Evolution, Catalogue, Taxonomy and Phylogeny of the genus Ananteris Thorell, 1891: Contribution for the Neotropical scorpion fauna

Abstract

The production of information on Scorpion taxa in Brazil is still incipient, when compared to other countries. Therefore, original and continuous research studies are crucial for this group, considering the large number of unidentified samples in scientific collections, insufficient sampled areas and, mainly, the need for studies of species that contribute to the knowledge and cataloging of the fauna of Neotropical regions, such as Brazil. Scorpions of the genus Ananteris are included in one of the most diverse taxa within the Family Buthidae, and currently correspond to 95 known species, with a predominantly Neotropical distribution. So far, Ananteris is the only taxon of the order that presents the metasoma autotomy behavior as a defense mechanism against predators. However, this phenomenon is not described for all species of the genus. During 2015 to 2019, a cladistic study of Ananteris was developed, based on morphological data, to test the genus monophyly, which was confirmed. Nonetheless, this group taxonomy remains uncertain, and the resolution of its internal relations still needs to be improved, once only 54 from the 95 known species of the genus were included in the analysis. Therefore, this project objective is to continue the research on this group, to improve Ananteris taxonomy; to assess the phylogenetic relations among its species; and to promote the cataloging, insertion, and validation of information on scorpion biodiversity through digital platforms, such as "Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil" (CTFB) and the Brazilian Biodiversity Information System (SiBBr). The study material will be obtained through visits and loans at research institutions, as needed. Part of Ananteris samples from national and international collections is already on loan to the project supervisor, and a substantial scorpion sample collection was recently received and incorporated into the Arachnida collection of the Instituto Butantan, which further facilitates this project execution. This research will contribute to the understanding of the evolution, taxonomy, and geographic distribution patterns of these Neotropical scorpions. In addition, it will fill gaps of information of the Brazilian scorpion biodiversity, enabling the development of conservation proposals for these taxa and the biomes they occupy, such as Caatinga, Cerrado, Atlantic Forest and Amazon.