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rDNA clusters are an important cytogenetic marker for studying karyotype evolution and chromosomal changes. The variability of this cytogenetic characteristic is, however, still almost unknown in the karyotypes of the entire class Arachnida (Arthropoda: Chelicerata). This situation is particularly evident in harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones), with 97 species studied cytogenetically, for which there is information on the number and position of rDNA clusters for only 13. Moreover, previous studies indicate that the number of rDNA loci is highly variable in the species analysed, ranging from one to five pairs of rDNA clusters. Based on this fragmentary information, which is for rare species mainly from the limits of the distribution of their families, it is still not possible to reconstruct the ancestral state for this important cytogenetic feature in this order. Building upon recent research in Central Europe, we analysed the number and position of 18S rDNA in 13 species belonging to the suborder Eupnoi. This revealed that their karyotypes were variable in terms of the diploid number (2n = 16-36) and number of 18S rDNA clusters (from one to seven pairs). For the first time, an 18S rDNA cluster was detected on B chromosomes in harvestmen. Our study sheds new light on the karyotype evolution and 18S rDNA distribution in harvestmen and provides an improved understanding of the ancestral state of karyotypes in the order Opiliones.

Spiders represent one of the most studied arachnid orders. They are particularly intriguing from a cytogenetic point of view, due to their complex and dynamic sex chromosome determination systems. Despite intensive research on this group, cytogenetic data from African spiders are still mostly lacking. In this study, we describe the karyotypes of 38 species of spiders belonging to 16 entelegyne families from South Africa and Namibia. In the majority of analysed families, the observed chromosome numbers and morphology (mainly acrocentric) did not deviate from the family-level cytogenetic characteristics based on material from other continents: Tetragnathidae (2n♂ = 24), Ctenidae and Oxyopidae (2n♂ = 28), Sparassidae (2n♂ = 42), Gnaphosidae, Trachelidae and Trochanteriidae (2n♂ = 22), and Salticidae (2n♂ = 28). On the other hand, we identified interspecific variability within Hersiliidae (2n♂ = 33 and 35), Oecobiidae (2n♂ = 19 and 25), Selenopidae (2n♂ = 26 and 29) and Theridiidae (2n♂ = 21 and 22). We examined the karyotypes of Ammoxenidae and Gallieniellidae for the first time. Their diploid counts (2n♂ = 22) correspond to the superfamily Gnaphosoidea and support their placement in this lineage. On the other hand, the karyotypes of Prodidominae (2n♂ = 28 and 29) contrast with all other Gnaphosoidea. Similarly, the unusually high diploid number in Borboropactus sp. (2n♂ = 28) within the otherwise cytogenetically uniform family Thomisidae (mainly 2n♂ = 21–24) supports molecular data suggesting a basal position of the genus in the family. The implementation of FISH methods for visualisation of rDNA clusters facilitated the detection of complex dynamics of numbers of these loci. We identified up to five loci of the 18S rDNA clusters in our samples. Three different sex chromosome systems (X0, X1X20 and X1X2X30) were also detected among the studied taxa.

The family Buthidae represents an early-diverging and most species-rich lineage of extant scorpions, but its internal phylogenetic relationships are still poorly understood. The family is traditionally divided into six morpho-groups; however, the monophyly of some of them remains unclear. We combined multilocus sequence data with extensive taxon sampling to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationships among Buthidae and assess the validity of the morphology-based groupings. We recovered a monophyletic Buthus group as a sister clade to all the remaining Buthidae. We also found support for the monophyly of the Tityus group, but the remaining morpho-groups were recovered as para-/polyphyletic. Our results also suggest that some genera are in need of a taxonomic revision.

