05 June, 2013

Major revision of Chactopsis with two new genera and four new species

Jose Ochoa and co-workers have recently published a major revision of the genus Chactopsis Kraepelin, 1912 (Chatidae) from South America.

The genus Chactopsis has now eight species and revised diagnosis are presented for all species. Two new species are described:

Chactopsis chullachaqui Ochoa, Rojas-Runjac, Pinto-Da-Rocha & Prendini, 2013
Chactopsis curupira Ochoa, Rojas-Runjac, Pinto-Da-Rocha & Prendini, 2013

Two new genera are described with the following species (species with status "New combination" were transfered from Chactopsis):

Chactopsoides Ochoa, Rojas-Runjac, Pinto-Da-Rocha & Prendini, 2013 - New genus
Chactopsoides anduzei (Gonzalez-Sponga, 1982) - New combination
Chactopsoides gonzalez-Spongai Ochoa, Rojas-Runjac, Pinto-Da-Rocha & Prendini, 2013 - New species
Chactopsoides marachuacaensis (Gonzalez-Sponga, 2004) - New combination
Chactopsoides yanomami (Lourenco, 2011) - New combination

Megachactops Ochoa, Rojas-Runjac, Pinto-Da-Rocha & Prendini, 2013 - New genus
Megachactops coriaceo (Gonzalez-Sponga, 1991) - New combination
Megachactops kuemoi Ochoa, Rojas-Runjac, Pinto-Da-Rocha & Prendini, 2013 - New species

In additon, Chactopsis carolinae Botero-Trujillo, 2008 is synonymized with Chactopsoides anduzei (Gonzalez-Sponga, 1982).

The paper has a key to the three genera and their species.

Abstract:
The Neotropical chactid scorpion genus Chactopsis Kraepelin, 1912, is revised. New diagnoses are presented for all previously described species, most of which have not been revised since their original description. The trichobothrial pattern is reinterpreted and the hemispermatophore described for the first time. Chactopsis is restricted to eight species, two of which are new: Chactopsis chullachaqui, n. sp., from Peru and Chactopsis curupira, n. sp., from Brazil. Chactopsis insignis Kraepelin, 1912, is redescribed and supplementary data on pedipalp trichobothria and hemispermatophore (where known) provided for Chactopsis amazonica Lourenc¸o and Francke, 1986, Chactopsis barajuri Gonzalez-Sponga, 1982, Chactopsis buhrnheimi Lourenco, 2003, Chactopsis siapaensis Gonzalez-Sponga, 1991, and Chactopsis sujirima Gonzalez-Sponga, 1982. Two new genera are created to accommodate the remaining species, formerly assigned to Chactopsis, based on a cladistic analysis of morphological characters. Chactopsoides, n. gen., accommodates Chactopsoides anduzei (Gonzalez-Sponga, 1982), n. comb. (type species), and Chactopsoides marahuacaensis (Gonzalez-Sponga, 2004), n. comb., Chactopsoides gonzalezspongai, n. sp., from Venezuela, and Chactopsoides yanomami (Lourenco et al., 2011), n. comb., from Brazil. Chactopsoides anduzei, n. comb., is redescribed and Chactopsis carolinae Botero-Trujillo, 2008, synonymized with it. Supplementary data on pedipalp trichobothria are provided for C. marahuacaensis, n. comb. Megachactops, n. gen., accommodates Megachactops coriaceo (Gonzalez-Sponga, 1991), n. comb., and Megachactops kuemoi, n. sp. (type species), from Venezuela. Supplementary data on pedipalp trichobothria and hemispermatophore are provided for M. coriaceo, n. comb. A key to identification of the species of Chactopsis, Chactopsoides, n. gen., and Megachactops, n. gen., is provided, their morphology illustrated, and distribution records mapped.

Reference:
Ochoa JA, Rojas-Runjaic FJM, Pinto-da-Rocha R, Prendini L. Systematic revision of the neotropical scorpion genus Chactopsis Kraepelin, 1912 (Chactoidea: Chactidae), with descriptions of two new genera and four new species. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 2013 2013/05/30;378(1):1-121. [Subscription required for full text from BioOne, but free full text later from the journal homepage]

Thanks to Gerard Dupre for informing me about this paper!

Family Chactidae

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