Suraju itayma: The first paleozoic fossil scorpion in South America

Scorpions are one of the most remarkable evolutionary successes among invertebrates, however, fossils are rare, especially from Gondwana. The paleontological record of scorpions in Brazil is attested by ichnofossils of the Botucatu Formation (Early Cretaceous, Paraná Basin), and by two species preserved in laminate limestones in the Crato Formation (Albiano-Aptiano, Araripe Basin). A new species of fossil scorpion has been collected in the municipality of Canoinhas, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, in sedimentary rocks belonging to the Teresina Formation (Guadalupian), Paraná Basin. The specimen presents the preserved ventral face consisting of subtle prosoma impressions, fragments of the fourth pair of legs, and complete opisthosoma. Peculiarities such as the lateral articulations between the metasoma segments and the small size of the aculeus propose a new genus and species: Surajuitayma, the oldest fossil scorpion in South America, and the most complete representative of the group in Gondwana Paleozoic sediments, so far.