The vast majority of the more than 450 described species of Parabasalia are intestinal symbionts or parasites of animals. This endobiotic life-history is presumably ancestral although the root of Parabasalia still needs to be robustly established. The half-dozen putatively free-living species thus far described are likely independently derived from endobiotic ancestors and represent the most neglected ecological group of parabasalids. Thus, we isolated and cultivated 45 free-living strains of Parabasalia obtained from a wide variety of anoxic sediments to conduct detailed morphological and SSU rRNA gene phylogenetic analyses. Sixteen species of trichomonads were recovered. Among them, we described seven new species, three new genera, two new families, and one new order. Most of the newly described species were more or less closely related to members of already described genera. However, we uncovered a new deep-branching lineage without affinity to any currently known group of Parabasalia. The newly discovered free-living parabasalids will be key taxa in comparative analyses aimed at rooting the entire lineage and deciphering the evolutionary innovations involved in transitioning between endobiotic and free-living habitats.

Over time, mountain biota has undergone complex evolutionary histories that have left imprints on its genomic arrangement, geographical distribution and diversity of contemporary lineages. Knowledge on these biogeographical aspects still lags behind for invertebrates inhabiting the Alpine region. In the present study, we examined three scorpion species of the subgenus Euscorpius (Alpiscorpius) from the European Alps using cytogenetic and molecular phylogenetic approaches to determine the variation and population structure of extant lineages at both chromosome and genetic level, and to provide an insight into the species diversification histories. We detected considerable intraspecific variability in chromosome complements and localization of the 18S rDNA loci in all studied species. Such chromosome differences were noticeable as the existence of three [in E. (A.) alpha and E. (A.) germanus] or four [in E. (A.) gamma] range-restricted karyotypic races. These races differed from one another either by 2n [in E. (A.) alpha 2n = 54, 60, 90; in E. (A.) gamma 2n = 58, 60, 88, 86–92], or by the karyotypic formula [in E. (A.) germanus 2n = 34m + 12sm; 36m + 10sm; 42m + 4sm]. Using mitochondrial (16S rRNA, COI) and nuclear (28S rDNA) genetic markers, we examined genetic variation and reconstructed phylogenetic relationships among the karyotypic races. Both approaches provided evidence for the existence of ten deeply divergent lineages exhibiting the features of local endemics and indicating the presence of cryptic species. Molecular dating analyses suggest that these lineages diversified during the Plio-Pleistocene and this process was presumably accompanied by dynamic structural changes in the genome organization.

A redescription is provided of the adult, tritonymph and deutonymph life stages of the troglobitic Neobisium (Blothrus) slovacum Gulička, 1977, which is known from Slovakia and Hungary. Material examined included 35 previously deposited museum specimens and 15 newly collected specimens. In addition, the karyotype and distribution of 18S rDNA clusters are described, using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The male karyotype ofN.slovacumcomprises 69 chromosomes, with a predominance of biarmed chromosomes, and an X0 sex chromosome system. Two pairs of signals for 18S rDNA on biarmed chromosomes (submetacentric and metacentric) of different sizes were identified. The present study provides the first information about the distribution of these clusters in the arachnid order Pseudoscorpiones. The geographic distribution of the species is summarized and mapped.Neobisiumslovacumis endemic to the Slovak and Aggtelek Karst area in southern Slovakia and north-western Hungary, where it has been recorded from 16 caves. One of these, Hačavská cave (in Slovakia), is the northernmost locality known for any species of the subgenus Blothrus.

