taxonID	type	description	language	source
0395277DFFA6FFB5C06347B0A1EEF86B.taxon	description	(Figures 1 – 38; Tables 1 – 2) http: // zoobank. org / urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: 1562 EED 8 - C 72 E- 407 F-A 311 - 5 D 70 C 2 DDE 2 AF	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
0395277DFFA6FFB5C06347B0A1EEF86B.taxon	materials_examined	TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE DEPOSITORY. CHINA, Tibet Autonomous Region, Nyingchi (or Linzhi, Nyingtri) prefecture-level City, Mêdog (or Motuo, Pemako) County, Drepung (or Beibeng, Baibung) Township (or Beibengxiang), 29 ° 13 ' 49.0 '' N 95 ° 10 ' 45.8 '' E (29.23027117 ° N 95.17938118 ° E), 1523 m a. s. l.; VT. TYPE MATERIAL. CHINA, Tibet Autonomous Region, Nyingchi prefecture-level City, Mêdog County, Drepung Township, 29 ° 13 ' 49.0 '' N 95 ° 10 ' 45.8 '' E, 1523 m a. s. l., 19 July 2023, 1 ♂ (holotype), 2 juvs. ♂ ♀ (paratypes), leg. Tongtong.	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
0395277DFFA6FFB5C06347B0A1EEF86B.taxon	etymology	ETYMOLOGY. The specific epithet is a patronym in honor of Indian scorpiologist Shubhankar Deshpande, a friend of the first author and a passionate, responsible scorpion enthusiast focusing on the taxonomy of Scorpiops and Isometrus Ehrenberg, 1828. The nexus between the concrete species and and its nomenclature was established based on its evident resemblance to the Indian congener, S. longimanus. Chinese equivalent: 德氏ĀH (roughly as “ Deshpande’s resemblant scorpion ” in English; see Tang (2022 a) for the rules of designation).	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
0395277DFFA6FFB5C06347B0A1EEF86B.taxon	diagnosis	DIAGNOSIS. Total length ca. 54 mm for male. Base color uniformly reddish brown to brownish black; chela manus, telson and parts of legs slightly brighter, genital plate, pectinal lamellae and venter brownish, pectinal teeth dark brown (in vivo, for holotype). Cuticular surface matte and moderately granular. Carapace with anteromedian notch triangular; ocular tubercle not distinct within ocular islet; ocular subislets moderate in length and coarsely granular; interocular sulcus distinct; superciliary carinae granular. Cheliceral fixed finger with basal and median denticles forming into a bicuspid trunk. PTC 8 in male and 7 in female; pectines with 3 marginal and 1 middle lamellae (P 4); fulcra present; sternites III – VI matte, VII granular with four distinct carinae. Pedipalp patella with strong prolateral apophysis; 17 – 18 external and 7 – 8 ventral trichobothria. Chela with 4 V series trichobothria; Eb 3 located in middle of manus at nearly the same level as Dt (type B); Ch-L / W ca. 4.78 in male. Dentate margin of movable fingers weakly undulate in male, with 13 – 14 OD, 83 – 97 MD, 51 – 65 IAD and 5 – 7 ID. Telotarsi of leg I – VI with 8 – 9 stout median ventral spinules nearly in a single row. Metasoma I – V with 10 - 8 - 8 - 8 - 7 carinae. Telson slender and relatively smooth; T-L / D ca. 3.57 in male; annular ring developed.	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
0395277DFFA6FFB5C06347B0A1EEF86B.taxon	description	DESCRIPTION (♂). Overall habitus (Figs. 1 – 2), prosoma, mesosoma, metasoma and telson, chelicera, legs and hemispermatophore were photographed under white light. Additional UV fluorescence imaging was applied for prosoma and mesosoma. Pedipalp was photographed only under UV light given its lack of distinct color patterns. Prosoma and mesosoma (Figs. 3 – 12, 24 – 25). Prosoma: Carapace with 3 pairs of lateral ocelli (two larger, one smaller); median ocular tubercle not distinct within islet, merged with granular ridges of antero- and postocular subislets; subislets moderated in length and coarsely granular, somewhat elevated; interocular sulcus distinct; superciliary carinae granular and gradually fused with subislets. Dorsomedian part of the carapace (ca. 2 / 3 of total area) planar, with anterolateral boundaries demarcated by coarse granules; lateral surfaces slanting downwards. Entire carapace densely covered with moderate granules, and adorned with lattice microstructures at non-granular regions; larger granules concentrated anteriorly at edges flanking anteromedian sulcus, and above and posterior to lateral ocelli; distinct carinae absent. Anterior margin of carapace with a prominent, triangular median notch leading to a shallow, smooth anteromedian sulcus; circumocular and posteromedian sulci smooth; lateral surfaces with a pair of moderate central lateral sulci and prominent posterior lateral sulci, both non-granular; posterior marginal sulcus deep. Chelicerae with dorsal surface smooth and ventral surface densely setose on 2 / 3 area; all denticles of cheliceral fingers sharp; basal and median denticles on fixed finger strongly conjoined on a common trunk. Mesosoma: Tergites I – III highly granular, VII coarsely granulated and pentacarinate; all tergites sparsely covered with small to moderate, pointed granules, becoming denser closer to posterior margins, with weak median carina indicated (more prominent on VI – IV while concealed by random granules on VII). Sternites III – IV smooth, with multiple macrosetae arrayed along the posterior margin, as well as two axisymmetric, curved furrows; sternite VII moderately granulated with two costate carinae; respiratory spiracles suboval. Genital operculum divided into two halves, with genital papillae at the base. Pectines with 3 marginal and 1 middle lamellae present; pectine teeth number 8 / 8; area of peg sensilla covers the majority of each pectinal tooth; fulcra present and developed; numerous fluorescent microsetae present. Metasoma and telson (Figs. 26 – 29). Metasoma sparsely hirsute and granulated; carinae formed by moderately fused granules (costate-granular). Metasoma I with 10 carinae, II – IV with 8 carinae, and V with 7 carinae; median lateral carinae of metasoma II – III very weakly indicated at the distal part by granules, absent on IV; all carinae weakly serrated, but stronger in ventromedian carina on metasoma V. Anal arch armed with sharp granules. Telson smooth, very sparsely hirsute, elongated and dorsally weakly concave; all surfaces nearly smooth, otherwise adorned by very fine granules; prominent annular ring developed. Vesicle with lateral surface furnished by one longitudinal sulci close to dorsal surface, and ventral surface with two parallel longitudinal sulci; all four sulci relatively shallow and basically smooth (covered with extremely minute granules). Aculeus smooth, short, very weakly curved (tip slightly broken). Pedipalps (Figs. 13 – 23). Pedipalps very sparsely hirsute, intercarinal surfaces scattered with small to moderate granules and patches of lattice microstructures. Patella with 17 / 18 (?) external (4 et, 4 est, 2 / 3 (?) em, 2 esb, 5 eb) and 7 / 8 ventral trichobothria. Chela with 4 V series trichobothria; trichobothrium Eb 3 located in middle of manus at nearly the same level as Dt (Eb 3 more proximal). Femur with 5 highly granular carinae and a densely granulated dorsal surface; promedian carina obsolete, delineated by two larger granules; retroventral carina partially incomplete, respectively diffusing into random granules of the same size as adjacent intercarinal granules proximally and distally; other 4 carinae complete, formed by large, discrete granules. Patella with 5 granular carinae with finely and sparsely intercarinal surfaces; granules smaller on retromedian carina; granules form a weakly reticulate configuration on dorsal surface; prolateral surface with a triangular apophysis armed with two long spiniform granules. Manus moderately adorned with small intercarinal granules on all surfaces; all carinae granular; subdigital and ventroexternal carinae obsolete; dorsal secondary, external secondary and ventrointernal carinae relatively