Abstract
A new species of Tityus, subgenus Atreus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) is described from the Province of Pichincha in the Ecuadorian Andes. Ecuadorian scorpion fauna remains one of the less well studied among those of South America. Nevertheless, some comments are addressed about its remarkable diversity and high level of endemic elements.
Highlights
The scorpion fauna inhabiting the regions between Southern Colombia and the Ecuadorian Andes has attracted the attention of experts since the middle of the 19th century (e.g. Gervais 1844; Thorell 1876; Pocock 1893, 1898; Borelli 1899; Kraepelin 1912a, b; Mello-Leitão 1945)
Two specimens (1 male, 1 female) were discovered to be a new species belonging to the genus Tityus
The new species inhabits the tropical forests of the Ecuadorian Andean Mountains, in the Pichincha Province
Summary
The scorpion fauna inhabiting the regions between Southern Colombia and the Ecuadorian Andes has attracted the attention of experts since the middle of the 19th century (e.g. Gervais 1844; Thorell 1876; Pocock 1893, 1898; Borelli 1899; Kraepelin 1912a, b; Mello-Leitão 1945). Two specimens (1 male, 1 female) were discovered to be a new species belonging to the genus Tityus. We describe this new species and comment on the scorpion fauna found within the Ecuadorian region, and suggest several hypotheses regarding mechanisms that generated this remarkable diversity.
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