Euscorpiops karschi Lourenço, Zhu et Qi, 2005

Qi, Jian-Xin, Zhu, Ming-Sheng & Lourenço, Wilson R., 2005, Eight new species of the genera Scorpiops Peters, Euscorpiops Vachon, and Chaerilus Simon (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae, Chaerilidae) from Tibet and Yunnan, China, Euscorpius 32 (32), pp. 1-40 : 25

Euscorpiops karschi Lourenço, Zhu et Qi , sp. n.

( Figs. 94–108 )

Diagnosis: The new species is of moderate size ( Fig. 94 ) and also differs from the other members of the group in possessing evenly scattered coarse granules of moderate size on carapace. Body color is basically brown; the aculeus is shorter than half of vesicle length; all tergites with coarse and evenly scattered moderate granules; pectinal tooth count 7 to 9; dorsal carinae of metasoma IV end in an almost lobe-shaped denticle.

Material: 1♀ holotype, Tibet, Zayü district, Xia Zayü town (28°30' N, 97°00' E), 8 August 2002, Ming-Sheng Zhu leg. ( MHBU). Paratypes : 2 ♀ and 2 immature ♂, same data as holotype (one in MHBU, one in MNHN) .

Etymology: Patronym in honor of Friedrich Karsch who first described Mesobuthus martensii ( Buthidae ), a widespread scorpion species in China.

Description (based on female holotype):

Coloration: Basically brown without any diffuse variegated fuscous spots. Carapace is brown, and some black area near the eyes. Tergites are dark brown, fuscous. Pedipalps dorsally are dark reddish-brown and ventral yellow. The top of aculeus is reddish brown. Tarsal claw is dark brown. Venter and sternites are yellowish.

Morphology: Carapace is evenly covered with coarse sparse granules and bears anteromedian lateral carinae, which are granular and weak; lateral furrow broad and flat, posterior median furrow shallow, slit-shaped. Median eyes are anterior to the center of the carapace; three pairs of lateral eyes, the third ones being vestigial and situated behind the first two. Sternum is pentagonal and longer than wide. Tergites are coarsely granular; tergite I is almost acarinate; segments II-V have a pair of marked lateral carinae; segments VII bears a very weak median and two pair of lateral carinae. Sternum is pentagonal, smooth and longer than wide. Pectinal tooth count 7-7. Sternites are smooth and shiny; segment VII has four weak carinae, which are coarsely granular. Metasoma segments II to V are longer than wide; segments I to V have 10-10-10-8-7 carinae. Dorsal carinae are serrated, and all end in a pair of pointed spines; those on segment VI end in a pair of lobes; dorsal carinae of segment V are weak, other carinae are granular. Vesicle is smooth.

Pedipalps: femur is scattered with irregularly coarse granules on dorsal surface, interior aspect with serrated carinae; tegument is weakly granular. Patella: external carinae crenulate; interior carinae armed with two pointed protuberances and several small ones; tegument coarsely granular dorsally and smooth ventrally. Chela with dorsal marginal and external secondary carinae, which are granular; ventral internal is dentated; ventral median carina is strong; other carinae are vestigial or absent. Trichobothriotaxy type C (Vachon, 1974). Chela with four ventral trichobothria. Patella with 17 external and eight ventral trichobothria.

Male paratype. Morphology is very similar to that of the female holotype. Coloration is darker than that of female. Pectinal tooth count 9-9.

Measurements (in mm) (female holotype). Total length, 48.18. Carapace: length, 7.65; anterior width, 3.32; posterior width, 7.40. Metasomal segment I: length, 2.30; width, 3.06. Metasomal segment V: length, 6.38; width, 2.04; depth, 2.04. Vesicle: width, 2.30; depth, 2.42. Pedipalp: femur length, 7.78, width, 2.93; patella length, 6.38, width, 3.40; chela length, 8.93, width, 4.59, depth, 4.02; movable finger length, 7.40.

Figures

Figure 94: Euscorpiops karschi sp. n., female holotype, habitus. Total length 48.18 mm.

Figures 95–102: Euscorpiops karschi sp. n., female holotype. 95–98. Chela, dorsoexternal, external, ventral and internal aspects. 99. Femur dorsal aspect. 100–102. Patella dorsal, external and ventral aspects. Scale = 1 mm.

Figures 103–108: Euscorpiops karschi sp. n., female holotype. 103–104. Chelicera, dorsal and ventral aspects. 105. Telson, lateral aspect. 106. Dentate margin of the pedipalp chela movable finger. 107–108. Sternum, genital operculum and pectines. 107. male paratype. 108. female holotype.