short, gradually diffusing to dispersed granules distally; granules on dorsal marginal, ventromedian and interomedian carinae larger. Dentate margin of movable fingers weakly undulate (proximal lobe present), adorned by 14 / 14 OD, 97 / 91 MD, 65 / 60 IAD (same size as MD) and 7 / 6 ID; IAD series creates a second row along MD series without obvious subdivisions. Legs (Figs. 30 – 33). Tibia and tarsomeres of legs with several macrosetae not arranged into bristle combs. Basitarsi of legs I – II with two rows of dense, short spinules, but both absent on legs III – IV; a pair of pedal spurs present on the distal margin of all basitarsi. Telotarsi of legs I – IV with a row of short, stout ventromedian spinules (8 – 9 in number) of which two are always paired on the distal end. Ungues moderate in length, stout and curved. Carinae on femur and patella either finely granular or costate. Hemispermatophore (Figs. 35 – 38). Lamelliform in profile. Distal lamina long, moderately slender; basally constricted, terminally coiled and tapered. Capsule conforms to 2 - folds bauplan; distal posterior lobe marginally sclerotized and armed with ca. 12 denticles of which 4 located along the lateral edge; lateral hook entirely sclerotized, irregular in shape, apically sharpened; terminal membrane of sperm duct translucent but not spiculate; basal carina accords with Group 4 (Kovařík et al., 2020: 27), sclerotized and distally expended into a plate with polydentate basal crest bearing crown-like structure. Trunk broad with mid-axial rib dividing it into anterior and posterior halves, distal end of the axial rib connected to the sclerotized distal carina of the capsule by a narrow junction, truncal flexure absent. Pedicel (= foot, in Kovařík et al., 2020) broad, soft and translucent. Measurements. See Table 1. VARIATION. Several age-independent quantitative characters are recorded for the immature paratypes. Paratype male: (1) PTC 8 / 8; (2) ID 7 / 7, OD 14 / 14, MD 89 / 89, IAD 53 / 51; (3) PVTC 8 / 8. Paratype female: (1) PTC 7 / 7; (2) ID 5 / 6, OD 13 / 14, MD 83 / 86, IAD 54 / 55; (3) PVTC 8 / 8. It is noteworthy that pectinal teeth were not brownish but rather light yellow in the two immature paratypes, manifesting a marked color contrast against the dark brown pectinal lamellae. We are, however, uncertain if this indicates an anomaly in the holotype or a presence of ontogenetic variation. Concerning the unequivocal ontogenetic variation, the immature male possessed a proportionally shorter pedipalp with respect to the carapace length (pedipalp length to carapace length ratio ca. 4.18 in paratype male and ca. 4.99 in holotype male). The paratype female was not conspicuously different from the paratype male, except for the absence of genital papillae and a pair of smaller pectines with lower PTC, both ontogenetically invariant (sexual dimorphism). The shape of carapacial anteromedian notch and ocular islet was not sexually dimorphic. Proximal lobe of pedipalp movable finger was vestigial in both paratypes. AFFINITIES. S. deshpandei sp. n. can be confidently distinguished from its two congeneric geographic neighbors based on adult males. From S. kamengensis (Bastawade, 2006), it differs as follows: (1) pedipalp chela more slender (Fig. 13 vs. Kovařík et al., 2020: fig. 277); (2) movable finger with stronger proximal lobe and corresponding notch on fixed finger (Fig. 14 vs. Kovařík et al., 2020: fig. 278); (3) ID 5 – 7 (vs. 5), MD> 82 (vs. 80); (4) Eb 3 position type B (vs. A). From S. novaki, it differs as follows: (1) pedipalp much more slender (Fig. 13 vs. Kovařík, 2005: fig. 15); (2) PVTC 7 – 8 (vs. 8 – 9); (3) ID 5 – 7 (vs. 4), OD 13 – 14 (vs. 11 – 13), MD> 82 (vs. 70); (4) Eb 3 position type B (vs. A). Considering the known dispersal ability of several species in this genus (Kovařík et al., 2020: fig. 799), we further compared S. deshpandei sp. n. with four other congeners with elongated chelae in nearby regions where it can be readily distinguished from three of those species. From S. asthenurus Pocock, 1900, it differs as follows: (1) dorsal marginal carina of chela not curved (Fig. 13 vs. Kovařík et al., 2020: fig. 271); (2) PVTC 7 – 8 (vs. 8 – 9); (3) ID 5 – 7 (vs. 4 – 5), OD 13 – 14 (vs. 10 – 12), MD> 82 (vs. 75); (4) Eb 3 position type B (vs. A). From S. bhutanensis, it differs as follows: (1) pedipalp much less slender (Fig. 13 vs. Lv & Di, 2022 a: fig. 1); (2) pectines dark brown (vs. yellow; Fig. 9 vs. Lv & Di, 2022 a: fig. 13); (3) Eb 3 position type B (vs. A). From S. lii (Di & Qiao, 2020), it differs as follows: (1) pedipalp chela more slender (Fig. 13 vs. Di & Qiao, 2020: fig. 1); (2) venter and telson not bright yellow (Figs. 2, 29 vs. Di & Qiao, 2020: figs. 2, 15); (3) different pectinal morphology with higher PTC (8 vs. 5 – 6 in males; Fig. 9 vs. Di & Qiao, 2020: fig. 9); (4) Eb 3 position type B (vs. A). S. deshpandei sp. n. is undoubtedly most associated with S. longimanus Pocock, 1893 from India which warrants particular focus. A photograph depicting the external view of the chela of an adult male in Kovařík et al. (2020: fig. 282) implies that the proximal lobe on movable finger is somewhat weaker in S. longimanus. According to a recent redescription of this species based on 54 specimens by Malsawmdawngliana et al. (2022), it is also revealed that pectines are consistently light yellow in S. longimanus but dark brown in S. deshpandei sp. n. (Fig. 8; but see above for the note on immature specimens). Based on data from both Kovařík et al. (2020: 128) and Malsawmdawngliana et al. (2022: 6), the male S. longimanus is characterized as follows: (1) PTC: 6 / 7 (n = 1), 7 / 7 (n = 1), 8 / 7 (n = 1), 9 / 8 (n = 2); (2) PVTC: 9 – 11 (usually 10 – 11); (3) PETC: 18 – 19; (4) IAD: 50 – 60; (5) MD: 80; (6) ID: 5 – 6; (7) OD: 13 – 14; (8) Eb 3 position type A. While S. deshpandei sp. n. falls into the variation range of character 1, being identical on character 7, and overlapped in characters 3, 4 and 6 of S. longimanus, the discordance in PVTC (7 – 8), MD count (> 82) and Eb 3 position (type B), allows the differentiation. More importantly, our molecular analysis has further corroborated the status of this species as distinct from S. longimanus (Table 3). Collectively, S. deshpandei sp. n. is notably distinguished by its consistent type B Eb 3 position across all type specimens, a feature in contrast to the type A position observed in all its geographical neighbors possessing elongated pedipalp chelae. Specifically, in S. deshpandei sp. n., Dt is positioned centrally to distally along the digital carina within the manus, differing from its somewhat proximal location in other species. It is also appealing to observe a case of regeneration in the holotype male. The fourth right leg experienced loss of telotarsus and partial loss of basitarsus, and ungues and dactyl were regenerated at the extremity of the truncated basitarsus, alongside an increase of setae (Fig. 127). More intriguingly, rows of spinules and ventral vertices of lateroapical margin (= “ laterodistal lobes ” in Prendini, 2000: 59) typically present on the ventrodistal surface of telotarsus developed on this segment. Axial rows of spinules are absent from the normal 4 th basitarsus, while distal marginal spinules may present (Fig. 33). However, those structures on the regenerated segment were even denser than the normal telotarsi. The regeneration and proliferation of those structures may indicate a morphological compensation for the truncated leg to preserve its locomotive function. It is noteworthy that postnatal regeneration after physical damage does not fall under the category of teratology. Teratology is the study of congenital malformations and abnormalities that arise from exposure to teratogens — agents that cause disruptions during embryonic or fetal development. These teratogens can include chemicals, drugs, infections, and environmental factors that interfere with normal developmental processes. In contrast, postnatal regeneration refers to the body’s ability to repair and regenerate tissues after birth in response to injury or damage, and does not involve the congenital origins or prenatal developmental disruptions. BEHAVIORAL NOTES. The holotype of S. deshpandei sp. n. occasionally exhibited a cataleptic response, particularly after falling to the ground (cf. Tang, 2023: fig. 64). Upon the introduction of tactile stimulus through the touch of a finger, it may either dart for a short distance or remain motionless. However, this specimen displayed notable activity and agility, exhibiting aggression towards perceived threats. An inadvertent sting from this individual on the ventral surface of the index finger led to an immediate pricking sensation, followed by mild itching. However, the unpleasant sensation dissipated shortly after, giving way to moderate swelling. DISTRIBUTION. Known only from the type locality.	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
