Hottentotta rugiscutis (Pocock, 1897)

Kovařík, František, 2007, A revision of the genus Hottentotta Birula, 1908, with descriptions of four new species (Scorpiones, Buthidae), Euscorpius 58 (58), pp. 1-107 : 57-61

Hottentotta rugiscutis (Pocock, 1897)

( Figs. 88–92 )

Buthus rugiscutis Pocock, 1897a: 106 ; Kraepelin, 1899: 20; Pocock, 1900a: 26; Takashima, 1945: 74; Weidner, 1959: 99.

Buthus (Buthus) rugiscutis : Roewer, 1943: 206.

Buthotus rugiscutis : Vachon, 1949: 147 (1952: 233); Vachon & Stockmann, 1968: 91; Kovařík, 1992: 183.

Hottentotta (Hottentotta) rugiscutis : Kovařík, 1998: 110.

Hottentotta rugiscutis : Kovařík, 1999: 291 (in part); Kovařík, 2001b: 83.

Buthus pachyurus : Kraepelin, 1913: 130 (in part).

Buthus pachyurus rugiscutis : Kraepelin, 1913: 130.

Mesobuthus rugiscutis : Tikader & Bastawade, 1983: 229; Fet & Lowe, 2000: 178; Bastawade, 2002: 294.

= Buthus rugiscutis nigritus Pocock, 1900a: 27 (syn. by Tikader & Bastawade, 1983: 235).

Hottentotta (Hottentotta) rugiscutis nigritus : Kovařík, 1998: 110.

Buthus pachyurus nigritus : Kraepelin, 1913: 130.

= Buthus hendersoni Pocock, 1900a: 26 ; Kraepelin, 1913: 129; Takashima, 1945: 76. Syn. n.

Buthotus hendersoni : Vachon, 1949: 147 (1952: 233); Vachon & Stockmann, 1968: 91.

Hottentotta (Hottentotta) hendersoni : Kovařík, 1998: 110.

Hottentotta hendersoni : Kovařík, 1998: 110; Kovařík, 2001b: 83.

Mesobuthus hendersoni : Tikader & Bastawade, 1983: 223; Fet & Lowe, 2000: 177.

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Madras , Yercaud , Cuddapah , Trichinopoly, Tanjore, India; BMNH Nos. 1896.7.30 .51–8.

TYPE MATERIAL EXAMINED. India, Maharasthra, Mahableshwar , 1♀ (lectotype hereby designated, Figs. 88–89 ), leg. R.C. Wroughton, BMNH No. 1896.6.13 .1– 7; Tamil Nadu, Madras, Tanjore , 1♀ (lectotype of Buthus hendersoni hereby designated, Fig. 90 ), leg. E. P. Popert, BMNH No. 1896.7.30.50 .

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. India, Andhra Pradesh, Nellore, Kovour Taluk , 12.IX.1966, 2♀, leg. Elizabeth

Jacob , CASC ; Podile , 13.VI.1966, 2♀, 13.II.1967, 1♂, VIII.1967, 2♀, leg. D. E. Johnson, CASC ; Merireddy Palem , 12.VII.1966, 1♀ 24juvs. before first ecdysis, 7.VIII.1966, 1♀, 10.VIII.1966, 1♀, leg. D. E. Johnson, CASC ; Kodavalur , 12.IX.1966, 3♀, leg. E. Jacob, CASC ; Tharigoppula , 3.VIII.1967, 2♂, leg. A. L. Slater, CASC ; Goa, near Ponda , II.2005, 1♀ ( Fig. 91 ), leg. V. Fura, FKCP ; Jharkhand, 6 mi. NE Dhanbad , 250 m., 7.XI.1961, 1♀, leg. E. S. Ross et D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; 12 mi. NE Dumka , 200 m., 31.X.1961, 2♀, leg. E. S. Ross et D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Karnataka, Shimoga dist., Agumbe ghat, 2000 ft., T.R.S.N., V.2001, 1♂ 1♀, FKCP ; Kerala, Walayar forest , V.1960, 1im.2juvs., CASC ; Madhya Pradesh, Jabalpur , VII.1958, 2♂ 5♀,leg. P. Susai Nathan, CASC ; Maharashtra, Ajanta Caves , 500 m., 28.I.1962, 2♀, leg. E. S. Ross & D. O. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Bombay , IV.1964, 1♀, leg. F. B. Steiner, CASC ; Mahabaleshvar , II.2005, 1♂ 5♀ ( Fig. 92 ), leg. V. Fura, FKCP ; Pondicherry, Karaikal , VII.1954, 1♀, II.1961, 2♂ 3♀, III. 1962, 2♀, leg. P. Susai Nathan, CASC ; St. Karikal , P.S.N., V.1968, 1♀, FKCP ; Karaikal , T.R.S.N., 2001, 1♀, 2002, 14♀ 5♂, 2003, 6♂ 21♀, FKCP ; Tamil Nadu, Tirunelveli , 3 mi. S. Kuniyur, 50 m., 28.III.1962, 2♂ 1juv., leg. E. S. Ross & D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; 10 mi S Udamalpet , 450 m., 19.III.1962, 5juvs., leg. E. S. Ross & D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Chingleput (now Chengalpattu ), 14.IV.1962, 1im., leg. S. Ross & D. Q. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Coimbatore , XII.1951, 1♀, IX.1963, 1♀, 12.IX.1966, 2♀, 11.X.1966, 1♂ 1♀, 10.-14.XI.1966, 1♀1♀ (im.), leg. K. N. Banerjee and P. Susai Nathan, CASC ; Sethumadai, near Pollachi , 375 m., 18.III.1962, 1juv., leg. E. S. Ross & D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Madras , II.1993, 1♀, leg. M. Veselý, FKCP ; Tamil , 29.IX.1993, 1♀, FKCP ; 25 km N Pudukottai , 20.X.1997, 1♂, leg. Werner, FKCP ; Batlagundu-Kodaikanal , 22.X.1997, 1♀, leg. Werner, FKCP ; North Arcot dist. , Tiruvannamalai, T.R.S.N. coll., XII. 2000, 1♂ 2♀, X. 2001, 3♀, FKCP ; Coimbatore Dist, Marudamaiai Hills , 1800 feet, P.S.N. coll., 2001, 1♀, XII.2003, 3♂ 5♀, XII.2004, 1♂, FKCP ; West Bengal, Calcutta , 12.I.1967, 1♂, leg. D. N. Santra, CASC .