Background Despite progress in genomic analysis of spiders, their chromosome evolution is not satisfactorily understood. Most information on spider chromosomes concerns the most diversified clade, entelegyne araneomorphs. Other clades are far less studied. Our study focused on haplogyne araneomorphs, which are remarkable for their unusual sex chromosome systems and for the co-evolution of sex chromosomes and nucleolus organizer regions (NORs); some haplogynes exhibit holokinetic chromosomes. To trace the karyotype evolution of haplogynes on the family level, we analysed the number and morphology of chromosomes, sex chromosomes, NORs, and meiosis in pholcids, which are among the most diverse haplogyne families. The evolution of spider NORs is largely unknown. Results Our study is based on an extensive set of species representing all major pholcid clades. Pholcids exhibit a low 2n and predominance of biarmed chromosomes, which are typical haplogyne features. Sex chromosomes and NOR patterns of pholcids are diversified. We revealed six sex chromosome systems in pholcids (X0, XY, X1X20, X1X2X30, X1X2Y, and X1X2X3X4Y). The number of NOR loci ranges from one to nine. In some clades, NORs are also found on sex chromosomes. Conclusions The evolution of cytogenetic characters was largely derived from character mapping on a recently published molecular phylogeny of the family. Based on an extensive set of species and mapping of their characters, numerous conclusions regarding the karyotype evolution of pholcids and spiders can be drawn. Our results suggest frequent autosome–autosome and autosome–sex chromosome rearrangements during pholcid evolution. Such events have previously been attributed to the reproductive isolation of species. The peculiar X1X2Y system is probably ancestral for haplogynes. Chromosomes of the X1X2Y system differ considerably in their pattern of evolution. In some pholcid clades, the X1X2Y system has transformed into the X1X20 or XY systems, and subsequently into the X0 system. The X1X2X30 system of Smeringopus pallidus probably arose from the X1X20 system by an X chromosome fission. The X1X2X3X4Y system of Kambiwa probably evolved from the X1X2Y system by integration of a chromosome pair. Nucleolus organizer regions have frequently expanded on sex chromosomes, most probably by ectopic recombination. Our data suggest the involvement of sex chromosome-linked NORs in achiasmatic pairing.

The scorpions represent an ancient and morphologically conserved order of arachnids. Despite that, their karyotypes may differ considerably even among closely related species. In this study, we identify the trends of the karyotype evolution in the family Scorpiopidae based on integrating cytogenetic data and multi-locus molecular phylogenetic approaches. We detected considerable variability in diploid numbers of chromosomes (from 48 to 147), 18S rRNA gene cluster positions (from terminal to pericentromeric) at the interspecific level. Moreover, we identified independent fusions, fissions and inversions in the evolution of the family Scorpiopidae, leading to a remarkable diversification of the karyotypes. The dynamic system of the karyotype changes in this group is further documented by the presence of interstitial telomeric sequences (ITS) in two species. The cytogenetic differences observed among the analyzed species highlight the potential of this type of data for species-level taxonomy in scorpion lineages with monocentric chromosomes. Additionally, the results of our phylogenetic analyses support the monophyly of the family Scorpiopidae, but rendered several genera para- or polyphyletic.

The harvestman family Neogoveidae (suborder Cyphophthalmi) is distributed across Neotropics, south-eastern USA and Western and Central Africa. Nevertheless, the core of its known diversity lies in Americas. The sole genus known from Africa is Parogovia, with only three species described so far. Here we describe a new species, Parogovia parasironoides sp. nov. from Cameroon, which is morphologically close to P. sironoides. In addition to the analyses of external morphology, spermatopositor and ovipositor, we also described the karyotype (2n=32), a course of the male mitosis and meiosis, and the distribution of major ribosomal RNA genes using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with 18S rDNA probe. In the karyotype, the one-armed chromosomes predominated and we detected one pair of the 18S rDNA cluster close to centromere region on long arms of subtelocentric chromosomes. Our study represents the first cytogenetic data in infraorder Sternophthalmi and plays an important role in the reconstruction of the karyotype evolution of Cyphophthalmi.

In the present study, we performed the first comparative cytogenetic study in Hadogenes species using both standard and molecular cytogenetic approaches. Information about the diploid set, number and distribution of 18S rDNA and telomeric sequences was obtained from three South African species, Hadogenes trichiurus (Gervais, 1843), H. zuluanus Lawrence, 1937 and H. weygoldti sp. n.. All species analysed differ considerably in the number of chromosomes (H. trichiurus 2n = 48, H. zuluanus 2n = 80, H. weygoldti sp. n. 2n = 113). In contrast, the number of 18S rDNA clusters and distribution of telomeric sequences represent rather stable cytogenetic characters in Hadogenes. Within all karyotypes, we identified one pair of 18S rDNA clusters. The telomeric signals were exclusively on the terminal chromosomal regions. Interestingly, the chromosomal location of 18S rDNA clusters varied from terminal to interstitial in species karyotypes, indicating the presence of hidden structural chromosomal changes. Additionally, the present comparative study is complemented by the description of a new species, H. weygoldti sp. n., based on specific karyotype features and morphological characters. Finally, our cytogenetic results are compared with known chromosomal data of other Hadogenes species, and the use of cytogenetic approaches in the taxonomy of scorpions is discussed.

