Family SUPERSTITIONIIDAE Stahnke, 1940

W. DAVID SISSOM

This taxon, which now includes four genera and nine species, was first recognized by Stahnke ( 1940) as a monotypic subfamily of the Chactidae containing his new genus Superstitionia. Stahnke used the spelling Superstitioninae which is incorrect; the correct latinized subfamily name derived from the type genus is Superstitioniinae (H. D. Cameron, pers. comm), and the spelling is corrected here. Later, Francke ( l 982a) demonstrated a phylogenetic relationship of Supersti-tionia with members of another chactid subfamily, the Typhlochactinae Mitchell, and merged them into one subfamily, the Superstitioninae. Reluctant to recognize a family Chactidae in the broad sense that it had been previously defined, he placed this subfamily "incertae sedis" in the "Chac-toidea". Francke (l 982a) proposed that Superstitionia be placed in a tribe Superstitionini and the members of the former Typhlochactinae (then including Typhlochactas and Alacran) in a tribe Typhlochactini. Subsequently, Typhochactas elliotti Mitchell was placed into its own genus, Sotanochactas (Francke, 1986b). Stockwell (1992) then elevated the Superstitioninae to family level and included two additional eyeless forms: Troglotayosicus from Ecuador and Belisarius Simon from the Pyrenees of France and Spain. The inclusion of these two genera was based on very weak evidence (Stockwell, 1992: 410-411). Recently, (1998d) separated Belisarius and Troglotayosicus in a family Troglotayosicidae. We follow this placement but sug-gest that the issue requires further study. With removal of these two genera, the geographic range of Superstitioniidae is limited to the southern part of North America.

Francke had recognized the two tribes in the subfamily Superstitioninae, and with the eleva-tion of the subfamily to the family level it seems appropriate to regard his tribes as subfamilies.

The relationships of the Superstitioniidae (with or without Belisarius and Troglotayosicus) to other families remain obscure. Stockwell (1992) suggested a close relationship to vaejovids and iurids. This placement is only weakly supported by cladistic evidence at this time.

The members of the Superstitioniidae are interesting scorpions. Alacran, Sotanochactas, and most Typhlochactas are troglobites in wet subtropical caves of eastern and southern Mexico. Two Oaxacan species of Typhlochactas, however, are epigean and live in leaf litter; like their cave relatives, they are small, eyeless, and lack pigment. Alacran is represented by a remarkable eye-less form living in very deep caves in the Sistema Huautla of Oaxaca. It has been found at depths of about 800 m below the surface, and interestingly, it is a large (ca. 70 mm in length), well-pigmented scorpion.

Superstitioninae (IOS) Stahnke, 1940: 102; type genus Superstitionia Stahnke, 1940. REFERENCES Superstitioninae (IOS): Millot & Vachon, 1949: 429; Soleglad, 1976b: 254; Francke, 1982a: 60-61; Sis-

som, 1990a: 113. Superstitionidae (IOS): Stockwell, 1992: 410, 412, 419 (part); Kovaffk, 1998c: 142. DISTRIBUT!ON: NORTH AMERICA (Mexico, southwestern USA).

Subfamily SUPERSTITIONIINAE Stahnke, 1940

Superstitioninae (IOS) Stahnke, 1940: 102; type genus Superstitionia Stahnke, 1940. REFERENCES Superstitionini (IOS): Francke, 1982a: 60-61 (tribe).

496

SCORPIONES: SUPERSTITIONIIDAE 497

DISTRIBUTION: NORTH AMERICA (western Mexico, southwestern USA). NOTES: The correct latinized subfamily name derived from the type genus is Superstitioniinae (H. D. Cameron, pers. comm), and the spelling is corrected here.

Genus SUPERSTITIONIA Stahnke, 1940

Superstitionia Stahnke, 1940: 102; type species Superstitionia donensis Stahnke, 1940. SYNONYMS Diplops Mulaik & Higgins, 1944: 237-238; type species Diplops desertorum Mulaik & Higgins, 1944

(= Superstitionia donensis Stahnke, 1940) (synonymized by Stahnke, 1949: 243). REFERENCES Superstitionia: Millot & Vachon, 1949: 429; Vachon, 1974: 914, 923; Williams, 1980: 7-8, fig. 5, 6;

Francke, 1982a: 60-61 , fig. 26; Francke, 1985: 13, 16, 21; Sissom, 1990a: 110, 113; Nenilin & Pet, 1992: 9; Stockwell, 1992: 410, 412, 419, fig. 22, 25, 27, 29; Kovarik, 1998c: 142; Lourern;o, 1998d: 136; Sissom & Cokendolpher, 1998: 285.

