Chaerilus truncatus Karsch, 1879

Lourenco, Wilson & Duhem, Bernard, 2010, The genus Chaerilus Simon, 1877 (Scorpiones, Chaerilidae) in the Himalayas and description of a new species, ZooKeys 37 (37), pp. 13-25 : 15-16

Chaerilus truncatus Karsch, 1879

Figs 1–11

Revised diagnosis. Scorpions of moderate to large size in relation to the other species of the genus, with a total length of 41 to 45 mm for males and 52 to 66 for females. General coloration reddish-yellow to reddish-brown with granulations and carinae somewhat more blackish on metasomal segments and pedipalps. This pattern of pigmentation proves to be invariably in preserved males, females and juveniles.

Anterior margin of carapace with a minute concavity in males; tegument smooth; straight and moderately granular in females; presence of two longitudinal carinae in both sexes; furrows moderately deep; two pairs of lateral eyes; one pair of small median eyes, about 1.5 times the size of lateral eyes; median eyes only slightly anterior to the centre of the carapace. Tergites smooth in males, intensely granulated in females; carinae obsolete. Sternum pentagonal, longer than wide; genital operculum plates with a sub-triangular shape. Pectinal tooth count 5–6 in males, 4– 4 in females. Sternites smooth with spiracles small and oval-shaped; only VII weakly granulated in females. Metasoma: Carinae weakly granular in males, better marked in females; ventral carinae reduced or absent on segment I. Vesicle elongated with a pear-like shape in both sexes, smooth, with a short aculeus. Pedipalps slightly narrower in males; carinae well marked in both sexes; granulations more intensely marked in females. Fixed and movable fingers shorter than manus in both sexes with 9(10)–10(11) rows of granules on the dentate margins. Chelicerae characteristic of the family Chaerilidae ( Vachon 1963) . Trichobothriotaxy of type B; orthobothriotaxic ( Vachon 1974); femur with 9 trichobothria, patella with 14, and chela with 14. Legs with pedal spurs moderately developed. Tarsi with two rows of spiniform setae. Hemispermatophore of Fusiform Type, with the distal lamina short and straight.

Material used for the diagnosis. India, Himalaya-Koollao, 1 female, MNHN- RS-0605 ; Himalaya-Dehra-Dun, 3 males, MNHN-RS-0606; W. Himalaya-Katta (Kalta) Pani, 1 male, MNHN-RS-0598; W. Himalaya-Kalta Pani, 1 male; Himachal Pradesh, 2010 m, between McLeod & Dharamk ot, near Dharamsala , under wet stone in forest, 13.VIII.1977 (A. Dubois & D. Payen), 1 female, MNHN-RS-8337 ; Himachal Pradesh, by Lake Dal , near to Dharamsala, 1850 m, under wet stones 11.VIII.1977 (A. Dubois & D. Payen), 3 males, 1 female, MNHN-RS-8338. Nepal, W. Kathmandu, 1400 m, Station n°6, 13/IX/1969 (J. Martens), 2 males juveniles ; Naudara-Grates, W. Pokhara , 1200 m, Station n°3, 17.III.1970 (J. Martens), 1 male, 2 females juveniles ( JM Collection) .

Figures Ι–4. Chaerilus truncatus , male from India. Ι–3 Trichobothrial pattern. Ι Chela, dorso-external aspect. 2–3 Patella and Femur dorsal aspect 4 Hemispermatophore, external aspect (scales = 3 mm).