Tityopsis mulata, Teruel & Rodríguez-Cabrera, 2020

Teruel, Rolando & Rodríguez-Cabrera, Tomás M., 2020, Revision of the genus Tityopsis Armas 1974 (Scorpiones Buthidae) Part 1 General updates and description of four new species, Euscorpius 304, pp. 1-40 : 7-15

Tityopsis mulata sp. n.

( Figures 2–12 , 33 , 37 , Tables 1, 4 )

http: //zoobank. org/urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: CDA92F27-0 CA8-45B1-9047-9EFC9489D160

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE DEPOSITORY. Cuba, Pinar del Río Province, Viñales Municipality, Mogote La Mina , 120 m a. s. l.; RTO .

TYPE SPECIMENS. Cuba, Pinar del Río Province, Viñales Municipality, Mogote La Mina , 120 m a. s. l., 20 October 2019, leg . R. Teruel, 1♂ (holotype), 17 August 2016, leg . T. M. Rodríguez, A. Rodríguez & R. López, 1♂ (paratype, raised to adult in captivity), RTO, 23 October 2018, leg . T. M. Rodríguez & N. Navarro, 2♀1♀ juv. (paratypes), RTO, 20 October 2019, leg . R. Teruel, 1♂ 3♀ 1♂ juv. 1♀ juv. (paratypes), RTO .

ETYMOLOGY. The selected epithet is a Spanish noun widely used in Cuba to call the brown-colored woman of mixed race, born from Caucasian and African parents. Especially the Cuban “mulata” is well reputed worldwide for her beauty and gracefulness. The word was selected both to allude to the most obvious character diagnostic of this species (the dark overall coloration) and to honor this spectacular kind of woman.

DIAGNOSIS. Adult size moderately large for the genus (25–26 mm in males, 32–34 mm in females). Adult coloration: base olivaceous brown, very densely infuscate all over so the entire scorpion looks very dark to unaided eye; pedipalp chelae, legs and venter slightly paler; pedipalp fingers black. Juvenile coloration: base orange brown, slightly paler on legs, venter and telson; chelicerae and tergites almost entirely blackish (the latter with posterior margins translucent gray), pedipalp femur and patella, carapace, sternites and metasoma symmetrically patterned with blackish brown; pedipalp chelae with manus whitish and fingers blackish. Pedipalps moderately elongate for the genus (length/width ratio of femur, patella and chela: 3.11–3.27, 2.62–2.80 and 3.44–3.61 in male, 2.71–2.78, 2.47–2.60 and 3.24–3.30 in females); chelae with manus oval and slightly longer in male (length/width ratio: 1.50–1.59 in male, 1.45–1.46 in females) and with fingers moderately long (movable finger/manus length ratio: 1.27–1.29 in male, 1.24–1.26 in females), fixed/movable fingers with 12/12 principal rows of denticles (exceptionally 11/11). Tegument of carapace, tergites, sternites, metasoma and telson sexually dimorphic between adults: with a satin sheen in male vs. matt in females. Carapace and tergites with many mediumsized granules scattered (much coarser and denser in female). Pectines with 14–16 teeth in male, 12–15 in female; basal middle lamella slightly enlarged and teardrop-shaped in male, moderately enlarged and oval in females. Sternite V with median smooth patch large and longer than wide in both sexes, lanceolate in male and narrowly cordiform in females; lateral smooth patches moderately large, oblique and bulky in both sexes. Metasoma slightly elongate in male vs. not elongate in females (length/width ratio of segments I–V: 1.15, 1.48–1.50, 1.68–1.70, 1.81–1.84 and 2.34–2.39 vs. 1.11–1.14, 1.47– 1.48, 1.57–1.59, 1.78–1.79 and 2.16–2.17), with 10/10/8/8/7 complete to almost complete, coarsely serrate to serratodenticulate carinae; lateral inframedians on II obsolete only on basal one-fifth (male) to one-quarter (females); intercarinal tegument of segment V with many small (male) to mediumsized (females) conical granules. Telson with vesicle globular, subaculear tubercle small.

DESCRIPTION (♂ holotype; Figs. 2–3 , 5 , 7 , 9 , 11 , 33a ; Tabs. 1, 4 ).

