Tityus serrulatus Lutz & Mello 1922
Creators: name: De, Claudio Augusto R.
name: Candido, Denise M.
name: Lucas, Sylvia Marlene
name: Brescovit, Antonio Domingos
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2009
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Scorpiones
Buthidae
Tityus
Tityus serrulatus

description: Tityus serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922
Tityus serrulatus serrulatus Lutz & Mello, 1922: 25. Holotype Ψ from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil (lost). Neotype Ψ from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil (IBSP–1165) (designated by Lourenço & Eickstedt, 1981); Lourenço & Cloudsley-Thompson, 1999: 154 –158; Fet et al, 2000: 260–261; Lourenço, 2001: 21 –25, 33; Lourenço, 2002: 37, 153–154, 156, 164; Lourenço, 2003a: 112 –113; Lourenço, 2003b: 427, 431–432; Lourenço, 2006a: 61. Lourenço & Silva, 2006: 308, 315, 318.
Tityus serrulatus vellardi Mello-Leitão, 1939: 60, 65, 69. Holotype Ψ from Catalão, Goiás, Brazil (MNRJ-11279) (synonymised by Lourenço, 1981);
Tityyus lamottei Lourenço, 1981: 358 –361, figs. 1, 13–21, table 1. Holotype Ψ from São Desidério, Bahia, Brazil (IBSP 1442). New synonym
Tityus acutidens Mello-Leitão, 1933: 201 –203, figs. 2 and 2A. Holotype Ψ from Ilha do Bananal, Tocantins, Brazil (MNRJ 27781, examined). New synonym.
Material examined. Brazil, Pernambuco: Carpina, 151m, 7º50’60’’S 35º15’W, 13.I.1993, C. Santos leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 1892); Mato Grosso, 20.I.2005, R. Carvalho leg., 6J (IBSP 3778); Bahia: Irecê, 728m, 11º18’S 41º52’W, 27.VII.2000, B. R. dos Santos leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 2571); Barreiras, 449m, 12º7’60’’S 45º0’W (Serra do Mimo), 08.VIII.2000, E. F. Ramos leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 3039); Cocos, 706m, 12º43’S 44º34’W (Fazenda Trijunção), X.2002, R.A. Brandão leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 3898); Aracatú, 636m, 14º25’S 41º27’W, 13.V–04.VII.2002, D. Dias leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 3360); Itaeté, 277m, 12º58’60’’S 40º58’W, 15.I.2002, R.A K. Ribeiro, C. A. Falcetti leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 2952); Cruz das Almas, 302m, 9º5’60’’S 40º10’60’’W, 24.VIII.1989, T. Brazil Nunes leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1514); Mucugê, 882m, 13º0’S 41º22’60’’W (Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Odília Paraguassú), XII.2006, J. P. de S. Alves leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 4688); Nova Redenção, 03.I.1999, Ricardo leg., 3Ψ (IBSP 2616); Jaguaquara, 772m, 13º31’60’’S 39º58’W, 24.I.2000, A. T. da Silva leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 2590); Jiquiriça, 286m, 13º13’60’’S 39º36’W, 19.X.1982, T. Brazil Nunes leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1456); Maracás, 1004m, 13º25’60’’S 40º27’W, 27.I.2005, J. R. R. Colta leg., 4 Ψ, 1juvenile (IBSP 3769); Jequié, 209m, 13º50’60’’S 40º4’60’’W (Mandacarú), 24.I.2002, L. Boccardo leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 3849); Ipiaú, 110m, 14º7’60’’S 39º43’60’’W, 24.VIII.1989, T. Brazil Nunes leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1516); Anagé, 530m, 14º35’60’’S 41º7’60’’W, 07.V–07.VIII.2002, D. Dias leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 3359); Poções, 422m, 10º22’S 41º55’W, 14.V–15.VIII.2002, D. Dias leg., 22Ψ (IBSP 3363); Ilhéus, 566m, 13º1’S 40º1’W, VIII.1999, 1 juvenile (IBSP 