Lisposoma elegans Lawrence, 1928

PRENDINI, LORENZO, 2005, New Records and Observations on the Natural History of Lisposoma elegans and L. josehermana (Scorpiones: Bothriuridae), American Museum Novitates 3487, pp. 1-12 : 3-8

Lisposoma elegans Lawrence, 1928

Lisposoma elegans Lawrence, 1928: 281–286 , pl. XXIII, fig. 52–57, pl. XXIV, fig. 58.

Lisposoma elegans: Werner, 1934: 274 ; Lawrence, 1955: 257; Vachon, 1974: 940, fig. 92, 102, 134–136; Lamoral & Reynders, 1975: 544; Lamoral, 1979: 662–665, fig. 318–326, 329, 330; Francke, 1982: 36; Lourenço, 1996: 85, fig. 2 ; Kovařík, 1998: 101; Lowe & Fet, 2000: 34; Lourenço, 2000: 39, fig. 20; Prendini, 2000: 40, table 3, figs. 2 , 6; Prendini, 2001: 137; Prendini, 2003a: figs. 2 –4, appendix 1; Prendini, 2003b: 247–257, 262, figs. 1 –19, table 2; Fet et al., 2004: 195–207, table I, II, figs. 1 , 3, 17, 20; Prendini, 2005a: 51 , 70 (appendix 1).

TYPE MATERIAL: NAMIBIA: Kunene Region: Opuwo District: Lectotype / ( SAMC B6980), desig. Lamoral (1979: 663), Okorosave [Korosave, 188109S 138489E], South West Africa, i–iv.1926, S.A. Museum Expedition. Paralectotypes (desig. Lamoral, 1979: 663): Sesfontein [198089S 138379E], South West Africa, i–iv.1925, S.A. Museum Expedition, 1/ 10 subad. / ( SAMC B6066/ B6077). Outjo District: Kamanjab [198389S 148509E], South West Africa, ii.1925, S.A. Museum Expedition, 1 subad.? ( NMSA 16411 ex SAMC B6773); Outjo [208079S 168099E], South West Africa, i–iv.1926, S.A. Museum Expedition, 1? 3 subad.? ( SAMC B6077).

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: NAMIBIA: Erongo Region: Karibib District: 20 km E Namib­Naukuft Park gate on Us Pass road, 238079S 158449E, 15.xi.1974, S. Endrödy­ Younga, pitfall trap, 1 subad.? ( TMSA 12420 [EY 470B]); 30 km E Namib­Naukuft Park gate on Us Pass road, 238059S 158499E, 15.xi.1974, S. Endrödy­Younga, pitfall trap, 2? ( TMSA 12422–12423 [EY 471G]). Omaruru District: 20 km S of Omatjette­Khorixas junction [218039S 148539E], 6.ii.1981, A. Harington, near rocky hill, ground was sandy, area basically flat, 1? ( AMNH [AH 2133]); Tsisab ravine foot [Brandberg], 218059S 148409E, 27.ii–20.vi.1995, E. Marais, preservative pitfall trap, 1 juv. / ( NMNW 1861); Brandberg, N end Tsisab, 218059S 148409E, 21.i–27.ii.1995, E. Marais, preservative pitfall traps, 1? 1/ ( NMNW 1860); Brandberg, summit, below Longipoele, 21811934.90S 14833923.90E, 23.xii. 2003, L. Prendini, T. Bird, & N. Krone, collected with UV light on warm, dark, still night, in dry watercourse surrounded by granite slopes and boulders, with a fairly dense Acacia thicket in places, specimens sitting on ground surface, 1794 m, syntopic with Parabuthus brevimanus (Thorell, 1876) , Uroplectes otjimbinguensis (Karsch, 1879) (in bushes and trees), U. planimanus (Karsch, 1879) , Hadogenes tityrus (Simon, 1888) , and Opistophthalmus carinatus (Peters, 1861) , 1? ( AMCC 138987), 1? ( AMNH); Brandberg, summit, between Longipoele and Helmpoele, 21811933.20S 14833931.40E, 23.xii.2003, L. Prendini, T. Bird, & N. Krone, collected with UV light on warm, dark, still night, in sheltered, flat sandy valley with granite domes and boulders intersected by dry watercourses, granitic loam soil with Stipagrostis ­Aristida grassland, Boscia , Cyphostemma , Euphorbia , and Ozoroa in rocky areas, specimen sitting on ground surface, 1830 m, syntopic with P. brevimanus , U. otjimbinguensis (in bushes and trees), U. planimanus , and O. carinatus , 1? ( AMNH). Swakopmund District: Rössing Mine, Arandis Control Site, 228089S 158009E, 13.iii–9.iv.1984, E. Griffin, preservative pitfall traps, 1? 1 subad.? 3 juv. / ( NMNW 826), same data, except ‘‘ 9.iv– 8.v.1984 ’’, 1/ ( NMNW 832); Rössing Mine, Arandis Site, 228229S 148599E, 11.ii– 11.iii.1985, J. Irish & H. Rust, preservative pitfall traps, 1 juv.? ( NMNW 890), same data, except ‘‘ 11.iii–9.iv.1985 ’’, 1 subad.? ( NMNW 901); Rössing Mine, Crusher Dust

