Euscorpius solegladi, Fet, Victor, Graham, Matthew R., Webber, Michael M. & Blagoev, Gergin, 2014

Fet, Victor, Graham, Matthew R., Webber, Michael M. & Blagoev, Gergin, 2014, Two new species of Euscorpius (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) from Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece, Zootaxa 3894 (1), pp. 83-105 : 95-100

Euscorpius solegladi sp. n.

( Figs 23–42 , 44 ; Table I)

Euscorpius carpathicus: Valle, 1975: 232 (in part, Bulgaria: Sanda[n]ski, Blago[j]evgrad). Euscorpius carpathicus “Subgroup B1”: Fet 2000: 54; Beron 2001: 63.

Euscorpius hadzii (in part: Bulgaria): Fet & Soleglad 2002: 24, 30; Fet & Soleglad 2007: 406; Kaltsas et al. 2008: 223; Vignoli & Salomone 2008: 201; Graham et al. 2012a: 19.

Type Material: Holotype ♂, BULGARIA, Blagoevgrad Province: Sandanska Bistritsa River, 41°34'N, 23°17'E, 26.05.2005 (V. Fet & E. Fet) ( NMNHS).

Paratypes: same label as holotype, 2♀ ( NMNHS), 1♂, 1♀ ( NHMW 21.955–21.956); Sandanska Bistritsa River, 26.05.1997 (D. Hoferek), 1♀ ( FKCP); Kresna District, Gorna Breznitsa, 41°45'N, 23°07'E, 27.05.2005 (V. Fet & D. Dobrev), 2♂, 4♀ ( NMNHS); Kresna, 30.04.1983 (P. Beron & K. Marincheva), 1♂, 2♀ ( NMNHS 87); waterfall near Kresna station, 14.05.1981 (P. Beron & S. Andreev), 2♂, 1♀ ( NMNHS 3); Stara Kresna, 6–7.04.1988 (M. Langourov, 1♀ ( VFPC); Blagoevgrad, 14.04.1955 (G. Radev), 1♂ ( NMNHS 534); Belasitsa Mts. near Petrich, 14.05.1995 (P. Beron), 1♀ ( NMNHS 268); Belasitsa Mts., Klyuch Village, 300–400 m, 8.07.1989 (P. Mitov), 2♀ sbad. ( VFPC); Gotse Delchev District, Breznitsa, 25.06.1937 (J. Zonkov), 1♂, 2♀ ( NMNHS 543); Kresna Gorge, 9.04.1922 (I. Buresch, 1♀ ( NMNHS 526); Kresna Gorge, 8.06.1966 (A. Popov), 2♀ ( NMNHS 547); Kresna Gorge, Krupnik Village, Stara Kresna, 300 m, 25.04.1999 (P. Mitov), 1♀ ( VFPC); Kresna Gorge, Krupnik, Stara Kresna Railway Station, 300 m, 27.04.1996 (P. Mitov), 2♀ ( NMNHS); Kresna Gorge, 21.03.1994 (B. Petrov), 1♂ juv ( NMNHS 194); Kresna Gorge, near Sheitandere, 2–3.07.1997 (B. Petrov), 1♂, 1♀ ( NMNHS 198); Maleshevska Mts., Ilyina Cheshma, 14.06.1992 (T. Ljubomirov), 1♀ ( NMNHS 342); Maleshevska Mts., W from Gorna Breznitsa, soil traps, dense forest of Platanus orientalis , 41°45'N, 23°07'E, 14.08– 2.10.2003 (B. Guéorguiev), 1♂, 1♀ ( NMNHS); Melnik, 30.06.1935 (Kr. Tuleschkov), 1♂, 1♀ ( NMNHS 317); Melnik, 1.08.1983 (K. Marincheva), 1♀ ( NMNHS 112); Melnik, 7.06.1989 (S. Becvar), 2♀ ( VFPC); Melnik, 41º31'N, 23º24'E, 380 m, 3.06.1999 (V. Fet & V. Sakalian), 4♀ ( VFPC); Ograzhden Mts., Markovi Kladentsi Peak, 1500 m, 26.05.1996 (B. Petrov), 1♂ juv. ( NMNHS 197); Parangalitsa, 1400 m, 12.07.1931 (N. Fenenko), 1♂, 1♀ ( NMNHS 271); Petrich, 29.07.1983 (K. Marincheva), 2♀ ( NMNHS 111); Strumyani District, Pirin Mts. above Ilindentsi, near entrance of Sharaliiskata Cave, 1600 m, 3.05.1999 (B. Petrov), 1♂ ( NMNHS 208); “Sandanski Pirin”, 15.05.1970 (J. Horák), 1♂, 1♀ ( NMPC); Sandanski District, Ploski, Zandana Cave, under stones in guano, 31.05.2000 (B.

