Uroplectes otjimbinguensis ( Karsch, 1879 )

Prendini, Lorenzo & Bird, Tharina L., 2008, Scorpions of the Brandberg Massif, Namibia: Species richness inversely correlated with altitude, African Invertebrates 49 (2), pp. 77-77 : 93

Uroplectes otjimbinguensis ( Karsch, 1879)

Lepreus otjimbinguensis: Karsch 1879: 125 .

Material examined: 1♀( SMN 3372 [TB 03/47(a)]), Brandberg, 1–14.v.2003, EduVentures 1; 1 ♂ 1 juv. ( AMCC 172345 [ LP 5708]), Brandberg, Ga-Asab (Goaseb) Gorge, 21°12'35.3''S: 14°34'32.2''E, 1300 m, 1– 2.iv.2006, L. Prendini, T.L. Bird & S.K. Uunona, UV detection on cool, dark, still night becoming windy later, on mid-slopes of Brandberg in arid savannah with Cyphostemma currorii and Aloe dichotoma on larger granite outcrops and sandy-loam soils, specimens taken on trees; 4♀( AMNH), Brandberg, two-thirds up Ga-Aseb Gorge,below Orabeskopf, 21°12'18.0"S: 14°34'17.6"E, 1529 m, 25.xii.2003, T.L.Bird, N.C.Krone & L.Prendini; 6 ♂ 5♀( AMNH), 1♀( AMCC 172334 [ LP 2590]), 4♀( SMN 3381), Brandberg, top of Ga-Aseb Gorge, ca 500 m W of Orabeskopf, 21°12'09.3"S: 14°34'05.6"E, 1631 m, 22.xii.2003, L. Prendini, T.L. Bird & N.C. Krone, flat, sandy valley below summit, surrounded by granite boulder-strewn slopes, Aloe dichotoma , Cyphostemma , Euphorbia and Boscia , with sparse grass on granitic sandy loam, specimens collected on trees with UV detection on warm, dark, still night; 1 juv. ♂ ( SMN 94), Brandberg, Numas Valley [21°06'S: 14°23'E], 3.viii.1970, C.G. Coetzee;3 ♂ 2♀( AMNH),3 ♂ ( SMN 3380), Brandberg,summit, below Longipoele, 21°11'34.9"S: 14°33'23.9"E, 1794 m, 23.xii.2003, L. Prendini, T.L. Bird & N.C. Krone, sheltered, flat sandy valley with granite domes and boulders intersected by dry watercourses, granitic loam soil with Stipagrostis –Aristida grassland, Boscia , Cyphostemma , Euphorbia and Ozoroa in rocky areas, specimens collected with UV detection on warm, dark, still night, sitting on trees; 6 ♂ 3♀( AMNH), 1♀( AMCC 172337 [ LP 2611]), 2 ♂ 2♀( SMN 3379), Brandberg, summit, between Longipoele and Helmpoele, 21°11'33.2"S: 14°33'31.4"E, 1830 m, 23.xii.2003, L. Prendini, T.L. Bird & N.C. Krone, sheltered, flat sandy valley with granite domes and boulders intersected by dry watercourses, granitic loam soil with Stipagrostis –Aristida grassland, Boscia , Cyphostemma , Euphorbia and Ozoroa in rocky areas, specimens collected with UV detection on warm, dark, still night, sitting on trees; 1 ♂ 8♀( AMNH), Brandberg, summit, valley E Helmpoele, 21°11'31.9''S: 14°34'00.5''E, 1930 m, 3.iv.2006, L. Prendini, T.L.Bird & S.K. Uunona, UV detection on cool, still night (moonset 10 pm), on summit of Brandberg in sandy valley surrounded by granitic outcrops, arid savannah with Cyphostemma currorii and Aloe dichotoma on larger granite outcrops and sandy-loam soils, specimens taken from trees, often several metres above ground; 6 ♂ 6♀( AMNH), 2 ♂ 2♀( SMN 3378), Brandberg, Wasserfallfläche, on summit, 21°10'47.0"S: 14°33'16.6"E, 1977 m, 24.xii.2003, L. Prendini, T.L. Bird & N.C. Krone, flat, sandy valley with granite domes and boulders, fairly dry and exposed, Aloe dichotoma , Cyphostemma , Euphorbia and Boscia , with sparse grass on granitic sandy loam, specimens collected with UV detection in open sand flats, on cool, dark, still night; 2♀( SMN 93), Uis [21°15'S: 14°50'E], 4.viii.1969, P.J. Buys; 1 ♂ 2♀Uis R., nr Kai-Nuses, nr Uis [21°11'S: 14°52'E], 2.i.1981, sympatric with P.brevimanus ( 1♀AMNH [ AH 4346]), 2.ii.1981, sympatric with P. brevimanus , P. kraepelini , P. namibensis , and U. planimanus (1 ♂ AMNH [ AH 2151], 1♀AMNH [ AH 2152]), A. Harington.

Ecology and distribution: This corticolous species shelters under the peeling bark of trees or in holes in tree trunks (Lamoral 1979; Prendini 2001 b). It is endemic to Angola and Namibia (Lamoral 1979; Prendini 2005 a) and has been collected from the base ( Fig. 4 ) to the summit ( Fig. 8 ) of the Brandberg and also in the areas surrounding the Massif.

Figures

Fig. 4. Brandberg Massif (Namibia), base of Massif at entrance to Goaseb (Ga-Asab) Gorge, facing north to Orabeskopf at summit, wet year. Dominant vegetation, Boscia foetida Schinz and Commiphora sp. Rocky flats, habitat of Hottentotta conspersus (Thorell, 1876), Parabuthus brevimanus (Thorell, 1876), Parabuthus villosus (Peters, 1862), and Opistophthalmus lamorali Prendini, 2000.

Fig. 8. Brandberg Massif (Namibia), Wasserfallfläche, plateau on summit of Massif, facing southwest, wet year. Dominant vegetation, Boscia albitrunca (Burch.) Gilg & Gilg-Ben., Cyphostemma currorii (Hook.f.) Desc.and Euphorbia sp. Rocky flats and slopes, habitat of Lisposoma elegans Lawrence, 1928, Hadogenes tityrus (Simon, 1888) and Uroplectes planimanus (Karsch, 1879). Sandy flats, habitat of Parabuthus brevimanus (Thorell, 1876) and Opistophthalmus carinatus (Peters, 1861). Woody vegetation, habitat of Uroplectes otjimbinguensis (Karsch, 1879).