3350); Itabuna, 45m, 14º48’S 39º16’W, 02.VII.2001, S. Trevisan leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 4334); Goiás: Corumbá de Goiás, 962m, 15º55’26’’S 48º48’32’’W, IX.1976, R. Iwamura leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1042); Cristalina, 1250m, 16º46’08’’S 47º36’50’’W, F. H. Kwasniewski leg., 5Ψ (IBSP 3289); Mutunópolis, 13º43’58’’S 49º16’30’’W, 1979, W. R. Lourenço leg., 1Ψ (MHNG); Rio Verde, 748m, 17º47’52’’S 50º55’40’’W, 21.II.1985, M. G. Baumgart leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1864); Distrito Federal: Brasília (Bairro Ceilândia), 1193m, 15º49’S 48º7’W, 2006, 1Ψ (IBSP 4658); Minas Gerais: Porteirinha, 622m, 15º43’60’’S 43º1’60’’W, 10.V.1998, P. Lubiak leg., 1J(IBSP 3956); Januária, 463m, 15º28’60’’S 44º22’W, VII.2005, Secretaria de Saúde leg., 2 ɗ and 4 Ψ(MNRJ 07366); Espinosa, 578m, 14º55’60’’S 42º49’60’’W, 08.IV.1986, Banco do Brasil leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1867); Taiobeiras, 820m, 15º49’S 42º13’60’’W, 14.IV.2002, A. D. Brescovit leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 3438); Salinas, 534m, 15º24’S 43º10’W, A. P. Silva leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 4913); Unaí, 614m, 16º22’60’’S 46º52’60’’W (UHE Queimada), 08/ 11.VII.2003, E. O. Machado leg., 4Ψ (IBSP 4508); Berizal, 15º36’46’’S 41º 44’42’’W (Fazenda São Jorge and Serra do Anastácio), 15.IV.2002, A. J. Santos et al. leg., 1Ψ and 1Ψ (IBSP 3439; 3940); Araçuaí, 304m, 16º52’S 42º4’W, 08.VIII.1988, J. M. Padilha leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1874); Campo Florido, 608m, 19º46’ 60’’S 48º34’60’’W, 05.XI.1990, M. C. Pascoal leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 1878); Araguari, 913m, 18º37’60’’S 48º10’60’’W, 20.IX.2000, C. M. B. Junior leg., 4Ψ (IBSP 2574); Alfenas, 854m, 21º25’60’’S 45º57’W, 28.VII.2003, A. B. Corrêa leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 3366); Francisco Badaró, 535m, 17º3’S 42º19’W, D. M. Candido leg., 3Ψ (IBSP 3310); Ituiutaba, 593m, 18º58’S 49º23’W, 01.IV.2004, M. I. A. Plazzi leg., 4Ψ (IBSP 3605); Itapagipe, 465m, 19º53’60’’S 49º23’W, 30.XI.2001, A. D. F. Freitas leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 2877); Cascalho Rico, 670m, 18º34’S 47º52’W, 1986, Serraria Guarani leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1722); Carangola, 599m, 20º43’60’’S 42º1’60’’W, 24.IV.1995, F. Palinger leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1657); Berilo, 460m, 16º 56’60’’S 42º 28’60’’W (Lelliveldia), 04.V.2003, I. Knysak leg., 3Ψ (IBSP 3613); Cataguases 304m, 21º 23’60’’S 42º 40’60’’W (Vila Fernando Peixoto), J. C. Oliveira leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 3213); Córrego Novo, 630m, 19º49’60’’S 42º22’60’’W, 30.V.1985, J. L. Martins leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 2928); Itanhomi 304m, 19º 10’S 41º 52’W (Distrito Edgar de Mello), 29.VII. 198, S. A. Silva leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1873); Inhapim, 580m, 19º33’S 42º7’W, 05.II.2001, V. Felizato leg., 5Ψ (IBSP 2604); Ipanema, 882m, 19º23’60’’S 42º40’60’’W, 05.XI.1990, Prefeitura Municipal de Ipanema leg., 6Ψ (IBSP 1879); Heliodora, 926m, 22º4’S 45º31’60’’W, 07.X.1985, A. Piat leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 2021); Miradouro, 585m, 20º52’60’’S 42º21’W, 09.X.1985, N. A. Silva leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1866); Piumhi, 857m, 20º28’S 45º58’W, 16.XI.1988, Nestlé Industrial e Comércio