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ISSN 0149-175X Texas Tech Press Lubbock, Texas 79409

OCCASIONAL PAPERS

vl US. COMP. ZOOL LIBRARY

THE MUSEUM

HARVARD

TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

NUMBER 88

7 OCTOBER 1983

REDESCRIPTION OF

CENTRUROIDES TESTACEUS (DEGEER) AND DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES FROM THE LESSER ANTILLES (SCORPIONES: BUTHIDAE)

W. David Sissom and Oscar F. Francke

Scorpio testaceus DeGeer was described in 1778 from specimens collected in “Amerique,” and since that time references to that species have appeared many times in the literature. Thorell (1877) placed it in the genus Centrums (= Centruroid.es Marx) but did not report a locality for the specimens he examined. Subsequent authors reported C. testaceus from Montserrat (Pocock, 1893), Hispaniola (Haiti) (Roewer, 1943), and southern Florida (Banks, 1900). The record for Florida has been discredited (Gertsch and Soleglad, 1966; Muma, 1967). Kraepelin (1895, 1899) considered Tityus serenus Koch (distribution unknown) and Tityus griseus Koch (from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands) to be synonyms of C. testaceus. Koch’s specimen of T. griseus was recently examined, and Kraepelin’s synonymy shown to be incorrect (Francke and Sissom, 1980).

Meise (1934) transferred all members of Centruroides to Rhopa- lurus Thorell and recognized four polytypic species, one of which was R. testaceus. A new subspecies, R. testaceus exsul Meise, was described from the Galapagos Islands. Hoffmann (1939) relegated all species to their former status, and C. exsul has subsequently been considered a valid species (Mello-Leitao, 1945; Kinzelbach, 1973). We have examined some speciments of C. exsul and agree with those authors; further, C. exsul does not appear to be closely related to C. testaceus, based on differences in carinal morphology

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OCCASIONAL PAPERS MUSEUM TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

of the pedipalps and metasoma, granulation of the mesosomal tergites, and morphometry.

We have been able to locate and examine the following material previously referred to as Centruroides testaceus: the two available syntypes of Scorpio testaceus DeGeer, Pocock’s specimens from Montserrat, and Roewer’s specimen from Haiti. In addition we have examined material from the nearby islands of Guadeloupe, St. Kitts, Nevis, Les Saintes, La Desiderade, and Marie Galante. Attempts to locate the type of Tityus serenus Koch have failed; Dr. W. R. Lourenyo, who is currently studying that genus, informs us that the specimen is probably lost (personal communi¬ cation). Likewise, we have been unable to locate Thorell’s speci- men(s).

Examination of the above specimens indicates that two distinct species are involved; in this paper their status is clarified. The material from the various islands is described as a new species, and the identity of the syntypes of C. testaceus is established. The specimen from Haiti studied by Roewer (1943), is a juvenile male (not a female as indicated by that author), most similar to the new species described below. However, in the genus Centruroides , juveniles of closely related species are very difficult to distinguish; thus, we are uncertain about the specific identity of the juvenile male from Haiti. Repositories for type material and specimens examined are referred to in the text by institutional acronyms, a key to which appears in the acknowledgments section.

Centruroides pococki, new species (Figs. 1-9)

Centrums testaceus : Thorell, 1877:160 (in part ?); Kraepelin, 1891:130 (misidentifi- cation), 1895:95 (misidentification), 1899:91 (nnsidentification); Pocock, 1893:389, pi. 30, figs. 11, 11a (misidentification); Waterman, 1950:168 (misidentification).

Rhopalurus testaceus : Meise, 1934:30-36 (misidentification).

Centruroides testaceus: Werner, 1934:274 (misidentification); Francke, 1978:70 (misidentification); Schawaller, 1979:14 (misidentification); Francke and Sissom, 1980:1 (misidentification).

Centruroides testaceous: Stahnke and Calos, 1977:1 12, 1 17, 119 (misidentification);

Stahnke, 1978:280 (misidentification).

Centruroides sp.: Armas, 1982:7

Type data. — Adult male holotype, cat. no. RS-6234, from Guadeloupe, “dans un dot, cote sous le vent sous les galets des plages,” 1-II-1963 (J. L. Raton); deposited MNHN, Paris.

