Orobothriurus grismadoi, Ojanguren-Affilastro, Andrés Alejandro, Campón, Florencia Fernández, Silnik, Susana Lagos & Mattoni, Camilo Iván, 2009

Ojanguren-Affilastro, Andrés Alejandro, Campón, Florencia Fernández, Silnik, Susana Lagos & Mattoni, Camilo Iván, 2009, The genus Orobothriurus Maury in central Argentina with description of a new species from El Nevado mountain chain in Mendoza Province (Scorpiones: Bothriuridae), Zootaxa 2209, pp. 28-42 : 29-34

Orobothriurus grismadoi n. sp.

figs. 1, 3–13, 15–17, 20–24, 35, Tables 1 & 2

Type series (21 specimens). ARGENTINA, Mendoza Province, Malargüe Department, Cerro Nevado . Holotype male: 35º35’45.06"S; 68º30´24.12"W, 3130 m a.s.l., Fernández Campón & Lagos Silnik coll., 25/ II/2006, (MACN-Ar 17986). Paratypes: same data, 6 males, 2 females (MACN-Ar 17987); 2 males ( CDA); 1 juvenile (IADIZA). 35º36´2.46"S; 68º30´40.92"W, 2953 m a.s.l., Fernández Campón & Lagos Silnik coll., 25/II/2006, 5 males (IADIZA), 1 male ( AMNH); II/2006, 1 male ( AMNH. 35º36´4,08"S 68º30´44,28"W, 2949 m a.s.l., Fernández Campón & Lagos Silnik coll., 7/I/2006, 1 juvenile, (IADIZA). 35º36´4,08"S 68º30´44,28"W, 2900 m a.s.l., G. Flores coll., 16/XI/2004, 1 female ( CDA).

Etymology: This species is named after the Argentinean arachnologist Cristian Grismado from the MACN, who has been very helpful identifying part of the spiders collected in the Andean campaigns of the IADIZA and providing information on the subject, whenever he was asked.

Diagnosis: Orobothriurus grismadoi is closely related to O. alticola from the Andean sector of Mendoza and San Juan provinces in Argentina. Both species can be separated by the shape of the hemispermatophore, in O. grismadoi the angle formed by the apex with the rest of the distal lamina ( Fig. 18 ) is smaller than in O. alticola ( Table 2 ). In addition the apex of O. grismadoi is slender than in O. alticola ( Figs. 20–34 ). Males of both species can also be separated by the shape of the telson which is slender in O. grismadoi ; additionally in O. grismadoi males the dorsal surface of the vesicle is always concave, whereas in O. alticola males it is straight ( Figs. 1, 2 ). Orobothriurus grismadoi is also more densely pigmented than O. alticola . In O. alticola the tergite VII has two lateral spots that leave a median unpigmented stripe ( Fig. 14 ), whereas in O. grismadoi this segment is almost completely covered by dark pigment and there is no median unpigmented stripe ( Fig. 15 ).

