Orthochirus feti, 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 : 10

Orthochirus feti sp. n.

( Table 1)

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Uzbekistan, Surkhandarya Region , Baisun [=Boysun] District, ca. 27 km W of Shurchi [=Shorchi], ca. 3 km W of Kaganyata, (38°01’N, 67°29’E) ; FKCP.

TYPE MATERIAL. Uzbekistan, Surkhandarya Region , Baisun [=Boysun] District, ca. 27 km W of Shurchi [=Shorchi], ca. 3 km W of Kaganyata, (38°01’N, 67°29’E), 12.V.1994, leg. A.V.Gromov, 1♀ 1♂ im.A (holotype and paratype), FKCP , 1♀ 2♂ imsA. (paratypes), AVGC .

ETYMOLOGY. Named after Dr. Victor Fet, an arachnologist at Marshall University, West Virginia, USA.

DIAGNOSIS: Fourth and fifth metasomal segments ventrally punctate and without carinae. Spaces among punctae smooth, without granules. Dorsal surface of all metasomal segments mesially smooth, without granules. Entire metasoma and telson densely hirsute. Mesosoma and metasoma black, telson reddish brown, femur and patella of legs and pedipalps brown to black, tibia of legs and chela of pedipalps brownish yellow. Movable fingers of pedipalps bear 8 or 9 rows of granules with internal granules and without external granules. Movable fingers with 3-5 distal granules. Tarsus of first to third legs with bristlecombs, fourth partly with bristlecombs. Pectinal teeth number 18–20 in females and 22–23 in males.

DESCRIPTION: The adults are about 42 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, the femur of legs and pedipalps are black, the patella of legs and pedipalps are brownish to black, and the tibia of legs and chela of pedipalps are brownish yellow.

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 granulated and bears four granulated carinae. Other sternites are less granulated, with four or two carinae. Pectinal teeth number 18–20 in females and 22–23 in males.

METASOMA AND TELSON: The first segment bears 10 granulated carinae, is granulated, and lacks punctae. On the second and third segments the lateral carinae are inconspicuous or absent and punctae are partly present. The fourth and fifth segments have only inconspicuous dorsal and ventrolateral carinae. In immature specimens the ventrolateral carinae are pronounced and in posterior half consist of approximately 10 well developed tubercles. The fourth and fifth segments are ventrally punctate. Spaces among punctae are smooth, without granules. The dorsal surface of all metasomal segments is mesially smooth, without granules. The entire metasoma and telson are densely hirsute.

PEDIPALPS: The femur of pedipalp has four granulose to crenulate carinae. The patella has seven smooth carinae, and the chela is smooth, without carinae. The movable fingers bear eight to nine rows of granules with internal and without external granules and three to five distal granules. The entire pedipalps are hirsute.

LEGS: The femur and patella bear several hairs and spines. The tibiae bear several spines, namely on the outer side. Tarsomere I of the first to third legs and partly of the fourth legs bears bristlecombs. The inner sides of all legs bear two rows of spines.

AFFINITIES. The described features distinguish Orthochirus feti sp. n. from all other species of the genus. This species can be mistaken for O. scrobiculosus ( Grube, 1873) , from which it differs in coloration and dense pubescence. Like O. gromovi sp. n., O. scrobiculosus has the entire legs yellow, whereas O. feti sp. n. has at least the femur and patella of legs dark.