Distribution. — Known from the Lesser Antillean islands of St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Les Saintes, La Desiderade, and Marie Galante.

SISSOM AND FRANCKE— CENTRUROIDES TESTACEl S

3

Etymology . — The specific name is a patronym honoring Mr. R. I. Pocock for his contributions to scorpion systematics.

Diagnosis . — Adults 65-75 mm in length. Golden brown with variable underlying fuscosity; pedipalp fingers and distal seg¬ ments of metasoma brownish. Tergites I-VI monocarinate, VII pentacarinate, all carinae strong. Sternite VII weakly tetracarinate. Pectinal tooth count in males 20-23 (mode 22), in females 19-22 (mode 20). Metasomal carinae moderate on I-IV in both sexes. Telson with subaculear tubercle weak to obsolete. Pedipalp chela fixed finger with eight rows of denticles (Fig. 3), movable finger with eight rows of denticles and a short apical row of four denti¬ cles (Fig. 4); inner and outer supernumerary granules present on both fingers. Ratio of metasoma V length to carapace length aver¬ aging 1.43 (range = 1.36-1.48, N = 9) in males, 1.10 (range = 1.06- 1.13, /V = 12) in females. Ratio of fixed finger length to carapace length averaging 0.99 (range = 0.93-1.06, N = 22).

Description . — The following description is based on males; parenthetical statements refer to females. Measurements of the holotype male and a paratvpe female appear in Table 1.

Prosoma. Carapace; anterior margin emarginate. Anterior median furrow moderately wide, deep; posterioi median furrow wide, deep; posterior lateral furrows wide, deep, curved; other fur¬ rows inconspicuous. Superciliary, lateral oculat. central ocular, and posterior median carinae moderate, coarseh granular; other carinae less distinct. Interocular region densely and coarsely gran¬ ular; remainder of carapace with less dense, coarse granulation. Sternum: subtriangular, with deep anteriorly directed Y-shaped longitudinal furrow.

Mesosoma. Pretergites shagreened; post-tergites coarsely gran¬ ular. Median longitudinal carina on tergites I- 1 1 ( I -1 1 1 ) moderate, coarsely granular; on III- VI (IV-VI) strong, coarsely granular. Tergite VII pentacarinate: median carina strong, granular; sub- median and lateral carinae strong, coarsely granular. Venter: geni¬ tal operculum completely divided longitudinally, genital papillae small (absent). Pectinal basal piece with median depression (large median depression and two small elliptical lateral depressions); pectinal tooth count 20-23, mode 22 (19-22, mode 20). Sternites III- VI smooth; sternite VII tetracarinate, submedian and lateral carinae moderate (weak), finely serrate.

Metasoma. Segments I-IV: All carinae moderate. Dorsolateral carinae on I finely serrate, converging posteriorly; on II-III finely serrate (serratocrenulate); on IV crenulate. Lateral supramedian carinae on I finely serrate (serratocrenulate); on II finely serrate to crenulate (serratocrenulate); on III-IV weakly crenulate (serrato-

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OCCASIONAL PAPERS MUSEUM TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

Table 1. — Measurements (m mm) of Centruroides testaceus (DeGeer) and Cen-

truroides pococki, new species.

C. testaceus

lectotype

c

holotype d

. pococki

paratype 9

Total length

66.5

71.0

67.7

Carapace length

6.3

6.2

7.2

Mesosoma length

16.5

18.8

20.2

Metasoma length

36.8

38.9

32.7

I length/width

5.5/3. 4

6. 0/2. 6

5. 1/3.3

II length/width

6.8/3. 3

7. 3/2.5

6.1/3. 2

III length/width

7.4/3. 1

7. 8/2.4

6.4/3. 2

IV length/width

8. 3/2. 9

8. 5/2. 4

7. 1/3.1

V length/width

8.8/2. 8

9. 3/2.5

8.0/3. 1

Telson length

6.9

7.1

7.6

Vesicle length

4.1

5.2

4.8

width

2.3

2.5

2.7

depth

2.2

2.2

2.4

Aculeus length

2.8

2.3

3.2

Pedipalp length

25.4

25.3

27.1

Femur length

6.2

6.6

7.0

width

1.6

1.5

1.8

Tibia length

7.2

7.2

7.6

width

2.3

2.1

2.5

Chela length

12.0

1 1.5

12.5

width

2.6

2.6

2.8

depth

2.9

2.6

2.9

Movable finger length

7.3

7.1

8.2

Fixed finger length

6.6

6.2

7.2

Pectinal teeth (left-right)

