Revision of palaeoburmesebuthid scorpions in mid-Cretaceous amber from northern Myanmar (Scorpiones: Buthoidea)

Abstract

Nine new scorpion specimens belonging to the extinct family Palaeoburmesebuthidae are documented from mid-Cretaceous Burmese (Kachin) amber from northern Myanmar. More accurate morphological details, including lateral ocelli, dentition of chela finger, leg tarsal armature, trichobothrial pattern, and subaculear tuberance, are provided. Based on new morphological evidence, the diagnostic characters for Betaburmesebuthus are revised, and Spinoburmesebuthus is suggested as a junior synonym of Betaburmesebuthus syn. nov. Additionally, two new species of Betaburmesebuthus, B. villosus sp. nov. and B. fuscus sp. nov., are described from Burmese amber.