DIAGNOSIS. Total length 30–60 mm. For habitus see Figs. 88–92 . Trichobothrium db on the fixed finger of pedipalp situated between trichobothria et and est or on level with trichobothrium est. Male with fingers proximally twisted, manus of pedipalps wider than female. Pectinal teeth number 23–29 in males, 19–26 in females. Chelicerae yellow to green, reticulate, reticulation may be poorly developed in males. Entire body only sparsely hirsute, especially metasomal segments. The hairs on patella of pedipalps are short. Color uniformly yellow to reddish brown. In specimens with darker mesosoma legs always lighter than mesosoma. Femur of pedipalp with 5 carinae. Dorsal surfaces of femur and patella usually granulated. Patella with 2 or 4 carinae on internal surface, no other carinae. Chela lacks carinae. Movable fingers of pedipalps with 12–14 rows of granules and 5 terminal granules. Seventh metasomal segment with 4 well marked ventral granulated carinae. Dorsal surfaces of mesosoma and carapace granulated. First to fourth metasomal segments with 10 carinae; fifth segment with 5 carinae. Metasoma densely granulated between carinae except dorsal surface, which is sparsely granulated, usually smooth at center and often bears 2 short, inconspicuous carinae. Granules on ventral and namely lateral surfaces of metasoma large, conspicuous, sometimes obscuring carinae. Telson also densely granulated. Dorsal carinae of metasomal segments bear larger terminal granules. First and second metasomal segments of adults wider than long, but second segment of males may be rarely slightly longer than wide. Third metasomal segment usually longer than wide, but in females may also be wider than long. Second to fourth metasomal segment width ratio is around 1.1. Length to width ratio of fourth metasomal segment less than 1.3.

COMMENTS. Pocock (1897) described Hottentotta rugiscutis as Buthus rugiscutis and based the species on a pair deposited at BMNH. I examined the female and designate it the lectotype in order to stabilize the taxon.

Pocock (1900) described Hottentotta hendersoni as Buthus hendersoni on the basis of several specimens deposited at BMNH. I examined a female and designate it the lectotype in order to stabilize the taxon. Pocock (1900: 26) stated that the third metasomal segment of Buthus hendersoni is longer than wide, but in the female lectotype ( Fig. 90 ) it is 3.3 mm wide and 3.1 mm long. Examination of both lectotypes and of many other specimens (see material) convinces me that Buthus hendersoni is a synonym of H. rugiscutis . Pocock (1900) further described the subspecies Buthus rugiscutis nigritus from one female, also deposited at BMNH, which he characterized primarily by its color. However, since in reality the color is variable, I agree with Tikader & Bastawade (1983: 235) that that this taxon is also a synonym of H. rugiscutis .

DISTRIBUTION: India (Pocock, 1897a: 107).

Figures

Figure 88: Hottentotta rugiscutis, dorsal view, female lectotype.

Figure 89: Hottentotta rugiscutis, ventral view, female lectotype.

Figure 90: Hottentotta rugiscutis, ventral view, female lectotype of Buthus hendersoni.

Figure 91: Hottentotta rugiscutis, dorsal view, female from India, Goa, near Ponda, FKCP.

Figure 92: Hottentotta rugiscutis, dorsal view, male from India, Maharashtra, Mahabaleshvar, FKCP.