28-28

22-23

21-21

crenulate). Lateral inframedian carinae on I complete, finely ser¬ rate; on II-IV absent. Ventrolateral carinae on I finely serrate (ser- ratocrenulate); on II-IV weakly crenulate (crenulate). Ventral submedian carinae on I finely serrate; on II finely serratocrenu- late; on III-IV crenulate. Intercarinal spaces of segments I-IV with coarse granulation. Segment V (Figs. 6, 8): Dorsolateral and lat¬ eral median carinae obsolete; on some specimens very weak, gran¬ ular. Ventrolateral carinae weak, granular. Ventromedian carina moderate, weakly crenulate (crenulate). Intercarinal spaces with dense coarse granulation.

Telson (Figs. 7, 9). Vesicle less than twice as long as wide; moderately slender (moderately globose); ventral surface granular (densely granular); subaculear tubercle weak, vestigial, or obsolete. Aculeus length approximately 0.50 (0.65) that of vesicle length, moderately (sharply) curved.

SISSOM AND FRANGKE — CENTRUROIDES TESTACEUS

Chelicera. Dentition typical of genus; basalmost tooth of mov¬ able cheliceral finger sometimes reduced.

Pedipalp. Femur: tetracarinate, with all carinae moderate. Dorsointernal carina serratocrenulate (crenulate); dorsoexternal carina serratocrenulate (serratocrenulate to serrate); ventrointernal carina crenulate (serratocrenulate); ventroexternal carina serrate (serratocrenulate). Internal face with row of large conical gra¬ nules. Orthobothriotaxia “A” (Vachon, 1974).

I ibia (Fig. 5): hexacarinate, all carinae moderate. Dorsointernal carina crenulate; dorsomedian, dorsoexternal, and external carinae weakly crenulate; ventrointernal carina granular; ventroexternal carina weakly crenulate. Internal face with row of large conical granules. Orthobothriotaxia “A” (Vachon, 1974).

Chela (Figs. 1-4): Fixed finger (Fig. 3) wdth eight oblique row’s of granules; movable finger (Fig. 4) with eight oblique row’s of granules plus a short apical row of four granules; supernumerary granules present in later instars, absent in early instars. Fingers moderately scalloped basally. Dorsal marginal carina moderate (w’eak), granular basally, smooth to granular distal ly. Dorsal secondary carina moderate (weak), granular basally, smooth to granular distal ly. Digital carina moderate, granular basally, smooth to granular distal ly. External secondary carina w’eak, granular. Ventroexternal carina moderate, smooth to granular. Ventrointernal carina w’eak, smooth. Internal surface with numer¬ ous small, sharp granules. Orthobothriotaxia “A” (Vachon, 1974).

Coloration. Carapace and tergites golden brown; lateral eyes and ocular tubercle black; chelicerae creamy white. Metasoma golden brown, in many specimens gradually becoming orange brown distal ly; telson golden brown to orange brown. Pedipalps: femur, tibia, and chela manus golden brown; chela fingers dark brown. Legs yellow. Carapace, chelicerae, tergites, metasoma, pedipalps, and legs with variable underlying fuscosity.

Variation . — The following characters were found to be markedly variable among adults in C. pococki: (1) coloration, (2) pectinal tooth counts, and (3) the size of the subaculear tubercle. Coloration differs primarily in the amount of underlying fuscos¬ ity. There is a gradation from an almost immaculate condition to one of rather dense fuscosity.

Pectinal tooth counts in males were found to vary as follows: 3 combs with 20 teeth (15%); 2 combs with 21 teeth (10%); 8 combs wdth 22 teeth (40%); and 7 combs with 23 teeth (35%). Pectinal tooth counts in females w’ere found to vary as fol low’s: 1 comb

6 OCCASIONAL PAPERS MUSEUM TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

Figs. 1-9. — External anatomy of Centruroides pococki, new species: 1, external aspect of right pedipalp chela; 2, dorsal aspect of right pedipalp chela; 3, dentate margin of fixed finger; 4, dentate margin of movable finger; 5, dorsal aspect of right pedipalp tibia; 6, lateral aspect of metasomal segment V of female; 7, lateral aspect of telson of female; 8, lateral aspect of metasomal segment V of male; 9, lateral aspect of telson of male.

with 19 teeth (3.6%); 14 combs with 20 teeth (50%); 9 combs with 21 teeth (32. 1%); and 4 combs with 22 teeth (14.3%).