Ltda. leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 1875); Piraúba, 411m, 21º16’60’’S 43º1’60’’W, 29.VII.1982, Hospital São Vicente de Paulo leg., 3Ψ (IBSP 1287); Paraguaçu, 866m, 21º33’S 45º43’60’’W, III.1982, G. J. Isidro leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1278); São Sebastião do Paraíso, 936m, 20º55’S 47º0’W, 07.I.1957, J. B. Pádua leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 757); Três Pontas, 912m, 21º22’S 45º31’W, VI.1983, M. B. Dias leg., 11Ψ + juveniles (IBSP 1457); Lambari, 891m, 21º58’S 45º21’W, X.1982, Dr. A. R. Hoge leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1413); Rio Pomba, 515m, 21º16’60’’S 43º10’60’’W, 12.II.1985, F. C. C. Gomes leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1863); Jacutinga, 784m, 22º16’60’’S 46º37’W, 16.XI.1992, W. S. Junior leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1891); Mato Grosso do Sul: Campo Grande 585m, 20º 26’60’’S 54º37’W (Bairro Indaiá), 17.II.2004, Centro de Controle de Zoonoses leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 3615); Espírito Santo: Colatina, 156m, 19º31’60’’S 40º37’W, 16.X.1992, S. F. Itho leg., (IBSP 1889); Afonso Claudio, 522m, 20º4’60’’S 41º7’60’’W, 24.VI.1987, Transportadora Colatinense leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1871); Rio de Janeiro: Itatiaia 386m, 22º 30’S 44º 34’W (Pico de Itatiaia) 02.VII.1979, J. Navas leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1147); Valença, 609m, 22º14’31’’S 43º42’5’’W (Santa Isabel), 01.XII.2007, R. Feital, leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 5073); Barra Mansa, 288m, 22º31’60’’S 44º10’60’’W, 04.IX.1978, A. R. Silva leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1110); Volta Redonda, 297m, 22º31’60’’S 44º7’W, 30.X.2000, P. M. O. Rio leg., 3Ψ (IBSP 2576); Petrópolis, 857m, 22º30’39’’S 43º11’4’’W, 27.XII.1977, I. B. Antartica leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1093); Angra dos Reis, 141m, 23º0’S 44º17’60’’W, 16.V.1995, I. I. Lewin leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 2457); São Paulo: Rifaina, 607m, 20º4’60’’S 47º25’60’’W, 10.X.2003, M. A. B. Gomes leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 3451); Olímpia, 522m, 20º43’60’’S 48º53’60’’W, 29.VI.2006, Equipe IBSP leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 4833); Panorama, 279m, 21º21’S 51º51’W, 09.XII.2004, Vigilância Epidemiológica leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 3762); Dracena, 304m, 21º31’60’’S 51º28’60’’W, 15.I.2001, M. Bedin leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 2602); Junqueirópolis, 309m, 21º31’60’’S 51º25’60’’W, 01.VII.1992, Granol Indústria leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1887); Presidente Prudente, 495m, 22º7’S 51º22’W, 14.I.2003, SUCEN leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 3266); Araçatuba, 409m, 21º11’60’’S 50º25’W, 07.VIII.1984, M. A. Ribeiro leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1861); Avanhandava, 438m, 21º28’S 49º57’W, 18.II.1983, U.H.E Avanhadava CESP leg., 3Ψ (IBSP 2276); Itápolis, 488m, 21º34’60’’S 48º46’W, 18.VII.2006, M.Gianfioni leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 4614); Araraquara, 666m, 21º46’60’’S 48º10’W, 18.XI.2004, Prefeitura de Araraquara leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 3812); Marília, 609m, 22º113’S 49º55’60’’W, 29.I.1991, SUCEN leg., 2Ψ(IBSP 2036); Jaú, 573m, 22º18’S 48º32’60’’W, 04.XI.1991, SUCEN leg., 9Ψ (IBSP 1882); Pompéia, 