Kovařík, František, Lowe, Graeme, Šťáhlavský, František (2018): Review of the genus Babycurus Karsch, 1886 (Arachnida, Scorpiones, Buthidae), with descriptions of Barbaracurus gen. n. and two new species from Oman and Yemen. Euscorpius 267: 1-41, DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6544157, {"references":["BORELLI, A. 1902. Di una nuova specie di scorpione della Colonia Eritrea. Bollettino dei Musei di Zoologia ed Anatomia Comparata della Reale Universita di Torino, 17 (422): 1-4.","BORELLI, A. 1925. Di alcuni Scorpioni della Somalia Italiana. Annali del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova, 51: 316-326.","CAPORIACCO, L. DI 1947. Scorpioni dell'Eritrea del Museo zoologici di Firenze. Acta Pontificae Academiae Scientiarum Novi Lyncei, 11(19): 227-233.","CHIARLE, A., F. KOVARIK, L. LEVI & E. GAVETTI. 2012. The scorpion collections (Arachnida, Scorpiones) held in the Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali of Turin (Italy). Arachnologische Mitteilungen, 43: 17-23.","ESPOSITO, L.A., H.Y. YAMAGUTI, C.A. SOUZA, R. PINTO-DA-ROCHA & L. PRENDINI. 2017. Systematic revision of the neotropical club-tailed scorpions, Physoctonus, Rhopalurus, and Troglorhopalurus, revalidation of Heteroctenus, and descriptions of two new genera and three new species (Buthidae: Rhopalurusinae). Bulletin of the American Museum Of Natural History, 145: 1-134.","FET, V. & G. LOWE. 2000. Family Buthidae C. L. Koch, 1837. Pp. 54-286 in Fet, V., W. D. Sissom, G. Lowe & M. E. Braunwalder. Catalog of the Scorpions of the World (1758-1998). New York: The New York Entomological Society, 689 pp.","FET, V., M.E. SOLEGLAD & G. LOWE. 2005. A new trichobothrial character for the high-level systematics of Buthoidea (Scorpiones: Buthida). Euscorpius, 23: 1-40.","HENDRIXSON, B.E. 2006. Buthid scorpions of Saudi Arabia, with notes on other families (Scorpiones: Buthidae, Liochelidae, Scorpionidae). Fauna of Arabia, 21: 33-120.","HIRST, S. 1907. Notes on scorpions, with descriptions of two new species. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, VII(19): 208-211.","KARSCH, F. 1886. Skorpionologische Beitrage. Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift, 30: 75-79.","KOVARIK, F. 1998. Stiri [Scorpiones]. Jihlava (Czech Republic): Publishing House \"Madagaskar\", 176 pp (in Czech).","KOVARIK, F. 2000. Revision of Babycurus with descriptions of three new species (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Acta Societatis Zoologicae Bohemicae, 64: 235-265.","KOVARIK, F. 2003. Scorpions of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia (Arachnida: Scorpiones) with a key and descriptions of three new species. Acta Societatis Zoologicae Bohemicae, 67: 133-159.","KOVARIK, F. 2009. Illustrated catalog of scorpions. Part I. Introductory remarks; keys to families and genera; subfamily Scorpioninae with keys to Hetero-metrus and Pandinus species. Prague: Clairon Production, 170 pp.","KOVARIK, F. 2011. Buthus awashensis sp. n. from Ethiopia (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Euscorpius, 128: 1-6.","KOVARIK F., G. LOWE, P. JUST, A. I. AWALE, H. SH A. ELMI & F. STAHLAVSKY. 