Diversity of scorpions (Chelicerata: Arachnida) in the Atlantic Forest in Pernambuco, northeastern Brazil

Abstract

This study was conducted to measure the biodiversity of scorpion species in the remnants of the Brazilian northeastern Atlantic Forest, an important center of biodiversity and endemism. Collections were performed in twelve forest fragments in Sirinhaém municipality, Pernambuco State, through active searches at night by using UV lamps between 19:00h and 21:00h during the new moon phase in December 2012 and January 2013. A total of 1,125 specimens from two genera and five species were collected: Tityus pusillus Pocock, 1893; Ananteris mauryi Lourenço, 1982; Tityus brazilae Eickstedt & Lourenço, 1984; Tityus neglectus Mello-Leitão, 1932; and Tityus stigmurus (Thorell, 1876), all belonging to the family Buthidae C.L. Koch, 1837. The most abundant species was T. pusillus (90.7%), followed by A. mauryi (7.1%). Tityus brazilae, T. neglectus, and T. stigmurus together represented less than 3% of the individuals sampled.