Buthacus nitzani Levy et al., 1973

Cain, Shlomo, Gefen, Eran & Prendini, Lorenzo, 2021, Systematic Revision Of The Sand Scorpions, Genus Buthacus Birula, 1908 (Buthidae C. L. Koch, 1837) Of The Levant, With Redescription Of Buthacus Arenicola (Simon, 1885) From Algeria And Tunisia, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2021 (450), pp. 1-137 : 85-89

Buthacus nitzani Levy et al., 1973 , stat. nov.

Figures 1D, F , 2C, D , 7, 11, 12A, 13, 15, 17C, D, 20A, B, 21G, 22F, 24C, 26C, 28C, 29F, 45, 46, 47; tables 1, 2, 12, 13

Buthacus leptochelys nitzani Levy et al., 1973: 126 ; Vachon, 1979: 38, 39; Levy and Amitai, 1980: 83–86, figs. 70–74, map 6; Kinzelbach, 1984: 101 (misidentification); Fet et al., 1998: 616; Kovařík, 1998: 105; Fet and Lowe, 2000: 84; Hendrixson, 2006: 50; Lourenço, 2006: 64; Al-Asmari et al., 2013: 5, 8, 9, fig. 8, table 1 (misidentification).

Buthacus leptochelys: Vachon, 1950b: 406 (part); 1952: 180, 185, 191, 194, 198–203, figs. 262– 266 (part); Kinzelbach, 1984: 101; Vachon and Kinzelbach, 1987: 101; El-Hennawy, 1992: 101, 112, 113 (misidentification); Kovařík, 2005: 2 , 3; Kaltsas et al., 2008: 214; Lowe et al., 2019: 5.

TYPE MATERIAL: Holotype 1 ♀ ( HUJ INVSC 280 ), ISRAEL: Mehoz HaDarom (Southern District): Haluza sand dunes, Ze’elim [31°12′N 34°32′E], 20.vi.1961, M. Nizan [examined].

DIAGNOSIS: Buthacus nitzani is most closely related to B. amitaii , also occurring in Israel, and B. leptochelys , occurring in Sinai and Egypt. Buthacus nitzani differs from B. amitaii as follows. The metasomal segments of the female are longer and narrower in B. nitzani (fig. 28C), with segment IV width:length, 38.4% (34%–43.7%, n = 10; table 13), than in B. amitaii (fig. 28D), with segment IV width:length, 42.8% (40.2%–44.9%, n = 5; table 3). The ventrosubmedian and ventrolateral carinae are less developed on the metasomal segments, especially on segments II and III, in B. nitzani than in B. amitaii (figs. 26C, D, 28C, D). The posterior processes of the ventrolateral carinae of metasomal segment V are narrow and conical in B. nitzani , but broad and lobate in B. amitaii . The median lateral carinae are obsolete on metasomal segments I–III in B. nitzani , but distinct in B. amitaii . The ventral intercarinal surfaces of metasomal segment V are more finely and sparsely granular in B. nitzani than in B. amitaii . The retrolateral accessory denticles on the movable finger of the pedipalp chela are always present, with constant, usually higher counts (sinistral/dextral: 6–9/6–9; n = 16; table 2; fig. 21G) in B. nitzani , compared to B. amitaii , in which the retrolateral accessory denticles are often absent, with variable, usually lower counts (0–9/2–10; n = 9; table 2; fig. 21A).

Buthacus nitzani differs B. leptochelys as follows. Buthacus nitzani is smaller, measuring 50.6 mm (44.4–58.5 mm, n = 18; tables 12, 13) in total length, than B. leptochelys , measuring 65.8 mm (63.1–68 mm, n = 5; table 4). The pedipalp chela of the adult male is shorter and broader (fig. 47A, B), with chela manus length:movable finger length, 84.4% (76.8%–92.4%, n = 8; table 12) and chela manus width:chela length, 26.3% (22.3%–29.5%, n = 8), in B. nitzani than in B. leptochelys (fig. 41A, B), with chela manus length:movable finger length, 70.7% (table 4) and chela manus width:chela length, 24.2%. The proximal dentate margins of the pedipalp chela fixed and movable fingers are more deeply emarginate, such that a more pronounced gap is evident proximally when the fingers are closed, in B. nitzani (fig. 47B), than in B. leptochelys (fig. 41B). The pectinal tooth counts are lower in B. nitzani , i.e., 31/31 (26–34/27–35, n = 6; table 2) (♂) and 23/23 (20–27/21–27, n = 17) (♀), than in B. leptochelys , i.e., 35/34 (32–39/32–38, n = 6; table 5) (♂) and 29/29 (27–31/28–31, n = 10) (♀). The metasomal segments of the female are shorter and broader in B. nitzani (fig. 28C), with segment IV width:length, 38.4% (34%–43.7%, n = 10; table 13), than in B. leptochelys (fig. 28B), with segment IV width:length, 42.1% (40.3%– 44.6%, n = 4; table 4). The median lateral carinae of metasomal segments I–III are obsolete in B. nitzani , but distinct in B. leptochelys . The telson dorsal surface is concave and the ventral surface convex and angular in lateral profile, in B. nitzani (fig. 29F), whereas the dorsal surface is flat and the ventral surface convex and rounded in lateral profile, in B. leptochelys (fig. 29D).

