Neobuthus kutcheri, Lowe & Kovařík, 2016

Lowe, Graeme & Kovařík, František, 2016, Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida, Scorpiones). Part V. Two new species of Neobuthus Hirst, 1911 (Buthidae), from Ethiopia and Eritrea, Euscorpius 224, pp. 1-46 : 26-42

Neobuthus kutcheri sp. n.

( Figs. 98–147, 154–156, 160–161, Tables 3–5)

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E4

57D996-6534-4C1A-BBA5-805DD6AEAAD9

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Ethiopia, Somali State, Liben region, Filtu , 05°06'48.7" N 40°39'18.3" E, 1229 m a.s.l. (Locality No. 14EG, Figs. 146–147), FKCP .

TYPE MATERIAL. Ethiopia, Somali State, Liben region, Filtu , 05°06'48.7" N 40°39'18.3" E, 1229 m a.s.l., (Locality No. 14EG, Figs. 146–147), 19.-21.XI.2014, 4♂ (holotype and paratypes) 6♀5♀ ims.7juvs. (paratypes), FKCP, 2♂ 3♀3♀ ims.2juvs. (paratypes), GL, leg. F. Kovařík et al. ( UV detection) .

ETYMOLOGY. A patronym in honor of Steven R. Kutcher, California, for his friendship and lifelong dedication to promoting insects and arachnids in education, arts and entertainment.

DIAGNOSIS. Carapace with area between anterior median carinae yellow; tergites 3-striped with fuscous markings discontinuous, extending into median area, pale patches on either side of median stripe narrowed, disrupted and not forming broad longitudinal yellow bands; pedipalp relatively stout, males with femur L/ W 2.28 –2.30; patella L/ W 2.19 –2.32, chela L/ W 4.40 –4.50; chela movable finger with 4–6 subrows of primary denticles, 4–5 external accessory denticles flanking proximal end of each subrow; trichobothria d 2 usually present on patella; posterior margins of carapace and tergites lacking macrosetae; pedipalps, legs, metasoma and telson with moderate length, mostly straight macrosetae in males, and long, fine curved setae in females; males with coxae and sternites III–VI smooth, sternite VII finely granulated with 4 weak, granulated carinae; females with sternites III–VI smooth, sternite VII sparsely shagreened with 4 weak carinae, metasoma I– III with median lateral carinae present in both sexes; lateral surface of metasoma V in males with granules fused to form rugose texture, without dense granulation; tarsi densely setose, telotarsi furnished with brushes of long macrosetae, leg III of adults with 7–15 macrosetae in retroinferior series of basitarsus, 24–37 ventral macrosetae on telotarsus; pectine teeth: 17–20 (males), 15–19 (females).

DESCRIPTION (HOLOTYPE MALE) .

Coloration ( Figs. 98–99, 102–104, 108–109, 112, 114– 121, 129, 134–140, 144). Base color orange/ brownishyellow with extensive, elaborate patterns of dark maculation. Carapace with fuscosity over lateral interocular triangle from ocular tubercle, but dark pigment excluded from area between anterior median carinae; fuscosity extending back continuously on lateral flanks, connecting behind ocular tubercle via transverse stripes on posterior median area; ocular tubercle black, bordered by pale patches laterally and posteriorly; posterior margin of carapace with dark border and median triangular patch of dark pigment. Tergites 3-striped, with fuscosity arranged longitudinally in narrow median and broad lateral bands; pale patches on either side of median stripe narrow, disrupted, not forming broad longitudinal yellow bands; on each tergite, lateral bands with fuscosity almost solid on posterior part, broken by reticular or fenestrated patterning on anterior part, solid on pretergite. Sternites and coxosternal area yellow.

