03 August, 2016

Distribution and biogeography of the genus Tityobuthus and a new species from Madgascar


Wilson Lourenco and co-workers have recently published an article discussing the distribution and biogeography of the buthid subfamily Ananterinae, with a special focus on the genus Tityobuthus Pocock, 1890.

A new species is described from the ‘Parc National de Lokobe’ on the Island of Nosy-Be, Madagascar.

Tityobuthus lokobe Lourenco, Waeber & Wilme, 2016

Abstract:
New comments are proposed for the Ananterinae (sensu Pocock) or the ‘Ananteris Group’. The worldwide pattern of distribution of the elements associated with the Ananterinae, as well as aspects of their ecology, is discussed. The biogeographic patterns presented by extant and fossil elements of this group confirm not only the characteristics of a lineage representing a typical Gondwanian distribution, but correspond also to older Pangean patterns. One new species is described in the genus Tityobuthus Pocock. This new species is also a possible endemic element to the Island of Nosy-Be or at least to the Sambirano region. Generally, the Madagascar pattern of Tityobuthus is following the Neogrosphus rule, showing typical high species richness with low dispersal when the ancestral population had a large niche breadth.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Waeber PO, Wilme L. The geographical pattern of distribution of the genus Tityobuthus Pocock, 1890, a typical Ananterinae element endemic to Madagascar (Scorpiones: Buthidae). C R Biol. 2016. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

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