Sahyadrimetrus scaber (Thorell, 1876), 2020

Prendini, Lorenzo & Loria, Stephanie F., 2020, Systematic Revision Of The Asian Forest Scorpions (Heterometrinae Simon, 1879), Revised Suprageneric Classification Of Scorpionidae Latreille, 1802, And Revalidation Of Rugodentidae Bastawade Et Al., 2005, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2020 (442), pp. 1-480 : 357-361

Sahyadrimetrus scaber (Thorell, 1876) ,

comb. nov.

Figures 10 , 26E, F , 40E, F , 55I–L , 73E , 74E , 75E , 199 , 216–219, table 1

Buhus (Heterometrus) spinifer: Gervais, 1844a: 60 , 61 (part).

Scorpio leioderma Dufour, 1856: 571 , 586, 631, 632; Pocock, 1900a: 99; Couzijn, 1981: 58; Fet, 2000: 448; syn. nov.

Heterometrus afer (nec Scorpio afer Linnaeus, 1758 ): Simon, 1872b: 53, 59, 98–101, pl. VI, fig. 1 (part); Couzijn, 1981: 145.

Pandinus scaber Thorell, 1876b: 202 ; Simon, 1905: 161; Couzijn, 1981: 144.

Scorpio scaber: Pocock, 1893: 310 , 311 (part); Kraepelin, 1894: 32, 58.

Heterometrus scaber: Kraepelin, 1899: 111 , 116; 1913: 166 (part); Lampe, 1918: 198; Takashima, 1945: 93; Hjelle, 1990: 17, 54, 58 (part); Kovařík, 2004: 1 , 35, 37, 38, 51–53, tables 2, 3 (part), fig. 25; 2009: 35, 36, 43, 48, 49, 90, 100, tables 1, 2 (part), figs. 120, 121, 212; Aswathi and Sureshan, 2017: 9847, 9848 (part), figs. 1–3, image 10.

Palamnaeus scaber: Pocock, 1900a: 85 , 93 (part).

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

Heterometrus (Chersonesometrus) scaber: Couzijn, 1981: 170 , fig. 58 (part); Tikader and Bastawade, 1983: 576, 619–625 (part), figs. 1639–1652; Kovařík, 1998: 136; Fet, 2000: 440 (part); Bastawade et al., 2004: 48, 55, 58, figs. 69, 70; Sureshan et al., 2007a: 2907, 2908, fig. 2 (part).

Heterometrus (Chersonesometrus) scaber scaber: Couzijn, 1981: 39 , 87, 133, 144–147, 170, 192, table 7, figs. 44, 58 (part); Fet, 2000: 440.

Heterometrus (Heterometrus) malapuramensis Tikader and Bastawade, 1983: 519 , 522, 533–538, figs. 1431–1444 (synonymized by Kovařík, 2004: 1, 35, 38); Biswas, 1984: 320; Kovařík, 1998: 137; Fet, 2000: 436; Indra, 2001: 56, 57; Bastawade et al., 2004: 47, 48, 54, 57, figs. 58–62; Kovařík, 2004: 1, 38 (part); Sureshan et al., 2007a: 2906–2908, fig. 2 (part); Indra, 2009: 142.

Heterometrus (Srilankametrus) indus: Kovařík, 2002: 17 (misidentification, part).

Heterometrus rolciki Kovařík, 2004: 1 , 7, 35, 36, 51–53, tables 1–3, fig. 24; 2009: 35, 36, 43, 48, 49, 89, 100, 111, tables 1, 2, figs. 111– 117, 210, 211, 265; syn. nov.

Heterometrus (Chersonesometrus) kanaraensis: Indra, 2006: 197 , 199, 200 (misidentification, part).

TYPE MATERIAL: INDIA: Scorpio leioderma : Holotype [depository unknown], Malabar, India. Pandinus scaber : Holotype, “Bengale” [lost]. Kerala: Kozhikode Distr.: Heterometrus (H.) mala-.