Metasomal segments I–IV bearing broken fuscous patterns on dorsal surfaces, other surfaces with longitudinal fuscous markings associated with carinae; segment V with fuscosity on posterior 1/3 of dorsal surface, with dorsolateral dark bands and 2 finer dorsal stripes extending to anterior 2/3 of segment; lateral surface of segment V with dark fenestration, ventral surface with 3 longitudinal fuscous bands broadening and fusing posteriorly; posterior-most margin of segment V yellow. Telson with vesicle uniformly yellow, aculeus yellow on basal 1/3, dark reddish-black on distal 2/3. Chelicera with dark pigment on dorsal surface of manus, forming broad continuous band along anterior margin, reticulated pattern restricted to distal half of manus (proximal half clear). Pedipalps with dark or reticulated pigmentation associated with carinae on femur and patella, with more extensive fuscosity on distal dorsal and distal internal surfaces of femur, and ventroexternal and internal surfaces of patella; ventral surface of femur and patella mostly yellow; chela with broad longitudinal dark bands on manus, extending to proximal fixed and movable fingers. Legs with limited fuscosity on dorsal, prodistal and retrodistal surfaces of femur, extensive fuscosity on retrodorsal surface of patella.

Carapace ( Figs. 98, 102, 104, 108, 144). Strongly trapezoidal, anterior width 0.45 times posterior width, wider than long (L/ W 0.91); posterior median postocular area flat, anterior median preocular area gently slope downwards towards anterior margin; lateral flanks steeply sloped; ocular tubercle broad, prominent. located near middle of carapace (preocular distance 0.47 times carapace length); median eyes large, separated by 1.5 times their diameter (viewed in dorsal projection); anterior margin straight, almost smooth, with 8 macrosetae; lateral margins finely denticulate; anterior median carinae weak, granular, with single pair of macrosetae at 1/5 distance to anterior margin; other carinae indistinct; dense granulation covering surface of carapace, interrupted only by restricted smooth patches corresponding to locations of central transverse, central lateral, posterior transverse, posterior marginal, and posterior lateral furrows; posterior margin of carapace with very fine, microdenticulations.

Chelicera. Manus smooth on dorsal side, with subapical transverse series of large granules; dorsointernal carina at base of fixed finger strong, weakly crenulate; chaetotaxy: one long, reddish macroseta on dorsointernal carina, one short reddish macrosetae in anterior median area, 2 pale macrosetae on internal anterior margin; two pale dorsal microsetae on distal half of movable finger; brush of longer curved setae on internodorsal surface at base of fixed finger; fingers with typical buthid dentition (Vachon, 1963); fixed finger with large distal denticle, 1 subdistal denticle and 2 basal denticles fused into bicusp, single denticle on ventral surface at level of bicusp; dorsal margin of movable finger with 5 denticles: 1 large distal denticle, medium-sized subdistal and medial, and 2 small basal denticles; ventral margin with 2 denticles: 1 large distal, 1 small subdistal; dense fields of fine setae on ventrointernal surfaces of movable finger and anterior manus.

Coxosternal area ( Figs. 99, 103, 109). Coxae smooth, coxa III with finely granular anterior margin; coxa I–II with numerous long reddish macrosetae, 12–14 on coxa I, 12–13 on coxa II endite and margins (main surface of II bare); coxa III with 6 long reddish macrosetae on anterior margin; coxa IV with single macroseta near anterior end, close to sternum, otherwise devoid of setae; sternum subtriangular, smooth, with deep median invagination, posterior transverse sulcus and 2 short reddish macrosetae; genital opercula smooth, cordate, with 4 short reddish macrosetae; genital papillae present.

Pectines ( Figs. 99, 103, 109). Basal piece smooth, with deep V-shaped anterior median invagination, 3 short reddish macrosetae; pectines long, distal tips extending to proximal 1/6 of trochanter IV; combs with 3 marginal lamellae, 7–8 middle lamellae, 20–19 (right–left) teeth; posterobasal vertex of basal middle lamella extended, angulate; marginal lamellae, middle lamellae and fulcra with dense cover of medium length reddish macrosetae; fulcra with 3–6 setae; when anterior margins of left and right pectines are aligned with posterior edges of coxae IV, first and second teeth at base of combs overlap completely.

Hemispermatophore ( Figs. 141–143). Elongate, slen- der, trunk 6.15 times length of capsule region; flagellum well separated from external lobe, pars recta short with internal lamina, pars reflecta ca. 1.5 times longer, cylindriform; capsule region with 4 lobes at base of flagellum; external lobe longest, apically rounded; median lobe carinate, apically truncate; internal lobe acuminate, same length as median lobe; basal lobe strongly developed, forming a pointed hook.

