Barbaracurus winklerorum, Kovařík & Lowe & Šťáhlavský, 2018

Kovařík, František, Lowe, Graeme & Šťáhlavský, František, 2018, Review of the genus Babycurus Karsch, 1886 (Arachnida, Scorpiones, Buthidae), with descriptions of Barbaracurus gen. n. and two new species from Oman and Yemen, Euscorpius 267, pp. 1-41 : 27-29

Barbaracurus winklerorum sp. n.

( Figures 8 , 24, 32 , 66–69 , 76–77 , 85–86 , 101–102 , 147– 193 , 265 , Table 2 )

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:AB816A 91-BF29-49A3-B3BC-E07486594EDF

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE DEPOSITORY. Oman, Jabal Sayq , Deem, 16°41'78"N 53°08'20"E, ca 680 m a.s.l., ZSMC.

TYPE MATERIAL EXAMINED. Oman, Jabal Sayq, Deem , 16°41'78"N 53°08'20"E, ca 680 m a.s.l. ( Fig. 265 ), 20.XII.2001, UV detection, between and on high grass, 22.00-22.45 hour, leg. A. Winkler, 1♂ (holotype), ZSMC, 2♂ (paratypes), FKCP, GLPC; Jabal Sayq, Kadrafi, 16°41'09"N 53°08'09"E, ca 780 m a.s.l., 2 0. XII.2001, UV detection, between high grass, 21.00- 21.45 hour, leg. A. Winkler, 1♀ (paratype), ZSMC; Jabal Sayq, Deem, 16°41'09"N 53°08'20"E, ca 680 m a.s.l., 20.XII.2001, UV detection, 22.00-22.45 hour, leg. A. & B. Winkler, 1♀ (paratype), FKCP; Jabal Sayq, W. of Daykhut, 16°43'40"N 53°16'45"E, ca 250 m a.s.l., 29.I.2000, UV detection, rocky slope, under wood on sandy soil in smaller shrubs, leg. A. Winkler, 1♂ 1♀ (paratypes), NHMB.

ETYMOLOGY. The specific epithet honors Alexander Winkler and his wife Birgit Winkler (Munich, Germany) for their invaluable contributions to the knowledge of the scorpion fauna of Oman.

DIAGNOSIS. Total length of adult males 25–29 mm, adult females 30–34 mm. Coloration pale yellow to light orange, chelicerae yellow without reticulation. Pedipalp chela manus wider in male than female, chela length/ width ratio 4.5–4.7 in males and 5.8–5.9 in females; proximal margins of pedipalp fingers of female straight ( Fig. 69 , 173 , 192 ), of male weakly undulate but leave no gap with fingers closed ( Figs. 67 , 164 , 189 ); dentate margin of movable finger armed with 6 rows of granules, and a short apical row of 4 denticles ( Fig. 8 , 180–181 ); most proximal granule row with one external accessory granule. Pectines with 18–20 teeth in both sexes. Hemispermatophore basal lobe a prominent scoop-like lamina ( Figs. 24, 32 ). Metasoma narrow, metasoma V length/width ratio is 2.40–2.46 in males and 2.56–2.5 8 in females ( Figs. 76–77 ); metasoma I with 10 carinae, II–IV with 8 carinae. Telson setose, bearing numerous long macrosetae and short, pointed subaculear tubercle; vesicle smooth, elongate, ellipsoidal or pyriform, telson length/depth ratio 2.70–2.72 in both sexes; aculeus slender, curved, shorter than vesicle.

DESCRIPTION. Total length of adult males 25–29 mm, of adult females 30–34 mm. Measurements of the carapace, telson, segments of the metasoma and segments of the pedipalps are given in Table 2 . Base color is pale yellow to light orange ( Figs. 147–150 , 153–181 ). Chelicerae are yellow without reticulation ( Figs. 153–154 ). Sexual dimorphism minor, adult males with wider pedipalp chela than females, pedipalp chela length/width ratio 4.5–4.7 in males and 5.8–5.9 in females; pedipalps fingers are shorter in males, the fingers of females are straight, while those of males are proximally undulate with opposing margins that make contact and leave no gap when the fingers are closed ( Figs. 67 , 164 ); no sexual difference in length and width of metasomal segments.

