Heterometrus laoticus Couzijn, 1981

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 : 20-21

Heterometrus laoticus Couzijn, 1981

Heterometrus (Heterometrus) laoticus Couzijn, 1981: 94 ; Kovařík, 1995: 202; Kovařík, 1997: 183; Kovařík, 1998: 137; Le Xuan Hue et al., 1998: 8; Fet, 2000: 433; Kovařík, 2002: 17.

Heterometrus (Heterometrus) spinifer : Kovařík, 1992: 185.

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Laos ; MNHN.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Cambodia, Takeo, 1984, 2♀, leg. Frühbauer, FKCP and NMPC . Laos, 1♀, FKCP ; Karen- Dorf , ca 8 km SE Luang Prabang, 18.XII.1964, 1♀, SMFD ; Bolikhamsai prov., Ban Nok env., alt. 220 ± 50m, N 18°08'7 E 104°28'1, 9–14.V.1998, 2♂, leg. E. Jendek & O. Šauša. Thailand, Lampun N., Siam , leg. Daly, 1♂, BMNH ; Tha-Manao , 30 km NW Kanchanaburi, 145 km NW Bangkok, leg. W. Thielen, 3♂ 3♀, ZMUH ; Chiang Mai, leg. W. Schmidt, 1♂, ZMUH ; Krachong For. , near Trang, 100m, 2.VII.1962, 1juv., leg. E. S. Ross and D. Q. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Khorat, 19.VI.1963, 1♂, leg. R. H. Nave, CASC ; Nakhon Phanom, 17.IX.1965, 3ims., leg. Jim Foote, CASC ; Chiang Rai Prov., 4.V.1966, 1♂, leg. Paul Soderberg, CASC ; Chiang Mai Prov., VI.1966, 1♀ 2juvs., leg. Terry W. Taylor, CASC ; 50 miles N. Bangkok, 1.XII.1968, 1♂, CASC ; Udon Thani, 24.XII.1970, 2♂ 2♀ 10juvs., leg. Jim Foote, CASC ; Chain mai, 20.XI.1986, 1♀, leg. Leslie Saul ; Doi Pui, (near Chain mai), 1400 m, 20.VIII.1989, 1♂, leg. E. S. Ross, CASC ; I.2002, 4♂ 7♀, CASC ; 29.I.2002, died 22.VIII.2002, 1♂, CASC ; Ban Saen near Chonburi, 3.VI.1991, 1♂, leg. D. Král (reared by F. Kovařík , 6th ecdysis 12.X.1991) ; Khorat, 180 km NE of Bangkok (purchase from Bangkok), VI.1991, 7♀ 4♂ 4juvs., 1994, 1♀ 2juvs. before first.ecdysis and 9 juvs. after first ecdysis ; Khao Yai nat. park , XII.1997, 1♂, leg. K. Petrželka ; Khao Khieo Wildlife and Nature Sanctury ( Chan Buri ), II.1994, 1juv. after 4th ecdysis, leg. S & L. Mahunka, HNHM . Vietnam, QuiNhon , 5.VIII.1965, 1♂, leg. L. J. Barrier, CASC .

Specimens born and reared in captivity ( Locality Thailand, Khorat), 1juv. after first ecdysis, 1juv. after 2nd ecdysis, 8juvs. after 3rd ecdysis, 1juv. after 4th ecdysis, 1im. after 5th ecdysis, 1M1F after 6th ecdysis, reared by F. Kovařík, FKCP .

DIAGNOSIS. Adults 90–125 mm long. Base color of adults uniformly black, only manus and telson may be reddish brown. Pectinal teeth number 15–19 in both sexes. Sexual dimorphism in proportions of pedipalps not noticeable. Chela lobiform, its length to width ratio 2–2.3 in both sexes. Manus smooth, with or without smooth carinae, sparsely and finely punctate. Patella of pedipalp without pronounced internal tubercle. Carapace and mesosoma, smooth without granules. Telson hirsute, elongate, vesicle longer than aculeus.

COMMENTS. This species is often mistaken for H. petersii (Thorell, 1876) , whose distribution overlaps. Apart from sexual dimorphism, H. laoticus differs in having a smooth carapace without granules and usually also a smooth manus of pedipalp with more apparent punctae.

DISTRIBUTION. Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam (Couzijn, 1981: 94).