Palaeolychas weitschati Lourenço, 2012

Lourenço, Wilson R., 2012, Further considerations on scorpions found in Baltic amber, with a description of a new species (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Euscorpius 146, pp. 1-7 : 4-6

Palaeolychas weitschati Lourenço , sp. n. ( Figs. 1−9)

Holotype: A possible adult male. Considering the slender pedipalps, the morphology of the mesosoma, the size and structure of the pectines and the global size, it is unquestionable a male.

Type locality and horizon: Samland Peninsula, Baltic coast. Eocene.

Total length 14.87

(including telson)

Carapace:

- length 1.67

- anterior width 1.13

- posterior width 1.47

Mesosoma length 4.60

Metasomal segment I:

- length 0.93

- width 0.73

Metasomal segment II:

- length 1.13

- depth 0.80

Metasomal segment III:

- length 1.20

- depth 0.80

Metasomal segment IV:

- length 1.47

- depth 0.73

Metasomal segment V:

- length 2.07

- depth 0.67

Telson length 1.80

Vesicle depth 0.47

Pedipalp:

- Femur length 1.20

- Femur width 0.40

- Patella length 1.73

- Patella width 0.47

- Chela length 2.40

- Chela width 0.40

Movable finger:

- length 1.80

Depository: The specimen is currently in the private collection of Jonas Damzen, Vilnius, Lithuania.

Diagnosis: Total length 14.87 mm. Morphology somewhat similar to that of the other species of Palaeolychas . The new species is characterized by the combination of several particular characters: Sternum subpentagonal. Trichobothrial pattern A-β (beta). Anterior margin of carapace with a weak concavity. Telson with a long aculeus and a very strong subaculear tubercle. Pectines not rounded distally and with 15−15 teeth; fulcra absent. Genital operculum plates with a semi-oval shape, disposed horizontally. Tibial spurs present on legs III and IV but moderately marked. Metasoma with 10-8-8- 8-5 carinae; dorsal carinae on segments I to IV without spinoid granules.

Derivatio nominis: Patronym is in honour of my colleague and friend, Dr. Wolfgang Weitschat, Hamburg, who introduced me to the study of Baltic amber scorpions.

Description:

Coloration: the general colour of the amber is yellowish, but the scorpion is reddish-brown to dark brown, including pedipalps and legs. The ventral aspect of the specimen is paler, more to yellowish.

Morphology. Carapace weakly granular to smooth; anterior margin with a weak median concavity. Anterior median superciliary carinae vestigial; posterior median carinae absent; other carinae vestigial or absent. All furrows weak. Median ocular tubercle distinctly anterior to centre of carapace. Median eyes moderate in size and separated by more than one ocular diameter. Three pairs of lateral eyes. Sternum subpentagonal. Mesosomal tergites weakly granular; tergites I to VI with one longitudinal carina, weakly marked; tergite VII pentacarinated. Venter not well observed. Pectines can be observed, with 15−15 teeth; fulcra absent. Sternites not well observed; spiracles semi-oval. Metasomal segment I with ten carinae; segments II to IV with eight carinae; segment V with five carinae; dorsal carinae of segments I to IV without spinoid granules. Vesicle elongated and smooth; aculeus long but shorter than vesicle, with a strong and spinoid subaculear tubercle. Cheliceral dentition partially observed; similar to the buthid type (Vachon, 1963). Pedipalp femur pentacarinate; external and internal face without larger granules; patella with two dorsal and one internal carinae; internal face without spinoid granules; chela with vestigial carinae; all faces weakly granular, almost smooth. Dentate margins of fixed and movable fingers closed and not observed. Trichobothriotaxy of type A-β (beta) (Vachon, 1974, 1975), possibly orthobothriotaxic; trichobothria e 1 of femur distad of d 5. Leg tarsi with thin ventral setae. Tibial spurs present but moderately marked on legs III and IV .