PEDIPALP ( Figs. 163–181 , 185–193 ). Pedipalp mostly very sparsely hirsute, but more densely so on ventral surface of movable finger. Femur granulated, with five granulose carinae. Patella almost smooth with seven granulose carinae developed. Chela smooth with traces of carinae visible; fingers long, curved, with 7 granule rows and short apical row of 4 denticles on dentate margins; the most proximal row with one external and no internal accessory granule.

CARAPACE ( Figs. 153–154 , 182 ). Slightly trapezoidal (narrower anteriorly) and slightly longer than wide, or as long as wide; anterior margin concave, with some short microsetae. Carination absent. Median and posterior lateral furrows wide and deep, others vestigial to absent. Tegument densely and coarsely granulose. Median eyes large and raised; four or five pairs of lateral eyes: three major ocelli aligned along each anterolateral corner, plus two minor ocelli that may be vestigial or absent.

MESOSOMA ( Figs. 147–150 , 153–156 ). Tergites I–VI bear a single conspicuous median carina; tergite VII bears five well-defined carinae (median, submedians and laterals), which are long and serrate to crenulate. All tergites densely and coarsely granulose mainly on posterior parts. Sternum type 1, triangular in shape; medial depression large. Pectines extending to around a quarter of sternite IV in male and third quarter of sternite III in female. Tooth count 18–20 in both sexes (mean: 19.333 5♂ combs, 19.666 6♀ combs). Pectines with 3 marginal lamellae and 7–8 middle lamellae. Sternites lacking carinae, surfaces smooth and sparsely setose. Posterior margin of sternite V without smooth median patch in both sexes. Sternite VII with four well-defined carinae, which are long and serrate to crenulate.

HEMISPERMATOPHORE ( Figs. 24, 32 , 151–152 ). Flagelliform. Trunk long, narrow, gradually widening basally. Capsule region very short, length measured from basal lobe only 9% of trunk length. Flagellum short, pars recta ca. 2.5 times length of capsule, pars reflecta tapering to thin, hyaline filament at least as long as pars recta. Sperm hemiduct with 2 elongated lobes, posterior lobe broad, subtriangular with distinct carina extending its entire length, anterior lobe narrow, more uniform in width, separated from posterior lobe by rounded aperture at base. Basal lobe forming a long, scoop-like lamina, prominently projecting from convex surface of capsule, extending along oblique, transverse axis from anterior base of posterior lobe to base of flagellum where it terminates in blunt, thickened protrusion.

L EGS ( Figs. 101–102 ). Tarsomeres bearing two rows of macrosetae on their ventral surface and numerous macrosetae on other surfaces; bristle combs absent. Femur bearing only solitary macrosetae. Femur surface coarsely granulose, femur and patella with carinae developed. Moderate tibial spurs present on leg IV.

METASOMA AND TELSON ( Figs. 76–77 , 157–162 , 183– 184 ). All segments with granulate, completely developed carinae, including carinae on segment V in males. The carinae are composed of minute, rounded, equal-sized, evenly spaced granules. The first metasomal segment has a total of 10 carinae, the second through fourth segments have eight carinae, and the fifth segment has five carinae. All metasomal segments are very sparsely granulated. Metasoma is very sparsely hirsute. Telson smooth with only a weakly indicated ventral carina and a dense cover of long setae mainly on the ventral surface. Subaculear tubercle short and pointed. Vesicle elongate, ellipsoidal or pyriform, telson length/depth ratio 2.70– 2.72 in both sexes. Aculeus slender, curved, shorter than vesicle.

Figures

Figure 265: Map showing the known distribution of genera Barbaracurus gen. n. and Babycurus in the Arabian Peninsula, Horn of Africa, Kenya and partially in Tanzania. The upper photo inset shows the type locality of Barbaracurus winklerorum sp. n.

