Diversity and endemism in tropical versus temperate scorpion communities
Biogeographica
1994
Journal Article
70
3
155-160
Parque Nacional del Manu endemism large spatial scales latitudinal gradients diversity invertebrates animals Arachnida scorpions Madre de Dios Bibliography
Data were compiled on the distribution of scorpion taxa (126 species, 17 genera, six families) among tropical South America's best studied regions and/or endemic centers: 1. A region comprising southern Colombia, Ecuador, north of Peru (this study); 2. Guyana; 3. Imeri; 4. Imataca; 5. Manaus; 6. Santa Marta. The region recovering Colombia, Ecuador and Peru is the richest area in number of species supported and is more diverse than the others. This region presents more species even when compared to Baja California desert, the best studied region for scorpions in the world. It is suggested in this paper that this occidental region of tropical South America may present the highest scorpion diversity in the world.