Orthochiroides socotrensis, 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 : 23-24

Orthochiroides socotrensis sp. n.

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Yemen , Socotra Island, Noged plain, Qaareh (waterfall), 57m, N 12°20’10’’ E 53°37’56 ’; FKCP.

TYPE MATERIAL. Yemen , Socotra Island, Noged plain, Qaareh (waterfall), 57m, N 12°20’10’’ E 53°37’56’, 5– 6.XII.2003., 1♂ A (holotype), leg. D. Král ; Noged plain, Wadi Ireeh, 95 m, N 12°23’11’’E 53°59’47’’, 6– 7.XII.2003, 1♂ A (paratype), leg. D. Král ; Noged plain, 12.318N, 53.678E, 250 m, 1♀ E 1♂ 2juvs.A (paratypes), XI.1999, 1♀ A (allotype), III.2001, leg. V. Bejček & K. Šťastný. All types are in FKCP.

ETYMOLOGY. Named for its geographic distribution.

DIAGNOSIS. Fourth and fifth metasomal segments of adults ventrally punctate, without carinae. Punctae on ventral surface of fifth metasomal segment much smaller than smooth spaces among them. Metasoma glabrous, only fifth segment may bear dorsolateral row of hairs. Hairs may be present also on dorsal surface of telson. Dorsal surface of second to fifth metasomal segments smooth, without punctae and granules. Color of mesosoma dark green, metasoma and telson reddish brown, pedipalps and legs of adults yellow to yellowish green. Chela tuberculate, with conspicuously elevated carinae. Movable fingers bear 7 or 8 rows of granules with internal and external granules and with 5 distal granules.

DESCRIPTION: The adult male (holotype) is 27.1 mm long.

COLORATION: The mesosoma is dark green, the metasoma and telson are reddish brown, and the pedipalps and legs of adults are yellow to yellowish green. Juveniles have the femur and partly also the patella of pedipalps and legs dark green.

MESOSOMA AND CARAPACE: The mesosoma bears a median carina. The carapace is densely granulated. The seventh sternite is granulated and bears four smooth or granulated carinae. Pectinal teeth number 16 to 18 in the females and 18 to 20 in the male.

METASOMA AND TELSON: The first segment bears 10 granulated carinae, only dorsal carinae may be smooth. The second segment lacks lateral carinae, the third segment bears only dorsal and ventral carinae, the fourth segment of adults is without carinae, and the fifth segment may bear dorsolateral carinae (namely in males). Females may be entirely without carinae even on the third segment, whereas juveniles have ventral carinae also on the fourth and fifth segments. The second to fifth segments of adults are smooth and punctate. Punctation is weak on the second and third segments and better developed on the fourth and fifth segments of adults, but less so in juveniles. Spaces among punctae are smooth. The dorsal surface of all segments is mesially smooth except for several tubercles on the first segment. The entire metasoma and telson are nearly glabrous, only the fifth segment may bear a dorsolateral row of hairs. Hairs may be present also on the dorsal surface of telson. The telson is punctate and lacks granules.

PEDIPALPS: The femur has four or five carinae, the patella has seven carinae, and the chela has six less pronounced carinae. Carinae on the femur and patella are pronounced in both sexes as well as in juveniles. The movable fingers bears 7 or 8 rows of granules with external and internal granules and 5 distal granules.

LEGS: The femur bears four granulated carinae, the patella and tibia have four or five carinae. The tibia and tarsomeres bear irregularly spaced spines, namely on the outer side. Tarsomere I of the first to third legs may bear bristlecombs composed of 4–6 bristles, the fourth legs lack bristlecombs.

AFFINITIES. The described features distinguish Orthochiroides socotrensis sp. n. from all other species of the genus. Punctae on the fourth and fifth metasomal segments are similar to O. insularis . The new species differs from other species of the genus especially in the light coloration of legs and pedipalps (see the key below).