Other Material Studied: BULGARIA. Kyustendil Province: near Kyustendil, 27.05.1937 (Capt. Bandarski), 1♂, 1♂ juv., 2♀ ( NMNHS 514); Osogovska Mts., Stradalovo, 10.08.1994 (P. Stoev), 1♀ ( NMNHS 215); Rila town, 862 m, 42°07.459’N, 23°14.776'E, 6.08.2005, sieving, beech-conifer forest (P. Jäger & D. Kunz), 2♂, 3♀ ( SMF); Rila Mts., below Rilski Monastery, Pastra, 500 m, 14– 15.04.1928 (P. Drenski), 1♂, 7♀, 1♀ juv. ( NMNHS 518); Rila Mts., above Rilski Monastery, 1450 m, 5.07.1939 (N. Atanassov), 1♀ ( NMNHS 318); Rila Mts., road to Kalin Peak, above Pastra, 1100 m, 24.08.1997 (B. Petrov & P. Stoev), 2♂, 1♀ ( NMNHS 201); Rilski Monastery, 42°08'N, 23° 20'25''E, 1147 m, 5.06.1999 (V. Fet & V. Sakalian), 2♂, 4♀ ( VFPC); Rila, 1970, 1♀ ( NMPC); Tsurvaritsa, Gabra Reserve, 800-1000 m, 6.06.2001 (B. Petrov & G. Stoyanov), 1♀, 1♂ juv., 1♀ juv. ( NMNHS 258). Pazardzhik Province: Belovo, 9.04.1909 (P. Drenski), 1♂ ( NMNHS 525); Gabrovitsa, left bank of Maritsa, stream Dalbochitsa, 6.04. 1986, 450 m (P. Beron), 1♂, 2♀ ( NMNHS 117). Pernik Province: Radomir District, Baikalsko, 844 m, 42°25.378'N, 22°48.862'E, 28.05.2005 (V. Fet & E. Fet), 5♀ ( VFPC); Tran District, Erma Gorge, 703 m, 42° 51.679 N, 22° 38.952 E, 28.05.2005 (V. Fet & E. Fet), 4♀ ( VFPC); Zemen Gorge, pitfall traps, 15.08– 15.09.1997, 3♂ ( VFPC). Smolyan Province: Devin, 22.06.1924 (P. Drenski), 1♀, 2♀ juv. ( NMNHS 288). Sofia Province: Kostenets District, Trajan’s Gate Pass (“Trajans Pforte”), 10.05.1961 (Schweiger), 1♀ ( NHMW); Ihtiman District, Ihtimanska Sredna Gora Mts., Muhovo, 16.08.1997 (D. Milcheva), 2♂, 1♀ ( NMNHS); Sofia (brought with firewood), 1.10.1931 (I. Buresch) ( NMNHS 314). GREECE. Central Macedonia: Thessaloniki, Hortiatis Mt., 2.07.1939 (D. Papazov), 1♂, 1♀ ( NMNHS); Thessaloniki, Rentina, 100 m, under Platanus bark, 19.09.2000 (B. Petrov, P. Stoev & St. Beschkov), 1♂, 1♀ ( NMNHS 250).

Etymology. Named after our colleague and friend Michael E. Soleglad (California, USA), one of the most preeminent scorpion scholars or our time.

Geographic range. Known from southwestern Bulgaria and northeastern Greece ( Fig. 1 ).

Diagnosis. Medium sized species (34-35 mm), dark brown in overall coloration, no distinct patterns present. Metasomal segments and chelae somewhat robust in appearance. Dorsal patellar spur (DPS) is enlarged and spinoid. Pedipalp patellar external trichobothria numbers: eb = 5, eb a = 5–6 (mean 5.41), esb = 2, em = 4, est = 4, and et = 6 to 7 (mean 6.91); ventral aspect of patella 9–10 (mean 9.59). Pectinal tooth counts: male 9 to 10 (mean 8.94), female 7 to 8 (mean 7.66). Male ( Figs 23–24 ). Description based on holotype male. Measurements of male holotype and female paratype is provided in Table 1. All illustrations (except female chela in Fig. 28 and telson in Fig. 40 ) are based on a male specimen originating from Sandanska Bistritsa River, Blagoevgrad Province, Bulgaria.

Coloration. Overall colour dark brown; legs light brown, chelicerae light brown with dark brown mottling, telson orange; pectines light brown to yellow. Pedipalp carinae black.