The subaculear tubercle varies from obsolete to weak among specimens examined. In addition, the shape of the telson (Figs. 7,

SISSOM AND FRANCKE — CENTRUROIDES TESTACEUS

7

9) and the lengths of the metasomal segments (Figs. 6, 8, Table 1) were found to be sexually dimorphic, as is typical of other Cen- truroides. Juveniles differ from adults by being very pale yellow with stronger underlying fuscosity and by lacking the characteris¬ tics of sexual dimorphism discussed above.

Comparisons . — C. pococki is most similar to C. testaceus (DeGeer), with which it has been confused in the past. From that species it differs markedly in pectinal tooth counts (in C. pococki, males range from 20-23 in this character and females from 19-22; the lectotype and only known specimen of C. testaceus, a female, has a count of 28-28). In C. pococki the ventrolateral and ventral submedian carinae of the metasoma are moderate, in C. testaceus they are weak. The shape of the telson also differs (see Figs. 7, 16), being more globose in C. pococki. Finally, the metasomal seg¬ ments of C. testaceus are proportionately longer than those of C. pococki: the female of C. _ testaceus has a metasomal segment V length/carapace length ratio of 1.40; in females of C. pococki this ratio ranges from 1.06-1.13. Centruroides pococki may also be eas¬ ily distinguished from Centruroides hasethi Pocock by its lower pectinal tooth counts.

Specimens examined. — Lesser Antilles: Saint Kitts: Old Bay Road, April 1969 (F. D. Bennett. 4 cf <? , 3 ? 9 , 7 juv. (ENKW-604) (FSCA); Brimstone Hill. 13 April 1967 (F. D. Bennett and R. Yearwood), 1 9 (ENKW-462) (FSCA), 21 June 1967 (F. D. Bennett, K. Lawrie, and J. Phillips), 1 cf , 4 9 $ (ENKW-490) (FSCA); Nevis: Indian Castle, 20 November 1967 (F. D. Bennett), 19.1 juv. (ENKW-601) (FSCA); Montserrat: no date (no collector), 3 cf cf , 2 9 9 (BMNH); Guadeloupe: Anse-a-l’eau (bajo piedras), 3 March 1975 (F. Chalumeau), 1 cT . 2 9 9 (ACC/IZ), 18-1-1977 (F. Chalumeau), 1 9 (RS-8121), 1 juv. (RS-8118) (MNHN); “Dans un i lot , cote sous le vent sous les galets des plages”, 1-II-1963 (J. L. Raton), 1 holo- type cf . 1 cf , 2 9 9 (RS-6234) (MNHN); Grandes Salines, Pointe des Chateaux (sous pierres.), 1 0-XII- 1 978 (J. d'Aguilar), 1 d" , 1 9 (RS-7334) (MNHN); Grande Terre, La Grande Vigie (sus le picore en sus bois), 17-IV-1979 (J.-P. Mamies), 1 9.

1 juv. (RS-7376) (MNHN); Pte, de la Grande Vigie (“causse” tres sec a “Crabes”), 3 Juin 1978 (J.-P. Mamies), 19.1 juv. (RS-7284) (MNHN); St. Franyais, Pte. des Chateaux [pres croix (sous pierre.) tres sec.], 6 Juin 1978 (J.-P. Mamies), 1 9 (R.S- 7282) (MNHN); Les Saintes: Terre de Haul, Le Chameau (309 m), 17 Juin 1978 (J.-P. Mamies), 1 d" . 1 9 . • juv. (RS-7283) (MNHN). Terre de Haul, 6-III- 1976 (F. Chalumeau), 1 cf (RS-8119) (MNHN); Mane Galante: Capestere les Galets, 5-1 1- 1978 (Chalumeau), 3 9 9 (RS-8336) (MNHN).

Centruroides testaceus (DeGeer)

(Figs. 10-17)

Scorpio testaceus DeGeer, 1778:347, pi. 41, fig. 1 1.

