The Scorpion Files Newsblog

 

The 400th issue of  the open access journal “Euscorpius” is dedicated to the memory of the Cuban scorpion expert and friend to many of us in the scorpion community, Rolando Teruel, who we lost way too early in 2023. 

In the current issue, Frantisek Kovarik and co-workers describe a new species of Tityopsis Armas, 1974 (Buthidae) from Cuba. The new species was collected by Rolando, but he died before he could describe it. The new species is named in his honor.

Tityopsis rolandoi Kovarik, Stockmann, Stahlavsky & Yong, 2024

Abstract:
A new species Tityopsis rolandoi sp. n. is described from Cuba, fully illustrated with color photos showing its morphology and habitus. T. rolandoi sp. n. is the only species of the genus with a combination of two characters: movable finger shorter than carapace and chela length/width ratio 3.6 in male. This species also has a characteristic shape of a median smooth patch of sternite V, which is almost oval in male. In addition to morphology, we present the information about the karyotype of T. rolandoi sp. n. (2n=20) and T. sheylae (2n=22).

Reference:
Kovarik F, Stockmann M, Stahlavsky F, Yong S. Tityopsis rolandoi sp. n. (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Cuba. Euscorpius. 2024(400):1-15. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

 

As previously reported, our friend and scorpion expert Rolando Teruel sadly passed away 28.08.23. Luis F. de Armas & Sheyla Yong published yesterday an extensive obituary honoring this great Cuban arachnologist, who so many of us in the scorpions community had long-time relations with. 

Rolando left us too soon at the age of 49, but his impressing amount of research contributions on scorpions and other arachnids will live on. The obituary gives us an insight on Rolando's life and research, illustrated with many personal pictures from his life and career.

Rest in peace, Rolando!

Abstract:
This is an obituary of Rolando Teruel Ochoa (1974–2023), a great Cuban arachnologist. A full list of his works is appended, as well as a list of scorpions and other arachnids described by Rolando.

Reference:
de Armas LF, Yong S. In Memoriam Rolando Teruel Ochoa (1974 – 2023). Euscorpius. 2023(378):1-26. [Open Access]

 

Rolando Teruel and Sheyla Yong have recently published the discovery of a new species of Heteroctenus Pocock, 1893 (Buthidae) from several localities in the western Cuban province of Pinar del Río.

Heteroctenus turieli Teruel & Yong, 2023

The new species has a troglobitic life style occupying cracks, cavities and caves in mogotes in the area of distribution. The article includes an identification key for the genus in Cuba.

The article is in Spanish.

Abstract:
In the present contribution, a remarkable new species of scorpion of the genus Heteroctenus Pocock, 1893, is described from several localities in the Sierra de los Órganos range, in the western Cuban province of Pinar del Río. This new taxon represents a litophilic and troglophilic scorpion, which also fills a biogeographical gap so far existing in Cuban scorpiology: western Cuba remained the only region of the archipelago where no locally endemic or original species of this genus had ever been described or confirmed. Now, Heteroctenus accounts for seven species present in Cuba, all of them being endemics.

Reference:
Teruel R, Yong S. Una Nueva Especie de escorpion del genero Heteroctenus Pocock, 1893 (Scorpiones: Buthidae), de Cuba Occidental. Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2023(42):119-29. [Available from authors]

Family Buthidae

 

The species diversity that we see today in an area or region has been shaped by many forces, both abiotic (e.g., climate and topography) and biotic (e.g., land cover and vegetation structure). Investigating these forces are important and island communties are well suited for these kinds of studies. In addtion, scorpions are well suited organisms for these kinds of studies due to low vagility, long life cycles, and microhabitat specialization.

André Felipe de Araújo Lira and co-workers recently published recently a study trying to understand the diversity on Cuban scorpions. The found that scorpion species composition and richness differences in the Cuban archipelago mainly depend on biotic and abiotic variables such as vegetation and topography. See abstract and article for more details.

Abstract:
The assembly of communities is often viewed as a process involving the dispersal of species from a regional pool. An oceanic island provides a unique opportunity to test such a hypothesis and many others related to the patterns and processes behind biodiversity. Our aim was to investigate the patterns of scorpion diversity in the Cuban archipelago, using biotic and abiotic variables and their interactions as explanatory features. We use biotic and abiotic variables related to vegetation, climate and topography characterize the landscape of the Cuban archipelago. In this way, we analyze the patterns of beta diversity of the scorpions, verifying the effects of the variables alone and together. Scorpion fauna of the Cuban archipelago comprises 61 species, grouped into nine genera and two families: Buthidae and Diplocentridae. The interplay between biotic and abiotic variables explained scorpion species composition, especially when spatial predictors were considered. Climatic and spatial predictors affected scorpion beta diversity in terms of richness difference. These patterns are discussed emphasizing the role of biotic and abiotic environmental features and their interactions on the mechanisms of scorpion biodiversity generation and maintenance in Cuban archipelago.

