Venezuelan arachnids. Two new species of the Tityus Genus (Scorpionida: Buthidae) and the chromatographic profile of venom as a possible taxonomical tool

RESUMO

Two new species of the Tityus genus are described. T. isabelceciliae n. sp lives on the northern central slope of the Cordillera de la Costa. It belongs to the discrepans group and is dangerous to man due to its high number, aggressive behavior, domiciliary habits, and high toxicity of its venom. T. isabelceciliae venom is similar to other Tityus in relation to the molecular weight range and the biological activity of its components. However, the proportions of each fraction in the venom pooled from many T. isabelceciliae differ from the proportions in other Tityus, indicating that these proportions may have a taxonomical value. The venom LD50 is 38.1 (36.3, 39.9) µg/g mouse (Death in 30 min, Dixon and Mood (14) sequential method, median and 95 per cent confidence interval, n=7). Venom production was 916 (625, 1213) µg protein per animal (n=38) females [944 (750, 1150) mg protein per animal, n=24] and males [824 (550, 112) mg protein per animal, n=14] did not differ in venom production (P>0.05). There was no correlation between animal total weight and venom production. T. rusmelyae n. sp. from the androcottoides group lives near the town of Humocaro Alto in the Lara State, Venezuela. The male specimens have clearly defined keels and granules. It differs from other species of this genus in that the prominent characteristics are observed in male specimens.