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FIGURE puramensis: Holotype ♂ (ZSI 5104/18), Malapuram [Malappuram, 11°04′N 76°04′E], Poonus estate, 16.vii.1981, K.N. Nair; paratypes: 2 ♂ (ZSI 5106/18–5108/18), same data except: 14.vii.1981; 3 imm. ♂ (ZSI 5106/18–5108/18), Perambra [11°34′N 75°45′E], Chermalai Hills, 18.vii.1981, K.N. Nair; 1 ♀, 29 imm. (ZSI 5109/18), Perumpally [09°10′E 76°27′E], 16.vii.1981, K.N. Nair; 3 imm. ♂ (ZSI 5106/18– 5108/18), Puthupady [Puthuppady, 10°01′N 76°36′E], 14.vii.1981, K.N. Nair. Puducherry: Mahé Distr.: Heterometrus (Chersonesometrus) s. scaber : Neotype ♀ (MNHN RS 0098), Mahé [11°42′N 75°32′E], Deschamps [examined]. Tamil Nadu: Nilgiris Distr.: Heterometrus rolciki : Holotype ♂ (FKPC), Nilgiri Hills, 15 km SE of Kotagiri, Kunjappanai env., 11°22′N 76°56′E, ca. 900 m, 7–22.v.2000, J. Rolčík; paratypes: 1 ♂, 1 imm. (FKPC), same data, except: 23–30.v.1999, Z. Kejval and M. Trýzna; 1 ♀, 2 juvs. (FKPC), near Kotagiri [11°26′N 76°53′E], 27.x.1997, Werner.

As discussed by Couzijn (1981: 145, 146), Simon (1872b: 99) described an adult, the sex of which cannot be determined from the description, under the name Heterometrus afer (nec Scorpio afer Linnaeus, 1758 ). Simon (1872b: 99) noted “paraît commun au Bengale” and added a few measurements of the largest specimen. However, according to Couzijn (1981) none of the specimens of H. scaber (i.e., H. afer sensu Simon, 1872 ) that were once part of E. Simon’s personal collection (now deposited in the MNHN) fit these measurements, no corresponding specimens from Bengal are present in the MNHN or other collections, and the type locality is probably erroneous (cf. Pocock, 1900a: 93, fn.). Couzijn (1981) therefore designated an adult female (MNHN RS 0098) from Mahé as neotype. A female was selected as neotype rather than a male, to facilitate comparison with the holotypes of H. s. rugosus and H. s. obscurus which are both female, no male being available at the time.