DISTRIBUTION: NORTH AMERICA. Southwestern USA, western Mexico.

Superstitionia donensis Stahnke, 1940

Superstitionia donensis Stahnke, 1940: I 02. SYNTYPES: 4 specimens (CAS, Type No. 15169), Superstition Mountains, Arizona, USA.

SYNONYMS Diplops desertorum Mulaik & Higgins, 1944: 238-240, fig . 1-9 (synonymized by Stahnke, 1949: 243).

HOLOTYPE: Q (ANSP?), 16 mi E Tucson, Arizona, USA. PARATYPES: 6 specimens (see Notes), same locality as holotype; 1 Q (depository unknown), 6 mi W

Bishop, California, USA; 1 (depository unknown), Mount Springs, San Diego County, Califor-nia, USA.

REFERENCES Broteochactas alleni (MIS; part): Banks, 1910: 185, 188. Superstitionia donensis: Stahnke, 1949: 243; Gertsch &Allred, 1965: 2, 7, 13, 14, fig. 20; Johnson &

Allred, 1972: 156; Hjelle, 1972: 5-7; Vachon, 1974: 931, fig. 182; Frohlich & Clark, 1976: 91; Williams, 1976: 2; Williams, 1980: 8-9, fig. 5 , 6; Francke, 1982a: 59-60, fig. 22-25; Sissom, 1997: 13; Kovarfk, l 998c: 142; Lourenc;o, 1998d: 142, fig. 11.

DISTRIBUTION: Mexico (Baja California Norte, Baja California Sur, Sonora), USA (Arizona, Cal-ifornia, New Mexico, Nevada). NOTES: Mulaik & Higgins (1944) indicated that the types of Diplops desertorum were split between the Zoological Museum of the University of Utah and the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. There was no indication where specific material was deposited.

Subfamily TYPHLOCHACTINAE Mitchell, 1971

Typhlochactinae Mitchell, 1971 (see Notes); type genus Typhlochactas Mitchell, 1971. REFERENCES Typhlochactinae: Mitchell, 1968: 774, nomen nudum (based on unavailable generic name); Soleglad,

1976b: 299, 301. Typhlochactini: Francke, 1982a: 60, 61 (as tribe).

DISTRIBUTION: NORTH AMERICA (Mexico). NOTES: The genus Typhlochactas was first described by Mitchell (1968: 754-756) without type species designation. It becomes first available with the type species designation by Mitchell (1971), which is also a date when the subfamily name based on this genus becomes available.

Genus ALACRAN Francke, 1982

Alacran Francke, 1982a: 51-53; type species Alacran tartarus Francke, 1982.

498 CATALOG OF THE SCORPIONS OF THE WORLD

REFERENCES Alacran: Francke, 1985: 5, 16, 19; Lourenc;:o & Francke, 1985: 4; Francke, 1986b: 8; Sissom, 1990a:

109, 113; Nenilin & Fet, 1992: 10; Stockwell, 1992: 410, 412, 419, fig. 24, 31, 32; Armas, 1994: 19; Kovarfk, 1998c: 142; Sissom & Cokendolpher, 1998: 285.

DISTRIBUTION: NORTH AMERICA (southern Mexico)

Alacran tartarus Francke, 1982

Alacran tartarus Francke, 1982a: 53-57, fig. 1-17, 27, 32. HoLOTYPE: (AMNH), S6tano de San Agustin (720m below the surface), San Agustin (5 km SE

Huautla de Jimenez), Oaxaca, Mexico. PARATYPES: 1 juv (AMNH), same locality as holotype; 1 o, 1 1 juv (AMNH), adjoining caves in

vicinity of San Agustin, Oaxaca, Mexico.

REFERENCES Alacran tartarus: Lourenc;:o & Francke, 1985: 5 (tab. l); Nenilin & Fet, 1992: 28; Armas, 1994: 19, 21;

Lourenc;:o, 1994b: 182, 183; Kovarik, 1998c: 142.

D1STRIBUTION: Mexico (Oaxaca: caves of the Huautla Plateau).