2018. Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part XVI. Review of the genus Gint Kovarik et al., 2013, with description of three new species from Somaliland (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Euscorpius, 258: 1-41.","KOVARIK, F., G. LOWE, M. SEITER, J. PLISKOVA & F. STAHLAVSKY. 2015. Scorpions of Ethiopia (Arachnida: Scorpiones), Part II. Genus Babycurus Karsch, 1886 (Buthidae), with description of two new species. Euscorpius, 196: 1-31.","KOVARIK, F. & A. A. OJANGUREN AFFILASTRO. 2013. Illustrated catalog of scorpions. Part II. Bothriuridae; Chaerilidae; Buthidae I. Genera Compsobuthus, Hottentotta, Isometrus, Lychas, and Sassanidotus. Prague: Clairon Production, 400 pp.","KOVARIK, F., F. STAHLAVSKY, T. KORINKOVA, J. KRAL & T. VAN DER ENDE. 2009. Tityus ythieri Lourenco, 2007 is a synonym of Tityus magnimanus Pocock, 1897 (Scorpiones: Buthidae): a combined approach using morphology, hybridization experiments, chromosomes, and mitochondrial DNA. Euscorpius, 77: 1-12.","KOVARIK, F. & S. WHITMAN 2005. Cataloghi del Museo di Storia Naturale dell'Universita di Firenze - sezione di zoologia \"La Specola\" XXII. Arachnida Scorpiones. Tipi. Addenda (1998-2004) e checklist della collezione (Euscorpiinae esclusi). Atti della Societa Toscana di Scienze Naturali, Memorie, serie B, 111 (2004): 103-119.","KRAEPELIN, K. 1891. Revision der Skorpione. I. Die Familie des Androctonidae. Jahrbuch der Hamburgischen Wissenschaftlichen Anstalten, 8(1890): 144-286 (1-144).","KRAEPELIN, K. 1895. Nachtrag zu Theil I der Revision der Skorpione. Jahrbuch der Hamburgischen Wissenschaftlichen Anstalten, 12(1894): 73-96.","KRAEPELIN, K. 1898. Neue Pedipalpen und Scorpione des Hamburger Museums. Jahrbuch der Hamburgischen Wissenschaftlichen Anstalten, 15: 39- 44.","KRAEPELIN, K. 1898. Die Skorpione Ostafrikas. In K. Moebius (ed), Die Thierwelt Ost-Afrikas und der Nachbargebiete Wirbellose Thiere Berlin, 4(5): 1-5.","KRAEPELIN, K. 1899. Scorpiones und Pedipalpi. In: F. DAHL (ed.), Das Tierreich. Herausgegeben von der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft. Berlin: R. Friedlander und Sohn Verlag, 8. Lieferung. 265 pp.","KRAEPELIN, K. 1913. Neue Beitrage zur Systematik der Gliederspinnen. III. A. Bemerkungen zur Skorpionenfauna Indiens. B. Die Skorpione, Pedipalpen und Solifugen Deutsch-Ostafrikas. Jahrbuch der Hamburgischen Wissenschaftlichen Anstalten, 30: 123-196.","LAMORAL, B. H. & S. REYNDERS 1975. A catalogue of the scorpions described from the Ethiopian Faunal Region up to December 1973. Annals of the Natal Museum, 22: 489-576.","LORIA, S.F. & L. PRENDINI. 