Carapace ( Fig. 27 ). Almost smooth with extremely fine granulation and shiny at 10x; anterior edge straight with extremely fine setae. Two pairs of lateral eyes, anterior eye slightly larger; median eyes and tubercle situated slightly anterior of middle with following length and width ratios: 0.429 (anterior edge of the carapace to median tubercle centre/carapace length) and 0.158 (width of median tubercle/width of carapace at that point).

Mesosoma . Tergites with extremely weak carination on segments I–VII; sternites smooth and shiny, carinae absent on segment V with fine granulation; stigmata small, sub-oval.

Metasoma. Generally stocky and somewhat robust in proportions. Dorsal groove is deeply emarginated. Carination: Segments I–IV: median carina granular, smooth and crenulate; dorsolateral weak to absent; intermediary nearly obsolete; ventrolateral absent; ventral obsolete. Segment V ( Figs 32–33 ): Median carina small, round and granular; dorsolateral weak granular and crenulate; Intermediary smooth; ventrolateral rough and serrate; ventral serrate to dentate.

Telson ( Fig. 35 ). Vesicle with fine granulation, swollen both laterally and ventrally. Aculeus forming a short conspicuous curve; 4–5 pairs of setae at vesicle/aculeus juncture.

Pectines ( Fig. 41 ). Pectinal tooth counts 10/10 and middle lamellae counts 6/6; fulcra well developed; numerous fine setae situated on anterior lamellae. Sensorial areas of teeth developed along approximately one-half to two-thirds of their length. Basal piece anterior edge slightly concave.

Genital operculum ( Fig. 41 ). Separated most of length, genital papillae extend proximally.

Sternum. Pentagonal, slightly wider than long, length/posterior width ratio 0.918.

Chelicerae. Typical for the genus Euscorpius . Movable finger: dorsal distal denticles considerably shorter than ventral distal denticle; dorsal edge has five denticles, two of which are subdistal denticles; ventral edge smooth, lacking serrulae, and covered with heavy brush-like setae for most of its length. Fixed finger: four denticles, two of which are basal denticles conjoined on a common trunk.

Pedipalps ( Figs 29–31, 34–38 ). Pedipalps with somewhat stocky and robust chelae exhibiting prominent scalloping at finger bases. Femur: dorsal and ventral internal and external carinae crenate to serrulate; dorsal and ventral surfaces granulose, internal surface with numerous enlarged rounded granules, and external surface contains small rounded granules. Patella: dorsal internal crenate and ventral internal carinae slightly dentate, dorsal external smooth and weakly crenate, and exteromedian rounded and irregularly granulate. Dorsal and ventral surface finely granulose, prominent dorsal patellar spur (DPS) of medium to strong development, ventral patellar spur (VPS) very weak, represented as small granule. Chela carinae: digital very strong and smooth; subdigital in relief, represented by 2 granules; dorsal secondary obsolete; dorsal marginal small and rounded, dorsal internal smooth, minute and rounded; ventroexternal strong, smooth and extending to external condyle of finger, external to trichobothrium Et1. Ventromedian carina essentially obsolete with sparse minute granules; ventrointernal rounded and smooth; and external secondary strong and irregularly granular. Chelal finger dentition: Median denticle row straight; 6/5 inner denticles, 5/6 outer denticles, and 4/4 inner accessory denticles for fixed and movable fingers respectively.

Trichobothria patterns. Type C, neobothriotaxic (major additive) on patella. Femur ( Fig. 38 ): trichobothrium d positioned slightly proximal in relation to i; trichobothrium e is situated on dorsoexternal carina, distal in relation to both d and i. Patella ( Figs 35–36 ): ventral series number 11/10, and external series number eb = 5/5, eb a = 5/5, esb = 2/2, em = 4/4, est = 4/4, and et = 7/7. Chela ( Figs 28–30 ): number of trichobothria on ventral surface is 4/4 (V 1–3 + Et 1), V4 on external surface set in small dimple but removed from ventroexternal carina.

Legs. One pair of pedal spurs present, ungues medium length with average curve. Tarsus ventral median spinule row is formed by variable number of elongated spinules usually terminating distally in a single pair; the basal spinule is sometimes offset; spinule counts are: tarsus I, 7+2/7+2; tarsus II, 8+2/9+1; tarsus III, 1+7+2/ 1+8+2; tarsus IV, 1+9+2/1+9+2 ( Fig. 44 ).

