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).

Maria Dulcinéia Sales Dos Santos,Rejâne Maria Lira-Da-Silva,Tiago Jordão Porto,Tania Kobler Brazil

doi:10.3897/zookeys.435.6694

Abstract

The male of Tityus kuryi Lourenço, 1997 is described for the first time. Despite being very similar to the female, the male presents more robust metasomal segments. Additionally, the distribution of the sexual populations of another two species of the T. stigmurus complex is reported herein: T. serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 and T. stigmurus (Thorell, 1877). Males of T. serrulatus were, until now, restricted to the Minas Gerais State (Southwestern region of Brazil), and with new records reported here, its known distribution now encompasses the Northeastern region of Brazil. Males of T. stigmurus were previously recorded only for two municipalities in the State of Bahia, and here we present eight new records for Bahia State and one for Pernambuco State. We present a key to related species of the T. stigmurus complex based on morphology and coloration pattern.

Highlights

The description of males in population of scorpions is an important contribution, as regards taxonomic knowledge of the species, and to enable understanding of its reproductive strategy
In the last taxonomic review, Souza et al (2009) included T. kuryi in the Tityus stigmurus complex, together with other five related species: Tityus aba Candido, Lucas, Souza, Diaz & Lira-da-Silva, 2005; T. martinpaechi Lourenço, 2001; T. melici Lourenço, 2003; T. serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922 and T. stigmurus (Thorell, 1887)
In the last review of the T. stigmurus complex, Souza et al (2009) redescribed the males of T. serrulatus and T. stigmurus with greater number of details, especially in relation to dimorphism. These last authors based their study on specimens of T. serrulatus from Espinosa Municipality, Minas Gerais State, and on specimens of T. stigmurus from Camaçari and Paulo Afonso Municipalities, Bahia State

Summary

Introduction

The description of males in population of scorpions is an important contribution, as regards taxonomic knowledge of the species, and to enable understanding of its reproductive strategy. Tityus kuryi Lourenço, 1997 was described based on a single adult female collected in Palmeiras Municipality, in the Chapada Diamantina region, Bahia State, Brazil (Lourenço 1997). 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).

Results

Conclusion