0395277DFFAFFFADC29542F3A2FFF86B.taxon	description	(Figures 39 – 72; Tables 1 – 2) http: // zoobank. org / urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: AC 035 EC 1 - C 699 - 4 C 7 E-B 78 D- 90 D 93 E 591779	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
0395277DFFAFFFADC29542F3A2FFF86B.taxon	materials_examined	TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE DEPOSITORY. CHINA, Tibet Autonomous Region, Nyingchi (or Linzhi, Nyingtri) prefecture-level City, Zayü (or Chayu, Zayul) County, 28 ° 33 ' 27.2 '' N 98 ° 17 ' 36.5 '' E (28.5575607 ° N 98.29347779 ° E), 2492 m a. s. l.; VT. TYPE MATERIAL. CHINA, Tibet Autonomous Region, Nyingchi City, Zayü County, 28 ° 33 ' 27.2 '' N 98 ° 17 ' 36.5 '' E, 2492 m a. s. l., 15 July 2023, 1 ♀ (holotype), leg. Tongtong.	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
0395277DFFAFFFADC29542F3A2FFF86B.taxon	etymology	ETYMOLOGY. The specific epithet is a patronym in honor of Czech scorpiologist František Kovařík, a major contributor to the taxonomy of Scorpiopidae, who has also been supporting the first author in her past publications. The nexus between the concrete species and and its nomenclature was established based on its evident resemblance to the congener described by F. Kovařík, S. jendeki. Chinese equivalent: ※ 氏ĀH (roughly as “ Kovařík’s resemblant scorpion ” in English; see Tang (2022 a) for the rules of designation).	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
0395277DFFAFFFADC29542F3A2FFF86B.taxon	diagnosis	DIAGNOSIS (♀). Total length ca. 33 mm for female. Base color uniformly brownish red to blackish brown; chela with fingers and carinae blackish and manus reddish, telson brownish red, genital plate light brown, pectines light yellow. Cuticular surface (somatic) matte and sparsely but coarsely granular; pedipalp chela manus lustrous. Carapace with anteromedian notch semicircular; ocular tubercle distinct within ocular islet, elliptical in profile; ocular subislets weakly granular and planar; interocular sulcus absent; superciliary carinae smooth. Cheliceral fixed finger with basal and median denticles forming into a bicuspid trunk. PTC 4 in female; fulcra absent; pectines with two marginal and one middle lamellae present (P 3); sternites III – VI lustrous, VII granular with four distinct carinae. Pedipalp patella with weak prolateral apophysis; 16 – 17 external and 5 – 6 ventral trichobothria. Chela with 4 V series trichobothria; Eb 3 located in proximal half of manus between Dt and Db (type D); Ch-L / W ca. 2.4 in female. Dentate margin of movable fingers not undulate in female, with 9 – 10 OD, 49 – 51 MD, 6 – 7 IAD and 6 ID. Telotarsi of leg I – VI with ca. 6 – 12 stout median ventral spinules nearly in a single row. Metasoma I – V with 10 - 8 - 8 - 8 - 7 carinae. Telson moderately short and moderately bulbous, densely covered with fine granules; T-L / D ca. 3.05 in female; annular ring developed.	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
0395277DFFAFFFADC29542F3A2FFF86B.taxon	description	DESCRIPTION (♀). Overall habitus (Figs. 39 – 40), prosoma, mesosoma, metasoma and telson, chelicera and legs were photographed under white light. Additional UV fluorescence imaging was applied for prosoma and mesosoma. Prosoma and mesosoma (Figs. 41 – 50, 62 – 63). Prosoma: Carapace with 3 pairs of lateral ocelli (two larger, one smaller); median ocular tubercle distinct within ocular islet, elliptical in profile; subislets weakly granular, approximately planar; interocular sulcus absent; superciliary carinae smooth. Dorsomedian part of the carapace (ca. 1 / 2 of total area) planar, with anterolateral boundaries demarcated by coarse granules; lateral surfaces slanting downwards. Entire carapace moderately covered with fine to median-sized granules, weakly lustrous at non-granular regions; larger and somewhat interfused granules concentrated anteriorly at edges flanking anteromedian sulcus, and above and posterior to lateral ocelli; distinct carinae absent. Anterior margin of carapace with a shallow, semicircular median notch leading to a shallow, smooth anteromedian sulcus; circumocular and posteromedian sulci smooth and matte; lateral surfaces with a pair of indistinct central lateral sulci and prominent posterior lateral sulci, both smooth and matte; posterior marginal sulcus deep. Chelicerae with dorsal surface smooth and ventral surface densely setose on 2 / 3 area; all denticles of cheliceral fingers relatively blunt but might had been caused by abrasion; basal and median denticles on fixed finger conjoined on a common trunk. Mesosoma: All tergites (except for pretergites which are moderately lustrous) covered by a layer of matte, greyish mask, contrasting with the smooth granules that reflect the base color; all tergites covered with moderate to large, somewhat flattened granules, becoming larger closer to posterior margins, with one distinct median carina (less prominent on I – II while concealed by random granules on VII). Sternites III – IV highly lustrous, with sparse macrosetae and fluorescent microsetae as well as two axisymmetric, curved furrows; sternite VII strongly granulated with four granular carinae; respiratory spiracles oval. Genital operculum divided into two halves, without genital papillae at the base. Pectines with two marginal and one middle lamellae present, distal furrow on the right pectine not fully delineated; pectine teeth number 4 / 4; area of peg sensilla concentrated along the external edge of each pectinal tooth, minute in size; fulcra absent; fluorescent microsetae present. Metasoma and telson (Figs. 64 – 67). Metasoma sparsely hirsute and weakly granulated; carinae formed by larger granules. Metasoma I with 10 carinae, II – IV with 8 carinae, and V with 7 carinae; median lateral carinae of metasoma II – IV decomposed into random granules and do not form distinct carinae; all carinae serrated, especially the ventrolateral and ventromedian carinae on metasoma V. Anal arch armed with sharp granules. Telson lustrous, very sparsely hirsute, moderately short and bulbous; all surfaces nearly smooth; prominent annular ring developed. Vesicle with lateral surface furnished by one longitudinal sulci close to dorsal surface, and ventral surface with two parallel longitudinal sulci; lateral sulci deeper than ventral sulci. Aculeus smooth, short, weakly curved (tip broken). Pedipalps (Figs. 51 – 61). Pedipalps sparsely hirsute, intercarinal surfaces scattered with generally sparse granules and patches of lattice microstructures. Patella with 17 / 16 external (4 / 3 et, 4 est, 2 em, 2 esb, 5 eb; one esb closer to em series) and 5 / 6 ventral trichobothria. Chela with 4 V series trichobothria; trichobothrium Eb 3 located in proximal half of