Mesosoma ( Figs. 98–99, 102–104, 108–109, 144). Long, narrow, 2.33 times length of carapace. Tergites: pretergites smooth, posterior margins almost smooth with very fine micro-denticulation; tergites I–VI a weak granular median carina only developed in posterior half; tergites III–VI with traces of granular lateral carinae near posterior margins; tergites I–VI densely finely granular, with coarser granulation on posterior lateral areas; tergite VII finely granulate, with slight median hump, paired inner and outer lateral carinae very weakly indicated, granular; posterior margins with very fine, microdenticulations in tergites I–VI, smooth in tergite VII; all tergites devoid of macrosetae. Sternites: presternites IV–VII smooth, posterior margins smooth; sternites III–VI nearly completely smooth, only III weakly micro-shagreened on areas covered by pectines and V–VI weakly micro-shagreened on outer lateral areas, with transverse slit-like spiracles; sternite VII finely granulated, posterior 2/3 with 4 weak, granular carinae; lateral margins of all sternites weakly denticulate or crenulate; sternite macrosetae (non-marginal/ marginal): III 15/9, IV 5/21, V 5/19, VI 5/21, VII 11/9; setae on sternite VII shorter, thicker than setae on III– VI.

Metasoma ( Figs. 98–99, 134–136, 144). Moderately elongate, total length of segments I–V 1.4 times length of prosoma + mesosoma; segment I slightly wider than long, segments II–V progressively longer than wide (L/W ratio increasing from 1.17 to 2.09); carination: segments I–II with 10 carinae, III with 8 carinae, IV–V with 2 carinae; segments I–II with moderate to strong, granulate or crenulate ventrosubmedian and ventrolateral carinae, weak, granulate lateral median carinae, and very weak or slightly indicated, granulate dorsolateral and dorsosubmedian carinae; segment III with moderate, granulate or crenulate ventrosubmedian and ventrolateral carinae, very weak or slightly indicated, granulate lateral median, dorsolateral and dorsosubmedian carinae; segment IV with weak, crenulated ventrolateral carinae; segment V with strong, granulate to lobate ventrolateral carinae; median lateral carinae complete on I–II, obsolete on anterior 1/4 of III; granulation: segments I–III with dense granulation on all intercarinal surfaces, coarser on dorsal areas; segment IV densely granulated on ventral and lateral surfaces, smooth on dorsal surface except for fine granulation in posterior median area; segment V with lateral surface coarsely roughened, granulation merging into rugose texture, ventral surface granulate-rugose studded with large rectangular granules on posterior half; lateral anal lobe with notch towards ventral end, ventral anal arc weakly crenulated with 9 fine notches; chaetotaxy: segments I–IV with scattered macrosetae on carinae and intercarinal surfaces; lateral surface of segment V with macrosetae arrayed in 2 longitudinal rows of 8–11 setae near dorsal and ventral margins, ventral surface with sparsely scattered setae; all metasomal setae of moderate length, straight, reddish, similar to those on sternite VII, shorter and more stout than coxosternal setae.

Telson ( Figs. 98–99, 134–136, 144). Vesicle moderately elongated, posterior surface truncate; aculeus stout, shorter than vesicle, tip of aculeus directed vertically; ventral surface with scattered anteriorly-directed, stout, reddish macrosetae.

Pedipalps ( Figs. 98–99, 112, 114–121, 129, 144). Femur: relatively stout, 2.28 times longer than wide; dorsoexternal, internal and ventrointernal carinae weak, granulated; external carina moderate, granulated; other carinae obsolete; granulation moderate and coarser on dorsal surface, sparse and finer on internal and ventral surfaces; external surface nearly smooth; 4–5 distal external accessory macrosetae. Patella: relatively stout, 2.32 times longer than wide; dorsomedian, dorsointernal and internal carinae weak, finely granulated; external carina weak, nearly smooth; other carinae obsolete; dorsal, upper internal and upper external surfaces finely granulated, ventral surface micro-shagreened or smooth; scattered short, straight reddish macrosetae on carinae, 5 on internal surface. Chela: Short, relatively stout, 4.50 times longer than wide; fingers robust, movable finger 1.84 times manus ventral length; carinae obsolete, all surfaces smooth; manus and fixed finger sparsely equipped with short, straight, reddish macrosetae, including regular ring of 10 around proximal edge of manus; numerous fine, translucent microsetae on fingers; movable finger with numerous short macrosetae on ventral aspect; fixed finger with 4 subdistal denticles proximal to distal tooth, 5 primary denticle subrows, 4 external and 5 internal accessory denticles; movable finger with 3 subdistal denticles proximal to distal tooth, 6 primary denticle subrows, 4 external and 6 internal accessory denticles.