Buthacus nitzani differs from B. levyi , with which it is sympatric in Israel and the Sinai Peninsula, as follows. The pedipalp chela of the adult male is shorter and broader in B. nitzani (fig. 47A, B), with chela manus length:movable finger length, 84.4% (76.8%–92.4%, n = 8; table 12) and chela manus width:chela length, 26.3% (22.3%– 29.5%, n = 8), than in B. levyi (fig. 44A, B), with chela manus length:movable finger length, 62.8% (57.4%–67.3%, n = 8; table 10) and chela manus width:chela length, 19.4% (17.1%–21.3%, n = 8). The proximal dentate margins of the pedipalp chela fixed and movable fingers are emarginate, such that a gap is evident proximally when the fingers are closed, in B. nitzani (fig. 47B), but sublinear, such that no gap is evident proximally when the fingers are closed, in B. levyi (fig. 44B). The retrolateral accessory denticles on the movable finger of the pedipalp chela are present, with higher counts, in B. nitzani (sinistral/dextral: 6–9/6–9; n = 16; table 2; fig. 21G), than in B. levyi , in which the denticles are often absent (0–5/0–3; n = 13; table 5; fig. 21E, F). The posterior processes on the ventrolateral carinae of segment V are larger and more variable in size in B. nitzani (figs. 26C, 28C) than in B. levyi (figs. 26A, 28A). The telson dorsal surface is concave and the ventral surface convex and angular in lateral profile, in B. nitzani (fig. 29F), whereas the dorsal surface is flat and the ventral surface convex and rounded in lateral profile, in B. levyi (fig. 29B).

DESCRIPTION: The following description is based on the type material and specimens from across the distribution of the species in Israel (see table 2 for counts and tables 12 and 13 for measurements).

Total length: Medium-sized scorpions, 53 mm (47.4–58.5 mm, n = 8) (♂) or 48.6 mm (44.4– 54.5 mm, n = 10) (♀).

Color: Uniformly yellowish olive except as follows. Carapace interocular surface, pedipalp femur and patella, legs, anterior part of metasomal segments I–IV, and entire segment V orange. Pectines pale yellow. Leg articulation points brown.

Carapace: Carapace shape trapezoidal (fig. 17C, D), anterior width:posterior width, 52.8% (47.7%–57.4%, n = 18), length:posterior width, 88.3% (75.2%–98.3%, n = 18). Five, rarely four, pairs of lateral ocelli; each lateral ocular tubercle with two or, usually, three major ocelli (ALMa, MLMa, PLMa), similar in size, situated anterolaterally, and one or, usually, two minor ocelli (ADMi, PDMi; PDMi may be absent) situated posterodorsal to posterior major ocellus. Median ocelli larger than lateral ocelli, distance between them more than 2× ocellus width. Median ocular tubercle situated anteromedially, distance from anterior carapace margin:carapace length, 39.7% (35.7%–43.1%, n = 8) (♂) or 41.3% (39.2%– 44.6%, n = 10) (♀). Superciliary and central median carinae distinct, costate-granular, strongly to weakly connected (♂) or weakly connected to disconnected (♀). Anteromedian sulcus distinct, shallow; posteromedian sulcus deep, narrow anteriorly, wide posteriorly; posterolateral sulci shallow, wide, curved. Carapace intercarinal surfaces finely and densely granular.

