Mesobuthus Vachon, 1950

Novruzov, Nizami E., Kovařík, František & Fet, Victor, 2022, Mesobuthus zarudnyi sp. n. from Azerbaijan (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Euscorpius 347, pp. 1-9 : 1-3

Genus Mesobuthus Vachon, 1950

( Figures 1–41 , Table 1)

Mesobuthus Vachon, 1950: 152 (in part).

TYPE SPECIES. Androctonus eupeus C. L. Koch, 1839 .

REFERENCES (selected):

Mesobuthus (in part): Vachon, 1952: 324; Vachon, 1958: 141; Fet & Lowe, 2000: 169–181 (in part; complete references list until 1998).

Mesobuthus: Kovařík, 2019: 17 , figs. 134–137, 148, 161–163, 171–172.

DIAGNOSIS. Medium-sized buthids, adults 35–65 mm. Sternum type 1 (Soleglad & Fet, 2003), various degrees of an irregular pentagon in shape. Pedipalps orthobothriotaxic, type Aβ ( Vachon, 1974, 1975), femur trichobothrium d 2 dorsal, patella d 3 dorsal of dorsomedian carina. Chelal trichobothrium db usuclly located between est and esb, or may be on level with trichobothrium est. Trichobothrium eb clearly located on fixed finger of pedipalp. Pectines with fulcra. Dentate margin of pedipalp-chela movable finger with distinct denticles divided into 11–12 linear rows and 5 terminal denticles. Chelicerae with typical buthid dentition (Vachon, 1963, figs. 32–33), fixed finger armed with two denticles on ventral surface. Tergites I–VI granular, with three carinae, tergite VII with 5 carinae. Carapace with distinct carinae, entire dorsal surface nearly flat. First sternite with two granulated lateral stridulatory areas, which, however, may be reduced in some species. Metasoma elongate, segment I with 10 carinae, segments II-III with 8–10 carinae, segment IV with 8 carinae. Ventrolateral carinae of metasomal segment V posteriorly usually with several large lobated denticles. Telson elongated or bulbous, bumpy and granulated, without subaculear tooth. Legs III and IV with well developed tibial spurs. No sexual dimorphism in shape of metasoma.

DISTRIBUTION. Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Russia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan.

Figures

Figures 1–4: Mesobuthus zarudnyi sp. n. Figures 1–2. Male holotype, dorsal (1) and ventral (2) views. Figures 3–4. Female paratype, dorsal (3) and ventral (4) views. Scale bars: 10 mm (1–2, 3–4).

Figures 5–12: Mesobuthus zarudnyi sp. n. Figures 5, 7–9. Male holotype, telson lateral (5), metasoma and telson, lateral (7), dorsal (8), and ventral (9) views. Figures 6, 10–12. Female paratype, telson lateral (6), metasoma and telson, lateral (10), dorsal (11), and ventral (12) views. Scale bar: 10 mm (7–12).

Figures 13–32: Mesobuthus zarudnyi sp. n., pedipalp. Figures 13–21. Male holotype, chela, dorsal (13), external (14), and ventral (15) views. Patella, dorsal (16), external (17) and ventral (18) views. Femur and trochanter, internal (19), dorsal (20), and ventral (21) views. Figures 22–32. Female paratype, chela, dorsal (22), external (23), and ventral (24) views. Patella, dorsal (25), external (26) and ventral (27) views. Femur and trochanter, internal (28), dorsal (29), and ventral (30) views. Movable (32) and fixed (31) fingers. The trichobothrial pattern is indicated in Figures 13–17, 19–20.

Figures 33–40: Mesobuthus zarudnyi sp. n. Figures 33–34. Male holotype, chelicerae, carapace and tergites I–IV (33), sternopectinal region and sternites (34). Figures 35–40. Female paratype, chelicerae, carapace and tergites I–III (35), sternopectinal region and sternites III–V (361). Right legs I–IV, retrolateral aspect (37–40).

Figure 41. Distribution of Mesobuthus spp. in Azerbaijan. Based on studied material only.