2014. Homology of the lateral eyes of Scorpiones: a six-ocellus model. PLoS ONE 9(12): e112913.","LORIA, S.F. & L. PRENDINI. 2018. Ultrastructural comparison of the eyespot and ocelli of scorpions, and implications for the systematics of Chaerilidae Pocock, 1893. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 273:183-191.","LOURENCO, W.R. 1985. Le veritable statut des genres Ananteris Thorell, 1891 et Ananteroides Borelli, 1911 (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Annals of Natal Museum, 26 (2): 407-416.","LOURENCO, W. R. 2013. A new species of Babycurus Karsch, 1886 from northern Cameroon (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Arthropoda Selecta, 22 (4): 343-348.","LOURENCO W. R. & A. ROSSI. 2017. A new species of Babycurus Karsch, 1886 from dry savannahs in Central African Republic (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Onychium, 13: 3-8.","LOWE, G. 2000. A new species of Babycurus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from northern Oman. Entomological News, 111: 185-192.","LOWE, G. 2010. Two new species of Hottentotta Birula, 1908 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from northern Oman. Euscorpius, 103: 1-23.","PLISKOVA, J., F. KOVARIK, O. KOSULIC & F. STAHLAVSKY. 2016. Description of a new species of Heterometrus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae) from Thailand with remarks about the utilization of cytogenetic data in taxonomy of the genus. 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A comparative cytogenetic analysis of 2 Bothriuridae species and overview of the chromosome data of Scorpiones. Journal of Heredity, 100: 545-555.","SHARMA, P.P., R. FERNANDEZ, L.A. ESPOSITO, E. GONZALEZ-SANTILLAN & L. MONOD. 2015. Phylogenomic resolution of scorpions reveals multilevel discordance with morphological phylogenetic signal. Royal Society Proceedings. Biological Sciences, 282 (1804): 2014-2953.","SISSOM, W. D. 1990. Systematics, biogeography and paleontology. Pp. 64-160 in POLIS, G. A. (Ed.) The Biology of Scorpions. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California.","SISSOM, W. D. 1994. Descriptions of new and poorly known scorpions of Yemen (Scorpiones: Buthidae, Diplocentridae, Scorpionidae). Fauna of Saudi Arabia, 14: 3-39.","SOLEGLAD, M. E. & V. FET 2003a. The scorpion sternum: structure and phylogeny (Scorpiones: Orthosterni). Euscorpius, 5: 1-34.","SOLEGLAD, M. E. & V. FET 2003b. High-level systematics and phylogeny of the extant scorpions (Scorpiones: Orthosterni). 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Lowe, Graeme, Kovařík, František, Stockmann, Mark, Šťáhlavský, František (2019): Trypanothacus gen. n., a new genus of burrowing scorpion from the Arabian Peninsula (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius 277: 1-30, DOI: 10.18590/euscorpius.2019.vol2019.iss277.1

