Blog title update: Expanding into news with general arachnids relevant to North America all in one place. Mexico and the western states in the U.S. presents various transitions zones and micro habitats and is thus unique in arachnid taxa.
Hope you enjoy the site for educational and regional informations !
Sincerely,
Chad Lee B.Sc. 1995.
Biology and Natural Resource Management. Texas Certified Applicator
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Tags:
Alacran,
Aphonopelma,
Arizona,
Biogeography,
California,
Centruruoides,
Chihuahuan Desert,
Desert scorpions,
Diplocentrus,
distribution,
Ecology,
Mexico,
New Mexico,
North America,
Paruroctonus,
pest control,
Pseudouroctonus,
publications,
references,
Scorpion,
scorpiones,
scorpions,
Serradigitus,
spiders,
systematics,
Texas,
theraphosids
Description of site: Provides a scorpion species list, desert biology, zoogeography, systematics, publications, habitat photos and specimen images.
Tags:
Arizona,
Centruruoides,
deserts,
Diplocentrus,
distribution,
gallery,
identification,
Mexico,
New Mexico,
Paruroctonus,
pest control,
Pseudouroctonus,
references,
scorpiones,
Serradigitus,
systematics,
taxonomy,
Texas,
Vaejovis
We present a mtDNA gene tree of tarantula spiders (Araneae: Mygalomorphae: Theraphosidae) based on the mitochondrial 16S-tRNA (leu)-ND1 gene region as a promising initial molecular hypothesis to clarify the taxonomy of the largest subfamily, Theraphosinae. Many species of this New World subfamily are traded widely as exotic pets, yet few scientific studies on them exist, and the robustness of many supposed taxonomic groupings is debatable. Yet the validity of taxon names and knowledge of their distinctiveness is vital for trade regulation, most notably for the Neotropical genus Brachypelma Simon 1891, which is listed under CITES (Appendix II, see online supplemental material, which is available from the article’s Taylor & Francis Online page at https://doi.org/10.1080/14772000.2017.1346719). The use of molecular markers for tarantula taxonomy has been limited until recently, with most previous studies relying on morphological methods. Our findings, from newly collected molecular data, have several nomenclatural implications, suggesting a need for a rigorous overhaul of Theraphosinae classification at multiple hierarchical levels. Here, we take steps toward a revised classification, favouring division of Theraphosinae into three tribes: the Theraphosini trib. nov., the Hapalopini trib. nov., and the Grammostolini trib. nov. We also make conservation recommendations for two non-monophyletic genera. Firstly, we recover Aphonopelma Pocock 1901 as polyphyletic, finding that the large radiation into the USA and Mexico is taxonomically distinct from at least three other lineages distributed throughout Central America, one of which includes the type species of the genus. Secondly, and importantly for conservation, we find diphyly in the CITES listed genus Brachypelma Simon 1891, where our data strongly favour a division into two distinct smaller genera. We consider only the lineage with endemics in the Pacific coastal zone of Mexico to be of conservation concern. Finally, we also make suggestions on the future direction of revisionary research for the Theraphosidae as a whole.
http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B37F7795-3F92-4334-A0C7-65C8026EE1FB
Morphology still plays a key role in the systematics and phylogenetics of most of the scorpion families and genera, including the Diplocentridae Karsch, 1880. The monophyly of this family, and the monophyly of its two subfamilies is supported by morphological characters; however, neither hypothesis has been tested using molecular data. The lack of a molecular phylogeny has prevented the study of the evolution of morphology within the family. Here, we examine the morphological evolution of several key character systems in diplocentrid systematics. We tested the monophyly of the Diplocentridae, and subsequently the validity of its two subfamilies using a five-locus phylogeny. We examined the variation and evolution of the shape of the carapace, the external surface of the pedipalp patella and the retrolateral surface of the pedipalp chelae of males and females. We also examined the phylogenetic signal of discrete and continuous characters previously reported. We show that Diplocentridae is monophyletic, but Nebinae is nested within Diplocentrinae. Therefore, Nebinae is synonymised with Diplocentrinae (new synonymy). Finally, we show that a new character system proposed here, tarsal spiniform and macrosetal counts, retains high phylogenetic signal and circumscribes independently evolving substructures within this character system.
See here http://www.publish.csiro.au/is/IS16078
Abstract
Diplocentrus duende n. sp. is described based on adult males collected from a locality in the Tehuacán–Cuicatlán Valley, Mexico. This species has punctate pedipalp surfaces, a condition present only in four other species of this specious genus. As suggested here, this condition has evolved independently in these species within the “mexicanus” group of Diplocentrus from the rest of the diplocentrids
See at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S163106911730063X
Mexican red-kneed tarantulas of the genus Brachypelma are regarded as some of the most desirable invertebrate pets, and although bred in captivity, they continue to be smuggled out of the wild in large numbers. Species are often difficult to identify based solely on morphology, therefore prompt and accurate identification is required for adequate protection. Thus, we explored the applicability of using COI-based DNA barcoding as a complementary identification tool. Brachypelma smithi (F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) and Brachypelma hamorii Tesmongt, Cleton & Verdez, 1997 are redescribed, and their morphological differences defined. Brachypelma annitha is proposed as a new synonym of B. smithi. The current distribution of red-kneed tarantulas shows that the Balsas River basin may act as a geographical barrier. Morphological and molecular evidence are concordant and together provide robust hypotheses for delimiting Mexican red-kneed tarantula species. DNA barcoding of these tarantulas is further shown to be useful for species-level identification and for potentially preventing black market trade in these spiders. As a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) listing does not protect habitat, or control wildlife management or human interactions with organisms, it is important to support environmental conservation activities to provide an alternative income for local communities and to avoid damage to wildlife populations.
See at : http://www.publish.csiro.au/IS/IS16023
See at several news sources:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/huge-new-spider-species-discovered-mexican-cave-180962848/
See PDF at http://www.science.marshall.edu/fet/euscorpius/p2017_237.pdf
Summary: Genus Graemeloweus, gen. nov. (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae) is described from northern California, USA. The genus is composed of three species formerly placed in Pseudouroctonus: Graemeloweus iviei (Gertsch et Soleglad, 1972), comb. nov. (type species), G. glimmei (Hjelle, 1972), comb. nov., and G. maidu (Savary et Bryson, 2016), comb. nov. Major diagnostic characters of Graemeloweus include a non-bifurcated primary lamellar hook, the presence of a secondary lamellar hook, a complex mating plug with a two part base and an asymmetric crescent-shape barb, and the presence of a well-developed ventromedian (V2) carina on the pedipalp chela. Evidence is presented suggesting that Graemeloweus is more closely related to Kovarikia than Pseudouroctonus.
Note: See https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Graeme_Lowe/publications
