Systematics and bionomics of the scorpions of South West Africa (Arachnida, Scorpionida)
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Date
1978
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Abstract
All the taxa of scorpions previously described from South West
Africa are revised and a monographic account presented with phylogenetic
and biogeographic discussions and conclusions derived in terms of
current concepts in systematic zoology which include cladistics and
historical biogeography. South West Africa is treated as a subregion
of the Afrotropical region and the limits of this subregion coincide
broadly with the political borders. All the characters used are defined
and illustrated. Many characters previously unstudied for the fauna
are investigated. These include comparative studies of trichobothria
distributions and detailed structures of the hemispermatophore. Disc
electrophoresis of the haemolymph of a few species was carried out and
the results discussed. Ecological factors are extensively described
and discussed. The nature of the substratum, taken in its broadest
possible definition, was found to be the most important single factor
determining species distribution. 70 subgeneric taxa were revised, 45
of which are retained as valid, while 11 new species are described
bringing the number of known species to 56. These are distributed among
seven genera as follows: Buthotus, two species; Karasbergia, one
species; Parabuthus, 14 species; Urop1ectes, 10 species; Hadogenes,
three species; Lisposoma, two species; Opisthophthalmus, 24 species.
Determination keys are provided for all levels of taxa occurring in
South West Africa.
Description
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1978.
Keywords
Scorpions--Namibia., Theses--Zoology.