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Systematic Revision of the North American Syntropine Vaejovid Scorpion Genera Balsateres, Kuarapu , and Thorellius , With Descriptions of three New Species
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... These included the traditional Iuroidea, due to the diphyly of Iurus and Hadrurus, 2008;Prendini and Wheeler, 2005;Fet et al., 2006), Vaejovidae is held to comprise three subfamilies, Smeringurinae, Syntropinae, and Vaejovinae (Table 1), as well as some genera regarded as incertae sedis (e.g., Gertschius, Serradigitus, Stahnkeus, and Wernerius). Of the three established subfamilies, only the monophyly of Syntropinae (the most diverse division of vaejovids with 11 genera and nearly 60 species), has been recently tested using morphological and molecular data González-Santillán and Prendini, 2015b). In addition, the phylogenetic position of the North American genus Uroctonus remains in dispute. ...
... Subfamily Syntropinae is the sole member of Vaejovidae whose monophyly has been tested thoroughly using five molecular markers and intensive taxonomic sampling of 145 terminals representing 47 species (González-Santillán and Prendini, 2015b). Here, our results consistently recovered the monophyly of this subfamily, based on analyses of 607-2742 genes. ...
... Gertschius, Stahnkeus and Wernerius) need to be included in future analyses to support the idea that these genera are also part of this subfamily . Our results imply that the spinose distal barb margin of the sclerotized hemi-mating plug on the hemispermatophore has evolved only once in Syntropinae (González-Santillán and Prendini, , 2015b. Internal relationships within this subfamily were partially congruent with the previous topology, although the inclusion of only six of the 11 genera limit our conclusions. ...
The Neartic family Vaejovidae (Scorpiones: Chactoidea) has long been treated as a diverse and systematically cohesive group of scorpions, but its monophyly and relationship to other scorpion families have historically been questioned. Morphological data have supported its monophyly and a variety of phylogenetic placements within the superfamily Chactoidea. Recent phylogenomic analyses have instead recovered vaejovids as polyphyletic (albeit with minimal taxonomic sampling) and Chactoidea as paraphyletic. Here, we reexamined the monophyly and phylogenetic placement of the family Vaejovidae, sampling 17 new vaejovid libraries using high throughput transcriptomic sequencing. Our phylogenomic analyses revealed a previous misplacement of Smeringurus mesaensis. Regardless, we recovered Vaejovidae as diphyletic due to the placement of the enigmatic genus Uroctonus. The remaining vaejovids formed a clade that was strongly supported as the sister group of the superfamily Scorpionoidea, a placement insensitive to matrix completeness or concatenation vs. species tree approaches to inferring the tree topology. Chactoidea was invariably recovered as a paraphyletic group due to the nested placement of Scorpionoidea. As first steps to resolving the paraphyly of Chactoidea, we take the following systematic actions: (1) we establish the superfamily Superstitionoidea (new superfamily) to accommodate Superstitioniidae; (2) we restore Vaejovoidea (status revalidated) as a valid superfamily that excludes Uroctonus; and (3) we treat the families Caraboctonidae, Troglotayosicidae, and the subfamily Uroctoninae as incertae sedis with respect to superfamilial placement. Our systematic actions thus establish the monophyly of the presently redefined Chactoidea and Vaejovoidea.
... The number within parenthesis after the species name is the number of samples processed from this locality and included in the phylogenetic analyses as terminals. (González-Santillán & Prendini, 2018). Therefore, several DNA sequences are available, and fewer sequences of Mesomexovis sp. and Vaejovis sp. were available in GenBank, as they are still unrevised. ...
... Thorellius intrepidus and T. cristimanus are widely distributed in several states of the Pacific Lowlands (Fig. 6). However, in a recent revision of the genus, 2 species were described, Thorellius wixarika González-Santillán and Prendini, 2018 and Thorellius tekuani González-Santillán and Prendini, 2018 (Fig. 3 of González-Santillán and Prendini, 2018), that are relevant to these analyses. The former occupies the northwestern territory in Nayarit and Jalisco, whereas the latter inhabits the Balsas Depression of Estado de México, Guerrero, and Michoacán. ...