Coloration ( Figs. 3 , 33a ). Base medium olivaceous-brown, conspicuously darker on carapace, slightly paler on pedipalp chelae, legs and venter. Chelicerae manus very densely reticulate with blackish brown distally; fingers deeply infuscate. Pedipalps heavily and irregularly infuscate on all segments except chela manus, with carinae darker and fingers blackish. Carapace symmetrically and densely spotted with blackish brown, mostly below coarser granulose areas; all margins black; eyes and ocular tubercles black. Tergites symmetrically and densely spotted with blackish brown, mostly below coarser granulose areas and median keel; posterior margin black. Pectines immaculate yellowish brown, with basal portion and basal plate progressively darker due to heavier sclerotization. Sternites III–VI essentially immaculate, VII faintly infuscate laterally; V with median smooth patch bright white and lateral smooth patches translucent yellowish to whitish. Legs heavily and irregularly infuscate on all segments except coxa, trochanter and basal portion of femur, with all carinae darker. Metasoma concolor all along (i.e., distal segments not darker), with carinae faintly to moderately infuscate and distal portion of each segment infuscate into an irregularly annulated pattern; dorsal surface of I–IV with an irregular arrowhead-shaped blackish spot along midline; lateral surfaces with large, elongate blackish spots between carinae all over distal half of all segments; ventral surface with a thick but interrupted blackish stripe between ventral submedian carinae, plus a pair of large, elongate blackish spots between ventral submedian and ventrolateral carinae over distal half of segments I–IV and all along V. Telson vesicle essentially immaculate; aculeus with distal half dark reddish brown.

Chelicerae ( Fig. 7a ). With dentition typical for the genus, teeth standard-sized and sharp. Tegument glossy but with minute granulation scattered, dorsodistal portion of manus with coarse, glossy granules irregularly arranged transversally around dorsodistal depression. Setation very dense ventrally, but essentially lacking dorsally, except for six rigid macrosetae around dorsodistal depression of manus.

Pedipalps ( Fig. 5a–c ). Somewhat enlarged for the genus, i.e., moderately longer and with chelae longer and heavier than standard. Femur essentially straight (very slightly bent inwards distally), with all carinae very strong, coarsely denticulate to serrate; intercarinal tegument with a satin sheen, very densely and irregularly granulose; internal (i) trichobothria surrounding a large, irregularly triangular spur. Patella straight, with all carinae very strong, coarsely granulose to serrato-crenulate; intercarinal tegument with a satin sheen, very finely and densely granulose, internally with many conical denticles. Chela with manus oval (1.59 times longer than wide), much wider than patella (ratio 1.26) and with the basal half slightly widest, all carinae strong, coarsely serrate to serrato-crenulate, intercarinal tegument with a satin sheen, very finely and densely granulose on all surfaces; fingers long for the genus (movable finger 1.27 times longer than underhand) and evenly curved, fixed finger with 12/12 principal rows of denticles, movable finger with 12/12 plus an apical subrow of four denticles and a large internal accessory denticle (large terminal denticle not included), basal lobe/ notch combination absent.

Carapace ( Fig. 7a ). Slightly wider than long (length/width ratio = 0.97). Anterior margin acutely bilobed, with three pairs of dark macrosetae. Carinae: anterior medians anteriorly divergent and formed by coarse, isolated granules and irregularly fused to the superciliaries, which are composed of much smaller and closer granules; posterior medians straight, parallel and formed by medium-sized granules; other carinae absent or indistinct from general granulation. Furrows: anterior marginal, anterior median, median ocular, lateral oculars, central transverse, central median, posterior median and posterior marginal all fused, wide and moderately deep; posterior laterals very long, oblique, wide and moderately deep, almost fused to posterior marginal; lateral centrals very long, oblique (essentially parallel to posterior laterals), wide and moderately deep, almost fused to central transverse. Tegument with a satin sheen, very densely and irregularly but finely granulose, with many medium-sized, rough granules scattered. Median eyes relatively large and separated by about one ocular diameter; lateral eyes noticeably smaller and largely concealed below anterolateral margin.

Sternum ( Fig. 9a ). Standard for the genus, with two pairs of dark macrosetae. Tegument very densely and irregularly granulose.

Genital operculum ( Fig. 9a ). Standard for the genus, with two pairs of dark macrosetae. Valves roundly subtriangular and widely separated medially, each with a median depression; tegument minutely and densely granulose. Genital papillae large, thick and slightly protruding.

Pectines ( Fig. 9a ). Standard-sized for the genus (not reaching coxa-trochanter joint of leg IV). Tooth count 15/15, teeth straight and slightly swollen. Fulcra large and bulky, paraboloid to round. Basal middle lamella slightly enlarged and teardrop-shaped. Pre-pectinal plate well visible, heavily sclerotized, very wide and short; tegument minutely and densely granulose. Basal plate heavily sclerotized, about as long as wide; anterior margin with a very wide, V-shaped anteromedian notch, posterior margin convex; tegument minutely and densely granulose.

