Hottentotta salei (Vachon, 1980) Kovařík, 2007

Kovařík, František, 2007, A revision of the genus Hottentotta Birula, 1908, with descriptions of four new species (Scorpiones, Buthidae), Euscorpius 58 (58), pp. 1-107 : 61

Hottentotta salei (Vachon, 1980) comb. n.

( Figs. 93–94 )

Buthotus jayakari salei Vachon, 1980: 255 ; Vachon & Kinzelbach, 1987: 100; El-Hennawy, 1992: 116.

Hottentotta (Hottentotta) jayakari salei : Kovařík, 1998: 110; Fet & Lowe, 2000: 140.

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Oman, Dhofar, Jabal Samhan, Wadi Rabkut ; MNHN.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. United Arab Emirates, Ras Al Khaimah, env. river dam, 24°59'43.2"N 56°07'00.8"E, 25.XI.2006, 1juv., leg. J. Batelka et H. Pinda, JBCP . Yemen, Al Mahra gov., Wadi N of DAMQUT vill., 16°34'20"N 52°50'03"E, 24 m [GPS], 16.–17.X.2005, 1♀ 1juv. ( Figs. 93–94 ), leg. D. Král, FKCP ; Wadi Dawan , NW Al Mukalla, 15°09'N 48°28'E, 946 m., 20.X.2005, 1♀ (im.), leg. P. Kabátek, FKCP .

DIAGNOSIS. Total length 65–80 mm. For habitus see Figs. 93–94 . Trichobothrium db on the fixed finger of pedipalp situated between trichobothria et and est ( Fig. 1 ). Chelicerae yellow to brown, reticulate. Sexual dimorphism not readily apparent; width of pedipalp chela and metasomal segments same in both sexes, males have fingers of pedipalps somewhat more twisted then females. Pectinal teeth number 37–42 in males, 32– 34 in females. Pedipalps densely hirsute, metasoma sparsely hirsute. Carapace, mesosoma, and chela of pedipalps, fourth and fifth metasomal segments and telson yellowish brown to black. Anterior part of carapace with black spot. Femur and patella of pedipalps, legs, and first to third metasomal segments yellow to yellowish green ( Fig. 93 ). Femur of pedipalp with 5 carinae, patella with 8 carinae, chela lacks carinae. Movable fingers of pedipalps with 14–15 rows of granules and 5 or 6 terminal granules. Seventh metasomal segment with 4 well marked ventral carinae. First metasomal segment with 10 carinae; second segment with 8 carinae and lateral median short row of granules; third and fourth segments with 8 carinae; fifth segment with 5 carinae, 3 ventral (1 median, 2 lateral) and 2 dorsal. All metasomal carinae granulated. Dorsal carinae of metasomal segments bear larger terminal granules. Dorsal surface smooth, fifth metasomal segment bears 2 short, inconspicuous carinae. First metasomal segment of adults usually longer than wide or as long as wide, second metasomal segment always longer than wide. Second to fourth metasomal segment width ratio less than 1.1.

COMMENTS. The metasoma is much less hirsute than the pedipalps, but is more hirsute than in the sister species H. jayakari . This species was originally described as a subspecies of H. jayakari , however the distributions of the two taxons overlap and the species are easily separated by color.

DISTRIBUTION: United Arab Emirates (first report), Oman (Vachon, 1980: 255), Yemen (first report).

Figures

Figure 93: Hottentotta salei, dorsal view, female from Yemen, Al Mahra gov., Wadi N of Damqut vill., 16°34'20"N 52°50'03"E, FKCP.

Figure 94: Hottentotta salei, dorsal view, female from Yemen, Al Mahra gov., Wadi N of Damqut vill., 16°34'20"N 52°50'03"E, FKCP.

Figures 1–4: 1–3. H. zagrosensis, holotype. 1. chela external, 2. femur dorsal, 3. movable finger. 4. H. socotrensis, chela external.