Taxonomic position of Babycurus brignolii Lourenço et Rossi, 2017

Babycurus brignolii was based on a juvenile, which Lourenço & Rossi (2017) in the original description, incorrectly declared as a male. It is evident from the sternopectinal area and pectines that it is juvenile female, and it displays typical juvenile morphology and color, as shown in fig. 9 of Lourenço & Rossi (2017: 6). In addition to the above observations, we note that the juvenile holotype of B. brignolii and juveniles of B. gigas Kraepelin, 1896, that we have studied, match closely in the following key described characters: trichobothrial pattern, pectinal tooth count and lamellar structure, proportions, setation, carination and sculpture of pedipalps, carapace, tergites, sternites, and metasoma, shape of the telson, as well as armature of pedipalp fingers. However, the conclusion that B. brignolii is a junior synonym of B. gigas is complicated by the listed type locality of B. brignolii (Central African Republic, Bamingui-Bangoran Province) which lies outside the known range of distribution of B. gigas (Tanzania) . We therefore regard Babycurus brignolii Lourenço et Rossi, 2017 as a nomen dubium until either the true distribution of both species is revised, or an adult topotype specimen of B. brignolii is described.