manus between trichobothria Dt and Db. Femur with 6 highly granular carinae and a coarsely granulated dorsal surface; retromedian and retroventral carinae incomplete, respectively deconstructed into discrete granules proximally and distally; granules larger on promedian, retrodorsal and proventral carinae. Patella with 5 lustrous, granular or costate carinae and weakly granulated intercarinal surfaces; prodorsal carina granular; proventral carina costate-granular; retrodorsal, retromedian and retroventral carinae costate; granules do form a distinct reticulate configuration on ventral surface; prolateral surface with a triangular apophysis not armed by prominent spiniform granules. Manus sparsely adorned with small to moderate intercarinal granules, which form a reticulate configuration with large hollows on dorsal surface; dorsal secondary carina indicated, gradually diffusing to dispersed granules; subdigital and ventrointernal carinae obsolete; dorsal internal and dorsal marginal carinae evidently separated, with dorsal internal carina indicated by large but flat granules; dorsal marginal, digital, external secondary, ventroexternal, ventromedian and interomedian carinae strongly costate and lustrous. Dentate margin of movable fingers not undulate (proximal lobe absent), adorned by 10 / 9 OD, 51 / 49 MD, 6 / 7 IAD (same size as OD and ID) and 6 / 6 ID; IAD series creates an incomplete second row along MD series, paired with OD distally, which divide the entire MD series into several subrows, each ended in a slightly enlarged MD. Legs (Figs. 68 – 71). Tibia and tarsomeres of legs with several macrosetae not arranged into bristle combs. Basitarsi of legs I – II with two rows of dense, short spinules, becoming vestigial on legs III and IV; a pair of pedal spurs present on the distal margin of all basitarsi (one lost due to injury on IV). Telotarsi of legs I – IV with a row of short, stout ventromedian spinules (ca. 6 – 12 in number). Ungues moderately short, stout and curved. Carinae on femur and patella distinct, granular to costate-granular. Measurements. See Table 1. AFFINITIES. S. kovariki sp. n. can be confidently differentiated from all its Tibetan congeners, even those dark colored species with stout chelae, including S. atomatus, S. ingens, S. langxian Qi et al., 2005, S. lourencoi, S. margerisonae and S. tibetanus, by a completely different pectine morphology (short and light yellow, comprising only four teeth; Figs. 46, 49), alongside a plethora of other pronounced distinctions. Intriguingly, this species showcases a remarkable resemblance with S. jendeki from Yunnan. S. jendeki is the most widespread Scorpiops species in Yunnan with its northmost occurrence in Gongshan County, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture (Tang, 2023: table 2; adjacent with the type locality of S. kovariki sp. n.); recent investigation also revealed its occurrence in Kachang, Yingjiang County (pers. comm., Tongtong). Both species are small in size, with short, robust pedipalps bearing movable fingers devoid of proximal lobes, as well as relatively short pectines and sparsely granulated tergites. Detailed photographs of S. jendeki can be referred from Tang (2023: figs. 97 – 100, 137, 146, 155, 164, 173 – 174, 196 – 199). Cursory examination on the holotype female detected a pair of proportionally small median ocelli and lustrous pedipalp manus and telson in contrast to S. jendeki, which led us to suspect its identity. To eliminate the possibility that the glossy appearance of the chela and telson observed in the holotype of S. kovariki sp. n. was not unique to this species, additional specimens of S. jendeki previously collected from Yunnan were reexamined (partially listed in Tang, 2023: 2). It was ascertained that, at least on the basis of the 21 specimens examined, S. jendeki is not characterized by a smoothness on chelae. Comparative photos of those specimens, with the holotype of S. kovariki sp. n., are included in the supplementary PDF file. Following a scrutiny upon the holotype of S. kovariki sp. n., several morphological distinctions from S. jendeki, confined to the comparison between adult females, are proposed: (1) carapacial anteromedian notch proportionally shallow and semicircular (vs. typically deep and dome-shaped in S. jendeki; cf. Fig. 48 vs. Tang, 2023: fig. 146); (2) ocular islet proportionally longer with respect to the median ocelli but smaller with respect to the carapace, with an elliptical ocular tubercle (vs. shorter and larger with a rounded ocular tubercle in S. jendeki; cf. Fig. 48 vs. Tang, 2023: fig. 146); (3) relatively small median ocelli with respect to the carapace (cf. Fig. 48 vs. Tang, 2023: fig. 146); (4) carapace somewhat more flattened and less triangular (cf. Fig. 48 vs. Tang, 2023: fig. 146); (5) pedipalp chela manus lustrous (vs. matte in S. jendeki; cf. Figs. 72 – 73); (6) dorsal internal carinae of chela manus with fewer and weaker granules (vs. typically prominent and strongly spiniform in S. jendeki; cf. Fig. 51 vs. Tang, 2023: fig. 99); (7) region along the dorsal marginal on dorsal surface of manus not adorned by darkened granules (vs. densely adorned by darkened granules in S. jendeki; cf. Fig. 51 vs. Tang, 2023: fig. 99); (8) dorsal marginal, external secondary and ventromedian carinae of chela manus highly costate (vs. costate-granular to granular in S. jendeki; cf. Figs. 51 – 52 vs. Tang, 2023: figs. 99 – 100); (9) retrodorsal carinae of pedipalp patella costate (vs. granular to costate-granular in S. jendeki; cf. Fig. 54 vs. Tang, 2023: fig. 174); (10) mesosoma with a distinct median carina and denser and coarser granules exhibiting stronger between-granule size contrast (vs. median carina less discernable, with granules being sparse and ambiguous; cf. Fig 42 vs. Tang, 2023: fig. 164, and Figs. 72 – 73); (11) telson slightly more lustrous (cf. Figs. 72 – 73); (12) pectines with less dense fluorescent microsetae (cf. Fig. 49 vs. Tang, 2023: fig. 199). With reference to Kovařík et al. (2020: 129, table 9), the only reliable quantitative disparity between the two species appears to lie in the count of IAD (6 – 7 in S. kovariki sp. n. vs. 10 in S. jendeki). 18 specimens of S. jendeki were counted for their finger denticles, with two of which represented by a single finger respectively (number of fingers n = 34, including the one examined in Kovařík et al. (2020 )). While their illustration indeed displayed an evident count of 10 IAD (Kovařík et al., 2020: 18, fig. 115), a noticeable level of intricacy was observed in the materials examined herein. Specifically, additional denticles may be present at the proximo-internal side flanking the main MD series. They represent a category of complex denticles that had been considered as a part of the MD series in Tang (2022 b, 2023). There may be no explicit hiatus between those denticles and the preceding definitive IAD as shown in Kovařík et al. (2020). Unbiasedly incorporating all these denticles into the IAD series would result in a considerable degree of variability in the count of IAD for S. jendeki (ca. 9 – 18, mean ± standard deviation = 13.35 ± 1.98). On the other hand, a biased count rendered a total range of ca. 7 – 10 (mean ± standard deviation = 8.44 ± 0.66), with the determination based on the subjectively perceived interdental distance and whether the pertinent denticle is paired with an OD on the opposing side. Given the potential ambiguity in distinguishing between IAD and MD, their sum (mean ± standard deviation = 65.74 ± 2.73) was therefore calculated for comparison with that of S. kovariki sp. n. The examined 34 movable fingers of S. jendeki yielded a biased MD (defined as sum minus biased IAD) of 57.29 ± 2.74 (mean ± standard deviation; range 50 – 62). As an additional reference, the IAD and MD counts of S. kovariki sp. n. was