Compsobuthus werneri (Birula, 1908)

Kovařík, František, Lowe, Graeme, Plíšková, Jana & Šťáhlavský, František, 2016, Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part VI. Compsobuthus Vachon, 1949 (Buthidae), with a description of C. eritreaensis sp. n., Euscorpius 226, pp. 1-21 : 16-18

Compsobuthus werneri (Birula, 1908)

( Figs. 63–77)

Buthus acutecarinatus werneri Birula, 1908: 131 . Compsobuthus werneri (in part): Vachon, 1949: 97 (1952: 217); Fet & Lowe, 2000: 128; Kovařík, 2003a: 104, fig. 5;?Kovařík, 2003b: 138, fig. 2;?Kovařík & Whitman, 2005: 107.

Compsobuthus werneri: Kovařík & Ojanguren, 2013: 158 , figs. 831–838, 850.

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Sudan, Wadi- Halfa , northern Nubia ; MZUT.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Eritrea (first report), Keren , 15°48'33"N 38°28'14.6"E, 1328 m a.s.l. (Locality No. 15 EG, Fig. 76), 2.XI.2015, 3♂ ( Figs. 63–75), leg. F. Kovařík. Sudan, Khartoum, I.-III.1966, 2♀, leg. P. Štys; Sabaloro, 16.VIII.1966, 1juv., leg. P. Štys; Hasa Heisa, 1♂, XI.1973, leg. V. Seichert ; Sabaloka Mt. , ca 16°20'N 32°30'E, 24.X.–14.XI.2011, 10♂ 3♀, leg. P. Pokorný. All specimens are in the first authors collection ( FKCP) .

DIAGNOSIS. Total length 24–40 mm. Movable finger of pedipalp bears 10–11 rows of granules, with external and internal accessory granules. Sexual dimorphism minor, there is no difference between males and females in length of pedipalps and metasomal segments. Male with fingers of pedipalps very slightly flexed proximally. Carapace, mesosoma, metasoma, telson, and pedipalp femur and patella of adults densely granulated. First and second metasomal segments bear 10 carinae, third bears 8 or 10 carinae. Fifth metasomal segment length/width ratio less than 2.4. All metasomal segments sparsely setose and densely granulated. Telson with very small subaculear tubercle. Pectinal teeth number 16–22. Seventh sternite bears 4 well developed carinae. Telson elongate, with aculeus aproximately as long as vesicle.

COMMENTS ON LOCALITIES AND LIFE STRATEGY. The first author visited the locality 15EG ( Fig. 76) on 2 November 2015 and collected with UV light. C. werneri was active immediatelly after sunset. At the locality, the first author recorded nighttime temperatures of 28.6 ºC shortly after sunset, dropping to 21.3 ºC (minimum temperature) before sunrise and humidity varied between 41% and 64%. In addition to C. werneri the first author also recorded at this locality Hottentotta minax (L. Koch, 1875) , Parabuthus abyssinicus Pocock, 1901 , and Pandinus magrettii Borelli, 1901 (type locality).