Heterometrus scaber (Thorell, 1876)

Kovařík, František, 2004, A review of the genus Heterometrus Ehrenberg, 1828, with descriptions of seven new species (Scorpiones, Scorpionidae), Euscorpius 15 (15), pp. 1-60 : 35-38

Heterometrus scaber (Thorell, 1876)

( Fig. 25 )

Heterometrus afer (err., non Linné, 1758): Simon, 1872: 51 (see by Kraepelin, 1895: 58).

Pandinus scabro Thorell, 1876b: 202 ; new name for Heterometrus afer sensu Simon, 1872 .

Scorpio scaber : Kraepelin, 1895: 58.

Pandinus scaber : Simon, 1905: 161.

Heterometrus scaber : Kraepelin, 1899: 116; Kraepelin, 1913: 166; Lampe, 1918: 198; Takashima, 1945: 93; Garnier & Stockmann, 1971: 13; Cloudsley-Thompson, 1990: 484; Hjelle, 1990: 54; Polis & Sissom, 1990: 166; Simard & Watt, 1990: 419; Bastawade, 1992: 221.

Palamnaeus scaber : Pocock, 1900: 93; Rosin & Shulov, 1963: 566.

Heterometrus (Scorpio) scaber : Kraepelin, 1901: 271.

Heterometrus (Chersonesometrus) scaber : Tikader & Bastawade, 1983: 619; Kovařík, 1998: 136; Fet, 2000: 440.

Heterometrus (Chersonesometrus) scaber scaber : Couzijn, 1981: 144; Fet, 2000: 440.

Heterometrus (Chersonesometrus) scaber obscurus Couzijn, 1981: 147 (TL: India, Maharashtra, Mathéran, near Bombay; MNHN); Kovařík, 1998: 136; Fet, 2000: 440.

Heterometrus (Chersonesometrus) scaber rugosus Couzijn, 1981: 146 (TL: India, Kerala, Malabar coast; MNHN); Kovařík, 1998: 137; Fet, 2000: 441.

=? Heterometrus (Heterometrus) malapuramensis Tikader & Bastawade, 1983: 533 (TL: Malapuram, Poonus estate, Kozhikode distr., Kerala, India; NZSI); Kovařík, 1998: 137; Fet, 2000: 436. Syn. n.

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Bengal – type locality uncertain – holotype lost, neotype from India, Kerala, Mahé designated by Couzijn (1981: 145–146); MNHN.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. India, 18 mi. NE Mattanur , 75 m, 23.II.1962, 1♂, leg. E. S. Ross and D. Q. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Karnataka, Malabar , 1♀, FKCP ; Ghats, Mangalore , 3♂ 2♀, Battie col., BMNH No. 1896.7.30.139-142; Mysore, 12 mi. N Balehonnur, 760, 19.II.1962, 1♀, leg. E. S. Ross and D. Q. Cavagnaro, CASC ; 12 mi. E Virajpet , 850, 24.II.1962, 1♀, leg. E. S. Ross and D. Q. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Jog Falls , 525 m., 17.XI.1962, 1♀, leg. E. S. Ross and D. Q. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Shimoga dist., Agumbe ghat, 2000 ft., T.R. S.N. coll., V. 2001, 1♂ 2♀, VI.2004, 1♂ 3♀, FKCP ; Pondichery, Karaikal, T.R.S.N. coll., 2002, 1♀, FKCP .

DIAGNOSIS. Adults 100–130 mm long. Base color of adults uniformly reddish brown to black; manus and telson may be lighter colored or manus may be black. Pectinal teeth number 7–12 in both sexes. Sexual dimorphism in proportions of pedipalps not noticeable. Chela lobiform and covered with long setae, its adult length to width ratio 1.7–2.0 in both sexes. Dorsal surface of manus of pedipalp relatively smooth, with effaced tubercles, without granules and carinae. Patella of pedipalp without conspicuous internal tubercle. Carapace and mesosoma with entire surface granulate, only sternites smooth. Telson hirsute, vesicle as long as or longer than aculeus.

COMMENTS. Couzijn (1981: 146 and 147) described two subspecies, H. s. obscurus and H. s. rugosus, which I have not been able to examine and therefore cannot comment on their status. Neither have I been able to study the types of H. (H.) malapuramensis Tikader & Bastawade, 1983 , but the characters included in their description cause me to believe that this species is a synonym of H. scaber .

DISTRIBUTION. India: Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu ( Pocock, 1900: 93, Tikader & Bastawade, 1983: 624; Fet, 2000: 440), Mysore, and Pondichery (first report) .

Figures

Figure 25: Heterometrus scaber, dorsal view, male.