Reference:
de Araújo Lira AF, Foerster SÍA, DeSouza AM, de Armas LF. Disentangling diversity patterns in Cuban scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Novitates Caribaea. 2022(19):72-91. [Open Access]

Thanks to Andre for sending me their article!

 

Scorpions prey on a wide variety of invertebrate prey and generally you can say that they will catch and eat any prey they can subdue without to much risk.  As most of you probably know, they can catch and eat vertebrate prey too as long as the can subdue them. Cases of predation on amphibians, reptiles and even small mammals have been reported.

Tomás M. Rodríguez-Cabrera and co-workers recently publised an article presenting obervations of the Cuban scorpion Heteroctenus junceus (Herbst, 1800) (Buthidae) catching and eating frogs and lizzards.

Abstract:
Vertebrate predation by scorpions has been scarcely documented in the literature. Contrary to large scorpions of the genera Centruroides, Hadrurus, Opistophthalmus, and Pandinurus from North America and Africa, which are capable of subduing even small rodents and bats, West Indian scorpions of the genera Centruroides, Heteroctenus, and Tityus seem to limit their prey to amphibians and reptiles. Herein we present new cases of a frog (Osteopilus septentrionalis; Hylidae) and three lizards (Anolis allisoni, A. ophiolepis, and A. sagrei; Dactyloidae) preyed upon by Heteroctenus junceus (Herbst, 1800), at the time we summarize all cases of vertebrate predation by scorpions in the region.

Reference:
Rodriguez-Cabrera TM, Savall EM, Teruel R. Amphibians and reptiles as prey of Heteroctenus junceus (Scorpiones: Buthidae), with a summary of vertebrate predation by scorpions in the West Indies. Euscorpius. 2021(342):1-6. [Open Access]

 

Rolando Teruel has just published an article with new information on the rare, endemic scorpion Cryptoiclus rodriguezi Teruel & Kovarik, 2012 (Diplocentridae) from Cuba. Updated morphological descriptions and data on distribution, habitat, ecology and reproduction are presented.

Abstract:
The adult male of Cryptoiclus rodriguezi Teruel & Kovarik, 2012, is herein described and illustrated in detail. It represents both the single species of its genus and one of the most seldom-collected , endemic scorpions from Cuba. Its generic diagnosis is emended and new data on its morphological, morphometric and meristic variability are contributed on the basis of the type and 28 additional specimens. Abundant information on its ecology and reproduction are given and its geographic distribution is updated with new records, including the first from Maisi municipality. Despite this, both the genus and the species remain known only from a reduced area in northeastern Guantanamo Province.

Reference:
Teruel R, Rodriguez-Cabrera TM. La subfamila Diplocentrinae (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae) en Cuba. Septima parte: complementos a la descripcion de Cryptoiclus rodriguezi Teruel & Kovarik, 2012. Boletin de Grupo de Sistematica y Ecologia de Artropodos Caribeños. 2021(8):1-23.

Thanks to Rolando for sending me his article!

Family Diplocentridae

Tomás M. Rodríguez-Cabrera and co-workers have studied instances of predation involving Cuban scorpions from various localities around the island and have compiled a review of all predators reported for scorpions in Cuba in a recently published article.

Abstract:
The ecology of Cuban scorpions is very insufficiently studied and the scarce existing information on their natural enemies is dispersed in the literature. However, scorpions in general are well known to play an important role both as predators and prey in natural ecosystems. Herein we present new instances of predation on different species of scorpions in Cuba, and a review on the topic.

Reference:
Rodríguez-Cabrera TM, Teruel R, Savall EM. Scorpion predation in Cuba: new cases and a review. Euscorpius. 2020(306):1-7. [Open Access]

Rolando Teruel and Tomás M. Rodríguez-Cabrera have recently published a revision of the endemic Cuban genus Tityopsis Armas, 1974 (Buthidae). Four new species have been described from western Cuba, bringing the total number of species in the genus up to six.

Tityopsis canizaresorum Teruel & Rodríguez-Cabrera, 2020*
Tityopsis mulata Teruel & Rodríguez-Cabrera, 2020* 
Tityopsis pumila Teruel & Rodríguez-Cabrera, 2020*
Tityopsis sheylae Teruel & Rodríguez-Cabrera, 2020*

The article has many color pictures of the new species and their habitats.

