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One more new species of the genus ChaerilusSimon, 1877 is described from Hon Ba Nature Reserve, which is located about 60 km to the south-west of Nha Trang, in the Khanh Hoa Province in the south of Vietnam. The new species is placed in the variegatus Species Group and compared with other Chaerilus species previously described from Vietnam. Relationships are discussed with Chaerilus longimanusKovařík & Lowe, 2015, also described from the Nha Trang region. As in previous studies, the present one suggests that different species of Chaerilus are not strongly morphologically distinct but rather correspond with micro-endemic populations. Future molecular studies should provide further evidence for or against this hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The study of an important collection of scorpions, belonging to the genus Chaerilus , recently collected from a cave in the Palawan Island, Philippines, allows the clarification of the identity of this population, often misidentified with Chaerilus chapmani Vachon & Lourenço, 1985 known from caves in the Gunong Mulu National Park in Sarawak (Borneo). Chaerilus agnellivanniorum sp. n. is described from the Puerto Princesa Underground River Cave in Palawan Island based on 14 specimens, males, females, and juveniles. The new species is totally distinct morphologically from Chaerilus chapmani , a true troglobitic species. Chaerilus agnellivanniorum sp. n. may also be a true troglobitic element, but with a less marked degree of regression for several characters. Some comments on the ecology of the new species and on regional biogeography of Borneo and Palawan islands are also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chaerilus majkusi sp. n. from Malaysia (Tioman Island), C. neradorum sp. n. and C. stockmannorum sp. n. from Thailand are described and fully illustrated with color photographs of live and preserved specimens, as well as of their habitat. They are compared to the species C. cimrmani Kovařík, 2012, C. sejnai Kovařík, 2005, and C. tichyi Kovařík, 2000, which we also illustrate with color photographs of live unpublished specimens. Hemispermatophores of C. cimrmani, C. majkusi sp .n., C. stockmannorum sp. n., and C. tichyi are illustrated and compared, and we also describe the karyotypes of C. cimrmani, C. majkusi sp. n., C. neradorum sp. n., C. stockmannorum sp. n., C. sejnai and C. tichyi. The diploid numbers of chromosomes range from 76 to 186 and the karyotypes show distinct interspecific variability among analyzed species. C. stockmannorum sp. n. (2n=186) possesses the highest number of chromosomes within the order Scorpiones and the class Arachnida. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chaerilus granulatus sp. n. and C. longimanus sp. n. from Vietnam are described and compared with other species of the genus. Both species are characterized by: median eyes present; movable finger of pedipalp with 7-9 rows of granules; total length of adults under 30 mm; male differing from female in having pedipalp chela much narrower and longer. The two new species are differentiated by: ventral sides of sternite VII are smooth in C. longimanus sp. n. and granulated in C. granulatus sp. n. Adults of both sexes of C. granulatus sp. n. and C. hofereki Kovařík et al., 2014 were raised from birth and their exuviae were retained and compared to the mature adults. Hemispermatophores of C. granulatus sp. n. and C. hofereki were extracted and illustrated. Karyotype of male holotype of C. granulatus sp. n. consists of high number of chromosomes (2n=96). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, C. pseudoconchiformus sp. n., is described from Xizang, China. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a body length of 32-40 mm, carapace with the anterior margin straight, chela with length/width ratio average of 3.3 in males (3.2-3.4, two adults), and 2.5 in females (2.3-2.6, nine adults), eight or nine (eight usually) rows of denticles on fixed and movable fingers of pedipalp chelae, five pectinal teeth in males and three or four in females. To date, the chaerilid species fauna of China consists of nine species. An updated identification key to Chaerilus from China is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A new species of the genus Chaerilus Simon, 1877 is described from a cave in Dien Bien District, West of Dien Bien Phu city in northern Vietnam. The new species is morphologically similar to other Chaerilus species distributed only in the south of Vietnam and Cambodia and suggests a case of a vicariant species between northern and southern populations in the Southeast Asian peninsula. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Scorpion toxins are valuable resources for discovering new ion channel modulators and drug candidates. Potassium channel Kv1.3 is an important pharmacological target of T cell-mediated autoimmune diseases, which are encouraging the screening and design of the specific peptide blockers for Kv1.3 channel. Ctri9577, the first neurotoxin gene of Chaerilidae family was cloned from the venom of the scorpion Chaerilus tricostatus through the constructing its cDNA library. The sequence analysis showed that the mature peptide of Ctri9577 contained 39 amino acid residues including six conserved cysteines, whose low sequence similarity indicated that it was a new member of α-KTx15 subfamily. By using expression and purification technology, the recombinant peptide was obtained. Subsequently, the electrophysiological experiments indicated that the Ctri9577 peptide selectively inhibited Kv1.3 channel current with an IC50 of 0.49±0.45nM without effectively blocking potassium channels Kv1.1, Kv1.2, hERG and SK3. All these findings not only enrich the knowledge of toxins from the Chaerilidae family, but also present a novel potential drug candidate targeting Kv1.3 channels for the therapy of autoimmune diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The scorpion fauna of the Island of Côn Son (Poulo Condore), Vietnam is briefly discussed and a new species, Chaerilus phami sp. n. is described. The new species is morphologically distinct from all the other species of Chaerilus described from the mainland in Vietnam. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Chaerilus julietteae sp. n. is described from a coastal massif of southern Vietnam. The new species is totally distinct morphologically from Chaerilus petrzelkai Kovařík, also described from the South Vietnam: it shows more affinities with Chaerilus pictus (Pocock, 1890), described from Bangladesh. An attempt to divide the genus Chaerilus into species-groups is also proposed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A new species belonging to the genus Chaerilus Simon, 1877, Chaerilus thai, new species, is described from an evergreen rain forest in Bala-Hala Wildlife Sanctuary in the South of Thailand. For comparative purposes a precise diagnosis is again proposed for Chaerilus celebensis Pocock, 1894, originally described from Luwu Celebes Islands (Sulawesi). This species was recently redescribed by Lourenço & Ythier (2008) and proved to be the subject of subsequent misidentifi cations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species is described belonging to the genus Chaerilus Simon, 1877. Chaerilus annapurna sp. n. was discovered in the high plateaux of the Himalayas in Central-Western Nepal. For comparative purposes a precise re-diagnosis is proposed for Chaerilus truncatus Karsch, 1879, originally described from an imprecise locality in Himalaya. This species has recently been discussed by several authors: nevertheless, it has sometimes been the subject of misidentification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Biological observations on Chaerilus philippinus were based on specimens from the region of Appari, North of Luzon in the Philippines. The total duration of embryonic development was estimated as being between 110 to 136 days, while the moults between successive juvenile instars and adulthood took place at ages that averaged 7, 39, 73, 190 and 327 days. These developmental periods are shorter and different from those previously observed among species of non-buthid scorpions. They prove to be rather similar to those observed in buthid scorpions, however. Morphometric growth values of the different instars are similar or smaller than those of other species of scorpions that have been studied. Aspects of maternal care and social behaviour are also commented. To cite this article: W.R. Lourenço et al., C. R. Biologies 331 (2008). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]