Scorpion species diversity in Colima was investigated with a multigene approach. Fieldwork produced 34 lots of scorpions that were analyzed with 12S rDNA, 16S rDNA, COI, and 28S rDNA genetic markers. Our results confirmed prior phylogenetic results recovering the monophyly of the families Buthidae and Vaejovidae, some species groups, and genera. We recorded 11 described species of scorpions and found 3 putatively undescribed species of Centruroides, 1 of Mesomexovis, and 1 of Vaejovis. Furthermore, we obtained evidence that Centruroides elegans, C. infamatus, and C. limpidus do not occur in Colima, contrary to prior reports. Seven genetically different and medically relevant species of Centruroides for Colima are recorded for the first time. We used the InDRE database (Instituto de Diagnóstico y Referencia Epidemiológicos), which contains georeferenced points of scorpions, to estimate the distribution of the scorpion species found in our fieldwork. Finally, we discuss from a biogeographical, ecological, and medical point of view the presence and origin of the 14 scorpion species found in Colima.
... Th. tekuani González-Santillán & Prendini, 2018Th. wixarikaGonzález-Santillán & Prendini, 2018 Th. yuyuawiGonzález-Santillán & Prendini, 2018 ...
... Th. tekuani González-Santillán & Prendini, 2018Th. wixarikaGonzález-Santillán & Prendini, 2018 Th. yuyuawiGonzález-Santillán & Prendini, 2018 ...
... It has a lapidicolous behavior, usually found under stones, logs, or other debris. T. intrepidus excavates shallow burrows, and it has synanthropic behavior (González-Santillán and Prendini, 2018). ...
Scorpions are a group of arthropods that strike fear in many people due to their severe medical symptoms, even death, caused by their venomous stings. Even so, not all scorpion species contain harmful venoms against humans but still have valuable bioactive molecules, which could be used in developing new pharmaceutical leads for treating important diseases. This work conducted a comprehensive analysis of the venom from the scorpion Thorellius intrepidus. The venom of T. intrepidus was separated by size exclusion chromatography, and four main fractions were obtained. Fraction IV (FIV) contained small molecules representing over 90% of the total absorbance at 280 nm. Analysis of fraction FIV by RP-HPLC indicated the presence of three main molecules (FIV.1, FIV.2, and FIV.3) with similar UV absorbance spectra profiles. The molecular masses of FIV.1, FIV.2, and FIV.3 were determined, resulting in 175.99, 190.1, and 218.2 Da, respectively. Further confirmation through 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR analyses revealed that these molecules were serotonin, N-methylserotonin, and bufotenidine. These intriguing compounds are speculated to play a pivotal role in self-defense and increasing venom toxicity and could also offer promising biotechnological applications as small bioactive molecules.
Body size has always been the focus of several ecological studies due to its undeniable influence on other life-history traits. The conventional representation of body size in arthropods typically relies on linear measures, such as total body length, or the length of specific body parts that can be used to represent body size. While these measures offer simplicity over more complicated alternatives ( e.g ., dry mass), technical problems persist for arthropods with complex body structures, as is the case for scorpions. In these animals, accurate measurements often require extensive handling, including the stretching of body parts. In light of the difficulties associated with directly measuring total length and carapace length in scorpions (two prevalent proxies for body size in the group), this study evaluates the ability of seven simple linear measurements in predicting length measures of boy size in scorpions under a phylogenetic framework. Predictive equations derived from phylogenetic mixed linear models fitted under Bayesian framework were implemented in custom R functions that can be applied for size prediction in a wide range of scorpions. Overall, accurate predictions of total length and carapace length could be achieved using any of the studied traits as single predictors. However, the most accurate predictions for total length were obtained using the length of metasomal segment V, while the best predictions for carapace length were achieved using telson length. The addition of a secondary predictor had low impact on the quality of the size predictions, indicating that increasing model complexity by incorporating additional predictors is not necessary to achieve accurate size estimates. Technical advantages and limitations associated with each linear measurement are discussed. In conclusion, this study broadens the repertoire of methods available for accurately estimating body size in scorpions, particularly in instances where body size information can only be obtained indirectly through allometric relationships.
