stigmurus are also redescribed. New distribution records are presented for species included in the complex.

Scorpions, state of Bahia, northeastern Brazil

“…As a result of intensive field work in the last 12 years, three species were registered for the first time to Bahia (Lourenço 2002b, and another nine species belonging to four different genera were described (Lourenço 1997;Lourenço and Pinto-da-Rocha 1997;Lourenço 2001a;2003;2004;Lourenço et al 2004;Candido et al 2005;Lenarducci et al 2005;Giupponi et al 2009). Besides, one species was synonimized (Souza et al 2009) and another was relocated to a different genus (Lourenço 2007). Thus, it is necessary to update the species inventory of scorpions from the State of Bahia, to summarize the recent modifications and findings.…”

“…In order to complement the species lists and records, we also included data from taxonomic articles of the species whose type locality were in Bahia (Lourenço 1981;Lourenço and Eickstedt 1984;Lourenço 1997;Lourenço and Pinto-da-Rocha 1997;Lourenço 2001a;2003;2004;Lourenço et al 2004;Candido et al 2005;Lenarducci et al 2005;Giupponi et al 2009), and articles with the geographical distribution of scorpions which occur in this region (Maurano 1918;Pessôa 1935;Mello-Leitão 1945;Lourenço 1982a;b;c;Lourenço and Eickstedt 1988;Lourenço and Clodsley-Thompson 1996;Lira-da-Silva et al 1997;Lourenço and Clodsley-Thompson 1999;Fet et al 2000;Ministério da Saúde 2001;Lourenço 2001b;2002b;Kovařík 2003;Lira-da-Silva et al 2005;Santos et al 2006;Lourenço 2007;Bertani et al 2008;Souza et al 2009).…”

Potential distribution patterns of scorpions in north‐eastern Brazil under scenarios of future climate change

“…In contrast, T. stigmurus responds similarly to closed-forest specialists, with potential areas located towards the coastal zone. Furthermore, T. stigmurus is widespread in north-eastern Brazil; it can be found in natural environments (Caatinga and Atlantic forest), but is mainly found in urban environments and can be considered a synanthropic species (Brasil 2009;De Souza et al 2009). The future prediction for this species should be carefully considered for its implication for human health risks because this species is the main agent of human scorpionism in north-eastern Brazil, including death Pucca et al 2015).…”

Description of the male of Tityus kuryi Lourenço, 1997 and notes about males of Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1877) and Tityus serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 (Scorpiones, Buthidae)

“…Although this species has previously been described, the male has not been described yet. In the last taxonomic review, Souza et al (2009) included Tityus kuryi in the Tityus stigmurus complex, together with other five related species: Tityus aba Candido, Lucas, Souza, Diaz & Lira-da-Silva, 2005; Tityus martinpaechi Lourenço, 2001; Tityus melici Lourenço, 2003; Tityus serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 and Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1887). This was due to the fact that they share the spinoid granules of the posterior dorsal region of the metasomal segments III and IV ( Souza et al 2009 ).…”

“…Both species are considered scorpions of medical importance ( Brasil 2009 ). Despite their recognized asexual reproductive strategy, especially observed in urban areas, sexual populations have been recognized in Brazil, where males were described ( Souza et al 2009 ). Males of these two species were first reported by Lourenço and Cloudsley-Thompson in 1999 stating sexual populations in Minas Gerais and Pernambuco states.…”