Description. Colour: General colour yellowish, with dark brown spots. Carapace: anterior margin unpigmented, except for a median dark stripe over the anterior longitudinal sulcus that reaches the anterior margin; ocular tubercle and area around the lateral ocelly dark brown or black; dark spot in the median part of the carapace surrounding the ocular tubercle; lateral margins with two big lateral spots, and two posterolateral spots; posterior margin reticulated. Chelicerae: entire dorsal surface reticulated, ventral surface unpigmented. Tergites: I–VI with two lateral dark spots occupying almost the whole lateral margins, separated by a thick median unpigmented stripe; tergite: VII with two lateroposterior dark spots, two paramedian dark spots and a median dark spot, all connected by a reticular pigment, so that there is no a median unpigmented stripe ( Fig. 15 ). Sternites: III─VI unpigmented; VII with two diffuse lateral dark spots. Sternum, genital opercula and pectines unpigmented. Metasomal segments: segments I–III: dorsal surface with a median triangular spot that occupies most of the surface between the DL carinae; lateral surface with a triangular spot occupying most of the area between the LSM and the VL carinae; ventral surface with three longitudinal dark stripes, two VL and one VM, that do not join between them in any segment, the VL stripes are partially fused with the lateral spots. Segment IV: dorsal surface slightly pigmented in its median part and over the DL carinae; lateral surface slightly pigmented over the LSM carinae; ventral surface as in segments I─III. Segment V: dorsal surface with two faint longitudinal dark stripes and two DL dark stripes; lateral surface faintly reticulated; ventral surface like segments I─IV. Telson : vesicle with dark reticular pigment in dorsal and ventral surfaces; aculeus dark brown. Legs: all segments with dark spots except the telotarsus; femur and patella densely pigmented on the dorsal surface and near the articulations. Pedipalps: femur densely pigmented near the articulation with patella, and over the DE carina, slightly pigmented over the DI carina and in the external margin; patella slightly pigmented near the articulations over the DE carina and in the external margin; chela, with six complete longitudinal pigment stripes over the hand and with a ventrointernal spot near the articulation with patella; fingers and articulation with fingers densely pigmented.

Morphology: Measurements of a male paratype (MACN–Ar) and a female paratype (MACN–Ar) are recorded in Table 1 . Total length in males 26.5– 32 mm (N = 10, mean = 29.8), 25, 27 and 34.1 mm in the three studied females. Carapace: in males tegument finely granular in the median area, with more developed granules near the lateral margins; smooth in females; anterior margin almost straight or with a poorly developed median notch; anterior longitudinal sulcus poorly developed; ocular tubercle very low, median eyes two diameters apart, interocular sulcus well developed; posterior sulcus, posterolateral sulci and postocular furrow deeply marked. Chelicerae: with two subdistal teeth. Tergites: tergites I–VI smooth in females, finely granular in males; tergite VII: with four longitudinal carinae, two lateral occupying almost 2⁄3 of the total length of the segment posteriorly, and two internal occupying a half of the segment posteriorly; area between internal carinae finely granular, area between external and internal carinae densely granular, area between external carinae and lateral margins smooth. Sternites: sternites III─VI granular in their median part in males, smooth in females, spiracles elongated and narrow; in males sternite VII with two longitudinal carinae occupying the posterior 2⁄3 of the segment, area between carinae densely granular; similar in females but with four longitudinal carinae. Pectines: 20–22 pectinal teeth in males (N = 10; median = 22); 18-18, 18-18 and 19- 19 in the three studied females. Metasomal segments: segment I: ventral surface usually with six ventral macrosetae and six ventrolateral macrosetae ( Fig. 4 ); VSM and VL carinae well developed (specially in females); LSM and LIM carinae only present in the posterior two thirds of the segment, with one macroseta near the basal margin of the LIM carina; DL carina granular, occupying the entire length of the segment; distal granules of DL and LSM carinae two or three times bigger than the other granules and with a very acute tip. Segment II: ventral surface usually with six ventral macrosetae and six ventrolateral macrosetae, tegument is smooth or with VSM carinae barely marked; LSM and LIM carinae restricted to the posterior half of the segment, with one macrosetae on the LSM carina; DL carina granular, occupying the entire length of the segment; the distal granules of DL and LSM carinae two or three times bigger than the other granules and with a very acute tip. Segment III: similar to segment II but ventrally smooth; LSM and LIM carinae restricted to the posterior third of the segment. Segment IV: ventral surface as segment III; LIM carina absent, LSM carina reduced to a posterior crest strongly developed with two macrosetae; DL carina granular, occupying the entire length of the segment with posterior granules strongly developed and one posterior macroseta. Segment V: ventral surface with eight ventral macrosetae, eight VL macrosetae and four posterior macrosetae; VL carinae present in the posterior three quarters of the segment; VSM carinae very close to the VL carinae fusing with them in the anterior and posterior thirds of the segment; VM carina present in the posterior three quarters of the segment, fusing in the posterior half with the ventral granulation of the segment ( Fig. 5 ); lateral margin smooth with four or five LSM macrosetae; DL carina reduced to some granules in the posterior half of the segment, with one macroseta in the median part. Telson : vesicle elongated and with smooth tegument in males, globose and granular in females ( Figs. 1, 3 ); in males no evident telson gland and dorsal surface concave ( Fig. 1 ); aculeus short and curved. Legs: femur and patella slightly granular, the rest smooth; with two well developed and symmetrical basitarsal spurs; telotarsi elongated, with well developed VL spines (tarsus I: 1-1, tarsus II: 2-2, tarsi III–IV: 3-3); telotarsal unguis curved and symmetrical. Pedipalps: femur: DI and VI carinae granular and extending the entire length of the segment, DE carina slightly granular near its base in males ( Fig. 13 ), blunt in females. Patella: DI and VI carinae slightly granular and extending along the entire length of the segment ( Figs. 11, 12 ). Chela: slender, with elongated fingers and smooth tegument ( Figs. 6–10 ); males with a conic apophysis near the articulation with the movable finger ( Figs. 8, 10 ), females with a low bulge (figs. 7, 9); internal surface of the fingers with a median row of denticles and four or five pairs of internal and external accessory denticles. Trichobothrial pattern: neobothriotaxic major type C ( Figs. 6–13 ), with one accessory trichobothrium in the V series of chela; femur with 3 trichobothria (1 d, 1 i and 1 e); patella with 19 trichobothria (3 V, 2 d, 1 i, 3 et, 1 est, 2 em, 2 esb, and 5 eb); chela with 27 trichobothria (1 Est, 5 Et, 5 V, 1 Esb, 3 Eb, 1 Dt, 1 Db, 1 et, 1 est, 1 esb, 1 eb, 1 dt, 1 dst, 1 dsb, 1 db, 1 ib, 1 it). Hemispermatophore: slender, in most specimens the basal part of the distal lamina is slightly inclined in respect to the basal portion, apex elongated and very inclined in respect to the basal part of the distal lamina; frontal crest longer than the half of the lamina, divided into two parts, basal part oblique, distal part parallel to the posterior margin of the lamina, slightly undulated; distal crest curved like the posterior margin; lobe region similar to hemispermatophores of the other species of the genus, with basal lobe protruding up to the median part of the frontal crest ( Figs. 16, 17 , 20–24 ).

