Uroplectes katangensis, Prendini, 2015

Prendini, Lorenzo, 2015, Three new Uroplectes (Scorpiones: Buthidae) with punctate metasomal segments from tropical central Africa, American Museum Novitates 2015 (3840), pp. 1-32 : 18-21

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.1206/3840.1
DOI	https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5460749
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/03E5A832-FFB9-0538-A7C4-82973412978E
treatment provided by	Carolina
scientific name	Uroplectes katangensis
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Uroplectes katangensis View in CoL , sp. nov.

Figures 1 View FIGURE 1 , 4A, B View FIGURE 4 , 7E View FIGURE 7 , 8E View FIGURE 8 , 9E View FIGURE 9 , 10 View FIGURE 10 , 11 View FIGURE 11 ; table 1 View TABLE 1

HOLOTYPE: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Katanga Province: Haut-Lomami District: Mwema [08°13′S 27°28′E], vii.1927, A. Bayet, 1 ♀ ( MRAC 24.290 View Materials ). GoogleMaps

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet is derived from Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the type locality of the new species is situated.

DIAGNOSIS: Uroplectes katangensis , sp. nov., may be separated from U. malawicus , sp. nov., and U. zambezicus , sp. nov., on the basis of differences in pectinal structure. The pectinal tooth count is higher (18–19) and the basal pectinal tooth unmodified in the female of U. katangensis , sp. nov., compared to U. malawicus , sp. nov., and U. zambezicus , sp. nov., in which the pectinal tooth count is lower (15–17) and the basal pectinal tooth enlarged in the female. Uroplectes katangensis , sp. nov., resembles U. malawicus , sp. nov., and differs from U. zambezicus , sp. nov., in possessing a slightly narrower chela manus and a longer, narrower metasoma as well as more uniform coloration. The tergites are almost entirely infuscate in U. katangensis , sp. nov., and U. malawicus , sp. nov., but exhibit a narrow immaculate stripe medially and sometimes a pair of narrow immaculate stripes laterally in U. zambezicus , sp. nov. Uroplectes katangensis , sp. nov., differs further from U. malawicus , sp. nov., and U. zambezicus , sp. nov., in the higher counts of median denticle subrows on the fixed and movable fingers of the pedipalp chela (13 vs. 11 or 12, respectively).

DESCRIPTION: The following account, which is based on the holotype, describes only those characters that differ from the female of U. malawicus , sp. nov. The male is unknown.

Total length: Adult: small, maximum length, measured from anterior margin of carapace to tip of aculeus, 26 mm ( table 1 View TABLE 1 ).

Color: Faded but generally similar to U. malawicus , sp. nov. (fig. 10).

Carapace: As for U. malawicus , sp. nov., except as follows (fig. 4A). Anterior width of posterior width, 53%; posterior width of length, 99% ( table 1 View TABLE 1 ). Median ocular tubercle, distance from anterior carapace margin 35% of carapace length.

Pedipalps: As for U. malawicus , sp. nov., except as follows (fig. 11). Femur width of length, 35% ( table 1 View TABLE 1 ). Patella width of length, 37%. Chela manus width of height, 121%; width of length along ventroexternal carina, 64%; length along ventroexternal carina of length movable finger, 51%. Fixed and movable fingers, median denticle rows each comprising 13 (n = 4) oblique denticle subrows.

Hemispermatophore: Unknown.

Pectines: As for U. malawicus , sp. nov., except as follows (fig. 4B). Pectinal teeth curved, all similar in size, basal pectinal tooth unmodified; tooth count, 19/18 ( table 1 View TABLE 1 ).

Mesosoma: As for U. malawicus , sp. nov., except as follows. Sternite VII, length of width, 48% ( table 1 View TABLE 1 ).

Metasoma and telson: As for U. malawicus , sp. nov., except as follows (figs. 7E, 8E, 9E). Metasomal segment V, width of segment I, width, 102% ( table 1 View TABLE 1 ). Metasoma width of length, segment I, 110%; II, 96%; III, 90%; IV, 76%; V, 70%. Telson vesicle, width of metasomal segment V, 67%; globose, height of length, 62%. Aculeus length of vesicle length, 59%. Length metasoma and telson, of total length, 60%.

DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the type locality in Katanga Province, southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (fig. 1).

ECOLOGY: The habitus of U. katangensis , sp. nov. (fig. 10) is consistent with the lapidicolous and corticolous ecomorphotypes ( Prendini, 2001). Based on material in the collections of the MRAC, two buthids, Hottentotta cf. minax and Lychas asper , and a scorpionid, Pandinurus viatoris , were sympatric at the type locality.