Opistophthalmus jenseni ( Lamoral, 1972 )

Prendini, Lorenzo & Bird, Tharina L., 2008, Scorpions of the Brandberg Massif, Namibia: Species richness inversely correlated with altitude, African Invertebrates 49 (2), pp. 77-77 : 98-100

Opistophthalmus jenseni ( Lamoral, 1972)

Protophthalmus jenseni: Lamoral 1972: 118–119 , figs 3c–d, 4–6, tab. 1.

Material examined: 42 specimens, Brandberg , base of hill 282, opposite Orabeskopf [ 21°15'S: 14°38'E], 1.ii.1981, A. Harington ( 34 ♂ AMNH [ AH 1658–1689 , 1849 , 3286 ], 4♀ AMNH [ AH 1691–1693 , 3287 ], 1 subad. ♂ AMNH [ AH 1690 ]), on white gritty soft sand dune against hill at night ( 2 ♂ 1♀ NMSA 13940 ); 46 specimens, Brandberg , plains S, opposite Orabeskopf , 21°15.48'S: 14°36.54'E, 790 m, 16.i.1998, L. Prendini & E. Scott, gritty white sand dune against hill, UV detection, syntopic with P. gracilis and O. wahlbergii ( 42 ♂ 1♀ SMN 1973 , 1 ♂ 1♀ AMNH, 1 ♂ AMCC 100851 [ LP 1087 ]); 1♀( SMN 3064 ), Brandberg , White Lady Campsite, 21°00'57.72''S: 14°41'04.8''E, 461 m, 5.iii.2005, D. Kunz, at night; 1 ♂ ( NMSA 10845 [ SW 44 ]), Messum Crater area , 21°16'S: 14°13'E, 26.iii.1976, B.H. Lamoral, on surface of sandy to gritty soil at night; 15 ♂ Messum Crater , SW Brandberg [ 21°25'S: 14°13'E], 21.i.1981 ( 12 ♂ AMNH [ AH 1950–1960 , 2255 ]), 26.i.1981 ( 3 ♂ AMNH [ AH 3105–3107 ]), A. Harington; 1 ♂ ( AMNH [ AH 1902 ]), 1♀( AMNH [ AH 1903 ]), Nai-Gap riverbed at N tip Uis Mtns [ 21°07'S: 14°52'E], 6.ii.1981, A. Harington; 3 specimens, Omatjette–Khorixas junction, 20 km towards Uis [ 21°02'S: 14°51'E], 6.ii.1981 ( 1♀ AMNH [ AH 1904 ]), 25 km towards Uis [ 21°03'S: 14°53'E], 6.ii.1981 ( 1♀ AMNH [ AH 1798 ], 1 subad.♀ AMNH [ AH 1759 ]), A. Harington; 5 ♂ ( AMNH [ AH 1961–1964 , 2153 ]), 2♀( AMNH [ AH 1965 , 1966 ]), Uis R ., nr Kai-Nuses, nr Uis [ 21°11'S: 14°52'E], 2.ii.1981, A. Harington.

Remarks: Specimen NMSA 10845 was misidentified as Opistophthalmus holmi (Lawrence, 1969) by Lamoral (1979: 719).

Ecology and distribution: This psammophilous species ( Fig. 19 ) excavates shallow burrows in unconsolidated white sand dunes (Lamoral 1979; Prendini 2001 b) situated in dry riverbeds at the base of the Brandberg, and against small hills ( Fig. 2 ) surrounding the Brandberg and adjacent landforms (e.g. the Messum Crater). It is endemic to Namibia ( Lamoral 1972, 1979; Prendini 2005 a).

Figures

Figs 19, 20. Opistophthalmus adult males, habitus in life: (19) O. lamorali Prendini, 2000; (20) O. jenseni (Lamoral, 1972).

Fig. 2. Brandberg Massif (Namibia), granitic inselberg south, surrounded by low sand dunes, leading down to sandy plain, facing west, wet year. Dominant vegetation, Euphorbia damarana L.C. Leach and Stipagrostis sp. Dunes, habitat of Parabuthus gracilis Lamoral, 1979 and Opistophthalmus jenseni (Lamoral, 1972). Sandy plain, habitat of Parabuthus brevimanus (Thorell, 1876), Parabuthus granulatus (Ehrenberg, 1831) and Opistophthalmus wahlbergii (Thorell, 1876).