Diversity of the scorpion fauna from Amazonia; centres of endemism; new support for the theory of Pleistocene forest refuges

It has long been accepted that Amazonia and the coastal Atlantic forest of Brazil were subject to long dry periods in the late Pleistocene and post-Pleistocene. These climatic changes reduced forest cover to limited areas, defined as forest-refuges. The previous evidence for this theory was based on studies of few groups of animals and plants (birds, lizards, insects, and woody plants). In this paper, new data are given to support the theory of Pleistocene forest refuges, using evidence from scorpion biogeography. Distribution patterns of Buthid and Chactid scorpions are analysed and discussed, and several centres of endemism are characterised in Amazonia and in the Atlantic forest. The refuges proposed here correspond closely to several of the refuge areas proposed by PRANCE and HAFFER, and to some of the areas proposed by BROWN Jr. & AB'SABER