Centrums testaceus: Thorell, 1877:160 (in part); nec Kraepelin, 1891:130, 1895:95.

1899:91; nec Pocock. 1893:389; nec Banks, 1900:425; nec Waterman,

1950:168; Gertsch and Soleglad, 1966:1.

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OCCASIONAL PAPERS MUSEUM TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

Centruro testaceo : Karsch, 1879:120.

Rhopalurus testaceus: nec Meise, 1934:30-36.

Centruroides testaceus : nec Weiner, 1934:274; Hoffmann, 1939:322, 324; nec Roewer, 1943:219; Biicherl, 1971:327; nec Francke, 1978:70; nec Scha- waller, 1979:14; nec Francke and Sissom, 1980:1; Armas, 1982:7.

Centruroides testaceous (sic): nec Muma, 1967:16; nec Stahnke and Calos, 1977:1 12,

1 17, 1 19; nec Stahnke, 1978:280.

Type data. — DeGeer (1778) described Scorpio testaceus from at least two specimens. We have examined the two available syntypes (a female and a male) and they are not conspecific. Whereas the original description applies to both specimens, the female is illus¬ trated ( 1 7 7 8 : p 1 . 41, fig. 11) and is presently in better condition than the male. For these reasons, the female is hereby designated lectotype. Both specimens are dried and pinned. The lectotype female and the unidentified male are deposited in NHR, Stock¬ holm.

Distribution . — Known only from “Amerique”.

Diagnosis . — Based on adult female lectotype. Total length 66.5 mm. Present coloration golden brown, immaculate. Tergites I-VI monocarinate, VII pentacarinate, all carinae strong. Sternites III- VI acarinate, VII weakly tetracarinate. Pectinal tooth count 28. Ventrolateral and ventral submedian carinae of metasoma weak, others moderate. Telson (Fig. 16) with ventral row of small gra¬ nules, lacking definite subaculear tubercle. Pedipalp chela fixed finger with eight rows of denticles, movable finger with eight rows of denticles and short apical row of four denticles; inner and outer supernumerary granules present on both fingers. Ratio of metasoma V length to carapace length 1.40; of fixed finger length to carapace length 1.05.

Description . — The following description is based on the female lectotype. Measurements appear in Table 1.

Prosoma. Carapace: anterior margin moderately notched. Anterior median furrow moderately wide, deep; posterior median furrow wide, deep; posterior lateral furrows wide, deep, curved; other furrows inconspicuous. Superciliary, lateral ocular, and pos¬ terior median carinae moderate, coarsely granular; central lateral carinae moderately strong, coarsely granular; other carinae poorly defined. Interocular region densely and coarsely granular; remainder of carapace with scattered, coarse granulation. Ster¬ num: subtriangular, with deep anteriorly directed Y-shaped longi¬ tudinal furrow.

Mesosoma. Pretergites shagreened; post-tergites coarsely gran¬ ular. Median longitudinal keel on tergites I-III weak, coarsely

SISSOM AND FRANCKE — GENTRUROIDES TESTACEUS

9

Figs. 10-17. — External anatomy of Cenlruroides testaceus (DeGeer): 10. external aspect of right pedipalp chela; 1 1. dorsal aspect of right pedipalp chela; 12, dentate margin of fixed finger; 13, dentate margin of movable finger; 14, lateral aspect of metasomal segment V; 15, ventral aspect of metasomal segment V; 16, lateral aspect of telson; 17. dorsal aspect of right pedipalp tibia.

granular; on IV-VI moderate, coarsely granular. Tergite VII pen- tacarinate: median keel moderate, granular; submedian keels mod¬ erate, crenulate; lateral keels moderate, crenulate. Venter: Genital operculum of lectotype damaged. Pectines with basal piece twice

10

OCCASIONAL PAPERS MUSEUM TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

as broad as long, with two small lateral depressions; pectinal tooth count 28-28. Sternites III- VI smooth; sternite VII tetracari- nate, submedian and lateral carinae weak, finely granular.

