The genus Brachistosternus (Scorpiones, Bothriuridae) in Chile, with descriptions of two new species ; American Museum novitates, no. 3564

Abstract

We review the taxonomy of the Brachistosternus Pocock, 1893 scorpions of Chile, providing revised diagnoses, comprehensive distribution maps (based on all known locality records), and an illustrated key to all Chilean species of the genus. Two new species, Brachistosternus (Leptosternus) chango, n.sp., and Brachistosternus (Leptosternus) kamanchaca, n.sp., are described from northern Chile. The phylogenetic affinities of B. chango are unclear. Some characters suggest that this species may be related to Brachistosternus (L.) artigasi Cekalovic, 1974 but others suggest that it may be related to Brachistosternus (L.) roigalsinai Ojanguren Affilastro, 2002. Brachistosternus kamanchaca, in contrast, appears to be closely related to Brachistosternus (L.) donosoi Cekalovic, 1974 and other species from the plains of northern Chile and southern Perú.