Kovařík, František, Lowe, Graeme, Šťáhlavský, František, Hurre, Ali Abdi (2019): Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida, Scorpiones). Part XX. Barbaracurus feti sp. n. from Somaliland (Buthidae). Euscorpius 280 (294): 1-11, DOI: 10.18590/euscorpius.2019.vol2019.iss294.1, URL: https://mds.marshall.edu/euscorpius/vol2019/iss294/1/

Kovařík, František, Šťáhlavský, František (2019): Revision of the genus Reddyanus from Southeast Asia, with description of five new species from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius 295: 1-45, DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6540166, {"references":["FAGE, L. 1933. Les scorpions de L`Indochine Francaise leurs Affinites, leur distribution geographique. Annales de la Societe Entomologique de France, 102: 25-34.","FAGE, L. 1936. Nouvelle contribution A l`etude des scorpions de l`Indochine Francaise. Bulletin de la Societe Entomologique de France, 41: 179-181.","FAGE, L. 1944. Scorpions et Pedipalpes de l`Indochine Francaise. Annales de la Societe Entomologique de France, 113: 71-81.","FET, V. & G. LOWE. 2000. Family Buthidae C. L. Koch, 1837. Pp. 54-286 in Fet, V., W. D. Sissom, G. Lowe & M. E. Braunwalder. Catalog of the Scorpions of the World (1758-1998). New York: The New York Entomological Society, 689 pp.","KOVARIK, F. 1994. Isometrus zideki sp. n. from Malaysia and Indonesia, and a taxonomic position of Isometrus formosus, I. thurstoni and I. sankariensis (Arachnida: Scorpionida: Buthidae). Acta Societatis Zoologicae Bohemicae, 58: 195-203.","KOVARIK, F. 1995. Review of Scorpionida from Thailand with descriptions of Thaicharmus mahunkai gen. et sp. n. and Lychas krali sp. n. (Buthidae). Acta Societatis Zoologicae Bohemicae, 59: 187-207.","KOVARIK, F. 1997. Isometrus (Reddyanus) kurkai sp. n. from Indonesia (Scorpiones, Buthidae). Casopis Narodniho Musea, 166(1-4): 5-10.","KOVARIK, F. 1998a. Isometrus (Reddyanus) krasenskyi sp. n. from Indonesia and I. (R.) navaiae sp. n. from the Philippines (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Acta Societatis Zoologicae Bohemicae, 62: 35-40.","KOVARIK, F. 1998b. Stiri [Scorpions]. Madagaskar, Jihlava. 175 pp. (in Czech).","KOVARIK, F. 2003. A review of the genus Isometrus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) with descriptions of four new species from Asia and Australia. 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Molecular cytogenetics of Androctonus scorpions: an oasis of calm in the turbulent karyotype evolution of the diverse family Buthidae. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 115: 69-76.","SAKAMOTO, Y. & A.A. ZACARO. 2009. LEVAN, an ImageJ plugin for morphological cytogenetic analysis of mitotic and meiotic chromosomes. Available at: http:// rsbweb.nih.gov/ij/plugins/levan/levan.html. Accessed 3rd June 2016.","SHANAHAN, C. M. 1989. Cytogenetics of Australian scorpions. I. Interchange polymorphism in the family Buthidae. Genome, 32: 882-889.","SOLEGLAD, M. E. & V. FET. 2003. The scorpion sternum: structure and phylogeny (Scorpiones: Orthosterni). Euscorpius, 5: 1-34.","STAHNKE, H. L. 1971. Scorpion nomenclature and mensuration. Entomological News, 81: 297-316.","TIKADER, B. K. & D. B. BASTAWADE. 1983. Scorpions (Scorpionida: Arachnida). In The Fauna of India, Vol. 3. (Edited by the Director). Calcutta: Zoological Survey of India, 671 pp.","VACHON, M. 1972. 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The morphologically uniform suborder Cyphophthalmi represents a basal group of harvestmen (Opiliones). As such, it plays an important role in the reconstruction of the karyotype evolution within this arachnid order. The cytogenetic analysis of 6 representatives of the suborder Cyphophthalmi, namely Miopsalis sp. (2n = 30; Stylocellidae), Austropurcellia arcticosa (Cantrell, 1980) (2n = 30; Pettalidae), Parapurcellia amatola de Bivort & Giribet, 2010 (2n = 32; Pettalidae), Paramiopsalis aff. ramulosus Juberthie, 1962 (2n = 28; Sironidae), Cyphophthalmus duricorius Joseph, 1868 (2n = 24; Sironidae), and Siro carpaticus Rafalski, 1956 (2n = 52; Sironidae) was performed. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with 18S rDNA probe was used to analyze the distribution of major ribosomal RNA genes in harvestmen. We confront the obtained cytogenetic data with current hypotheses on cyphophthalmid phylogeny to reconstruct their karyotype evolution. We conclude that the ancestral karyotype of harvestmen consisted of 2n = 30 elements with 1 chromosome pair bearing terminal rDNA clusters. The rDNA locus was multiplicated in the evolution of Cyphophthalmi. However, decreases as well as increases in the number of chromosomes have been detected in the karyotype evolution of Cyphophthalmi. Our data thus reveal unexpected diversity in cyphophthalmid karyotypes.

