Orthochiroides somalilandus Kovařík & Lowe, 2022

Kovařík, František & Lowe, Graeme, 2022, Review of Orthochiroides Kovařík 1998 with description of a new species (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Euscorpius 349, pp. 1-42 : 6-14

Orthochiroides somalilandus Kovařík & Lowe , sp. n.

( Figures 9–53 , 118–121, 130–133, 140–141, 146, 167, 193– 196, 205–211; Tables 1, 3) http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:18E652AE-

A564-4A2E-99D9-DBB31C5A85D1

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Somaliland , Mader Mage village, between Eregavo and Maid, 10°48'03"N 47°17'46"E, 1389 m a. s. l. ( Fig. 76 ) ; FKCP.

TYPE MATERIAL EXAMINED ( FKCP). Somaliland , Mader Mage village, between Eregavo and Maid, 10°48'03"N 47°17'46"E, 1389 m a. s. l. (locality No. 18SD), 23.VIII.2018, 3♂ (holotype and paratypes, DNA Nos. 1543, 1544) 1♀ (paratype), leg. F. Kovařík ; 5 km S of Maid , 10°59'46"N 47°08'14"E, 182 m a. s. l. (Locality No. 18SF; Fig. 77 ), 25.VIII.2018, 3♂ (paratypes, DNA No. 1539, Figs. 70–73 ), leg. F. Kovařík.

ETYMOLOGY. Named for its geographic distribution.

DIAGNOSIS (ADULT ♂ ♀). Total length of adults 24–32 mm. Petite ‘trichobothria’ d 2 on dorsal surfaces of pedipalp femur and patella reduced or absent. Chela with carinae E and D1 strongly costate, intercarinal surfaces sparsely granulate. Pectinal tooth count: 16–18 (♂), 15 (♀). Movable finger of pedipalp chela with 9 rows of median denticles, 9 ID and 9 OD. Metasoma V laterally and ventromedially rugosereticulate and finely granulate. Metasoma III–IV laterally rugose-reticulate and finely granulate, ventromedially granulate. Inter-reticular depressions large, irregularly shaped, with diameters comparable to the mean distance between their centroids, together occupying much more area than the smooth or granular reticulations between them. Weak, finely granulated median lateral carinae present and complete on metasoma I–II, indistinct and masked by reticulate morphosculpture on metasoma III–IV. Dorsal surfaces of all metasomal segments smooth medially, granulate-reticulate or rugose-reticulate laterally; border between dorsal and dorsolateral surfaces of metasoma IV–V indistinct, not clearly demarcated by dorsosubmedian carina or abrupt transition in morphosculpture. Aculeus slightly shorter than vesicle, aculeus L/telson L> 0.30. Color uniformly black except for pedipalp chela fingers and tarsomeres of legs, which are yellow to yellowish brown. Tergites roughly granulated. Sternite VII densely granulated, with four granulated carinae. Pedipalp, metasoma and telson glabrous. Moderate to small tibial spurs present on legs III and IV. Tarsomere I of legs I–III with 3–4 long setae in both sexes.

DESCRIPTION. Total length of adults 24–32 mm in both sexes. For habitus, see Figs. 9–12 , 50–51 .

Coloration ( Figs. 9–12 , 50–51 ). Color uniformly black, except for pedipalp chela fingers and tarsomeres of legs which are yellow to yellowish brown. Telson reddish brown.

Carapace and mesosoma ( Figs. 38–41 ). Carapace surface roughly granulated except for several smooth furrows. Superciliary carinae granulated, extending partially into preocular triangle. Tergites I – VI roughly granulated, with weak median and lateral carinae. Sternite VII densely granulated with four granulated carinae; other sternites finely granulated or shagreened in lateral areas. Sternite VI with median carinae granulated (♂) , or smooth (♀), lateral carinae granulated in both sexes. Glossy smooth patch present on median-posterior zone of sternites IV– VI (♂) , or sternites III– VI (♀) . Posterior margins of sternites III– VI (♂) , or III– V (♀) equipped with rows of non-contiguous clavate or digitate denticles. Pectinal tooth count: 16–18 (3 x 16, 3 x 17, 4 x 18) (♂), 15 (♀). Female pectine teeth notably shorter than male teeth, mid-pectine sensillar margin L/ tooth W 1.63 (♀), 2.45 (♂).

Hemispermatophore ( Figs. 46–49 ). Flagelliform. Trunk narrow, elongate, broadened proximally. Flagellum folded, with thicker, laminate pars recta, 0.45 times length of trunk, and thinner, cylindrical, hyaline pars reflecta, 0.61 times length of trunk. Capsule short, 0.15 times length of trunk. Sperm hemiduct divided into 3 lobes; posterior lobe longest, lanceolate; median lobe shortest, laminate; median and anterior lobes apically acuminate. Basal lobe an apically curved hook with a broad base.

Metasoma and telson ( Figs. 13–18 ). Metasoma I–II with 10 granulated carinae. Metasoma III–IV without distinct median lateral carinae. Metasoma V with dorsosubmedian carinae smooth, rugose, irregular; ventrolateral carinae weak, granulated, restricted to posterior third of segment, other carinae absent. Metasoma I with intercarinal surfaces finely granulate. Metasoma III–IV laterally rugose-reticulate and finely granulate, ventromedially finely granulate. Metasoma V laterally and ventromedially rugose-reticulate, finely granulate in posterior ventral area. Reticulations on metasoma III–V thinner and partially granulated in male, thicker and polished in female. Dorsal surfaces of metasoma I–IV smooth medially, of metasoma V smooth posterio-medially; lateral areas of dorsal surfaces granulate on segment I, granulate reticulate on II, rugose-reticulate on III–V. Entire metasoma and telson glabrous. Telson smooth and punctate.