Figs. 3–8. Collection localities for Lisposoma Lawrence, 1928 in Namibia. 3. Brandberg Massif, summit, near Helmpoele, habitat of Lisposoma elegans Lawrence, 1928 . 4. Waterberg Plateau, southern edge, habitat of Lisposoma josehermana Lamoral, 1979 : wooded thicket below cliff face. 5–8. Farm Varianto on Elandshoek 771, Otavi Highlands, habitat of L. josehermana . 5. Rocky slopes in wooded thicket at base of hill. 6. Dolomite boulders and rock faces at base of wooded slope, where specimens were collected. 7, 8. Microhabitat: specimens were observed sitting and walking on rock faces and in crevices at night.

Area , 228279S 158029E, 13.iii–9.iv.1984, E. Griffin, preservative pitfall traps, 1? ( NMNW 829 ) , same data, except ‘‘ 9.iv– 8.v.1984 ’’, 1/ ( NMNW 839 ) ; Rössing Mine, Crusher Dust Area , 228289S 158029E, 11.ii– 11.iii.1985, J. Irish & H. Rust, preservative pitfall traps, 6? 3/ 1 subad.? ( NMNW 897 ) , same data, except ‘‘ 11.iii–9.iv.1985 ’’, 1/ 1 juv.? ( NMNW 910 ) ; Rössing Mine, Dome Gorge , 228289S 158049E, 11.ii– 11.iii.1985, J. Irish & H. Rust, preservative pitfall traps, 2? 1 subad.? 2 subad. / 1 juv. / ( NMNW 898 ) , same data, except ‘‘ 11.iii– 9.iv.1985 ’’, 1? ( NMNW 912 ) , same data, except ‘‘ 5.iv–6.v.1985 ’’, 1 juv. [sex indet.] ( NMNW 918 ) ; Rössing Mine, Lower Ostrich Gorge , 228309S 148589E, 11.iii–9.iv.1985, J. Irish & H. Rust, preservative pitfall traps, 1 subad.? ( NMNW 909 ) ; Rössing Mine, Upper Ostrich Gorge , 228299S 148599E, 11.ii– 11.iii.1985, J. Irish & H. Rust, preservative pitfall traps, 1? 1/ 1 juv. / ( NMNW 891 ) , same data, except ‘‘ 11.iii–9.iv.1985 ’’, 1/ ( NMNW 905 ) , same data, except ‘‘ 5.iv– 6.v.1985 ’’, 1 subad.? ( NMNW 915 ) . Namib­Naukluft Park: Gobabeb [238349S 158039E], 26.i.1975, S. Endrödy­Younga, pitfall trap, 3? 1 juv.? 1 juv. / ( TMSA 11114 ) , 1/ ( TMSA 11111 ) ; 42 km along Mirabib road from Gobabeb [238259S 158269E], 28.ii.1975, S. Endrödy­Younga, pitfall trap, 1 subad. / 1 juv.? ( TMSA 11104 ) ; Volstruishoogte [23800.649S 15824.749E], 26.i.1998, L. Prendini & E. Scott, under ironstone, 360 m, 1? ( AMCC 139001 ) . Khomas Region: Windhoek District: 44 km E Namib­Naukuft Park gate on Us Pass road, 238049S 158569E, 24.i.1975, S. Endrödy­Younga, pitfall trap, 1 juv. / ( TMSA 12427 [EY 583B]), same data, except ‘‘ 5.vi.1975 ’’, 1/ ( TMSA 12429 [EY 586E]), 1 subad.? ( TMSA 12430 [EY 586E]) ; 46 km E Namib­Naukuft Park gate on Us Pass road, 238039S 158589E, 2.iii.1974, S. Endrödy­Younga, pitfall trap, 1 subad.? ( TMSA 12428 [EY 719]), same data, except ‘‘ 3.vi.1975 ’’, 1 subad.? 2 juv. / ( TMSA 12459 [EY 857G]), same data, except ‘‘ 5.vi.1975 ’’, 1 subad.? ( TMSA 12431 [EY 857]), 1 subad. / ( TMSA 12432 [EY 857]), 1 subad. / ( TMSA 12433 [EY 857]) ; Top of Us Pass , 238039S 158589E, 7.vii.1978, S. Endrödy­Younga, pitfall trap, 1/ ( TMSA 12217 [EY 1474]), 4 subad.? ( TMSA 12213–12216 [EY 1474]) ; Daan Viljoen [Game Reserve], near Windhoek [228329S 168589E], 12.xii.1978, A. Harington, under a very large stone, 1 juv. / ( AMNH [ AH 833 ]) ; Farm Portsmut 33, Hakos Mountains , 238119S 168249E, 7.ii.1969, B. Lamoral & R. Day, 2? 