Euscorpiops artemisae sp. nov. from Myanmar and Euscorpiops orioni sp. nov. from Thailand are described and compared with other species of the genus Euscorpiops Vachon, 1980. A key to the species of Euscorpiops is provided. Sexual dimorphism is present, as males of some species have a narrower pedipalp chela than females, while in other species the shape of the chela is the same in both sexes. Males of both new species have the pedipalp chela very narrow, in the male holotype of E. artemisae sp. nov. the chela length to width ratio is 4.13 and in the male holotype of E. orioni sp. nov. it is 4.58. In addition to morphological analysis, we describe also the karyotype of male holotype and paratype of E. orioni sp. nov. Both analyzed specimens have achiasmatic meiosis and the same number of chromosomes (2n=103) with predominance of acrocentric chromosomes gradually decreasing in size. During the first meiotic division we observed one trivalent in both males. This type of multivalent indicates centri...

Recent cytogenetic and genomic studies suggest that morphological and molecular evolution is decoupled in the basal arachnid order Scorpiones. Extraordinary karyotype variation has been observed particularly in the family Buthidae, which is unique among scorpions for its holokinetic chromosomes. We analyzed the karyotypes of four geographically distant species of the genus Androctonus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Androctonus australis, Androctonus bourdoni, Androctonus crassicauda, Androctonus maelfaiti) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) using both classic and molecular cytogenetic methods. The mitotic complement of all species consisted of 2n = 24 elements. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with a fragment of the 18S ribosomal RNA gene, a cytogenetic marker well known for its mobility, identified a single interstitial rDNA locus on the largest chromosome pair in all species examined. Our findings thus support the evolutionary stasis of the Androctonus karyotype, which is discussed with respect to current hypotheses on chromosome evolution both within and beyond the family Buthidae. Differences in karyotype dynamics between Androctonus spp. and the other buthids can help us better understand the driving forces behind their chromosome evolution and speciation. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 115, 69–76.

Two new species, Babycurus dunlopi sp. n. and B. sofomarensis sp. n. from Ethiopia, are described, compared with other species and fully illustrated with color photos of habitus and localities. B. subpunctatus Borelli, 1925 is recorded for the first time in Ethiopia, Somali Province. All data about the distribution of Babycurus Karsch, 1886 in Ethiopia including photos of all known Ethiopian localities of Babycurus are summarized. B. wituensis taramassoi Borelli, 1919 is raised back to species status as B. taramassoi Borelli, 1919

An adult male of Alloscorpiops wongpromi Kovařik et al., 2013 was raised from birth, and its five exuviae (instars 2 through 6) were compared to the resulting adult. This adult was contrasted with the original holotype male specimen, which was determined to be only a subadult after the fifth ecdysis. The hemispermatophore of A. wongpromi is illustrated and described here for the first time. In addition to morphological analysis we also describe the karyotype of Alloscorpiops wongpromi (2n=95). Based on comparative analysis of pectinal tooth counts, it is determined that the holotype of A. troglodytes Lourenco & Pham (2015) represents a juvenile.

The knowledge of cytogenetics in the harvestmen family Phalangiidae has been based on taxa from the Northern Hemisphere. We performed cytogenetic analysis on Guruia africana (Karsch, 1878) (2n=24) and four species of the genus Rhampsinitus Simon, 1879 (2n=24, 26, 34) from South Africa. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with an 18S rDNA probe was used to analyze the number and the distribution of this cluster in the family Phalangiidae for the first time. The results support the cytogenetic characteristics typical for the majority of harvestmen taxa, i.e. the predominance of small biarmed chromosomes and the absence of morphologically well-differentiated sex chromosomes as an ancestral state. We identified the number of 18S rDNA sites ranging from two in R. qachasneki Kauri, 1962 to seven in one population of R. leighi Pocock, 1903. Moreover, we found differences in the number and localization of 18S rDNA sites in R. leighi between populations from two localities and between sexes of R. capensis (Loman, 1898). The heterozygous states of the 18S rDNA sites in these species may indicate the presence of XX/XY and ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes, and the possible existence of these systems in harvestmen is discussed. The variability of the 18S rDNA sites indicates intensive chromosomal changes during the differentiation of the karyotypes, which is in contrast to the usual uniformity in chromosomal morphology known from harvestmen so far.