Biology:Mimoscorpius
Mimoscorpius is a monotypic genus of Thelyphonid whip scorpions, first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1894.[1] Its single species, Mimoscorpius pugnator is distributed in southern Guatemala.[2]
Morphology
Mimoscorpious pugnator has a black carapace with a bright red-orange ventral surface, reddish-brown legs and pedipalps, and a red-orange flagellum covered in fine hairs (setae). Collected specimens have ranged from 3.4 — 4.6cm long. The pedipalps of the male are longer than those of the female.[3]
Distribution
All of the six known specimens have been collected from Guatemala: five from El Papayo and one from Peña Blanca. It inhabits subtropical forests at an elevation of around 270m above sea level.[3]
Natural history
Mimoscorpious pugnator takes refuge in and under rotten logs, in holes at the bases of trees, and in the burrows of agoutis and armadillos. Multiple individuals may share a shelter. M. pugnator also shares shelters with schizomids.[3]
Like other whip scorpions, M. pugnator releases a chemical spray when threatened, the odor of which is similar to that of acetic acid[3] (from which whip scorpions derive their other common name, vinegaroons).
Description and taxonomy
Mimoscorpius pugnator was described by the English entomologist Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1872 as Thelyphonus pugnator[4] based on a male specimen.[3] The holotype is held in the Natural History Museum in London.[5] It was recorded as having been collected from the Philippines; this is now thought to be an error based on the collection of a further specimen from Guatemala and the morphologic similarity of the species to Central American whip scorpions.[3] Though the etymology of the species name is not remarked upon in the original description, it likely derives from the Latin pūgnātor, meaning fighter or combatant.[6]
The British zoologist Reginald Innes Pocock re-described the species as the sole member of the new genus Mimoscorpius in 1984.[1] The female of the species was described in 2008.[3]
External links
Link to the holotype specimen record
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Pocock, Reginald Innes (1894). "Notes on the Thelyphonidae contained in the collection of the British Museum". Annals and Magazine of Natural History 14 (80): 120–134. doi:10.1080/00222939408677779. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/24343366#page/136/mode/1up.
- ↑ "Mimoscorpius Pocock, 1894". Natural History Museum Bern. 2022. https://wac.nmbe.ch/order/uropygi/species/823.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Huff, Jeremy C.; Víquez, Carlos; Prendini, Lorenzo (31 December 2008). "Redescription of Mimoscorpius pugnator (Butler, 1872) (Arachnida: Thelyphonida), with first description of the female". American Museum Novitates 2008 (3633): 1-9. https://bioone.org/journals/american-museum-novitates/volume-2008/issue-3633/640.1/Redescription-of-Mimoscorpius-pugnator-Butler-1872-Arachnida--Thelyphonida-with/10.1206/640.1.full.
- ↑ Butler, Arthur G. (1872). "XXVIII.—A monograph of the genus Thelyphonus". Annals And Magazine of Natural History 10: 200-206. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/25172443#page/511/mode/1up.
- ↑ "Collection specimens - Specimens - 1903.8.15.377 - Data Portal" (in en-GB). https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/8b236ddc-1964-4882-8bdb-250e242e7cbe.
- ↑ "Charlton T. Lewis, An Elementary Latin Dictionary, pūgnātor". https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0060:entry=pugnator.
Wikidata ☰ Q18094187 entry
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