Afrolychas, Kovařík, 2019

Kovařík, František, 2019, Taxonomic reassessment of the genera Lychas, Mesobuthus, and Olivierus, with descriptions of four new genera (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Euscorpius 288, pp. 1-27 : 12

Genus Afrolychas gen. n.

( Figures 12, 16–17, 44–45, 72–73, 101, 128–133) http://zoobank. org/urn:lsid:zoobank. org:act:67C5FACA-26D6-

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Lychas (in part) Fet & Lowe, 2000: 158–169 (complete references list until 2000); KovařÍk & Ojanguren Affilastro, 2013: 194–210, figs. 1415–1418, 1432–1433, 1559–1561.

TYPE SPECIES. Isometrus burdoi Simon, 1882 .

ETYMOLOGY.The generic name reflects geographic distribution of this genus.

DIAGNOSIS. Total length 25–40 mm. Carapace granular, lacking distinct carinae, flat, subrectangular with concave anterior margin. Median eyes on ocular tubercle in anterior half of carapace; usually with 4, or sometimes 5 pairs of lateral eyes (3 major ocelli, 1–2 minor ocelli). Sternum type 1, triangular in shape. Tergites I–VI granular, with single median carina, tergite VII with 5 carinae. Metasoma elongate, segment I with 10 carinae, II with 8 or 10, III– IV with 8 carinae. Telson ellipsoidal in shape, smooth or granulated with the furrow absent or only indicated, with distinct subaculear tooth. Pectinal tooth counts 13–18. Pectines with fulcra. Chelicerae with typical buthid dentition, fixed finger armed with single denticle on ventral surface. Pedipalps orthobothriotaxic, type Aβ, femur trichobothrium d 2 internal, patella d 3 external to dorsomedian carina. Dentate margins of chela movable finger armed with 3 terminal (two subterminal and one distal) denticles, apical row composed of 1–3 denticles, and imbricated overlapping six rows of denticles, rows 1–5 terminated proximally flanked by two enlarged outer accessory denticles, and single inner accessory denticle displaced distally. Sixth row without outer and inner accessory denticles. Moderate tibial spurs present on leg III and leg IV, tibia and tarsus without bristle combs, ventral surfaces of tarsomeres II densely equipped with two rows of setae, ungues stout.

SUBORDINATE TAXA (2 SPECIES).

Afrolychas braueri (Kraepelin, 1896) , comb. n. ( Seychelles: Praslin and Mahé Islands)

Afrolychas burdoi ( Simon, 1882) , comb. n. ( Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe)

=? Lychas burdoi rugulosus Birula, 1915

= Lychas burdoi rhodesianus Lawrence, 1938

= Babycurus ornatus Werner, 1936

COMMENTS. Afrolychas burdoi comb. n. was originally described as Isometrus by Simon (1882) and since 1902 ( Purcell, 1902) it was placed in genus Lychas by all the recent authors (e. g. Fet & Lowe, 2000; Prendini, 2005; KovařÍk & Ojanguren Affilastro, 2013). Morphological characters cited in the diagnosis up indicate that this species, together with A. braueri comb. n., represents a separate new genus, more related to the African genus Pseudolychas Kraepelin, 1911 than to the species of genus Lychas sensu stricto.