The scorpion fauna of the state of Aguascalientes was revised based on specimens deposited in scientific collections and fieldwork. We evaluated the completeness of the scorpion species inventory of the Colección Zoológica of the Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes (CZUAA) based on nonparametric estimators. The results indicate that the number of species increased from 11 to 13, recording for the first time Chihuahuanus glabrimanus (Sissom & Hendrixson, 2005), a psammophilic species, and Centruroides balsasensis Ponce-Saavedra and Francke, 2004, a medically relevant species for public health. Finally, an identification key to the scorpion species of Aguascalientes is provided and a recount of ecological and biological traits of the species herein is studied.
Se describe Centruroides mascota sp. nov. de Mascota, Estado de Jalisco, México. Se hace una comparacióncon las especies morfológica y geográficamente más cercanas: C. elegans Thorell, C. hirsutipalpus Ponce y Francke,C. infamatus (Koch.), C. ornatus Pocock y C. tecomanus Hoffmann. Es una especie de importancia médica que no sehabía recolectado o reconocido previamente.
Centruroides chamela sp. nov. from Chamela, Jalisco, Mexico is described. The new species is compared primarily with C. elegans Thorell, because both species are sympatric. It is also compared with C. mascota Ponce-Saavedra et Francke, C. hirsutipalpus Ponce-Saavedra et Francke and C. tecomanus Hoffmann which are morphologically and geographically nearest to the new species. Centruroides meisei Hoffmann, which inhabits the coast of Guerrero is compared because this species was previously classified as a subspecies of C. elegans. Finally, C. infamatus (C.L. Koch) and C. ornatus (Pocock) are included in the comparisons because they are also present in the state of Jalisco, and belong to the "striped" section of the genus.
Four distinct genera, forming two monophyletic groups, are basal in the phylogeny of the North American vaejovid scorpion subfamily Syntropinae Kraepelin, 1905: Konetontli González-Santillán and Prendini, 2013; Maaykuyak González-Santillán and Prendini, 2013; Syntropis Kraepelin, 1900; and Vizcaino González-Santillán and Prendini, 2013. All except the species of Konetontli, treated elsewhere, are revised in the present contribution. The two species of Maaykuyak, three species of Syntropis, and monotypic Vizcaino are redescribed; the adults of Syntropis williamsi Soleglad et al., 2007, described for the first time; keys to identification of the species of Maaykuyak and Syntropis presented; and new locality records and updated distribution maps provided for all species covered.
Los alacranes del estado de Guerrero, México, han sido estudiados desde hace más de cien años, iniciando con los trabajos de Pocock en 1898 y 1902. En la actualidad existe el registro de 24 especies de las cuales 9 corresponden al género Centruroides Marx 1890, cinco de ellas con veneno altamente tóxico. La presente contribución proporciona información útil para el reconocimiento de las especies peligrosas y presenta una clave taxonómica que permite identificarlas, incluyendo su distribución geográfica en el estado
Se describe Vaejovis morelia sp. nov. que habita en la ciudad de Morelia, Michoacán, México. La especie se ubica en el grupo “mexicanus” (sensu Sissom, 2000) y es morfológicamente similar a V. pusillus y V. dzahui, especies que viven en zonas montañosas y con las que se compara.
Vaejovis oaxaca, a new species of the Vaejovis eusthenura group is described from the Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is found in lowlands ranging from the Mitla area in central Oaxaca southeast into the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and the eastern edge of Chiapas.