Wednesday, October 11, 2023

[Arachnida • 2023] Mastigoproctus franckei, M. xetame & M. yalchanchak • Three New Species of the Giant Vinegaroon Genus Mastigoproctus (Uropygi: Thelyphonida: Thelyphonidae) from Mexico


Mastigoproctus xetame
 Barrales-Alcalá & Francke, 2023


 Abstract 
The giant vinegaroons of the genus Mastigoproctus Pocock, 1894 have been the subject of recent investigations aimed at elucidating relationships between their species and their validity. In particular, new data have revealed the presence of new species as well as revalidated species that were previously considered as synonyms of Mastigoproctus giganteus (Lucas, 1835). The genus occurs in southern USA, Mexico and South America. In this paper, we describe three additional new species from Mexico: M. franckei Barrales-Alcalá, sp. nov. from Xilitla, San Luis Potosí, M. xetame Barrales-Alcalá & Francke, sp. nov. from the highlands of Jalisco and M. yalchanchak Barrales-Alcalá & Francke, sp. nov. from La Esperanza, Chiapas. The present contribution raises the diversity of the order Thelyphonida in Mexico to 10 species.

KEYWORDS: Whip-scorpion, biodiversity, new taxa


Family Thelyphonidae Lucas, 1835
Subfamily Mastigoproctinae Speijer, 1933

Genus Mastigoproctus Pocock, 1894: 129, 130
Type species.—Thelyphonus giganteus Lucas, 1835, by original designation.


Mastigoproctus franckei Barrales-Alcalá, sp. nov.

Etymology.—This species name is a patronym in honor to Oscar F. Francke Ballve, who has devoted his life to arachnology in Mexico and other parts of America. His tireless work has become a benchmark for a new generation of enthusiastic arachnologists.
 
Mastigoproctus xetame, sp. nov., habitus, dorsal (a, c) and ventral (b, d) aspect.
a, b. ♂ holotype (CNAN [T1502]). c, d. ♀ paratype (CNAN [T1504]).
Scale bars = 20 mm.

Mastigoproctus xetame Barrales-Alcalá & Francke, sp. nov.

Etymology.—This new species name refers to the Huichol word xetáme that means reddish (Grimes & McIntosh 1954), which is the color of the adult specimens. The name is a noun in apposition.

Mastigoproctus yalchanchak Barrales-Alcalá & Francke, sp. nov.

Etymology.—This new species name is a composition of the Tojolabal words yal chan (small animal) and chak (red color) (Lenkersdorf 2010) and refers to the size and color of the adult specimens. The name is a noun in apposition.


Diego Alejandro Barrales-Alcalá and Oscar F. Francke. 2023. Three New Species of the Giant Vinegaroon Genus Mastigoproctus (Thelyphonida: Thelyphonidae) from Mexico. The Journal of Arachnology.  51(2); 223-237. DOI: 10.1636/JoA-S-22-013 

Los vinagrillos del género Mastigoproctus Pocock, 1894 han sido objeto de investigaciones recientes encaminadas a dilucidar las relaciones entre sus especies y la validez de las mismas. En particular, nuevos datos han revelado la presencia de nuevas especies, así como la validez de otras que antes se consideraban como sinónimos de Mastigoproctus giganteus (Lucas, 1835). El género se encuentra en el sur de Estados Unidos, México y Sudamérica. En este artículo, describimos tres nuevas especies adicionales de México: M. franckei Barrales-Alcalá, sp. nov. de Xilitla, San Luis Potosí, M. xetame Barrales-Alcalá & Francke, sp. nov. del altiplano de Jalisco y M. yalchanchak Barrales-Alcalá & Francke, sp. nov. de La Esperanza, Chiapas. La presente contribución eleva la diversidad del orden Thelyphonida en México a 10 especies.