further compared the biased IAD and MD counts of S. jendeki. A simple linear regression test was performed to detect the possible correlation between left and right finger denticle counts of the 16 examined S. jendeki specimens: (1) sum comparison, R 2 = 0.3655 (Pearson’s r = 0.6046), p = 0.01311; (2) biased IAD comparison, R 2 = 0.04368 (Pearson’s r = - 0.209), p = 0.4373; (3) biased MD comparison, R 2 = 0.4607 (Pearson’s r = 0.6788), p = 0.00384. Since one of the correlations was weak, we first treated these 32 fingers as independent and included the two solitary fingers (hence n = 34 in total). Those data were compared against the data (two fingers) of S. kovariki sp. n., which yielded a statistically significant difference (two-sample Mann-Whitney U test): (1) sum comparison, p = 0.02018; (2) biased IAD comparison, p = 0.01165; (3) biased MD comparison, p = 0.02398. Alternatively, we compared the means between the two species (for S. jendeki, the data of two solitary fingers represented their own mean, hence n = 18). Shapiro-Wilk test was first taken to confirm normality in the count of S. jendeki: (1) sum data confirmed normal: W = 0.9833, p = 0.9774; (2) biased IAD data confirmed non-normal (symmetrical but leptokurtic): W = 0.8687, p = 0.01696; (3) biased MD data confirmed normal: W = 0.9812, p = 0.9613. Consequently, a one-sample t-test was used for the sum and biased MD comparison, which yielded p - values of 1.088 e- 14 and 3.197 e- 10 respectively. An outlier detection for the dataset comprising the mean IAD of all specimens of both species (dataset n = 19) was conducted based on Tukey’s fences (k = 1.5). Data 6.5 (mean IAD of S. kovariki sp. n.) and 10 (of one S. jendeki, which was a solitary value, not a mean) were identified as outliers. When the two solitary counts of two S. jendeki were discarded (dataset n = 17), the single outlier was S. kovariki sp. n. If the data of S. jendeki (i. e., 16 mean and 2 solitary) were compared with the two raw data of S. kovariki sp. n. by two-sample Mann-Whitney U test, a significant p - value of 0.02007 was obtained (discarding the two solitary values yielded a lower p - value, 0.0192). In all cases, the two counts were found significantly different between the two species. However, these results must be taken with caution as the sample size for S. kovariki sp. n. is exceedingly small, and our analysis was based on the assumption that the data of that species represent its population mean. Regrettably, our molecular analysis revealed a low 16 S genetic distance between the two species (0.02, compared to the within-species variation of S. longimanus, 0 – 0.05, as well as the between-species distance of other species; Table 3). However, a low genetic distance is not always a negation of heterospecificity, and phenotypes can exhibit high rates of speciation even when genetic divergence is relatively low between species (Tarvin et al., 2017). Low genetic divergence often favors the assumption that the observed phenotypic difference may be due to intraspecific variation. Empirically, intraspecific phenotypic variation in the genus Scorpiops is typically limited to a few diagnostic characters (e. g., total length, trichobothria count, PTC, and ratiometrics of pedipalp chela, finger lobe and telson). Another variable meristic is the pedipalp finger denticle count, where our new species putatively represents an outlier from the variation range of S. jendeki. While quantitative characters display obvious variations in this genus, several qualitative characters remain very stable and conserved where their phenotypic plasticity is unprecedent in Scorpiops (i. e., no within-species polymorphism), particularly the carination (costate or granular). Those characters were leveraged in the previous species described by the first author, which is now further validated via molecular data (Table 3). Our new species exhibited similar distinctions from its closest congener. As a result, we reckon that the holotype female does not represent a new record of S. jendeki in Xizang, but rather a distinct yet closely related species. The most salient characters that distinguish S. kovariki sp. n. from S. jendeki are the lustrous pedipalp chela and costate carination in the former (see supplementary PDF for more photos). BEHAVIORAL NOTES. The holotype of S. kovariki sp. n. had given birth to a brood of scorplings, currently reared by the second author. The first author’s observation unveiled a temperament characterized by considerable sensitivity, reminiscent of that exhibited by the holotype S. matthewi sp. n. However, the holotype S. kovariki sp. n. displayed a more bellicose demeanor, often resorting to attack the perceived predatory stimulus using its pedipalps and telson. In contrast to adult females of S. jendeki, where individuals typically adopted a motionless stance, S. kovariki sp. n. tended to exhibit a preference for a fight-or-flight response, with cataleptic behavior being rarely observed. Such ethological discrepancy might be species-dependent. DISTRIBUTION. Known only from the type locality, but might extend to Yunnan Province.	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
0395277DFFB7FF9AC2AF42F3A1EEFD0B.taxon	description	(Figures 74 – 107; Tables 1 – 2) http: // zoobank. org / urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: FA 7 BDC 98 - 0021 - 4157 - A 4 AC- 0 A 5 BE 3405669	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
0395277DFFB7FF9AC2AF42F3A1EEFD0B.taxon	materials_examined	TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE DEPOSITORY. CHINA, Tibet Autonomous Region, Xigazê (or Rikaze, Shigatse) City, Samzhubzê (or Sangzhuzi, Samzhubzêqü) District, 29 ° 16 ' 26.1 '' N 88 ° 52 ' 38.9 '' E (29.27390958 ° N 88.87748148 ° E), 3897 m a. s. l.; VT. TYPE MATERIAL. CHINA, Tibet Autonomous Region, Xigazê City, Samzhubzê District, 29 ° 16 ' 26.1 '' N 88 ° 52 ' 38.9 '' E, 3897 m a. s. l., 21 July 2023, 1 ♀ (holotype), 2 ♀ (paratypes) VT, 1 ♀ (paratype), FKCP, leg. Tongtong.	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
0395277DFFB7FF9AC2AF42F3A1EEFD0B.taxon	etymology	ETYMOLOGY. The specific epithet is a patronym in honor of the American scorpiologist Matthew R. Graham (Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, Connecticut, USA), who kindly helped the first author in finishing the important revision of Xinjiang Olivierus (Tang et al., 2024), for his significant contribution to the phylogenetic taxonomy of scorpions. Chinese equivalent: IJ 氏ĀH (roughly as “ Matthew’s resemblant scorpion ” in English; see Tang (2022 a) for the rules of designation).	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
0395277DFFB7FF9AC2AF42F3A1EEFD0B.taxon	diagnosis	DIAGNOSIS. (♀) Total length ca. 60 mm for fmale holotype. Base color uniformly brownish red to blackish brown; chela with fingers and carinae blackish and manus reddish, telson brownish yellow, genital plate and pectines light yellow with pectinal teeth brownish. Cuticular surface irregularly lustrous and finely granular. Carapace with anteromedian notch dome-shaped; ocular tubercle distinct within ocular islet, elliptical in profile; ocular subislets weakly granular and planar; interocular sulcus weak; superciliary carinae smooth. Cheliceral fixed finger with basal and median denticles not forming into a bicuspid trunk. PTC 4 – 5 in female; pectines form one compact unit with an incomplete furrow between areas where marginal and middle lamellae are usually delimited (P 1); fulcra present but weak; sternites III – VI lustrous, VII granular with four distinct carinae. Pedipalp patella with weak prolateral apophysis; 17 (or 15) external and 6 – 7 ventral trichobothria in fmale. Chela with 4 V series trichobothria; Eb 3 located in proximal half of manus between Dt and Db (type D); Ch-L / W ca. 2.78 in female holotype manus with external secondary carina strongly developed and costate. Dentate margin of movable fingers weakly to moderately undulate in female, with 8 – 9 OD, 59 – 71 MD, 20 – 31 IAD and 6 ID. Telotarsi of leg I – VI with 8 – 10 stout median ventral spinules nearly in a single row. Metasoma I – V with 10 - 8 - 8 - 8 - 7 carinae. Telson relatively short and highly bulbous, densely covered with fine granules; T-L / D ca. 2.54 in holotype female; annular ring developed.	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