Abstract:
The buthid scorpion genus Tityopsis Armas, 1974, endemic to western Cuba, is herein revised. In total, 428 specimens were examined from 127 localities, including the primary types of the two species currently recognized as valid; this led to realize that several populations actually represent taxa new to science. Four of them are described in the present paper: a presumed troglobite and three others from epigean habitats. A thorough photographic complement and data on natural history are given for each species and for the genus in general, for which known geographical distribution is verified and updated. With this contribution, the scorpion fauna of Cuba reaches now 61 species, with 56 of them (92%) being endemic to this Caribbean archipelago.

Reference:
Teruel R, Rodríguez-Cabrera TM. Revision of the genus Tityopsis Armas, 1974 (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Part 1. General updates and description of four new species. Euscorpius. 2020(304):1-40. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

Rolando Teruel has recently published an article describing a new species of Microtityus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1966 (Buthidae) from semidesert habitats in Southeastern Cuba.

Microtityus vulcanicus Teruel, 2019

Abstract:
A new species of the buthid scorpion genus Microtityus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1966, is herein described from specimens of both sexes collected at three nearby localities in the western part of the Guantánamo Bay Area, southeast Cuba. It belongs in the "jaumei" species-group of the subgenus Microtityus (Parvabsonus) Armas, 1974 and is very peculiar not only by its external morphology (very distinct from its other Cuban congeners), but also by the unusual habitat where it occurs in and seems to be restricted to (dry and hot cactus scrub on volcanic sandy plain). The present contribution reinforces the position of this genus as the second most diverse in Cuba, with 10 nominal species.

Reference:
Teruel R. A New Semidesert Microtityus Kjellesvig-Waering, 1966 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Southeast Cuba, Greater Antilles. Euscorpius. 2019(273):1-15. [Open Access]

Family Buthidae

Luis de Armas recently published an article where he revalidated three recently synonymized Cuban species of Heteroctenus Pocock, 1893 (Buthidae) (the three species previously belonged to Rhopalurus Thorell, 1876). This means that the following species are considered valid:

Heteroctenus aridicola (Teruel et Armas, 2012)

Heteroctenus melloleitaoi (Teruel et Armas, 2006)

Heteroctenus granulimanus (Teruel, 2006)

In addition, the buthid subfamily Rhopalurusinae Bücherl, 1971 is regarded as a junior synonym of Centruroidinae Kraus, 1955.

For more information about the synonymization of the three species, see my blog post from yesterday.

Abstract:
The scorpion genus Heteroctenus Pocock, 1893 was restored from synonymy with Rhopalurus in a recent revision by Esposito et al. (2017). Here, we restore two eastern Cuban species Heteroctenus melloleitaoi (Teruel et Armas, 2006) and H. aridicola (Teruel et Armas, 2012) as valid species. They were synonymized by Esposito et al. (2017) under Heteroctenus junceus (Herbst, 1800), without examination of corresponding specimens and with erroneous interpretations of some aspects of the original descriptions. Heteroctenus granulimanus (Teruel, 2006) is also restored as a valid species. The subfamily Rhopalurusinae Bücherl, 1971 is regarded as a junior synonym of Centruroidinae Kraus, 1955.

Reference:
De Armas LF. Revalidation of Three Recently Synonymized Cuban Species of Heteroctenus Pocock, 1893 (Scorpiones: Buthidae: Centruroidinae). Euscorpius. 2017(248):1-3.

Family Buthidae

Rolando Teruel and Tomás M. Rodríguez-Cabrera have recently published an article presenting the first findings of the genus Heteronebo Pocock, 1899 (Scorpionidae) on Isla de Pinos, southwestern Cuba.

After investigation of Henetonebo materials from Cuba, Heteronebo morenoi (Armas, 1973) is raised to species status (previous status Heteronebo bermudezi morenoi (Armas, 1973)). Both H. morenoi (Armas, 1973) and H. bermudezi (Moreno, 1938) will be more thoroughly described in a forthcomming paper.

Abstract:
The diplocentrine scorpion genus Heteronebo Pocock, 1899 is recorded herein for the first time from Isla de Pinos, southwestern Cuba. A total of 15 specimens of Heteronebo bermudezi (Moreno, 1938) were collected in two nearby localities of the southern coast of the island, where it occurs in exactly the same habitat previously known for this species in Guanahacabibes Peninsula and two cays of Canarreos Archipelago. The allegedly polytypic status of this species is also revised and full species rank is restored to the subspecies Heteronebo bermudezi morenoi (Armas, 1973). An updated distribution map of H. bermudezi is provided.

