Orthochirus varius, Kovařík & 1996, 2004

Kovařík, Baloorthochirus becvari & 1996, 2004, Revision and taxonomic position of genera Afghanorthochirus Lourenço & Vachon, Baloorthochirus Kova ík, Butheolus Simon, Nanobuthus Pocock, Orthochiroides Kova ík, Pakistanorthochirus Lourenço, and Asian Orthochirus Karsch, with descriptions of twelve new species (Scorpiones, Buthidae), Euscorpius 16, pp. 1-33 : 21-22

Orthochirus varius sp. n.

( Table 1)

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Iran, Hormozgan prov., Beshagerd Mts., Davari vil., 26º27'N - 57º38 '; FKCP.

TYPE MATERIAL. Iran, Hormozgan prov., Beshagerd Mts., Davari vil., 26º27'N – 57º38'E, 6-11.IV.2000, 3♀ E (allotype and paratypes) 4♂ A 1♂ E (holotype and paratypes), leg. V. Siniaev & A. Plutenko, FKCP .

ETYMOLOGY. From Latin, in reference to the unusually strong variation found in the type series (see comments below).

DIAGNOSIS: Fourth and fifth metasomal segments ventrally without carinae and shallowly punctate (punctation absent in some males). Spaces among punctae smooth, without granules. Entire metasoma glabrous (short, thin setae issue from punctae). Dorsal surface of all metasomal segments smooth, without granules and with lateral granulated carinae. Mesosoma and metasoma brownish or greenish black, telson reddish brown, femur and most of patella of legs and pedipalps greenish gray to black, tibiae yellow to greenish gray or dark brown. Movable fingers of pedipalps bear 7–9 rows of granules with internal and external granules and 2 distal granules. Tarsomere I of first to third legs with 1–6 variably long bristles which may or may not form bristlecombs.

DESCRIPTION: The males range between 20 and 25 mm in length, and the females are up to 35 mm long. Measurements of the carapace, telson, segments of the metasoma and segments of the pedipalps, and numbers of pectinal teeth are given in Table 1.

COLORATION: The mesosoma and metasoma are black, the telson is reddish brown, and the legs and pedipalps may be either entirely black or may have the tibia and patella of legs and the chela and patella of pedipalps yellowish gray.

MESOSOMA AND CARAPACE: The mesosoma bears a median carina. Both the mesosoma and carapace are densely granulated, only the interocular area is smooth. The seventh sternite is smooth or granulated and bears four granulated carinae. Pectinal teeth number 21–23.

METASOMA AND TELSON: The first to third segments bear 10 granulated carinae, are smooth (several granules may be present), and lack punctae. The fourth and fifth segments have dorsolateral and ventrolateral carinae, are ventrally only shallowly punctate, and in some males punctation may be altogether absent. Spaces among punctae are smooth. The dorsal surface of all segments is smooth and delimited by well developed dorsolateral carinae. In some males the dorsal surface lacks a median trough and instead bears a ridge. The entire metasoma is glabrous, but short, thin setae may issue from some punctae. The telson is punctate and lacks granules.

PEDIPALPS: The femur of pedipalp is smooth and bears four granulose or smooth carinae. The patella has seven smooth carinae and the chela is smooth. The movable fingers bear 7–9 rows of granules with internal and external granules and 2 distal granules.

LEGS: The femur has four and the patella five granulated carinae. Tarsomere I of the first to third legs bears 1–6 variably long bristles which may or may not form bristlecombs. The inner sides of all legs bear one or two rows of spines. The fourth legs lack bristlecombs and bear only sparse, short spines.

AFFINITIES. The described features distinguish Orthochirus varius sp. n. from all other species of the genus. They are recounted in the key below. Orthochirus varius sp. n. is close to O. fuscipes (Pocock, 1900) , from which it differs in the weak to absent punctation on the fourth and fifth metasomal segments.

COMMENTS: This species is surprisingly variable even in characters which in other species are quite stable. Whereas some females may have on the third legs 6 bristles forming bristlecombs, some males may instead have only a single bristle. Females and some males have the ventral surface of the fifth metasomal segment shallowly punctate, whereas in other males punctae are absent. One male lacks the median trough on the dorsal surface of metasomal segments and has a ridge in its place.