0395277DFFB7FF9AC2AF42F3A1EEFD0B.taxon	description	DESCRIPTION (♀ holotype). Overall habitus (Figs. 74 – 75), prosoma, mesosoma, metasoma and telson, chelicera and legs were photographed under white light. Additional UV fluorescence imaging was applied for prosoma and mesosoma. Sparkles presented on the cuticle (prominent in UV photos) due to its highly lustrous texture. Prosoma and mesosoma (Figs. 76 – 85, 97 – 98). Prosoma: Carapace with 3 pairs of lateral ocelli (two larger, one smaller); median ocular tubercle distinct within ocular islet, elliptical in profile; subislets finely granular, approximately planar; interocular sulcus weak; superciliary carinae smooth. Dorsomedian part of the carapace (ca. 1 / 2 of total area) planar, without obvious boundary; lateral surfaces slanting downwards. Entire carapace densely covered with fine granules, but highly lustrous at non-granular regions; larger granules concentrated anteriorly at edges flanking anteromedian sulcus, and above and posterior to lateral ocelli; distinct carinae absent. Anterior margin of carapace with a prominent, dome-shaped median notch leading to a shallow, finely granulated anteromedian sulcus; circumocular and posteromedian sulci lustrous; lateral surfaces with a pair of shallow central lateral sulci and prominent posterior lateral sulci, both lustrous; posterior marginal sulcus deep. Chelicerae with dorsal surface smooth and ventral surface moderately setose along the fixed finger; all denticles of cheliceral fingers relatively blunt but might had been caused by abrasion; basal and median denticles on fixed finger not strongly conjoined on a common trunk. Mesosoma: Tergites I – III highly lustrous, VII coarsely granulated and pentacarinate; all tergites covered with small to moderate, somewhat flattened granules, becoming larger closer to posterior margins, with one very weak median carina indicated (more prominent on VI – IV while concealed by random granules on VII). Sternites III – IV highly lustrous, with sparse macrosetae and fluorescent microsetae as well as two axisymmetric, curved furrows; sternite VII strongly granulated with four granular carinae; respiratory spiracles suboval. Genital operculum divided into two halves, without genital papillae at the base. Pectines form one compact unit with incomplete furrow between areas where marginal and middle lamellae are usually delimited; pectine teeth number 7 / 7; area of peg sensilla concentrated along the external edge of each pectinal tooth; fulcra present but weak; fluorescent microsetae present. Metasoma and telson (Figs. 99 – 102). Metasoma sparsely hirsute but densely granulated; carinae formed by larger granules. Metasoma I with 10 carinae, II – IV with 8 carinae, and V with 7 carinae; median lateral carinae of metasoma II – IV decomposed into random granules and do not form distinct carinae; all carinae serrated, especially the ventrolateral and ventromedian carinae on metasoma V. Anal arch armed with sharp granules. Telson lustrous, very sparsely hirsute, proportionally short and very bulbous; dorsal surface adorned by fine granules, other surfaces with denser and larger granules; prominent annular ring developed. Vesicle with lateral surface furnished by one longitudinal sulci close to dorsal surface, and ventral surface with two parallel longitudinal sulci; all four sulci relatively shallow and basically smooth (covered with extremely minute granules). Aculeus smooth, short, weakly curved. Pedipalps (Figs. 86 – 96). Pedipalps sparsely hirsute, intercarinal surfaces scattered with small to moderate granules and patches of lattice microstructures. Patella with 17 external (4 et, 4 est, 2 em, 2 esb, 5 eb; one esb closer to em series) and 7 ventral trichobothria. Chela with 4 V series trichobothria; trichobothrium Eb 3 located in proximal half of manus between trichobothria Dt and Db. Femur with 6 highly granular carinae and a densely granulated dorsal surface; retromedian and retroventral carinae incomplete, respectively deconstructed into discrete granules proximally and distally; granules larger on promedian, retrodorsal and proventral carinae. Patella with 5 lustrous, granular or costate carinae and an unevenly granulated dorsal surface; prodorsal carina granular; retrodorsal and proventral carinae costate-granular; retromedian and retroventral carinae costate; granules form a reticulate configuration on ventral surface; prolateral surface with a triangular apophysis armed with four short spiniform granules. Manus densely adorned with small to moderate intercarinal granules, which form a reticulate configuration on dorsal surface; dorsal secondary, subdigital and ventrointernal carinae obsolete, gradually diffusing to dispersed granules; dorsal internal and dorsal marginal carinae nearly fused, formed by irregular granules; digital, external secondary, ventroexternal, ventromedian and interomedian carinae strongly costate and lustrous. Dentate margin of movable fingers moderately undulate (proximal lobe present), adorned by 9 / 9 OD, ca. 65 / 71 MD, 27 / 31 IAD (smaller than MD) and 6 / 6 ID (3 rd and 4 th ID on right finger each with one additional denticle, marked in pink; also one additional denticle on the outer side); IAD series creates a second row along MD series, several enlarged IAD may be paired with OD distally, which divide both MD and IAD series into several subrows. Legs (Figs. 103 – 106). Tibia and tarsomeres of legs with several macrosetae not arranged into bristle combs. Basitarsi of legs I – II with two rows of dense, short spinules, while one row becomes sparser on leg III and absent on leg IV; a pair of pedal spurs present on the distal margin of all basitarsi. Telotarsi of legs I – IV with a row of short, stout ventromedian spinules (8 – 10 in number) of which two are always paired on the distal end. Ungues moderately short, stout and curved. Carinae on femur and patella either finely granular or costate. Measurements. See Table 1. VARIATION. The two paratype females examined by the first author were documented with the following values: (1) paratype 1 (finger apically broken, dentition data not included in the diagnosis): PTC 4 / 4, ID 4 / 4, OD 9 / 8, MD 61 / 67, IAD 18 / 16, PVTC 7 / 7, PETC 15 (4 et, 3 est, 1 em, 2 esb, 5 eb) / 15 (3 et, 4 est, 2 em, 2 esb, 4 eb); (2) paratype 2: PTC 4 / 4, ID 6 / 6, OD 8 / 8, MD 59 / 61, IAD 23 / 20, PVTC 6 / 7, PETC 17 (4 et, 4 est, 2 em, 2 esb, 5 eb) / 17 (4 et, 4 est, 2 em, 2 esb, 5 eb). In all examined specimens, the distal esb always presented on nearly the same level with the two em. Paratype 3 was indirectly examined via the photographs taken by the second author, and its PTC and PVTC were counted as 5 / 5 and 7 / 7, respectively. Photographs of the paratypes can be accessed from the supplementary PDF. AFFINITIES. S. matthewi sp. n. can be confidently differentiated from its two sympatric congeners based on adult females. From S. tibetanus (earlier records suggest its presence in this region but further study is required to confirm the identity; Tang, 2023: 48), it differs as follows: (1) pedipalp chela proportionally larger in comparison to the prosoma (Fig. 74 vs. Lv & Di, 2022 b: fig. 35); (2) pedipalp chela more flattened and elongated (Figs. 86 – 87 vs. Lv & Di, 2022 b: figs. 61 – 62); (3) pedipalp patella