Genus SOTANOCHACTAS Francke, 1986

Sotanochactas Francke, 1986b: 8, fig. 11-13; type species Typhlochactas elliotti Mitchell, 1971 [= Sotanochactas elliotti (Mitchell, 1971)].

REFERENCES Sotanochactas: Lourenc;:o & Francke, 1985: 4 (nomen nudum); Sissom, 1990a: 109, 113; Stockwell,

1992: 410, 412, 419, fig. 10, 34; Kovarfk, 1998c: 142; Sissom & Cokendolpher, 1998: 285.

DISTRIBUTION: NORTH AMERICA. Central Mexico.

Sotanochactas elliotti (Mitchell, 1971)

Typhlochactas elliotti Mitchell, 1971: 136-147, fig. 1-17, 26. HOLOTYPE: o (AMNH), El S6tano de Yerbaniz, approx. 21 km N Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosf,

Mexico. PARATYPES: 1 juv (MNHN RS 5376), 1 specimen (depository unknown), same locality as holotype.

REFERENCES Typhlochactas elliotti: Reddell & Mitchell, 197la: 144, fig. 1; Reddell, 1973: 33, 37; Reddell & Elliott,

1973a: 171; Gonzalez-Sponga, 1974c: 56; Soleglad, 1976b: 253; Mitchell & Peck, 1977: 167-168; Lourenc;:o, 198lb: 660; Reddell, 1981: 115, fig. 17; Francke, 1982a: 59-60, fig. 18-21, 26, 28, 33.

Typlochactas (ISS) elliotti: Dfaz Najera, 1975: 3, 30. Sotanochactas ellioti (ISS): Lourenc;:o & Francke, 1985: 5 (Table l); Armas, 1994: 21; Kovarik, 1998c:

142. Sotanochactas elliotti: Francke, 1986b: 8, fig. 11-13; Lourenc;:o, 1994b: 182, 183.

DISTRIBUTION: Mexico (San Luis Potosi: El S6tano de Yerbaniz).

Genus TYPHLOCHACTAS Mitchell, 1971

Typhlochactas Mitchell, 1971: 238; type species by subsequent designation (Mitchell, 1971: 238) Typhlochactas rhodesi Mitchell, 1968.

REFERENCES Typhlochactas: Mitchell, 1968: 754-756; Mitchell, 1971: 238 (part); Vachon, 1974: 914, 923; Soleglad,

1976b: 253-254; Mitchell & Peck, 1977: 164-165 (part); Francke, 1985: 14, 16, 20; Francke, 1986b: 8; Sissom, 1990a: 109, 114; Nenilin & Fet, 1992: 10, 28; Stockwell, 1992: 410, 412, 419, fig. 3, 28, 30, 33, 35; Armas, 1994: 18-19; Kovarfk, 1998c: 142; Sissom & Cokendolpher, 1998: 285-286.

Typlochactas (ISS): Dfaz Najera, 1975: 3. DISTRIBUTION: NORTH AMERICA. Eastern & southern Mexico. NOTES: The genus was first described by Mitchell (1968: 754-756) without type species desig-nation. The name becomes first available with the type species designation by Mitchell (1971).

SCORPIONES: SUPERSTITIONIIDAE

Typhlochactas cavicola Francke, 1986 Typhlochactas cavicola Francke, 1986b: 5-8, fig. 1-10, 17-19.

HOLOTYPE: o (AMNH), Cueva del Vandalismo, entrance about 2600 m elev., 1 km SE Rancho Nuevo, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

REFERENCES

499

Typhlochactas cavicola: Armas, 1994: 21; Lourencto, 1994b: 182, 183; Kovarik, 1998c: 142; Sissom & Cokendolpher, 1998: 285, 287.

DISTRIBUTION: Mexico (Tamaulipas: Cueva del Vandalismo).

Typhlochactas granulosus Sissom & Cokendolpher, 1998 Typhlochactas granulosus Sissom & Cokendolpher, 1998: 286-290, fig. 1-11.

HoLOTYPE: o (AMNH), S6tano de Poncho, Municipio Tlaquilpa, Veracruz, Mexico. DISTRIBUTION: Mexico (Veracruz).

Typhlochactas mitchelli Sissom, 1988 Typhlochactas mitchelli Sissom, 1988b: 365-371, fig. 1-14.

HoLOTYPE: o (AMNH), Cerro Ocote, 5 mi S Tenango, Oaxaca, Mexico. PARATYPES: 1 o, 1 sub (AMNH), same locality as holotype.