592m, 22º7’60’’S 50º10’W, 24.VII.1998, Derpatamento de Higiene e Saúde leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 1899); Lins, 459m, 21º40’S 49º45’W, 04.X.1982, L. G. Alcantara leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1337); Taiúva, 610m, 21º7’60’’S 48º27’W, 08.VI.1982, C. C. Sarti leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 1332); Santa Rosa do Viterbo, 609m, 21º28’S 47º21’W, 13.II.1989, J. C. R. leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1877); São José do Rio Pardo, 701m, 21º36’S 46º53’60’’W, 2005, R. Bertani leg., 6 juveniles (IBSP 5128); Casa Branca, 616m, 21º46’S 47º4’60’’W, 26.XI.1990, 1Ψ (IBSP 1880); Vargem Grande do Sul, 823m, 21º49’60’’S 46º52’60’’W, 13.II.2005, G.P.Perroni leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 4622); Candido Mota, 547m, 22º43’S 50º22’60’’W, 04.IV.2001, H. M. Bastos leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 2681); Águas de Lindóia, 877m, 22º28’60’’S 46º38’60’’W, IX.1967, J. J. Carvalho leg., 10Ψ (IBSP 965); Charqueada, 608m, 22º30’S 47º46’W, 08.XII.2003, Centro de Saúde III leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 3454); Piraju, 558m, 23º11’60’’S 49º22’60’’W, 13.III.2006, D. P. Silva leg., 3Ψ (IBSP 4588); Lindóia, 788m, 22º31’S 46º38’60’’W, XII.1969, Granja Marapuhy leg., 12Ψ (IBSP 992); Piracicaba, 541m, 22º43’S 47º37’60’’W, 16.X.2002, Prefeitura Municipal leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 3216); Limeira, 583m, 20º56’60’’S 47º55’W, 31.I.1984, P. E. Baraldi leg., 4Ψ (IBSP 1857); Sumaré, 609m, 22º48’S 47º16’60’’W, 19.I.2005, Prefeitura de Sumaré leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 3782); Indaiatuba, 609m, 23º4’60’’S 47º13’60’’W, 07.X.1982, E. S. Kreuke leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 1333); Itapetininga, 679m, 23º36’S 48º2’60’’W, 16.VIII.1983, FEPASA leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1853); Itupeva, 816m, 23º8’60’’S 47º4’W, 28.II.1992, J. Sabó leg., 3Ψ (IBSP 1884); Porto Feliz, 540m, 23º12’48’’S 47º31’23’’W, 11.I.2008, S. C. Mattos, 1Ψ (IBSP 5068); Itú, 606m, 23º16’S 47º19’W, V.1981, R. D´Avila leg., 4Ψ (IBSP 1252); Silveiras, 727m, 22º33’S 46º55’W, 28.II.1984, E. A. O. Guercia leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1859); São José do Barreiro, 523m, 22º37’60’’S 44º34’60’’W, 07.VII.2004, D. Lobo leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 3661); Guararema, 602m, 23º25’S 46º1’60’’W, 05.II.2001, SUCEN leg., 4Ψ(IBSP 2603); Caçapava, 566m, 23º6’S 45º43’W, 23.VIII.1973, C. A. Sério leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1007); Paraíbuna, 680m, 23º22’60’’S 45º38’60’’W, 11.VI.1991, CESP leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1881); Ubatuba, 0m, 23º25’60’’S 45º4’W, 11.VII.1997, Prefeitura de Ubatuba leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 1666); São Sebastião, 137m, 23º48S 45º25’W, 11.VIII.1986, J. P. Matos, leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1868); Americana, 586m, 22º44’25’’S 47º20’4’’W, 18.X.2006, G.G. Galassi leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 4732); Caieiras, 931m, 23º22’S 46º43’60’’W, 07.V.2004, Prefeitura de Caieiras leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 3628); Atibaia, 796m, 23º7’27’’S 46º33’44’’W, 29.VII.1983, Prefeitura de Atibaia leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1852); Vargem Grande Paulista, 23º36’10’’S 47º1’33’’W, 13.VIII.2002, D. M. Candido leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 3063); São Roque, 609m, 22º44’14’’S 47º21’16’’W, 10.XI.2001, Nei leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 2887); Santana do Parnaíba, 618m, 23º26’60’’S 46º55’W, 18.XII.2007, P. H. S. Gonçalves, 1Ψ (IBSP 5031); Jandira, 683m, 23º31’S 46º53’60’’W, 37. I.2003, Prefeitura de Jandira leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 3271); Barueri, 653m, 23º31’S 46º52’60’’W, 08.VIII.2007, R. G. Filho leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 4837); Cotia, 827m, 23º37’S 46º55’60’’W, 16.IV.2003, Firmenich S/A leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 3331); Suzano, 696m, 23º31’60’’S 46º19’60’’W, 02.II.2005, Prefeitura de Suzano leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 3791); Guarujá, 0m, 24º0’S 46º16’W, VII.2004, V. Bicudo leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 3641); Juquitiba, 879m, 23º55’38’’S 47º4’12’’W, 24.XII.1982, H. Cara leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1368); Miracatu, 160m, 24º16’60’’S 47º28’W, 17.XI.2004, SUCEN leg., 1Ψ and 1J (IBSP 3800); Peruíbe 0m, 24º19’S 47º0’W, (Zona Urbana de Peruíbe), 29.IX.2004, Prefeitura de Peruíbe leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 3743); Paraná: 642m, 24º56’60’’S 53º28’W, Cascavel, 30.IX.1982, M. E. Maluf leg., 2Ψ (IBSP 1291); Curitiba, 913m, 25º25’S 49º15’W, 06.III.1992, Centro de Epidemiologia leg., 1Ψ (IBSP 1885).
Comments. After the original description, Vellard (1932) was the first to make a contribution to the taxonomy of this species. He stated that T. stigmurus was a common species in Minas Gerais and Southern Goiás. Vellard suggested that T. stigmurus had a more Northern distribution range while T. serrulatus had a Southern range, but considered T. serrulatus a synonym of T. stigmurus. Mello-Leitão (1939) rejected the synonymy and described a new subspecies Tityus serrulatus vellardi Mello-Leitão, 1939 with no apparent reason for his decision (Lourenço, 1981). Lourenço (1981) examined the holotype of Tityus serrulatus vellardi and concluded that it is a typical T. serrulatus and synonymised the subspecies. Many years later Lourenço & Cloudsley-Thompson (1999) suggested the reestablishment of Vellard's synonym of T. serrulatus with T. stigmurus and synonymised T. lamottei Lourenço, 1981 with T. stigmurus. In the same paper they described a male of T. serrulatus from Northern Minas Gerais. According to the authors the material was deposited in FUNED and MNHN. During the present revision, though, one of the authors (CARS) visited the repository institution of FUNED looking for the voucher specimen of the male of T. serrulatus, which could not be located. In the same article a second repository institution was indicated (MNHN) but this material was never deposited in MNHN (Lourenço pers comm.).
Considering that parthenogenesis has been verified for T. serrulatus (Matthiessen, 1962), the existence of the male has been considered doubtful. Mello-Leitão (1945) presented some characters to distinguish male and female but the material used by him to do this could not be located. The exam of the collections of FUNED, IBSP and MNRJ led us to conclude that male and female T. serrulatus described by Lourenço & Cloudsley-Thompson belong in fact to a population of T. melici Lourenço, 2003 (see under T. melici). The male of T. serrulatus indeed exists and is redescribed based on two specimens collected in Northern Minas Gerais and deposited in MNRJ and IBSP.