more elongated with distance between prodorsal and retrodorsal carinae narrower (Fig. 89 vs. Lv & Di, 2022 b: fig. 54); (4) pedipalp femur more elongated with the distance between prodorsal and retrodorsal carinae not prominently increased distally, and retrodorsal carina not strongly undulate (Fig. 92 vs. Lv & Di, 2022 b: fig. 53). From S. lourencoi, it differs as follows: (1) pedipalp chela proportionally larger in comparison to the prosoma (Fig. 74 vs. Lv & Di, 2022 b: fig. 67); (2) pedipalp chela more flattened (Figs. 87 vs. Lv & Di, 2022 b: figs. 94); (3) pedipalp chela not adorned by large, rounded granules (Figs. 86 – 87 vs. Lv & Di, 2022 b: figs. 93); (4) pedipalp movable finger with stronger proximal lobe (Fig. 87 vs. Lv & Di, 2022 b: figs. 94); (5) pedipalp patella more elongated with distance between prodorsal and retrodorsal carinae narrower (Fig. 89 vs. Lv & Di, 2022 b: fig. 86); (6) pedipalp femur more elongated with the distance between prodorsal and retrodorsal carinae not prominently increased distally, and retrodorsal carina not strongly undulate (Fig. 92 vs. Lv & Di, 2022 b: fig. 85); (7) different pectinal morphology with lower PTC (4 vs. 7 – 8 in females; Fig. 81 vs. Lv & Di, 2022 b: fig. 77). With irrespective to the distribution range, within Tibet, S. matthewi sp. n. most resembles S. ingens from Lhasa by its overall features, including the relatively large and flattened pedipalp chela, proportionally long metasoma and elongated metasoma V (cf. Yin et al., 2015: fig. 3). However, a simple character allows the differentiation where S. ingens exhibits a different pectinal morphology (cf. Yin et al., 2015: fig. 8) with higher PTC (6 – 8 in females). Within Xigazê, S. matthewi sp. n. appears to bear a much closer affinity with S. rufus in terms of the females, but several discovered distinctions raise reasonable doubts against considering them conspecific: (1) pedipalp chela proportionally larger in comparison to the prosoma (Fig. 74 vs. Lv & Di, 2023: fig. 3; ChL / CaL 1.79 in holotype S. matthewi sp. n. and 1.54 in paratype S. rufus; ChW / CaL 0.64 in holotype S. matthewi sp. n. and 0.6 in paratype S. rufus); (2) pedipalp chela more flattened (Fig. 87 vs. Lv & Di, 2023: fig. 32; S. matthewi sp. n. holotype Ch-D’ = 3.72 mm, Ch-L / D’ = 3.83, Ch-L / D = 3.04; S. rufus paratype Ch-L / D = 3.27, probably unstandardized); (3) external secondary carinae of chela composed of a longer, continuous and costate portion before deconstructing into discrete granules (Fig. 87 vs. Lv & Di, 2023: fig. 32); (4) interomedian carina of chela more straight and longer relative to ventromedian carina (conspicuously shorter and curved proximally in S. rufus), creating a smaller included angle when they are extended to the distal infinity (Fig. 88 vs. Lv & Di, 2023: fig. 33); (5) pedipalp patella more flattened with highly developed and costate retromedian carina (Fig. 90 vs. Lv & Di, 2023: fig. 25); (6) pedipalp femur more elongated with the distance between prodorsal and retrodorsal carinae not prominently increased distally, and retrodorsal carina not strongly undulate (Fig. 92 vs. Lv & Di, 2023: fig. 23; this is not influenced by the view angle, see other figures of the holotype and the compared species); (7) PTC lower (4 – 5 vs. 5 – 6 in females; Fig. 81 vs. Lv & Di, 2023: fig. 15); (8) pectinal fulcra present (vs. absent; Figs. 84 vs. Lv & Di, 2023: 325, fig. 15); (9) distal part of ventral surface outline of telson less convex when viewed laterally (Fig. 102 vs. Lv & Di, 2023: fig. 22; however, T-L / D contradicts this distinction). Another decisive character lies in the number of IAD on the pedipalp movable finger where numerous denticles (IAD) of unequal sizes are present along the MD series in all examined specimens (3 specimens, 6 fingers) of S. matthewi sp. n. yet such denticles are only paired with OAD in the male S. rufus (Figs. 95 – 96 vs. Lv & Di, 2023: fig. 30). While we acknowledge the incomparability between male and female specimens, sexual dimorphism is not known to exist in this regard. With reference to the observation in S. tongtongi, such intersexual discordance only presents in the series posterior to the proximal lobe (Tang, 2023: 8 – 9). Regrettably, no data was provided for the count of S. rufus in its original description. Geographically, both S. lourencoi and S. matthewi sp. n. are distributed on the south bank of Yarlung Tsangpo River, while S. rufus is on the north thereof (cf. Lv & Di, 2023: fig. 39). However, as no topotypes of the latter species were available for sequencing (and the coordinates for its type locality were also unknown), we cannot molecularly substantiate its validity against S. rufus. Nevertheless, the above listed differences justify it as a distinct species, particularly characters 2 – 5, 7 – 8 and number of IAD. The most salient character differentiating the two species is the “ flatness ” of pedipalp chela, where S. matthewi sp. n. exhibits a conspicuously more flattened chela with fairly narrow intraspecific variation in this regard. Since no specimens of S. rufus were available, the comparability and authenticity of the figures provided by Lv & Di (2023: figs. 28, 32) were confirmed by the chela photos of S. atomatus and S. tibetanus (for which specimens are available) given in Lv & Di (2022 b), assuming their photographic setup and procedure remained consistent across papers. Specimens of S. matthewi sp. n. were also examined from different view angles to exclude the potential bias arising therefrom. Ultimately, the credibility of this diagnostic feature was affirmed by the inability to reproduce a similar visual effect of the chela in S. matthewi sp. n. compared to S. rufus. The description for female S. rufus was founded upon four adults (Lv & Di, 2023: 325). The authors mentioned the following character variations: (1) coloration of female S. rufus (except for the pedipalps) lighter than that of males (Lv & Di, 2023: 328), being yellowish-brown; (2) PVTC: 6 / 7 (n = 1), 7 / 7 (n = 1), 7 / 8 (n = 1) and 8 / 8 (n = 1); (3) PTC: 5 / 5 (n = 1), 5 / 6 (n = 1), 6 / 5 (n = 1) and 6 / 6 (n = 1). Similarly, four adult females of S. matthewi sp. n. were documented with the following intraspecific variations: (1) coloration of legs consistently dark brown (vs. orangish brown to reddish brown; cf. Lv & Di, 2023: figs. 35 – 37); (2) PVTC: 6 / 7 (n = 1) and 7 / 7 (n = 3); (3) PTC: 4 / 4 (n = 3) and 5 / 5 (n = 1). The difference between the female PTC of two species is statistically significant (two-sample Mann-Whitney U test): p = 0.002108 (when treat all data as independent; n = 8 for each species) or 0.03599 (when take their means; n = 4 for each species). Crucially, this was based on a small sample size, hence the result remains referential. The variations for the two quantitative characters are incorporated into the diagnosis above. BEHAVIORAL NOTES. The holotype of S. matthewi sp. n. was relatively ferocious and agitated, while also exhibiting a certain proclivity of avoiding threats by fleeing. No adoption of catalepsy was observed. In contrast, the female S. margerisonae was more docile and may remain motionless upon tactile stimulus introduced by finger. It did not promptly seek shelter after being exposed to light, as opposed to S. matthewi sp. n. However, a mere touch by the finger may not incite S. matthewi sp. n. to employ its pedipalp chela for pinching. Nevertheless, the scorpion displayed a defensive posture by opening these appendages.	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
0395277DFFB7FF9AC2AF42F3A1EEFD0B.taxon	distribution	DISTRIBUTION. Known only from the type locality.	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