DIAGNOSIS: Sahyadrimetrus scaber may be separated from other species of Sahyadrimetrus as follows. The carapace is vaulted, the lateral sur- faces sloping steeply (fig. 26E, F), in S. scaber but moderately to markedly dorsoventrally compressed, the lateral surfaces sloping gently, in S. barberi , S. kanarensis , S. rugosus , and S. tikaderi . The carapace mediolateral margins converge markedly posteriorly (at the posterolateral sulci) in S. scaber but diverge or converge slightly posteriorly (at the posterolateral sulci) in S. barberi , S. rugosus , and S. tikaderi . The frontal lobes and medial region of the carapace interocular surface are granular with smooth areas in the male and female (fig. 26E, F) of S. scaber whereas the interocular surface is granular along the median longitudinal and anterior bifurcated sulci only in the male of S. rugosus , and the interocular surface is entirely, uniformly granular in the male and female of S. mathewi . The carapace posterolateral surfaces of the female (fig. 26F) are granular in S. scaber but smooth or nearly so in all other species except S. mathewi . The pedipalps of the adult male are short, with femur length: posterior carapace width ratio (FL:PCW) <0.77 and femur length: carapace length ratio (FL:CL) <0.74 (fig. 216A, B) in S. scaber but long, with FL:PCW ≥ 0.80 and FL:CL ≥ 0.76 in S. mathewi and S. rugosus . The pedipalp patella dorsomedian carina of the female is absent or obsolete in S. scaber but entirely to predominantly granular in S. rugosus . The patella retrodorsal carina of the female is present and as strongly developed as or more strongly developed than the retromedian carinae, which are absent or obsolete in S. scaber , whereas the retrodorsal carina of the female is absent or obsolete, and the retromedian carinae present and granular in S. barberi , S. rugosus , and S. tikaderi . The patella dorsal, retrodorsal, and retroventral intercarinal surfaces of the female are smooth or nearly so in S. scaber but granular in S. rugosus . The maximum distance between the dorsomedian and dorsal secondary carinae (DMC–DSC) of the pedipalp chela manus is similar to the maximum distance between the dorsal secondary and digital carinae (DSC–DC) in the male (fig. 218) of S. scaber but less than the DSC–DC in the male of S. mathewi , S. rugosus , and S. tikaderi . The chela manus dorsal surface of the female (fig. 219) is smooth to finely granulo-reticulate in S. scaber but smooth or nearly so in S. kanarensis and S. tikaderi . The chela manus retrolateral intercarinal surfaces are granular in the male (fig. 218) and smooth or nearly so in the female (fig. 219) of S. scaber , but smooth or nearly so in the male of S. kanarensis , and granular in the female of S. barberi , S. rugosus , and S. tikaderi . Macroseta st is setiform on the retroventral surfaces of the basitarsi of legs I and II and spiniform on leg III (fig. 55I–L) in S. scaber but spiniform on the retroventral surfaces of the basitarsi of legs I–III in S. barberi , S. rugosus , and S. tikaderi , and setiform on legs I–III in S. kanarensis ; st on the proventral surface of the basitarsus of leg III is setiform in S. scaber but spiniform in S. kanarensis . The mesial surfaces of mesosomal tergites I–VI are granular in the male and the lateral surfaces granular in the female of S. scaber , whereas the mesial surfaces are smooth in the male of S. kanarensis , S. rugosus , and S. tikaderi , and the lateral surfaces smooth in the female of S. rugosus . The ventral intercarinal surfaces of metasomal segment IV are smooth (fig. 75E) in S. scaber but granular in S. tikaderi . The dorsolateral carinae of metasomal segment V are distinct and continuous (fig. 73E) in S. scaber but obsolete and discontinuous to absent in S. barberi .

DISTRIBUTION: This species is endemic to India (fig. 199, table 1), where it has been recorded in the states of Goa, Karnataka, Kerala,

Figures

FIGURE 10. Phylogeny of Asian forest scorpions (Scorpionidae: Heterometrinae Simon, 1879, stat. nov.), obtained by simultaneous phylogenetic analysis of 186 morphological characters and 4188 aligned DNA nucleotides from three mitochondrial and two nuclear gene loci (Loria and Prendini, in press). Maximum likelihood tree with unambiguous morphological synapomorphies optimized. Black circles indicate uniquely derived apomorphic states, white circles parallel derivations of apomorphic states. Numbers above circles indicate characters, numbers below indicate states (appendix 1).

FIGURE 26. Sahyadrimetrus, gen. nov., carapace, dorsal aspect. A, B. Sahyadrimetrus kanarensis (Pocock, 1900), comb. nov., A. ♂, B. ♀ (AMNH), Chaudi, India. C, D. Sahyadrimetrus mathewi, gen. et sp. nov., C. holotype ♂, D. paratype ♀ (AMNH), Poomala, India. E, F. Sahyadrimetrus scaber (Thorell, 1876), comb. nov., E. ♂ (AMNH), Nadpalu, India, F.♀ (AMNH), Sitha River, India. Scale bars = 2 mm.

FIGURE 40. Sahyadrimetrus, gen. nov., sternum and pectines, ventral aspect. A, B. Sahyadrimetrus kanarensis (Pocock, 1900), comb. nov., A. ♂, B. ♀ (AMNH), Chaudi, India. C, D. Sahyadrimetrus mathewi, gen. et sp. nov., C. holotype ♂, D. paratype ♀ (AMNH), Poomala, India. E, F. Sahyadrimetrus scaber (Thorell, 1876), comb. nov., E. ♂ (AMNH), Nadpalu, India, F.♀ (AMNH), Sitha River, India. Scale bars = 2 mm.