The species T. lamottei was described in 1981 when Lourenço established the T. stigmurus complex. He considered the presence of spots on the pedipalps and legs as the single feature to distinguish this species from T. serrulatus. Later Lourenço & Cloudsley-Thompson (1999) synonymised T. lamottei with T. stigmurus and suggested the synonymy of T. serrulatus with T. stigmurus, considering the former two species a polymorphic form of the latter. The holotype of T. lamottei was reexamined (Fig. 15 A–D) and was found to be a synonym of T. serrulatus. Tityus lamottei presents the posterior spinoid granules on dorsal lateral carinae of metasomal segments III–IV (Fig. 15 D), the pattern of pigmentation of tergites (Fig. 15 A) and the ventral surface of the metasomal segments as observed in T. serrulatus (Lourenço & Eickstedt, 1981). Thus T. lamottei is regarded as a junior synonym of T. serrulatus.
Mello-Leitão (1933) distinguished T. acutidens from T. serrulatus by the measurements of the movable finger and pigment pattern but did not describe these differences in detail. Lourenço (1979) tried to collect specimens in the type locality with no success. He collected one in Mutunópolis, Goiás which he tentatively identified as T. acutidens. The specimen which is labeled as a topotype was reexamined and was found to be an immature of T. serrulatus: having three posterior spinoid granules on the dorsal lateral carinae of metasomal segments II and IIV, confluent black pigmentation pattern on tergites and stripes on the ventral surface of metasomal segments. The holotype of T. acutidens was found in MNRJ, contra to Lourenço (1981) and Fet et al (2000). This specimen is poorly preserved but it is possible to see the posterior spinoid granules on the dorsal lateral carinae of metasomal segments III and IV, which is the main characteristic of T. serrulatus. Thus T. acutidens is also regarded as a junior synonym of T. serrulatus.
Diagnosis. Male. This species differs from the others of the complex by presence of confluent blackish spots on tergites and presence of two pairs of posterior spinoid granules on the dorsal carinae of metasomal segment III and three pairs on metasomal segment IV, except from T. kuryi and T. melici. Tityus serrulatus can be distinguished from T. kury by lack of blackish spots on palps, legs, lateral faces and Vsm carinae of all metasomal segments, lack of transversal blackish spots on posterior margin of sternites and general coloration yellowish (Fig. 11 A–B), whereas T. kury has blackish spots on palps, legs (Fig. 7 A), lateral faces and Vsm carinae of all metasomal segments (Fig. 6), transversal blackish spots on posterior margin of sternites and a general coloration brownish (Fig. 7 A–B). It also differs from T. melici by the presence of two pairs of posterior spinoid granules on the dorsal carinae of metasomal segment III and three pairs on metasomal segment IV, pedipalps (T. serrulatus: length femur=8.2; tibia=8.3; chela=14.5; fig. 12B) and metasomal segments (T. serrulatus width I=6.3; II=6.3; III=6.3; IV=6.0; V=5.1; fig. 11A) that are stouter and the color pattern of the carapace and tegites, which has dark brown spots, whereas T. melici has not posterior spinoid granules on the dorsal carinae of metasomal segment III and IV (if present they are smaller; see variation of T. melici), pedipalps (T. melici: femur=9.8; tibia=10.1; chela=16.5; fig. 20A–B) and metasomal segments (T. melici I=4.6; II=4.7; III=5.1; IV=4.8; V=4.6) slender and color pattern of the carapace and tergites, which are uniformly brownish without spots (Fig. 19 A–D).
Female. The pattern of coloration is similar to the male (Lourenço & Eickstedt, 1981) (Fig. 11 A–D). The main morphological differences of the female are the narrower metasomal segments (Fig. 13 A; C) (female: I=4.7; II=4.7; III=4.7; IV=4.7; V=4.5; male: I=6.3; II=6.3; III=6.3; IV=6.0; V=5.1) and shorter pedipalp segments (Fig. 12 A–B) (female: femur=7.0; tibia=7.3; chela=13.1; male: femur=8.2; tibia=8.3; chela=14.5)(table 1).