Female ( Figs 25–26 ). Granulation of carapace, metasoma and pedipalps same as in male. Chela scalloping/ notch combination less expressed in female ( Fig. 28 ) than in male ( Fig. 29 ). The considerably inflated telson vesicle of sexually mature males is quite conspicuous ( Fig. 39 ) when compared to the thinner “teardrop” shaped telson of the female ( Fig. 40 ). Genital operculum/genital papillae: On the female, the genital operculum is connected for its entire length by a membrane, whereas on males, it is separated for most of its length, exposing protruding genital papillae. The pectines are more prominent on the male, whose teeth are longer and greater in number ( Figs 41–42 ). Middle lamellae counts in female 5/5.

Variation. We scored 62 specimens of E. solegladi sp. n. from Bulgaria for trichobothrial variation, of which 59 specimens (18♂, 41♀) were scored for pectinal teeth variation. Variation was as follows: Pectinаl teeth number in males (Dp): 7/8 (2), 8/8 (1), 8/9 (1), 9/8 (1), 9/? (1), 9/9 (8), 10/10 (4); in total: 7 (2), 8 (6), 9 (19), 10 (8); mean 8.94, SD 0.80 [n=33]. Bimodal, with Dp =9 (57.6%) or 10 (24.2%). Pectinаl teeth number in females (Dp): 7/7 (9), 7/8 (8), 8/7 (3), 8/8 (20), 8/9 (1); in total: 7 (29), 8 (52) and 9 (1); mean 7.66, SD 0.50 [n=82]. Bimodal, with Dp =7 (35.4%) or 8 (63.4%). Number of ventral patellar trichobothria (Pv): 8/9 (2), 9/8 (3), 9/? (1), 9/9 (12), 9/10 (8), 10/ 9 (5), 9/11 (1), 10/10 (28), 10/11 (1), 11/10 (1); in total: 8 (5), 9 (44), 10 (71), 11 (3); mean 9.59, SD 0.61 [n=123]. Bimodal, with Pv =9 (35.8%) or 10 (57.7%).

Number of external terminal patellar trichobothria (et): 4/7 (1), 6/6 (5), 6/7 (6), 7/6 (1), 7/? (1), 7/7 (41), 8/6 (1), 7/8 (2), 8/7 (1), 8/8 (3); in total: 4 (1), 6 (18), 7 (94), 8 (10); mean 6.91, SD 0.54 [n=123]. Unimodal, with et =7 (76.4%).

Number of external basal-a patellar trichobothria (eb a): 4/4 (2), 4/5 (1), 5/5 (27), 5/6 (5), 6/5 (4), 6/6 (19), 7/5 (1), 6/7 (1), 7/6 (1); in total: 4 (5), 5 (66), 6 (49) and 7 (3); mean 5.41; SD 0.62 [n=123]. Bimodal, with eb a =5 (53.7%) or 6 (39.8%).

Number of external basal patellar trichobothria (eb) was always 5, except in one aberrant specimen from Kresna (NMHNS 3) with eb =4/5. Number of external median patellar trichobothria (em) was always 4, except in two aberrant specimens from Kresna (NMNHS 198) with em =3/4, and Rila (SMF) with em =?/5. (Note that this number is em = 5 in some West Balkan E. hadzii ). Number of external subterminal (est =4) and suprabasal (esb =2) patellar trichobothria was constant in all specimens.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Geographic distribution of two new species: Euscorpius deltshevi, sp. n., squares; E. solegladi, sp. n., circles; black squares and circles represent populations sampled for DNA; stars represent type localities (both sampled for DNA).

FIGURES 23 – 24. Euscorpius solegladi sp. n., adult male, general habitus: 23 dorsal view, 24 ventral view.

FIGURES 25 – 26. Euscorpius solegladi sp. n., adult female, general habitus: 25 dorsal view, 26 ventral view.

FIGURES 27 – 40. Euscorpius solegladi sp. n. 27 carapace, 28 external view of the chela of adult female, 29 external view of the chela of adult male, 30 ventral view of the chela, 31 dorsal view of the chela, 32 lateral view of the metasomal segment V, 33 ventral view of the metasomal segment V, 34 external view of pedipalp patella, 35 dorsal view of pedipalp patella, 36 ventral view of pedipalp patella, 37 dorsal view of pedipalp femur (line indicates trichobothrium i), 38 ventral view of pedipalp femur, 39 telson of adult male, 40 telson of adult female.

FIGURES 41 – 42. Euscorpius solegladi sp. n., sternopectinal area: 41 adult male, 42 adult female.

FIGURES 43 – 44. Tarsal spination, legs I – IV (top to bottom): 43 Euscorpius deltshevi sp. n.