Reference:
Teruel R, Rodriguez-Cabrera TM. The Missing Piece of the Puzzle Solved: Heteronebo Pocock, 1899 (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae) Occurs at Isla de Pinos, Cuba. Euscorpius. 2017(240):1-4. [Open Access]

Family Scorpionidae

Tomás M. Rodríguez-Cabrera and Rolando Teruel have recently published a review of scorpions found above 800 meters altitude in Cuba.

Abstract:
All findings of scorpions above 800 m altitude in Cuba are herein revised; this contour is seen to be exceeded only by four members of Buthidae: Centruroides anchorellus Armas, 1976, Centruroides baracoae Armas, 1976, Centruroides stockwelli Teruel, 2000, and Rhopalurus junceus (Herbst, 1800). Some of the previous records from the literature are corrected and the upper limit is found to correspond to C. baracoae in eastern Cuba (1,600 m at the source of Palma Mocha River). Also, the occurrence of C. stockwelli is documented at the highest mountain of central Cuba (1,140 m at Pico San Juan, Cienfuegos), as well as new upper records for C. anchorellus (1,362 m on the southern slope of Pico Martí) and R. junceus (1,231 m at Pico El Toldo).

Reference:
Rodríguez-Cabrera TM, Teruel R. On the highest altitudinal occurrences of scorpions in Cuba (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2014 (24):119-22.

Thanks to Rolando for sending me his paper!

Rolando Teruel has described a new species of Cazierius from Cuba.

Rolando Teruel is continuing his studies of the scorpion fauna of Cuba and this time he presents a new species of Cazierius Francke, 1978 (Scorpionidae).

Cazierius granulosus Teruel, 2013

Abstract:
Cazierius granulosus sp.n. is herein described upon a single female collected on the southern coast of Granma province, eastern Cuba. The new taxon is very easy to distinguish from all of its congeners by the fine and dense granulation that covers almost the entire body and appendages, the elongate shape of the pedipalps, and the increased setation of pedipalp chelae. This is the seventh Cuban representative of the genus, and raises the species of the subfamily and the order in the country to 14 and 55, respectively.

Reference:
Teruel R. La subfamilia Diplocentrinae (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae) en Cuba. Sexta parte: Nueva especie de Cazierius Francke 1978. Revista Iberica de Arachnologia. 2013 (23):43-8.

Thanks to Rolando for sending me his article!

Family Scorpionidae

A Cuban Rhopalurus feeding on a Scolopendra centipede.

Centipedes and scorpions are top invertebrate predators in many ecosystems and will prey on each other when the opportunity arises. Size and the venom potency of the involved species are probably key in determinating the outcome of these encounters.  Alejandro Barro and Tamara Cherva has published a research note describing Rhopalurus predation on Scolopendra centipedes in Cuba.

Abstract:
No abstract.

Reference:
Barro A, Cherva T. Depredación de Scolopendra alternans (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha) por Rhopalurus junceus (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Revista Cubana de Ciencias Biologicas. 2013;2(2):77-8.[Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Rolando Teruel for sending me this paper.

The dark morph of Cubas blue scorpion, Rhopalurus junceus. Photo: Roland Teruel (C).

Last week I blogged about a newspaper article discussing the venom of the Cuban scorpion Rhopalurus junceus (Herbst, 1800) as a miracle drug for some serious cancer forms. After reading the article I thought about how the demand for this new drug has impacted on the populations of this (so far) common scorpion in Cuba. I asked Cuban scorpion expert Rolando Teruel about this and here is his answer:

"Starting about a decade ago, a government research program on the medical potential of the venom of R. junceus has spread all over Cuba. In order to obtain the amounts of venom needed, intensive captures of thousands of individuals are made all across the entire distribution area of the scorpion. But further, in several localities the native people collect indiscriminately as many scorpions as they can for personal use or illegal sale in the black market. The sum of both factors has impacted negatively on the abundance of this species and has depleted its populations drastically in many places of Matanzas, Cienfuegos, Santiago de Cuba and Guantanamo provinces, becoming a death threat to their survival (Cao, 2002; R. Teruel & L. F. de Armas, unpublished data)".

This is a quote from Teruel & Armas (2012), translated from Spanish by Rolando Teruel. As you can see, the large demand for Rhopalurus venom is now a threat to the species on Cuba. Hopefully, there will be measures controlling the exploitation of wild caught Rhopalurus on Cuba. 

Reference:
Teruel R, de Armas LF. Redescripcion de Rhopalurus junceus (Herbst 1800) (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Boletin de la SEA. 2012 (50):153-74.