Redescription. MALE (IBSP 5046). Basic coloration yellow; carapace yellow with dark brown spots, anterior margin with a dark brown triangular stain on the apex oriented backwards (Fig. 11 A); tergites I–VI yellow with dark brown confluent spots that are accentuated on anterior and posterior margin, the central region of tergite VII with a dark brown triangular spot on anterior margin with the apex oriented backwards (Fig. 11 A) (see Lourenço and Eickstedt, 1981; Lourenço, 2002). Metasomal segments I–IV yellow with dark brown spots on ventral submedian and ventral lateral carinae; segment V yellow with a ventral stain that occupies almost all the posterior region (Fig. 11 B). Telson: vesicle yellow; aculeus reddish-yellow at its base and reddish at its extremity; venter yellow (Fig. 11 B); chelicerae yellow, extremity of the fingers and teeth reddish. Morphology: Carapace: anterior margin with a weak median concavity; median ocular tubercle anterior to centre of the carapace; median eyes separated by more than one ocular diameter; shallow space between median ocular carinae; Three pairs of lateral eyes; median ocular carinae moderate with small granules; anterior median furrow moderately deep; posterior furrow narrow, shallow anteriorly deep posteriorly. Prosoma: moderately granular; granulation more intense on anterior region; tergites weak to moderately granular with some large granules on the posterior region; median carinae present on all tergites, on tergites I and II reduced; on II and IV occupying distal third; on V and VI occupying the distal half; on tergites III–VI carinae begin bifurcated and finish merged; tergite VII pentacarinate; transversal carinae present on all tergites. Pectines: pectinal teeth 24–24; basal middle lamellae not dilated. Sternites weak granular; a smooth and shining slightly expanded triangular zone on the posterior region of sternite III and V (Fig. 11 B); sternites VI with two small median carinae occupying the distal half; sternite VII with five carinae, of which two parallel median occupying almost all of the sternite with a small one between them and two lateral carinae restricted to the central region. Metasoma: segment I with 10 complete carinae of which Vsm, Vl, Lim, Lsm and Dl have adjacent granules; II with 8 complete carinae of which Vsm, Vl, Lsm and Dl have adjacent granules, Lim is incomplete on anterior third and has sparse granules, Dl with one posterior spinoid granule; III with 8 complete carinae of which Vsm, Vl, Lsm and Dl have adjacent granules, Dl with three posterior spinoid granules; IV with 8 complete carinae of which Vsm, Vl, Lsm and Dl have adjacent granules, Dl with three posterior spinoid granules (Fig. 13 B); V with 5 complete carinae with uniform and sparse granules; intercarinal surface moderately granular. Vesicle with five vestigial carinae of which the ventral one is well marked; aculeus long and strongly curved; subaculear tooth strong and spinoid with two small dorsal teeth. Pedipalp: femur with 5 carinae of which Da, Dp, Va and Mp have small and adjacent granules; Ma with bigger granules; patella with 7 carinae of which Ad, Am, Av and Dm have median and adjacent granules; Am with a proximal spinoid granule (Fig. 12 B); Pd, Pm and Pv with small and continuous granules; chela with 9 carinae, with small and continuous granules; absence of the basal lobe on the movable finger of chela (Fig. 12 B); all surfaces moderately to weakly granular. Movable fingers with 17–16 oblique rows of granules. Trichobothriotaxy: ortobothriotaxy A—α (Vachon, 1974 and 1975).
Variations. The females collected in the west region of the State of Bahia have sparsely distributed blackish spots on the pedipalps and legs (Fig. 15 A; C).
Distribution. Brazil, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, Sergipe, Bahia, Mato Grosso, Tocantins, Goiás, Distrito Federal, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul (Bortoluzzi et al, 2007) (Fig. 14).
description: Published as part of De, Claudio Augusto R., Candido, Denise M., Lucas, Sylvia Marlene & Brescovit, Antonio Domingos, 2009, On the Tityus stigmurus complex (Scorpiones, Buthidae), pp. 1-38 in Zootaxa 1987 on pages 15-23, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.185451