Pedipalps ( Figs. 19–37 ). Petite ‘trichobothrium’ d 2 on dorsal surface of pedipalp femur absent. Femur with five granulated carinae, intercarinal surfaces densely granulated. Patella with seven moderately to strongly costate, smooth or granulated carinae; intercarinal surfaces with sparse fine granulation, or almost smooth. Chela with six complete, strongly costate, smooth or weakly crenulate carinae (V1, VA, E, D1, D3 and D4), with D1, D3 and D4 extending along full length of fixed finger; intercarinal surfaces with sparse fine granulation, or almost smooth. All pedipalp segments glabrous, bearing only several setae. Movable fingers with 9 rows of denticles, 9 ID and 9 OD.

Legs ( Figs. 42–45 ). Legs III–IV with moderate to small tibial spurs. Femur with four granulated carinae; patella with five carinae. Patella with only a few macrosetae. Tibia with macrosetae on the retrosuperior aspect of legs I–II. Tarsomere I of legs I–III with 3–4 long macrosetae in both sexes, of legs IV with 2 setae. Tarsomeres I–II of all legs with two irregular rows of macrosetae on proinferior and retroinferior aspects.

Measurements. See Table 1.

COMMENTS ON LOCALITY AND LIFE STRATEGY. The type locality 18SD is a montane slope with trees and bushes ( Fig. 52 , fig. 82 in Kovařík et al., 2019 a: 15 and fig. 139 in Kovařík & Lowe, 2021: 25) and is also the type locality of the scorpionid Pandinurus fulvipes Kovařík et al., 2019 , and buthid Hottentotta nigrimontanus Kovařík & Lowe, 2021 . All specimens were collected among rocks near Mader Mage village at an approximate elevation of 1,389 m a. s. l. At this locality, the first author recorded a minimum nighttime temperature of 24 ºC. The minimum recorded humidity was 37%. The locality 18SF is in foothills at the border between sandy semi-desert and rocky terrain ( Fig. 53 and fig. 89 in Kovařík & Lowe, 2020: 16). Type specimens were collected at night by UV detection on rocks, together with Compsobuthus maidensis Kovařík, 2018 and Leiurus gubanensis Kovařík & Lowe, 2020 .

Figures

Figures 9–12: Orthochiroides somalilandus sp. n. Figures 9–10. Male holotype, dorsal (9) and ventral (10) views. Figures 11–12. Female paratopotype, dorsal (11) and ventral (12) views. Scale bar: 10 mm.

Figures 13–18: Orthochiroides somalilandus sp. n. Figures 13–15. Female paratopotype, metasoma and telson, lateral (13), ventral (14), and dorsal (15) views. Figures 16–18. Male holotype, metasoma and telson, lateral (16), ventral (17), and dorsal (18) views. Scale bars: 10 mm (13–15, 16–18).

Figures 19–37: Orthochiroides somalilandus sp. n., pedipalp. Figures 19–27. Male holotype, chela, dorsal (19), external (20), and ventral (21) views. Patella, dorsal (22), external (23) and ventral (24) views. Femur and trochanter, internal (25), dorsal (26), and ventral (27) views. Figures 28–37. Female paratopotype, chela, dorsal (28), external (29), and ventral (30) views. Patella, dorsal (31), external (32) and ventral (33) views. Femur and trochanter, internal (34), dorsal (35), and ventral (36) views. Movable finger dentation (37). Trichobothrial pattern indicated in Figures 19–23, 25–26 by white circles.

Figures 38–45: Orthochiroides somalilandus sp. n. Figures 38, 40, 42–45. Male holotype, carapace and tergites I–V (38), sternopectinal region and sternites (40), and left legs I–IV, retrolateral aspect (42–45). Figures 39, 41. Female paratopotype, carapace and tergites I–V (39), sternopectinal region and sternites (41).

Figures 46–49: Orthochiroides somalilandus sp. n., male paratype, right hemispermatophore. Figures 46. Whole hemispermatophore. Figures 47–49. Capsule in posterior (47), convex compressed (48) and anterior (49) views. Scale bars: 1 mm (46), 200 μm (47–49).

Figures 50–51. Orthochiroides somalilandus sp. n., paratypes male (50) and female (51) in vivo (laboratory photographs on standard background).

Figures 52–53: Orthochiroides somalilandus sp. n., localities. Figure 52. Type locality, Somaliland, Mader Mage vill., between Eregavo and Maid. Figure 53. Somaliland, 5 km S of Maid.

Figures 64–81: Orthochiroides vachoni, male from Socotra. Figures 64–75. Pedipalp. Chela, dorsal (64), external (65), and ventral (66) views. Patella, dorsal (67), external (68) and ventral (69) views. Femur and trochanter, internal (70), dorsal (71), ventral (72), and external (73) views. Movable (74) and fixed (75) finger dentation. Trichobothrial pattern indicated in Figures 64–68, 70–71 by white circles. Figures 76–77. Carapace and tergites I–VI (76), sternopectinal region and sternites (77). Figures 78–81. Right legs I–IV, retrolateral aspect.