Metasoma. Segments I-IV: dorsolateral carinae on I moderate, finely crenulate, converging posteriorly; on II moderate, crenulate; on III-IV weak, finely crenulate to granular. Lateral supramedian carinae on I moderate, finely crenulate; on II moderate, crenulate; on III-IV weak, finely crenulate. Lateral inframedian carinae on I moderate, complete, granular to finely crenulate; on 1 1 - 1 V absent. Ventrolateral carinae on I weak, smooth on anterior one-half, finely granular on posterior one-half; on 1 1 - 1 V weak, finely crenu¬ late. Ventral submedian carinae on I weak, smooth; on II weak, smooth on anterior one-half, finely crenulate on posterior one- half; on III-IV weak, finely crenulate. Dorsal face of segment IV with strong median longitudinal furrow; other intercarinal spaces of segments I-IV shagreened. Segment V (Figs. 14, 15): Dorsolat¬ eral, lateromedian, and ventrolateral carinae weak, granular; ven- tromedian carina moderate, granular. Ventral and lateral faces with fine granulation, dorsal face with moderate median longi¬ tudinal furrow.

Telson (Fig. 16). Vesicle less than twice as long as wide; mod¬ erately compressed dorsoventrally; ventral surface with row of small granules medially; no definite subaculear tubercle. Aculeus long, about two-thirds length of vesicle, sharply curved.

Chelicera. Dentition typical of genus.

Pedipalp. Femur: tetracarinate. Dorsointernal and dorsoexter- nal carinae moderate, granular to crenulate; ventrointernal and ventroexternal carinae moderate, serrate. Internal face set with a row of large conical granules. Orthobothriotaxia “A” (Vachon, 1974).

Tibia (Fig. 17): hexacarinate. Dorsointernal and dorsal median carinae moderate, granular. Dorsoexternal, external, ventrointer¬ nal, and ventroexternal carinae weak, granular. Internal face set with a row of large conical granules. Orthobothriotaxia “A” (Vachon, 1974).

Chela (Figs. 10-13): fixed finger (Fig. 12) with eight oblique rows of granules; movable finger (Fig. 13) with eight oblique rows of granules plus a short apical row of four granules; super¬ numerary granules present. Fingers moderately scalloped. Dorsal marginal carina weak to moderate; granular basally, smooth dis¬ tal ly. Dorsal secondary and digital carinae moderate, granular basally, smooth distally. External secondary carina weak, granu-

SISSOM AND FRANCKE— CENTRUROIDES TESTACEUS

1 1

lar. Ventroexternal carina moderate, smooth. Ventrointernal Car¬ ina weak, granular. Internal surface of hand with numerous small, sharp granules. Orthobothriotaxia “A” (Vachon, 1974).

Coloration. The lectotype is a dry, pinned specimen and, therefore, its present coloration is unreliable. However, it appears that the specimen was uniformly colored, lacking the dark dorsal stripes characteristic of many species of the genus. There is also no suggestion of dusky markings on the legs, pedipalps, or body, or ot darkening of the pedipalp chelae fingers; however, such markings are probably more subject to fading than dark dorsal stripes.

Comparisons . — Centruroides testaceus is similar to C. hasethi Pocock and C. pococki Sissom and Francke. It differs from C. hasethi by having a thinner and longer metasoma. The ratio of caudal segment V length/width is less than 2.40 in females of C. hasethi, 3.14 in C. testaceus ; the ratio of caudal segment IV length/width is greater than 2.25 in females of C. hasethi, 2.86 in C. testaceus. Comparisons of C. testaceus to C. pococki appear in the appropriate section under the latter’s description.

Specimens examined. — The lectotype female.

Acknowledgments

We wish to express our gratitude to T. Kronestedt of the Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet (NHR), Stockholm, for allowing us to examine the syntypes of Scorpio testaceus DeGeer. We would also like to thank the following curators and institutions for pro¬ viding and searching for specimens in their collections (including the type of Tityus serenus Koch): L. F. de Armas, Academia de Ciencias de Cuba, Instituto de Zoologia (ACC/IZ), Havana; G. B. Edwards, Florida State Collection of Arthropods (FSCA), Gaines¬ ville; O. Elter, Museo ed Istituto di Zoologia Sistematica della Universita di Torino (TOR), Torino; M. Grasshoff, Natur- Museum und Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, Frankfurt; J. Gruber, Naturhistorisches Museum, Wien; A. Kolb, Biologisches Institut, Bamberg; W. R. Louren^o, Museum national d’Histoire naturelle (MNHN), Paris; M. Moritz, Zoologisches Museum der Humboldt Universitat, Berlin; N. I. Platnick, American Museum of Natural History, New York; W.J. Pulawski, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco; G. Rack, Zoologisches Insti¬ tut und Zoologisches Museum, Hamburg Universitat, Hamburg; J. R. Reddell, Texas Memorial Museum, the University of Texas, Austin; H. W. Walden, Naturhistoriska Museet, Goteborg; F. R.