Figures 1–23: Pedipalp movable finger, comparison of Barbaracurus gen. n. (1–10) and Babycurus (11–23) species. Figures 1–4: Barbaracurus gen. n., species with 6 non-imbricated almost linear rows of granules. Figure 1. B. ugartei comb. n., female holotype. Figure 2. B. sofomarensis comb. n., male paratype. Figure 3. B. somalicus comb. n., female from Somaliland, locality 17SR. Figure 4. B. subpunctatus comb. n., female from Ethiopia, locality 14EI. Figures 5–10: Barbaracurus gen. n., species with 7 non-imbricated almost linear rows of granules. Figure 5. B. exquisitus comb. n., male holotype. Figures 6–7, 10. B. zambonellii comb. n., female (6 and 10) and male (7) from Eritrea, locality 15EH. Figure 8. B. winklerorum sp. n., female paratype. Figure 9. B. yemenensis sp. n., female holotype. Figures 12–14: Babycurus, species with 6 imbricated rows of movable fingers. Figure 12. B. ansorgei, female, Congo, Bukama env., FKCP. Figure 13. B. centrurimorphus, female lectotype. Figure 14. B. pictus, female, Congo, Sampwe env., FKCP. Figures 11, 15–21: Babycurus, species with 7–8 imbricated rows of movable fingers. Figure 15. B. buettneri, female, MCSN. Figure 11, 16. B. dunlopi, male paratype. Figure 17. B. jacksoni, male, Tanzania, FKCP, No. 1189. Figure 18. B. kirki, female, Cote d’Ivoire, Comoe, FKCP. Figure 19. Babycurus melanicus, female holotype. Figure 20. B. taramassoi, female, Somalia, Belet Amin, MCSN. Figure 21. Babycurus wituensis, female lectotype. Figures 22–23: Babycurus, species with 9 imbricated rows of movable fingers. Figure 22. B. gigas, female lectotype. Figure 23. B. multisubaculeatus, female holotype. Numbers in red indicate number of granule rows in series of fingers on the left of each number (red arrows).

Figures 24–39: Hemispermatophore capsules of Barbaracurus gen. n. and Babycurus species, convex and anterior views. In each figure. left image is convex view with capsule compressed to show shape of lobes, right image anterior view to show profile of basal lobe. Figures 24–31. Color images. Figures 24–28: Barbaracurus gen. n. Figure 24. B. winklerorum sp. n., holotype. Figure 25. B. exquisitus comb. n., Oman, Jabal Akhdar hotel, 23º04'N 57º38'E. Figure 26. B. sofomarensis comb. n., paratype from the type locality. Figure 27. B. somalicus comb. n., Somaliland, Borama, locality 17SR. Figure 28. B. zambonellii comb. n., Eritrea, Filfil, locality 15EH. Figures 29–31: Babycurus. Figure 29: B. jacksoni, Tanzania. Figure 30: B. gigas, Tanzania, Usambara Mts. Figure 31: B. buettneri, Cameroon, Mamba vill., 04°07.311'N 10°11.615'E. Scale bars: 200 µm. Small numbered labels indicate specimen numbers (see lists of Material Examined). Figures 32–39. Gray scale images with basal lobes outlined in red. Figures 32–36: Barbaracurus gen. n.: B. winklerorum sp. n. (32), B. exquisitus comb. n. (33), B. sofomarensis comb. n. (34), B. somalicus comb. n. (35) and B. zambonellii comb. n. (36). Figures 37–39: Babycurus: B. jacksoni (37), B. gigas (38) and B. buettneri (39). Solid red curves indicate either the distal margin of a scoop-like basal lobe (32, 34) or a well developed carina (35–37, 39). Dashed red curves indicate either the line of attachment of a scoop-like basal lobe (32, 34) or a weakly developed carina (35–36, 38).

Figures 50–69: Pedipalp chela dorsal and external views, comparison of Barbaracurus gen. n. species. Figures 50–53: B. sofomarensis comb. n., male (50–51) and female (52–53) paratypes. Figures 54–57: B. somalicus comb. n., male (54–55) and female (56–57) from Somaliland, locality 17SR. Figures 58–61: B. zambonellii comb. n., male (58–59) and female (60–61) from Eritrea, locality 15EH. Figures 62–65: B. exquisitus comb. n., male holotype (62–63) and female (64–65) paratype. Figures 66– 69: B. winklerorum sp. n., male holotype (66–67) and female (68–69) paratype.