Orobothriurus grismadoi n. sp.

Distribution and habitat. Argentina, Mendoza Province, Malargüe Department.

Orobothriurus grismadoi occurs in southern Mendoza province, in the Payunia District of the Central Patagonia biogeographic province ( Morrone et al. 2002) ( Fig. 35 ). This species is restricted to high altitude habitats on the Cerro Nevado , an extra-Andean mountainous range located 200 km east of the Andes. The Nevado range is separated from the Andean range by a plateau of 1800 m a.s.l. It extends North-South between 34º and 36º S, parallel to the Andes, with a maximum altitude of 3833 m a.s.l (summit of Cerro Nevado ). In the lower part of this range, the vegetation is a shrub steppe of Neosparton aphyllum Gillies and Hook (Verbenaceae) and Sporobolus rigens (Trinius) Desvaux (Gramineae) on sandy and basaltic soils. At medium level (volcanic plateau) the steppe is characterized by Adesmia pinnifolia Gillies ex Hook. and Arn. (Fabaceae) and Anarthrophyllum rigidum Hieronymus (Leguminosae) . The top level has low vegetation with Panthacantha ameghinoi Spegazzini (Solanaceae) as a dominant species ( Flores & Carrara 2006). Orobothriurus grismadoi was caught in pitfall traps located in P. ameghinoi habitat between 2900–3130 m a.s.l. Among the 21 individuals sampled, two were sampled in early summer (16-XII-04 and 7-I-06). The remaining individuals (most of them adults) were caught in late summer (25-II-06). Pitfall traps were located in sites with vegetation. No pitfall traps were located above 3200 m a.s.l where vegetation is absent. Thus, it is possible that O. grismadoi is present at higher altitudes, as other members of the genus can reach 4000 m in the Andes. Although there were traps set in the same sites, the previous year, there were no individuals of O. grismadoi caught.