Trichobothriotaxy. Orthobothriotaxic or neobothriotaxic minorante, type Aβ (Vachon, 1974); among buthid petite trichobothria, femur d 2 may be absent (absent in 6/8 examined femora), patella d 2, chela Eb 3, Esb and esb are present; patella with esb 1 level with or slightly distal to esb 2.

Legs ( Figs. 137–140). Relatively short, stout; femora with weakly denticulate dorsal and ventral carinae, surfaces granulated prolaterally, smooth retrolaterally; patellae with weakly denticulate prolateral and ventral carinae, smooth dorsal carinae, all surfaces smooth or nearly smooth; tibiae and tarsomeres smooth; legs III–IV with small tibial spurs; retrolateral pedal spurs simple, nonsetose; prolateral pedal spurs basally bifurcate, bearing 0 (I), 1 (II), 2 (III–IV) macrosetae; chaetotaxy: coxa, femora, patella and tibia of all legs bearing a mix of short and moderate length, straight reddish macrosetae; tarsi with longer, finer reddish macrosetae; basitarsi I–III compressed, with bristle combs consisting of retrosuperior series of longer macrosetae, plus retroinferior and proinferior series of shorter macrosetae; bristle comb setal counts (retrosuperior/ retroinferior/ proinferior; left-right): I 4-5 /12-10 /9-10, II 5-5 /13-16 /12- 12, III 6-7/ 14-13/ 13-13; telotarsi hirsute on ventral aspect, more densely so on more posterior legs, bearing two series of numerous long, fine macrosetae, with setal counts (left-right): I 13-11, II 21-22, III 33-37; IV 48-47. Paratype female ( Figs. 100–101, 105–107, 110–111, 113, 122–128, 131–133, 145, 154–156, 160). Coloration pattern similar to that of male. Differs as follows: larger size (total length 31 mm, holotype male is 23 mm); carapace wider (L/ W 0.851), with weaker, finer granulation; tergites I–VI with much weaker granulation,

Neobuthus

kutcheri

sp

.

n

.

Measurement

(

mm

)

Holotype

♂

Paratype

male

♂

Paratype

♀

Total L 23.00 21.50 31.00

Metasoma + Telson L 14.00 13.70 17.00

Carapace L/ aW/ pW 2.674 /1.327 /2.939 2.572 /1.245 /2.694 3.449 /1.796 /4.062

Carapace preocular L 1.245 1.225 1.633

Metasoma I L/ W/ D 1.735 /1.853 /1.531 1.633 /1.796 /1.551 2.194 /2.306 /1.939

Metasoma II L/ W/ D 2.000 /1.714 /1.551 1.919 /1.674 /1.592 2.490 /2.092 /1.959

Metasoma III L/ W/ D 2.296 /1.704 /1.572 2.163 /1.653 /1.592 2.674 /2.082 /1.919

Metasoma IV L/ W/ D 2.647 /1.714 /1.514 2.531 /1.633 /1.531 3.164 /2.070 /1.878

Metasoma V L/ W/ D 3.137 /1.500 /1.337 3.062 /1.592 /1.316 3.898 /1.857 /1.714

Telson L 2.572 2.449 3.225

Vesicle L/ W/ D 1.674 /1.061 /0.969 1.510 /1.029 /0.939 2.021 /1.429 /1.306

Pedipalp chela L/ W/ D 2.919/ 0.649/ 0.684 2.857/ 0.643/ 0.663 3.796/ 1.000/ 1.014