Thanks to Dr. Rolando Teruel for sharing his insight with The Scorpion Files! 

The dark morph of Cubas blue scorpion, Rhopalurus junceus. Photo: Roland Teruel (C).

I guess a lot of you have heard about the alleged anti-cancer abilities of the Cuaban buthid Rhopalurus junecus (Herbst, 1800). Miami New Times journalist Jean Friedman-Rudokvsky has traveled to Cuba and looked into the history of Cuba's miracle drug against cancer.

This is an interesting article worth reading. The article doesn't claim that the drug made from the venom of the "Blue scorpion" does cure cancer, but it presents several interesting cases making you wonder if there is something in the drug having a positive effect in some cancer cases.

Personally, I'm a skeptic that want research and scientific proof before believing that something is true (especially in relation to health and medicine). But at the same time I know that many medicines today originally came from plants and animals and that traditional medicine has been around since the dawn of man. So I will not rule out that there might be something in the venom of Rhopalurus junecus that can have anti-cancer abilities, but hopefully future research will let us learn more about this.

Read the article and make up your own mind.

Reference:
Friedman-Rudovsky J. Blue scorpion venom: Cuba's miracle drug. Miami New Times; 2013 [cited 2013 April 17]. Available from: http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2013-04-18/news/blue-scorpion-escozul-cancer-treatment-cuba/full/. [Free full text]

Cryptoiclus rodriguezi Teruel & Kovarik, 2012 female from Cuba. Photo: Rolando Teruel (C)

I just got my hands on Kovarik and Teruel's wonderful book "Scorpions of Cuba", previously mentioned in this blog. This is a very informative book covering all known scorpions described from Cuba (with color pictures of all species and many habitat pictures too), but a new genus and couple of new species was also discovered by the authors while researching for the book:

Scorpionidae:

Cryptoiclus Teruel &Kovarik, 2012 - A new genus endemic for eastern Cuba.
Cryptoiclus rodriguezi Teruel & Kovarik, 2012 - Only known species in the genus.

Cryptoiclus seems to be a very rare taxa. Only four specimens have been collected during 25 years of intensive searching.

Buthidae:

Microtityus pusillus Teruel & Kovarik, 2012 (new species)
Microtityus flaviscens Teruel, 2001 (new status - previously M. fundorai flaviscens Teruel, 2001)

You will find updated identification keys to all scorpion taxa known so far from Cuba.

The "Scorpions of Cuba" book is a must for all scorpion researchers and enthusiasts interested in the scorpion fauna of Cuba, Caribbean and Central America!

Reference:
Teruel R, Kovarik F. Scorpions of Cuba. Jakub Rolcik - Clarion Production; 2012. ISBN 978-80-904340-1-1.

Thanks to Rolando Teruel for sharing a picture of the new species Cryptoiclus rodriguezi!

Family Scorpionidae
Family Buthidae

Rolando Teruel and Frantisek Kovarik have published a new book, Scorpions of Cuba. Here is information about the book:

Franklyn Cala-Riquelme and Marco Colombo have published a study on the ecology of the small scorpion Microtityus jaumei Armas, 1974 (Buthidae) in Sierra de Canasta in Cuba.

Abstract:
An assessment of the population dynamics of Microtityus jaumei Armas (Scorpiones: Buthidae) on the slopes south of Sierra de Canasta, Guantánamo Province, Cuba show an increase in activity over the year (≤ 0.05). The activity peak is related to the reproductive period from June to November. The abundance of scorpions was significantly related to density of the canopy and thickness of the substrate.

Reference:
Cala-Riquelme F, Colombo M. Ecology of the scorpion, Microtityus jaumei in Sierra de Canasta, Cuba. Journal of Insect Science (Tucson). 2011;11(Article 86):1-10. [Free full text]

A redescription of the common Cuban scorpion Rhopalurus junceus (Herbst, 1800) (Buthidae) has recently been published by Rolando Teruel and Luis de Armas. The paper has many color pictures. The paper is in Spanish so this comment is based on the English abstract.

Abstract:
Rhopalurus junceus (Herbst 1800) is redescribed, with the designation of a neotype and the emendation of the type locality of this scorpion, which is endemic from Cuba and widely distributed over most of the archipelago. Also, a detailed study is presented on its morphometric, chromatic, morphological, and meristic variability, as well as its complete postembryonic development (using the direct method), and also abundant information is given on its ecology.

Reference:
Teruel R, de Armas LF. Redescripcion de Rhopalurus junceus (Herbst 1800) (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Boletin de la SEA. 2012(50):153-74.

Thanks to Rolando for sending me this paper!

Family Buthidae