Figures

FIGURE 35. Map of central Argentina showing the known distribution of the Orobothriurus species of the area.

FIGURES 16 – 19. Left hemispermatophore. 16, 17. Orobothriurus grismadoi n. sp. 16. Internal aspect; 17. External aspect. 18. Orobothriurus alticola, (El Tontal, San Juan province, Argentina), external aspect, showing the distal lamina measures analyzed: A = apex length, B = distal lamina length. 19. Orobothriurus alticola, (Puente Del Inca, Mendoza province, Argentina), external aspect, showing the angle (C) between apex and distal lamina base. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURES 20 – 34. Left hemispermatophores, distal lamina, external aspect. 20 – 24. Orobothriurus grismadoi n. sp.. 25 – 34. Orobothriurus alticola. 25. Puente del Inca, Mendoza province, Argentina; 26 – 28. Paso del Agua Negra, San Juan province, Argentina; 29. Laguna Diamante, Mendoza province, Argentina; 30 – 34. El Tontal, San Juan province, Argentina. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURES 1 – 5. 1, 3 – 5. Orobothriurus grismadoi n. sp.. 1. Telson, male, lateral aspect; 3. Telson, female, lateral aspect; 4. Sternite VII and metasomal segment I, female, ventral aspect; 5. Metasomal segment V, male, ventral aspect. 2. Orobothriurus alticola. Telson, male, lateral aspect. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURES 14 – 15. Tergites VI and VII, dorsal aspect showing the pigmentation pattern. 14. Orobothriurus alticola; 15. Orobothriurus grismadoi n. sp. Scale bars: 1 mm.

FIGURES 6 – 13. Orobothriurus grismadoi n. sp.. 6. Left pedipalp chela, male, retrolateral aspect; 7. Left pedipalp chela, female, prolateral aspect; 8. Right pedipalp chela, male, ventral aspect; 9. Left pedipalp chela, female, dorsal aspect; 10. Left pedipalp chela, male, prolateral aspect; 11. Left pedipalp patela, male, retrolateral aspect; 12. Left pedipalp patela, male, ventral aspect; 13. Left pedipalp femur, male, dorsal aspect. Scale bars: 1 mm.

Tables

TABLE 1. Orobothriurus grismadoi n. sp.. Measurements in mm of the male holotype (MACN-Ar 17986) and a female paratype (MACN-Ar 17987).

Measurementes in mm	Male holotype	Female paratype
Total length	30.36	24.86
Carapace, length	3.47	3.39
Carapace, anterior width	2.42	2.34
Carapace, posterior width	3.96	3.79
Mesosoma, total length	9.21	7.03
Metasoma, total length	13.36	10.82
Metasomal segment I, length/width/height	2.2/2.04/1.64	1.76/2.12/1.68
Metasomal segment II, length/width/height	2.24/1.88/1.56	1.88/2.00/1.68
Metasomal segment III, length/width/height	2.32/1.8/1.56	2/1.96/1.68
Metasomal segment IV, length/width/height	2.8/1.76/1.52	2.16/1.84/1.66
Metasomal segment V, length/width/height	3.8/1.72/1.32	2.92/1.84/1.46
Telson , length	4.32	3.62
Vesicle, length/width/height	3.4/1.48/1.12	2.66/1.58/1.2
Aculeus, length	0.92	0.96
Pedipalp, total length	11.92	10.74
Femur, length/width	3.36/1	2.72/1.06
Patella, length/width	3.28/1.04	2.85/1.06
Chela, length/width/height	5.82/1.50/1.66	5.17/1.34/1.54
Movable finger, length	3.10	2.95