Scorpiops atomatus Qi, Zhu et Lourenço, 2005

Qi, Jian-Xin, Zhu, Ming-Sheng & Lourenço, Wilson R., 2005, Eight new species of the genera Scorpiops Peters, Euscorpiops Vachon, and Chaerilus Simon (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae, Chaerilidae) from Tibet and Yunnan, China, Euscorpius 32 (32), pp. 1-40 : 6-10

Scorpiops atomatus Qi, Zhu et Lourenço , sp. n.

( Figs. 16–31 )

Diagnosis. In accordance with the grouping of species proposed by Kovařík (2000a) for the genus Scorpiops , the new species, which has nine trichobothria on the ventral surface of the patella ( Fig. 25 ), has to be placed in Scorpiops leptochirus group. The new species is also slightly smaller that the other members of the group. Carapace surface is coarse. There are three pairs of lateral eyes with the first two pairs larger than the third eye. Median ocular tubercles are smooth with a pair of small median eyes, which are almost the same size as the first two pairs of lateral eyes ( Figs. 16 , 31 ). Pectines with fulcra ( Fig. 30 ).

Comments. Scorpiops atomatus sp. n. can be distinguished from other Scorpiops species, and in particular from S. pachmarhicus Bastawade, 1992 , the most geographically close species of the genus by the following features: (a) pectinal tooth count 9-11; (b) manus dorsally almost smooth; (c) tergite VII of mesosoma with two granulated lateral carinae.

Material. 1♂ holotype, Tibet, Lang district (29.02° N, 9 3.08° E), June to August 2004, Ai-Min Shi and Yi-Bin Ba leg. ( MHBU) . Paratypes: 3 ♀, 1 ♂, same data as holotype (2 ♀ in MHBU, 1 ♀ and 1 ♂ in MNHN) ; 1♂, Tibet, Chayu district, Xia Zayü town (28.4° N, 97.0° E), 7 August 2002, Ming-Sheng Zhu leg. ( MHBN) ; 2 ♀, Tibet, Lang district (29.02° N, 93.08° E), 20 August 2002, Ming-Sheng Zhu leg. ( MHBN) ; 1 ♂, Tibet, Gyaca district (29.1° N, 92.7° E), 21 August 2002, Ming-Sheng Zhu leg. ( MHBN) ; 1 ♂, 1♀, 22 August 2002, other data same as above ( MHBN) .

Etymology. The specific name refers to the spots on tergites.

Description (based on male holotype):

Coloration: Basically brown. Carapace is dark brown, with some black coloration near the eyes. Tergites are dark brown. Metasoma segments are black brown with pale stripes; vesicle brown with a yellowish aculeus. Chelicerae are black brown; with the fingers dark brown and gradually lighter toward the tip, which is yellow. Pedipalps are dark brown; and the fingers are dark yellow. Legs are brown with yellow spots. Venter and sternites are yellowish.

Morphology: Carapace is coarse, with dense, minute granules; lateral furrow broad and flat; posterior median furrow deep, slit-shaped. Median eyes are anterior to the center of the carapace; three pairs of lateral eyes, the third eye being vestigial. Sternum is pentagonal and longer than wide. Tergites are almost everywhere densely covered with fine granules; the trace of median carina first appears on tergite III, and gradually becomes a distinct carina; on the tergite VII, the middle one is only a little protuberant, and its two lateral carinae are granulated. Pectinal tooth count 11-11, fulcra present. Sternites are smooth and shiny, segment VII with four very weak carinae. Metasoma segments II to V are longer than wide; segments I to V have 10-10-10-8-7 carinae. All dorsal carinae are granular on segment I, and gradually become strongly serrated from II to IV; the tegument is punctated; on segment V, carinae with smaller serration dorsally and larger serration ventrally. Vesicle is coarse but without granules.

Pedipalps: femur with dorsointernal, dorsoexternal, ventrointernal and ventroexternal carinae, all are crenulate; tegument granular except ventral surface which is weakly granular; patella with dorsointernal, ventrointernal, ventroexternal and external carinae, are serrated; two spinoid granules present on the internal aspect, the internal-ventral spinoid granule being much larger than the internal-dorsal one; tegument punctuated except ventral, which is almost smooth. Chela bears dorsal marginal, external secondary, and ventral internal carinae which are weakly to moderately granular; ventral median carinae is strong and smooth; other carinae are vestigial or absent; tegument is almost smooth dorsally and ventrally. Trichobothriotaxy type C (Vachon, 1974). Chela with four ventral trichobothria. Patella with 17 external and nine ventral trichobothria.

Female paratype. Coloration and morphology are very similar to that of the male holotype. Some of the segments are slightly bulkier than that of the male. Pectinal tooth count 9-9.

Measurements (male holotype /female paratype). Total length, 34.94/36.48. Carapace: length, 5.87/6.12; anterior width, 2.68/2.81; posterior width, 5.87/6.12. Metasomal segment I: length, 1.40/1.40; width, 2.30/2.55. Metasomal segment V: length, 4.72/4.85; width, 1.66/1.79; depth, 1.91/1.66. Vesicle: width, 2.18/2.04; depth, 2.04/1.91. Pedipalp: femur length, 5.10/5.36, width, 2.04/2.55; patella length, 4.72/5.23, width, 2.30/2.55; chela length, 6.38/5.23, width, 4.08/4.08, depth, 2.68/2.68; movable finger length, 5.74/4.08.

Figures

Figure 16: Scorpiops atomatus sp. n., male holotype, habitus. Total length 34.94 mm.

Figures 17–21: Scorpiops atomatus sp. n., male holotype. Chela, dorsoexternal, ventral, external and internal aspects. 21 same as 20, female paratype. Scales = 1 mm.

Figures 22–31: Scorpiops atomatus sp. n., male holotype. 22. Femur, dorsal aspect. 23–25. Patella, dorsal, external and ventral aspects. 26–27. Chelicera, dorsal and ventral aspects. 28. Telson, lateral aspect. 29. Dentate margin of the pedipalp chela movable finger. 30. Genital operculum and pectines, ventral aspect. 31. Lateral ocular region, in detail, dorsal aspect. Scales = 1 mm.