Chelicerae: Cheliceral manus prodorsal margin finely granular; retrodorsal surfaces smooth or finely granular; prolateral and ventral surfaces setose. Fixed finger dorsal and ventral surfaces densely setose; dorsal margin with subdistal, medial, and proximal denticles; ventral margin with proximal and medial denticles. Movable finger dorsal surface smooth and glabrous; ventral surface setose; dorsal margin with retrodistal, subdistal, medial, and pair of proximal denticles; ventral margin with prodistal, medial, and proximal denticles.

Pedipalps: Femur dorsal prolateral, dorsal retrolateral, and ventral prolateral carinae complete, costate-granular; prolateral ventral and prolateral ventrosubmedian carinae each comprising discontinuous row of spiniform granules; retrolateral dorsosubmedian carina absent, represented by fewer than 10 macrosetae; intercarinal surfaces smooth (fig. 46A, B). Patella prolateral median and ventral prolateral carinae discontinuous, each comprising a few spiniform granules; other carinae absent; intercarinal surfaces smooth (fig. 46C–E). Chela short and broad (♂), manus width:length, 59% (48.6%–67%, n = 8), manus height:length, 62.5% (57.7%–66.6%, n = 8), and manus length:movable finger length, 84.4% (76.8%– 92.4%, n = 8) or short and slender (♀), manus width:length, 54.1% (51.2%–63.1%, n = 10), manus height:length, 61.5% (57.3%–68.5%, n = 10), and manus length:movable finger length, 63.8% (56.4%–83%, n = 10). Chela manus acarinate; intercarinal surfaces smooth and glabrous (fig. 47). Fixed and movable fingers each with 7–10 (n = 16) oblique median denticle subrows; movable finger with 6–9 (n = 16) retrolateral accessory denticles (fig. 21G); proximal dentate margins of fingers emarginate (fig. 47B), such that gap present proximally when fingers closed.

Legs: Legs I–IV, femoral ventral carinae granular; patellar ventral carinae obsolete; intercarinal surfaces smooth. Legs I–IV, tibial spurs absent on I and II, present on III and IV; pro- and retroventral basitarsal (pedal) spurs present, more developed on III and IV. Legs I–IV, macrosetal counts on retrolateral margins of tibiae, 7:9:11:4; basitarsi, 9:14:17:7; telotarsi, 4:6:7:7 (n = 1). Telotarsal ungues long, approximately equal to telotarsus length, unequal on legs I and II, subequal to equal on III and IV (fig. 22F).

Genital operculum: Genital opercula suboval, completely divided longitudinally, with overlapping, rounded margins (♂) or partially fused longitudinally (♀) (fig. 20A, B). Genital papillae present (♂) or absent (♀).

Pectines: Three marginal lamellae; 7–9 (♂) or 8–10 (n = 3) (♀) median lamellae (fig. 20A, B). Fulcra present. Pectinal teeth along most of length, dentate margin length:pecten length, 96.9% (93.9%–101.6%, n = 8) (♂) or 94.5% (88.7%–99%, n = 10) (♀). Pectinal teeth curved, similar in size; tooth count (sinistral/dextral), 31/31 (26–34/27–35, n = 6) (♂) or 23/23 (20– 27/21–27, n = 17) (♀).

Mesosoma: Tergites I –VII progressively increasing in length posteriorly, tergite VI length:tergite VII length, 55.9% (51.9%–61.9%, n = 8) (♂) or 59.7% (52.2%–70.8%, n = 10) (♀); increasing in width posteriorly from I–IV, decreasing in width posteriorly from V–VII.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Buthacus Birula, 1908, representative habitats. A. Mamshit [Kurnub], Israel, habitat of Buthacus amitaii, sp. nov. B. Naftah to Ong Jmal, Tunisia, habitat of Buthacus arenicola (Simon, 1885). C. Faiyum Oasis, Egypt, habitat of Buthacus leptochelys (Ehrenberg, 1829). D. Ashdod Nizzanim Nature Reserve, Israel, habitat of Buthacus nitzani Levy et al., 1973, stat. nov. E. Yotvata, Israel, habitat of Buthacus arava, sp. nov., and Buthacus yotvatensis Levy et al., 1973, stat. rev. F. Be’er Milka, Israel, Holot Haluza sand dunes, Israel, habitat of Buthacus levyi, sp. nov., and B. nitzani.

FIGURE 2. Buthacus Birula, 1908, habitus in life. A, B. Buthacus amitaii, sp. nov., ♂ (A), ♀ (B). C, D. Buthacus nitzani Levy et al., 1973, stat. nov., ♂ (C), ♀ (D). E, F. Buthacus levyi, sp. nov., ♂ (E), ♀ (F).