Pedipalp movable finger L 1.955 1.837 2.531

Pedipalp manus ventral L 1.061 1.021 1.388

Pedipalp fixed finger L 1.551 1.429 1.898

Pedipalp femur L/ W 1.674 / 0.735 1.592/ 0.694 2.000/ 0.959

Pedipalp patella L/ W 2.347 / 1.010 2.143/ 0.980 2.919/ 1.357

Pectine L 2.653 2.408 2.694

No. of lateral eyes Left/ Right 5 /5 4 /5 5 /5

posterior width (pW), depth (D).

anterior areas finely shagreened or nearly smooth, posterior areas with sparser granulation; tergite VII with sparser, finer granulation; metasomal segments with sparser, finer granulation on all surfaces, dorsal surfaces of segments I–III nearly smooth; segments II–III with stronger dentate granulation on ventrosubmedian carinae, posterior granules larger than anterior granules; segment V with larger lobate granules on posterior ventrolateral carinae, lateral surface smooth (not rugosegranulose); telson more bulbous, aculeus more stout with tip directed sub-vertically; sternites III–VI completely smooth; sternite VII smooth anteriorly, with sparse, fine granulation posteromedially, densely shagreened posterolaterally; genital opercula more elongated, with 8–9 setae; pectine basal piece with shallower, broader anterior invagination, not strongly Vshaped; pectines with smaller teeth, shorter, distal tips not extending past distal limit of coxa IV, 6–7 middle lamellae, basal middle lamella slightly narrower along axial dimension; pedipalp segments shorter, more stout, L/ W ratios: femur 2.09, patella 2.15, chela 3.80; pedipalp femur with weaker, sparser granulation; patella

Morphometric Ratio Neobuthus cloudsleythompsoni Neobuthus eritreaensis sp. Neobuthus

Lourenço, 2001 n.

♂ ♀ ♂ ♀ ♂ Metasoma I L/ W 0.98 – 1.08 0.97 – 1.17 0.94 0.90 – 0.96 0.91 – 0.94 1.02 ± 0.05 (3) 1.01 ± 0.07 (8) 0.94 ± 0.03 (3) Metasoma II L/ W 1.25 – 1.26 (2) 1.27 – 1.34 1.20 1.10 – 1.22 1.15 – 1.17 1.30 ± 0.03 (7) 1.15 ± 0.07 (3) Metasoma III L/ W 1.39 – 1.41 (2) 1.38 – 1.51 1.41 1.26 – 1.32 1.31 – 1.35 1.45 ± 0.05 (7) 1.29 ± 0.03 (3) Metasoma IV L/ W 1.65 – 1.69 (2) 1.61 – 1.75 1.52 1.51 – 1.58 1.54 – 1.55 1.69 ± 0.05 (7) 1.54 ± 0.04 (3) Metasoma V L/ W 1.96 – 2.09 1.88 – 2.19 1.97 1.99 – 2.05 1.92 – 2.09 2.01 ± 0.07 (3) 2.07 ± 0.09 (8) 2.03 ± 0.03 (3) Telson vesicle L/D 1.64 – 1.71 (2) 1.36 – 1.46 1.59 1.39 – 1.52 1.61 – 1.73 1.40 ± 0.03 (7) 1.46 ± 0.07 (3) Pedipalp femur L/ W 2.20 – 2.38 2.13 – 2.25 2.53 2.44 2.28 – 2.30 2.30 ± 0.09 (3) 2.20 ± 0.06 (3) Pedipalp patella L/ W 2.31 – 2.57 2.37 – 2.60 2.55 2.50 2.19 – 2.32 2.47 ± 0.14 (3) 2.51 ± 0.12 (3) Pedipalp chela L/ W 4.40 – 5.50 4.13 – 4.25 5.06 4.54 4.44 – 4.50 4.89 ± 0.56 (3) 4.20 ± 0.07 (3) Pedipalp movable finger L/ 1.77 – 2.00 (2) 1.93 – 2.04 (2) 1.78 1.71 1.80 – 1.84 manus ventral L

range, mean ± standard deviation (n = sample size); when n = 2, only range is cited, single values correspond to n = 1. Abbreviations: length (

Meristic count Neobuthus cloudsleythompsoni Neobuthus eritreaensis sp. n.

