Grosphus olgae Lourenço, 2004

Lourenço, Wilson R., 2014, The genus Grosphus Simon, 1880 in South-Western Madagascar, with the description of a new species (Scorpiones, Buthidae), Zoosystema 36 (3), pp. 631-645 : 638

Grosphus olgae Lourenço, 2004

Grosphus olgae Lourenço, 2004: 27.

TYPE MATERIAL. — Male holotype, 14 males and 3 female paratypes: Madagascar, South region, Toliara, Forêt de Mikea , 7.5 km NE Tsifotsa, 22°48.0’S, 43°26.’E, 21-25.II.2003 (S. M. Goodman & V. Soarimalala) ; 1 ♂ holotype, 4 ♂♂ and 3 ♀♀ paratypes; 9.5 km W. Ankililoaka , 22°46.7’S, 43°31.4’E, 14-19.II.2003 (S. M. Goodman & V. Soarimalala) , 9 ♂♂ paratypes; Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa , 6.5 km NE Efoetse, 24°3.0’S, 43°45.0’E, 28.II-5.III.2002 (S. M. Goodman) , 1 ♂. Holotype and 13 paratypes, FMNH; 3 paratypes, MNHN-RS-8675 ; 1 paratype, MHNG.

DIAGNOSIS. — Scorpion of small to medium size with a total length of 35 to 40 mm. General coloration pale yellow, with dark spots on metasomal segment V and telson.Telson elongated with aculeus longer than vesicle. Carapace and tergites moderately to weakly granular. Pectines: pectinal teeth count 26-27 in females and 29-33 in males; basal middle lamellae of each pecten elongated and curved, widening only partially after the first internal tooth, covering 3 to 4 most proximal teeth. Dorsal carinae on segments II to IV without any posterior spinoid granule. The telson vesicle is not globular but rather elongated, with a pear-like shape, particularly in males ( Fig. 3C, D ). Fixed and movable fingers with 13-14 oblique rows of granules.

DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY. — In contrast to the descriptions of the vast majority of Grosphus sp., based on single specimens, G. olgae was named from a series of almost 20 specimens, allowing a good assessment of character variability. On the basis of the basal middle lamellae shape of the female pectines, G. olgae shows notable similarity to G. limbatus . However, it differs from G. limbatus by the general colour pattern (absence of spots on carapace and tergites). This species appears to be very common both in the Forêt de Mikea, its type locality, but also on and at the base of the Plateau Mahafaly, where new collections document its sympatric occurrence with Grosphus mahafaliensis Lourenço, Goodman & Ramilijaona, 2004 (see next section). Based on the study of an extensive material, Grosphus olgae occurs in a variety of habitats that include both limestone and sandy soil substrates, although it was notably more common on the former substrate. Animals registered under a single field collection number were all collected during the same dawn pitfall trap check and were presumed to have been active the previous night. These new data indicate that G. olgae occurs in sympatry with G. mahafaliensis , at most sites this latter species outnumbers the former. Further, there are several cases of Neogrosphus griveaudi (Vachon, 1969) being captured in the same pitfalls as G. olgae . Thus, these three species show broad geographical overlap in portions of South-Western Madagascar.

Figures

FIG. 3. Ỏ Grophus ssp., Metasomal segment V and telson,lateral aspect:A, B, Grosphus annulatus Fage,1929:A, male paralectotype; B, female lectotype; C, D, Grosphus intertidalis LourenÁo, 1999, male (C) and female (D); E, F, Grosphus mahafaliensis LourenÁo, Goodman & Ramilijaona, 2004, male (E) and female (F). Scale bars: 2 mm.