FIGURE 55. Sahyadrimetrus, gen. nov., legs I–IV, tibiae, basitarsi and telotarsi, ventral aspect. A–D. Sahyadrimetrus kanarensis (Pocock, 1900), comb. nov., ♀ (AMNH), Chaudi, India. E–H. Sahyadrimetrus mathewi, gen. et sp. nov., holotype ♂, (AMNH), Poomala, India. I–L. Sahyadrimetrus scaber (Thorell, 1876), comb. nov., ♂ (AMNH), Nadpalu, India. Scale bars = 2 mm.

FIGURE 73. Sahyadrimetrus, gen. nov., metasoma and telson, dorsal aspect. A. Sahyadrimetrus barberi (Pocock, 1900), comb. nov., holotype ♀ (BMNH 1899.9.24.1), B. Sahyadrimetrus kanarensis (Pocock, 1900), comb. nov., ♀ (AMNH), Chaudi, India. C. Sahyadrimetrus mathewi, sp. nov., holotype ♂ (AMNH), Poomala, India. D. Sahyadrimetrus rugosus (Couzijn, 1981), comb. et stat. nov., ♀ (AMNH), Chaliyar River, India. E. Sahyadrimetrus scaber (Thorell, 1876), comb. nov., ♂ (AMNH), Nadpalu, India. F.Sahyadrimetrus tikaderi, gen. et sp. nov., paratype ♂ (MNHN RS 3266). Scale bars = 5 mm.

FIGURE 74. Sahyadrimetrus, gen. nov., metasoma and telson, lateral aspect. A. Sahyadrimetrus barberi (Pocock, 1900), comb. nov., holotype ♀ (BMNH 1899.9.24.1), B. Sahyadrimetrus kanarensis (Pocock, 1900), comb. nov., ♀ (AMNH), Chaudi, India. C. Sahyadrimetrus mathewi, sp. nov., holotype ♂ (AMNH), Poomala, India. D. Sahyadrimetrus rugosus (Couzijn, 1981), comb. et stat. nov., ♀ (AMNH), Chaliyar River, India. E. Sahyadrimetrus scaber (Thorell, 1876), comb. nov., ♂ (AMNH), Nadpalu, India. F. Sahyadrimetrus tikaderi, gen. et sp. nov., paratype ♂ (MNHN RS 3266). Scale bars = 5 mm.

FIGURE 75. Sahyadrimetrus, gen. nov., metasoma and telson, ventral aspect. A. Sahyadrimetrus barberi (Pocock, 1900), comb. nov., holotype ♀ (BMNH 1899.9.24.1), B. Sahyadrimetrus kanarensis (Pocock, 1900), comb. nov., ♀ (AMNH), Chaudi, India. C. Sahyadrimetrus mathewi, sp. nov., holotype ♂ (AMNH), Poomala, India. D. Sahyadrimetrus rugosus (Couzijn, 1981), comb. et stat. nov., ♀ (AMNH), Chaliyar River, India. E. Sahyadrimetrus scaber (Thorell, 1876), comb. nov., ♂ (AMNH), Nadpalu, India. F.Sahyadrimetrus tikaderi, gen. et sp. nov., paratype ♂ (MNHN RS 3266). Scale bars = 5 mm.

FIGURE 199. Map of South India and Sri Lanka, plotting known locality records of two species of Sahyadrimetrus, gen. nov., and four species of Srilankametrus Couzijn, 1981, stat. nov., based on material examined, and verified records from virtual museums and the literature: Sahyadrimetrus mathewi, sp. nov.; Sahyadrimetrus scaber (Thorell, 1876), comb. nov.; Srilankametrus caesar (C.L. Koch, 1841), comb. nov. et stat. rev.; Srilankametrus couzijni, sp. nov.; Srilankametrus gravimanus (Pocock, 1894), comb. nov.; Srilankametrus yaleensis (Kovařík et al., 2019), comb. nov.