Lourenço, 2001

♂ ♀ ♂ ♀ ♂

Pectinal tooth count 15 – 19 12 – 15 20 – 22 15 – 18 17 –

16.75 ± 0.78 (92) 13.73 ± 0.83 (30) 20.50 ± 0.93 (8) 16.50 ± 0.93 (8) 18.64 ±

Metasoma II 15 – 22 10 – 17 15 – 16 17 (2) 11 –

ventrosubmedian carina 17.98 ± 1.76 (40) 14.00 ± 2.51 (8) 15.75 ± 0.46 (8) 12.67 ±

granules

Metasoma III 13 – 21 10 – 16 13 – 15 14 – 15 11 –

ventrosubmedian carina 15.78 ± 1.75 (40) 11.75 ± 1.98 (8) 14.25 ± 0.71 (8) (2) 12.00 ±

granules

Basitarsus III retroinferior 8 – 11 7 – 9 8 – 9 (2) 6 – 6 (2) 10 –

setae adult 9.50 ± 0.93 (8) 7.50 ± 1.00 (4) 12.75 ±

Telotarus III inferior setae 15 – 20 13 – 16 16 – 18 (2) 15 – 17 (2) 28 –

adult 17.00 ± 1.41 (8) 14.75 ± 1.26 (4) 31.75 ±

Pedipalp movable finger 3 – 6 3 – 5 6 (2) 6 – 6 (2) 6 (6

subrows 4.80 ± 0.92 (10) 4.50 ± 0.76 (8)

Pedipalp fixed finger 5 – 5 (10) 3 – 5 5 (2) 5 – 5 (2) 4 –

subrows 4.63 ± 0.74 (8) 4.83 ± 0.41

Pedipalp movable finger 3 – 4 2 – 4 3 – 4 (2) 4 – 4 (2) 4 –

external accessory 3.60 ± 0.52 (10) 3.38 ± 0.74 (8) 4.33 ± 0.52

denticles

Metasoma V dorsolateral 5 – 6 5 – 7 4 – 5 (2) 7 – 8 6 –

macrosetae 5.50 ± 0.53 (10) 5.75 ± 0.89 (8) (2) 6.83 ± 0.41

standard deviation (N = sample size); when N = 2, only range is cited. Values of N indicate number of bilateral anatomical structures animals).

smooth; orthobothriotaxic, with femoral d 2 present on internal surface; femora of legs smooth on prolateral surfaces; macrosetae on pedipalps, legs, metasoma and telson moderately longer and finer than in the male.

Measurements. See Tab. 3.

VARIATION. For variation in selected morphometric ratios and meristics, see Tabs. 4–5. Coloration patterns were quite consistent over the type series, with immatures and juveniles bearing much darker fuscous markings. Juvenile male (carapace length 2.225 mm) with weaker granulation on all surfaces, lateral surface of metasoma V and dorsal surface of pedipalp patella smooth.

COMPARISONS. N. kutcheri sp. n. differs from other Neobuthus species as follows: fuscous patterns extending over the dorsal surface of the pedipalp patella; tarsi bearing denser, longer macrosetae, including much higher numbers of setae on the ventral telotarsus; and much less pronounced sexual dimorphism in setation, with longer, finer macrosetae present on the male pedipalps, legs, sternite VII, metasoma and telson.

COMMENTS ON LOCALITIES AND LIFE STRATEGY. The second author visited the locality 14EG ( Figs. 146–147) on 19–21 November 2014, spent two nights there and collected 32 specimens with UV light. Males of Neobuthus kutcheri sp. n. were active immediately after sunset but females appeared later. At the locality, the second author recorded after sunset a nighttime temperature of 28.8 ºC, which gradually dropped to 17.4 ºC (minimum temperature) before sunrise. Humidity during the nights varied between 67% and 50%. In addition to N. kutcheri sp. n. the second author recorded at this locality Hottentotta trilineatus (Peters, 1861) and Parabuthus sp. This is a psammophilous species that was observed at night sitting on or running over sand, near vegetation. During the day, they were collected only under rocks that were on sand. This habitat specialization is correlated with the presence of large bristle combs on the basitarsi, and dense brushes of long macrosetae on the ventral surfaces of the telotarsi.