REFERENCES Typhlochactas mitchelli: Kovarik, 1998c: 142; Sissom & Cokendolpher, 1998: 285, 287. DISTRIBUTION: Mexico (Oaxaca)

Typhlochactas reddelli Mitchell, 1968 Typhlochactas reddelli Mitchell, 1968: 762-770, 774-775, fig. 22-40.

HOLOTYPE: <.? (AMNH), La Cueva del Ojo de Agua de Tlilapan (1400 m), in the village ofTlilapan, Municipio de Tlilapan, (ca. 5 km S Orizaba), Veracruz, Mexico.

REFERENCES Typhlochactas reddelli: Reddell, 197la: 26; Reddell, 197lb: 217; Mitchell, 1971: 135, 138, 143,

145-146, fig. 21-23, 25, 27; Reddell, 1973: 32, 37; Vachon, 1974: fig. 167, 199-210; Soleglad, 1976b: 254; Mitchell & Peck, 1977: 167-168; Reddell, 1981: 115, fig. 17; Francke, 1982a: 59-60, fig. 26, 30, 35; Lourencto & Francke, 1985: 3, 5 (tab. l); Francke, 1986b: 8, fig. 20-22; Armas, 1994: 18, 21; Lourencto. 1994b: 182, 183; Sissom & Cokendolpher, 1998: 285, 286, 287.

Typhlochactas reddeli (ISS): GonzaJ.ez-Sponga, 1974c: 56. Typlochactas (ISS) redelli (ISS): Diaz Najera, 1975: 4, 33. Typhlochactas redelli (ISS): Lourencto. 1981b: 660; Kovarfk., 1998c: 142. DISTRIBUTION: Mexico (Veracruz: La Cueva del Ojo de Agua de Tlilapan).

Typhlochactas rhodesi Mitchell, 1968 Typhlochactas rhodesi Mitchell, 1968: 756-762, 774-775, fig. 1-21.

HoLOTYPE: '? (AMNH), La Cueva de la Mina ( 1600 m), Sierra de Guatemala, within the Municipio de Gomez Farias, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

PARATYPES: 1 '? (MNHN), I'? (depository unknown), same locality as holotype. REFERENCES Typhlochactas rhodesi: Mitchell, 1971: 135, 138, 143, 145-146, fig. 18-20, 24, 27; Delamare Debout-

teville, 1971: 49; Reddell, 197la: 3, 27; Reddell & Mitchell, 197lb: 181, 184, fig. 9; Reddell, 1973: 32, 37; Reddell & Elliott, 1973b: 181; Gonzalez-Sponga, 1974c: 56; Soleglad, 1976b: 253; Mitchell & Peck, 1977: 167-168; Reddell, 1981: 115, fig . 17; Lourencto, 198lb: 660; Francke, 1982a: 59-60, fig. 26, 29, 34; Lourencto & Francke, 1985: 3, 5 (Table l); Francke, 1986b: 8, fig. 14-16; Armas, 1994: 18, 21; Louren<to, 1994b: 182, 183; Kovarik, 1998c: 142; Sissom & Coken-dolpher, 1998: 285, 286, 287.

Typlochactas (ISS) rhodesi: Diaz Najera, 1975: 4, 32. DISTRIBUTION: Mexico (Tarnaulipas: La Cueva de la Mina).

500 CATALOG OF THE SCORPIONS OF THE WORLD

Typhlochactas sylvestris Mitchell & Peck, 1977

Typhlochactas sylvestris Mitchell & Peck, 1977: 159-164, fig. 1-13. HoLOTYPE: <j? (AMNH), 25 km S village of Valle Nacional at 1200 m along Highway 175 (highway

connecting Oaxaca and Tuxtepec), Oaxaca, Mexico.

REFERENCES Typhlochactas sylvestris: Lourem;o, 1981b: 659; Reddell, 1981: 115; Francke, 1982a: 59-60, fig. 26, 31,

36; Francke, 1986b: 8, fig. 23-25; Sissom, 1988b: 370-371; Kovai'fk, 1998c: 142; Sissom & Cok-endolpher, 1998: 285, 287.

DISTRIBUTION: Mexico (Oaxaca). NOTES: Mitchell & Peck (1977) listed Texas Tech University (TTU) as the depository, but the specimen has since been transferred to the AMNH.