12

OCCASIONAL PAPERS MUSEUM TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

Wanless and P. Hillyard, British Museum (Natural History) (BMNH), London. We sincerely thank them all for their efforts.

In addition we thank J. C. Cokendolpher and W. R. Lourengo for their comments on the manuscript, and L. A. Prien for typing the manuscript. This research was supported in part by the Insti¬ tute for Museum Research, Texas Tech University.

Literature Cited

Armas, L. F. de. 1982. Algunos aspectos zoogeograficos de la escorpiofauna antiliana. Poeyana, 238:1-17.

Banks, N. 1900. Synopses of North-American Invertebrates. IX. The Scorpions, Solpugids, and Pedipalpi. Amer. Nat., 34:421-427.

Bucherl, W. 1971. Classification, biology, and venom extraction of scorpions.

Pp. 317-347, in Venomous animals and their venom III (W. Bucherl and E. E. Buckley, eds.). Academic Press, New York.

DeGeer, C. 1778. Memoires pour servir a l’histoire des Insectes. Stockholm, 7(5):337-349.

Francke, O. F. 1978. Redescription of Centruroides koesten Kraepelin (Scorpi- onida, Buthidae). J. Arachnol., 6:65-71.

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SISSOM AND FRANCKE — CENTRUROIDES TESTACEUS

13

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Addresses of authors: W. D. Sissom, The Department of General Biology, Van¬ derbilt University , Nashville 37235\ O. F. Francke, The Museum and Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University , Lubbock 79409. Received 24 Sep¬ tember 1982, accepted 5 January 1983 .

PUBLICATIONS OF THE MUSEUM TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY

Three publications of The Museum of Texas Tech Univer¬ sity are issued under the auspices of the Dean of the Gradu¬ ate School and Director of Academic Publications, and in cooperation with the International Center for Arid and Semi- Arid Land Studies. Short research studies are published as Occasional Papers whereas longer contributions appear as Special Publications. Papers of practical application to col¬ lection management and museum operations are issued in the Museology series. All are numbered separately and pub¬ lished on an irregular basis.

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ISSN 0149-175X Texas Tech Press Lubbock, Texas 79409

OCCASIONAL PAPERS THE MUSEUM

TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY ^

U/\n, .

NUMBER 89

4 NOVEMBER 1983

ASPECTS OF THE THERMAL BIOLOGY OF THE BOLSON TORTOISE, GOPHERUS FLAVOMARGINATUS

Francis L. Rose

There are four extant species of tortoises in North America (Gopherus agassizii, G. berlandieri, G. flavomarginatus, G. poly- phemus). G. polyphemus inhabits mesic regions of the southeast¬ ern United States, but the other three species inhabit xeric regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Despite the fact that these tortoises are a conspicuous component of their environment, until recently little was known about their thermal biology. Woodbury and Hardy (1948), McGinnis and Voigt (1971), and Voigt (1975) reported thermal values for G. agassizii; Judd and Rose (1977) and Voigt and Johnson (1976) reported thermal values for G. berlandieri; and Douglass and Layne (1978) reported data accumulated during an 8-year study of G. polyphemus. The critical thermal maxima were determined for G. agassizii and G. berlandieri (Hutchison et al, 1966; Brattstrom, 1965; Judd and Rose, 1977). Lowe et al. (1971) reported freezing points and super¬ cooling limits of G. agassizii and G. berlandieri , and Spray and May (1972) reported heating and cooling rates of font species of chelonian, including G. polyphemus. No data have been pub¬ lished on the thermal biology of G. flavomarginatus.

The bolson tortoise, G. flavomarginatus, is the largest terrestrial chelonian occurring naturally in North America. Because of its restrictive range in an inhospitable environment and its secretive behavior, few7 data have been published on its biology. The spe¬ cies inhabits a limited area of about 10,000 km2 in northern Mex¬ ico (southwrest Coahuila, southeast Chihuahua, and northeast