1 subad. / ( NMSA 10035 [B.6773]) ; Farm Voigtland a. d. Bismarck­ Bergen (38 km E Windhoek) [228359S 178209E], 16–19.v.1911, W. Michaelsen, 1/ 1 juv.? ( ZMUH) ; Goreangab Dam, Windhoek , 228329S 178029E, 19.xii.1973, State Museum staff (C.G. Coetzee, M.­L. Penrith, J. Buys, E. Marais, & S. Oosthuizen), 1/ ( NMNW 503 [old 63]) ; Windhoek, Eros Mt. [228349S 178069E], 2.xii.1974, S. Endrödy­ Younga, 1/ ( TMSA 20250 ) , 1/ 1 subad.? ( TMSA 20251 ) , 11.xi.1974, S. Endrödy­ Younga, 1? 1/ ( TMSA 21629 ) ; Windhoek [228349S 178059E], 29.iv–8.v.1911, W. Michaelsen, 1/ ( ZMUH) . Kunene Region: Khorixas District: Farm Annabis 677, 208009S 148389E, 23–24.ii.1969, B. Lamoral & R. Day, 1/ ( NMSA 10032 ) ; Farm Vrede 719, 208239S 148149E, 31.iii.1976, B. Lamoral & L. Ferguson, on surface near rocky and sandy marginal area south of road at night, 1/ ( NMSA 10885 ) ; 2 km E Khorixas [208229S 148599E], 19.iv.1980, L. Harington, drowned in water trough, 1/ ( AMNH [ AH 1448 ]) ; Farm Welbedaght 584 [Welbedacht 394], near Khorixas [208319S 148559E], 20.iv.1980, A. Harington, under an irregular rock on a fairly steep, extremely rocky hillside, sparse grass, 1/ ( AMNH [ AH 1345 ]) ; Hobatere Lodge, Farm Marenphil 641, 198209S 148239E, 19–20.i.1998, L. Prendini & E. Scott, 1050 m, granitic hills and sandy loam flats near camp, UV detection at night, 3? ( AMNH) ; Palm , 198579S 138599E, 21.i.1998, L. Prendini & E. Scott, 1000 m, dolerite rocky flats, loam soil, UV detection at night, 1? ( AMNH) . Opuwo District: Anabib ( Orupembe ) [188119S 128319E], 100 mi W Ohopoho, 4 mi SW of waterhole, 8.vi.1951, P. & G. Brinck, G. & I. Rudebeck, on plain covered by dry vegetation, under stones, 1? 1/ ( ZMLU L51 /4288), 1? ( ZMLU L51 /4287 [old 1525]) ; between Anabib [Orupembe, 188119S 128319E] and Omutati [Okomutati, 188159S 138059E], 6.vi.1951, P. & G. Brinck, G. & I. Rudebeck, on dry hill side with scattered mopane bushes, 1? ( ZMLU L51 /4286 [old 1527]) ; Orumana [188159S 138549E], 10.ii.1975, 1 subad.? ( NMNW 593 ) ; Sesfontein , 10 km W of clinic, 198079S 138369E, 4.iv.1976, B. Lamoral & L. Ferguson, on gritty and stoney ground at night, 7/ [2 missing] 1 subad. / ( NMSA 10886 ) ; Sima Hill , 3 km NW [198119S 138039E], 1.iv–30.vi.1985, pitfall trap, 1? 1/ ( NMNW 1164 ) ; Sima Hill , 4 km W [198119S 138039E], 1.iv–30.vi.1985, pitfall trap, 2/ ( NMNW 1158 ) . Outjo District: Tandala Ridge, Farm Windpoort 428 [19821.4899S 15829.0289E], 15.xii.1999, T. O. Osborne, dolomite ridge, syntopic with O. carinatus , 1/ ( NMNW 2674 [old 2125]), same data, except ‘‘ ii.2000 ’’, 1 subad. / ( NMNW 2675 [old 2144]) . Etosha National Park: Helio , 198039S 168299E, 14.ii– 23.iii.1987, E. Griffin, preservative pitfall traps, 2? 2/ 1 subad.? 3 subad. / 1 juv.? 5 juv. / ( NMNW 999 ) , same data, except ‘‘ 27.iii–4.v.1988 ’’, 1/ 1 juv. / ( NMNW 1091 ) ; Karossfontein , 198219S 148319E, 9.ii– 20.iii.1987, E. Griffin, preservative pitfall traps, 1? 1/ ( NMNW 984 ) ; Olifantsrus , 188589S 148519E, 8.vi–8.vii.1987, E. Griffin, in reptile trap, 1 specimen [not examined] ( NMNW 1204 ) ; Ondundozonananandana Mts , 198159S 158439E, 10.x–30.xi.1986, E. Griffin, preservative pitfall traps, 3 specimens [not examined] ( NMNW 961 ) .