0395277DFF80FF9FC1A140B4A26AFC8B.taxon	description	(Figures 108, 111, 114, 119 – 120, 125 – 126) http: // zoobank. org / urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: 8 CE 10215 - 400 C- 4 A 55 - BA 9 A- 3854 AF 68 BF 55	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
0395277DFF80FF9FC1A140B4A26AFC8B.taxon	materials_examined	MATERIAL EXAMINED. CHINA, Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa City, Nyêmo (or Nimu) County, 29 ° 19 ' 00.7 '' N 90 ° 18 ' 43.8 '' E (29.31685629 ° N 90.31216129 ° E), 3698 m a. s. l., 20 th July 2023, 1 ♂ 1 juv. ♀, leg. Tongtong, VT.	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
0395277DFF80FF9FC1A140B4A26AFC8B.taxon	discussion	REMARKS. S. margerisonae was originally described on the basis of a single adult male of unknown locality in Tibet (Kovařík, 2000: 189). This species was characterized by the presence of movable finger proximal lobe in male, a PVTC of 8 – 9, a PETC of 17 and a PTC of 12 – 13. A subsequent redescription was made by Di & Zhu (2010) where its female was reported for the first time. The materials examined by the authors were obtained from two prefecture-level cities in Tibet, Nyingchi (Nang County) and Shannan (Nêdong District), without precise coordinates. Most illustrations were hand drawn except for two colored photographs depicting the overall habitus in dorsal view (Di & Zhu, 2010: figs. 22 – 23). Qualitative characters are susceptible to inaccuracy if they were manually illustrated, which appears to be the case in their illustration for the male pectines. Referring to their quantitative characters, their new specimens were featured by a PVTC of 9 – 10, and a PTC of 9 – 12 (commonly 10 – 11) in males and 8 – 10 (commonly 8 – 9) in females. In the revision of Scorpiopidae by Kovařík et al. (2020: 129, table 9), those data from two sources were coalesced. Colored photographs for the pectine and chela of adult male S. margerisonae were provided (Kovařík et al., 2020: figs. 147, 227). According to their map (Kovařík et al., 2020: fig. 799), two records of S. margerisonae (labeled “ 47 ”) appeared to be located between Lhasa and Shannan cities. The two new specimens examined in this study were collected from Nyêmo of Lhasa, which seems to be close to the left record on their map. In the original description, Kovařík (2000: 189) considered S. margerisonae to be closest to S. tibetanus. During the current investigation, we checked all known Tibetan congeners and reckoned three species that share certain degrees of resemblance, S. atomatus, S. tibetanus and S. wrzecionkoi, all of which has a developed (regardless of the degree) proximal lobe in both sexes. S. atomatus is similar to S. margerisonae in the following characters: (1) PVTC 8 – 10; (2) PETC 17; (3) PTC 10 – 11 in males and 8 – 9 in females. Lv & Di (2022 b: 212) considered S. margerisonae differs by a lower chela L / W ratio of 2.1 – 2.2 (more slender in females), while characterizing male and female S. atomatus as 2.3 and 2.5, respectively. In contrast, Kovařík et al. (2020: 129, table 9) documented male and female S. margerisonae as 2.2 – 2.3 and 2.2, respectively. This insinuates a weaker distinction between males of the two species in terms of their chela L / W ratio. The female S. margerisonae examined in this study possessed a noticeable proximal lobe which may imply maturity (Fig. 107), while its relatively small size suggests otherwise. No firm conclusion can be drawn as we are ignorant of the lobe possessed by an adult female S. margerisonae. If this female is a subadult, then both specimens quite resembled the adults of S. atomatus depicted in Lv & Di (2022 b: figs. 1, 3). With reference to Kovařík et al. (2020) and Lv & Di (2022 b), we discovered that the most prominent difference lies in the count of finger denticles where S. atomatus has 58 – 62 MD and 8 – 9 IAD, as opposed to the presence of 40 MD and 30 IAD in S. margerisonae; figures of movable finger dentition can be found in Kovařík et al. (2020: fig. 118) and Lv & Di (2022 b: fig. 28). Our current examination also detected a discordance in pectinal morphology, where the pectinal teeth are shorter relative to the width of the pectinal lamellae in S. atomatus (cf. Lv & Di, 2022 b: figs. 11, 13). The pectinal morphology of the adult male examined here accorded with the one depicted in Kovařík et al. (2020: fig. 147). Unlike S. atomatus, S. tibetanus can be more easily distinguished from S. margerisonae by its more rounded and robust pedipalp chela with strongly developed external secondary carinae (cf. Lv & Di, 2022 b: figs. 58, 62) and a lower PTC (4 – 7 in both sexes), despite a more similar pectinal morphology in males. Initially, considering the geographic proximity, the two specimens were presumed to be S. wrzecionkoi. According to the coordinates provided in the original description (29.20 ° N 90.58 ° E; Kovařík, 2020: 30), this species was described from Nagarzê County (near Sangjian) in Shannan City, based on two adult females and one juvenile. Our specimens were obtained from somewhere in Nyêmo, ca. 29.05 km northwest of the type locality of S. wrzecionkoi. Tang (2023: figs. 81 – 82) depicted a chela that was presumptively considered to belong to an adult male S. wrzecionkoi. This specimen, received as a gift from a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Science several years ago (around 2017) by the first author, was accompanied by an adult female. Unfortunately, no precise coordinates were provided for the two specimens, aside from the assertion that they were collected from Lhasa. Subsequent examination of the female specimen revealed a striking conformity with the original description for S. wrzecionkoi: (1) rectangular chela manus; (2) moderate proximal lobe on movable finger present; (3) pectines with 3 marginal and 4 middle lamellae; (4) PTC 8 / 9; (5) PVTC 9. Consequently, the male counterpart was identified. As a supplementary information, photos of those two dry specimens are included herein (Figs. 109 – 110, 112 – 113, 115 – 118, 121 – 124). Since preserved specimens are susceptible to color alteration, our identification discarded the apparently yellowish brown tonality of S. wrzecionkoi specimens. When referring to the discrete quantitative characters, according to table 9 in Kovařík et al. (2020: 129), the two species share an overlapped PTC for both sexes (8 – 9 in female S. wrzecionkoi, with data of male based on the aforementioned specimen, 11 / 10), PVTC (9 – 11 in S. wrzecionkoi), and count of ID, OD and IAD (same for both species: 4, 8 and 30, respectively). However, S. wrzecionkoi has a higher count of MD (60). The pectinal morphology of both species is nearly indistinguishable. Nevertheless, the different chela profile in our new specimens led to a negation of S. wrzecionkoi as its plausible identity. As observed in both the holotype female and the female examined herein, S. wrzecionkoi has a relatively elongated pedipalp chela. Although both male S. margerisonae and S. wrzecionkoi exhibit a quadrate chela profile, the fingers are proportionally shorter in the latter. In addition, the chela of S. wrzecionkoi appears to be somewhat more flattened. Consequently, considering both the geography and morphology, we identified our new specimens as S. margerisonae. Tang (2023: figs. 86 – 88) also illustrated a chela of a presumed adult male S. songi from unknown locality. We continue to regard the specimen as that species and supplemented counts of denticles on its pedipalp movable finger in Table 2. Photos of the specimen can be found in the aforementioned supplementary PDF file available on ResearchGate.	en	Tang, Victoria, Ouyang, Kaichen, Liu, Zhenbang, Šťáhlavský, František (2024): Three new species of genus Scorpiops Peters, 1861 from Tibet, China (Scorpiones: Scorpiopidae), with implications for the diagnostic values of qualitative characters. Euscorpius 394: 1-40, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.14660426