Figures 70–80: Metasoma and telson ventral views, comparison of Barbaracurus gen. n. species. Figures 70–71: B. exquisitus comb. n., male holotype (70) and female (71) paratype. Figures 72–73: B. sofomarensis comb. n., male (72) and female (73) paratypes. Figures 74–74: B. somalicus comb. n., male (74) and female (75) from Somaliland, locality 17SR. Figures 76–77: B. winklerorum sp. n., male holotype (76) and female (77) paratype. Figures 78: B. yemenensis sp. n., female holotype. Figures 79–80. B. zambonellii comb. n., male (79) and female (80) from Eritrea, locality 15EH.

Figures 81–89: Telson, lateral views of both sexes, comparison of Barbaracurus gen. n. species. Figures 81–82: B. exquisitus comb. n., male holotype (81) and female (82) paratype. Figures 83–84: B. somalicus comb. n., male (83) and female (84) from Somaliland, locality 17SR. Figures 85–86: B. winklerorum sp. n., male holotype (85) and female (86) paratype. Figures 87: B. yemenensis sp. n., female holotype. Figures 88–89. B. zambonellii comb. n., male (88) and female (89) from Eritrea, locality 15EH.

Figures 95–106: Barbaracurus gen. n. Figures 95–98: Barbaracurus exquisitus comb. n. Figures 95, 97. Holotype male, chelicerae, carapace and tergites I–III (95) and sternopectinal region (97). Figures 96, 98. Paratype female, chelicerae, carapace and tergites I–III (96) and sternopectinal region (98). Figures 99–106: Distal segments of right legs, retrolateral views. Figures 99–100. B. exquisitus comb. n., male holotype, legs III (99) and IV (100). Figures 101–102. B. winklerorum sp. n., male holotype, legs III (101) and IV (102). Figures 103–106. B. yemenensis sp. n., female holotype, legs I–IV.

Figures 147–152: Barbaracurus winklerorum sp. n. Figures 147–148. Male holotype, dorsal (147) and ventral (148) views. Figures 149–150. Female paratype, dorsal (149) and ventral (150) views. Figures 151 – 152. Right hemispermatophore, convex aspect (151), posterior aspect of capsule region (152). Scale bars: 10 mm (147–150), 1 mm (151), 200 µm (152).

Figures 153–162: Barbaracurus winklerorum sp. n. Figures 153, 155, 157–159. Male holotype, chelicerae, carapace and tergites I–IV (153), sternopectinal region and sternites III–IV (155), metasoma and telson, lateral (157), ventral (158), and dorsal (159) views. Figures 154, 156, 160–162. Female, chelicerae, carapace and tergites I–IV (154), sternopectinal region and sternite III (156), metasoma and telson, lateral (160), ventral (161), and dorsal (162) views. Scale bar: 10 mm (157–162).

Figures 163–181: Barbaracurus winklerorum sp. n. Figures 163–171, 181. Male holotype, pedipalp chela, dorsal (163), external (164), and ventral (165) views, pedipalp patella, dorsal (166), external (167) and ventral (168) views, pedipalp femur and trochanter ventral (169), internal (170) and dorsal (171) views, pedipalp movable finger dentate margin (181). Figures 172–180. Female, pedipalp chela, dorsal (172), external (173), and ventral (174) views, pedipalp patella, dorsal (175), external (176) and ventral (177) views, pedipalp femur and trochanter dorsal (178) and ventral (179) views, pedipalp movable finger dentate margin (180). The trichobothrial pattern is indicated in Figures 164–167 and 170–171 (white circles).

Figures 182–205: Comparative morphology of adults of Barbaracurus winklerorum sp. n. (male holotype 182–190 and female paratype 191–193) and B. exquisitus comb. n. (male holotype 194–202 and female paratype 203–205), under UV fluorescence. Figures 182, 194. Carapace and tergites I–II. Figures 183–184, 195–196. Metasoma and telson lateral. Figures 185, 197. Pedipalp femur dorsal. Figures 186, 198. Pedipalp patella dorsal. Figures 187, 199. Pedipalp patella external. Figures 188, 191, 200, 203. Pedipalp chela dorsal. Figures 189, 192, 201, 204. Pedipalp chela external. Figures 190, 193, 202, 205. Pedipalp chela ventral.