DISTRIBUTION: Lisposoma elegans is now known from 46 localities, falling within 39 quarter­degree squares ( QDS), in the Kunene Region ( Khorixas , Opuwo , and Outjo districts), Khomas Region ( Windhoek District ), and Erongo Region ( Karibib , Omaruru , and Swakopmund districts) of central and northwestern Namibia ( fig. 9 ). The species has been recorded within four protected areas: Brandberg National Monument , Daan Viljoen Game Reserve , Etosha National Park, and Namib­Naukluft Park. Although it was previously recorded at the base of the Brandberg ( Prendini, 2003b), the present study provides the first records from the summit of the massif, which also represents the highest record for the species (1830 m; the lowest record is 360 m) .

NATURAL HISTORY: As with most other specimens of L. elegans , the new specimens were collected in pitfall traps or by means of UV light detection at night. All specimens were collected in stony areas with hard, gritty substrata (fig. 3) and no additional evidence contradicts the opinion that the species is lapidicolous and not fossorial ( Prendini, 2001, 2003b).

Figures

Figs. 1–2. Lisposoma josehermana Lamoral, 1979, adult?, in life. 1. Natural light. 2. Ultraviolet light. Scale bar 5 10 mm.

Fig. 9. Map showing the known distributions of Lisposoma elegans Lawrence, 1928 (n) and Lisposoma josehermana Lamoral, 1979 (m) in Namibia (contour interval 600 m; major sand systems stippled).