Legs. Slender, with all carinae strong, finely denticulate to granulose. Intercarinal tegument minutely and densely granulose, with abundant slightly coarser granules scattered mostly over external surface. Claws short and strongly curved. Mesosoma ( Figs. 7b , 9 ). Tergites with a satin sheen, very densely and irregularly but finely granulose, with many medium-sized, rough granules scattered; carinae: median longitudinal strong, serrato-crenulate to serrate and progressively longer from I–VII, submedians absent on I– VI, complete, straight and strongly serrate on VII, laterals absent on I–VI, complete, straight and strongly serrate on VII. Sternites with a satin sheen, very densely and irregularly but finely granulose, with some dark macrosetae scattered all over; lateral margins of all sternites serrate to granulose; posterior margin of all sternites smooth to vestigially granulose, on III vestigially bilobed, on IV widely bilobed, on V narrowly bilobed (due to protuberance of lateral smooth patches), on VI widely bilobed, on VII essentially straight; carinae: III–V acarinate, VI-VII with paired laterals and submedians which are long, straight and finely crenulate; spiracles small, narrowly oval to short slit-like; sternite V with median smooth patch large, lanceolate (remarkably longer than wide), bulky and glossy, not protruding from posterior margin; lateral smooth patches moderately large, oblique, elongate-oval to teardrop-shaped, bulky and glossy, conspicuously protruding from posterior margin.

Metasoma ( Fig. 11 ). Slightly longer than standard for the genus (4.33 times longer than carapace) and slightly narrower distally. Segments I–II with ten complete to almost complete carinae, III–IV with eight, V with seven: dorsal laterals strong, coarsely serrate to serrato-denticulate on I–IV, absent on V but indicated by an incomplete row of conical granules; lateral supramedians strong, coarsely serrate to serrato-denticulate on I–V; lateral inframedians strong, coarsely serrato-crenulate on I–II (obsolete on basal one-fifth of the latter), absent on III–V (but indicated in each segment by an incomplete row of coarse granules that never form a true, raised carina); ventral laterals strong, coarsely serrate to serrato-denticulate on I–V; ventral submedians strong, coarsely serrate to serratodenticulate on I–IV, indicated by an incomplete but raised row of coarse granules on more than basal half of V; ventral median absent on I–IV, strong, coarsely serrate to serratodenticulate on V. Intercarinal tegument with a satin sheen, very finely and densely granulose, with some medium-sized granules scattered on dorsal surface of all segments and on lateral surfaces of V; dorsal furrow complete, narrow and moderately deep on all segments; setation sparse, with two pairs of dark macrosetae on essentially all carinae.

Telson ( Fig. 5d ). Vesicle globose (1.39 times longer than wide, exactly as wide as deep) and with several dark and whitish setae scattered; tegument coriaceous but with a satin sheen, with some medium-sized granules scattered mostly ventrally; ventral median carina weak but coarsely subgranulose, continued into the subaculear tubercle that is small, broadly conical and unarmed (i.e., without any granules). Aculeus standard-sized, sharp, shorter than vesicle and moderately curved.

FEMALE (adult paratopotypes; Figs. 4 , 6 , 8 , 10 , 12 , 33b–e ; Tabs. 1, 4 ). Sexual dimorphism well-marked, differing from described male by: 1) size conspicuously larger (31.8–33.8 mm); 2) tegument of carapace, tergites, sternites, metasoma and telson matt, with scattered granulation coarser; 3) pedipalps relatively shorter, more robust (especially chela manus) and with carinae coarser; 4) carapace remarkably wider posteriorly; 5) mesosoma relatively wider, with lateral sides markedly convex; 6) pre-pectinal plate absent; 7) genital operculum with valves not separated medially and lacking genital papillae; 8) pectines relatively smaller, with teeth shorter, narrower and slightly fewer in number (12–15, mode 13–14), and with basal middle lamella moderately enlarged, oval in shape and whitish; 9) sternite V with median and lateral smooth patches smaller and less bulky, the former narrowly cordiform in shape and translucent; 10) metasoma relatively shorter, more robust and with carinae coarser.

VARIATION. The type series is remarkably homogeneous in all morphological characters that are diagnostic for T. mulata sp. n. The coloration varies only subtly in shade in both adults and juveniles, with some individuals being slightly lighter or darker ( Figs. 33a–e ). Interestingly, while keeping individuals alive in captivity we unexpectedly discovered that this variation is at least sometimes directly related to moisture degree: if the breeding cage is kept under drier conditions for several days the scorpions gradually become slightly lighter, but they start to darken back after humidity is raised again.

Adult size varied as follows: 25.3–26.3 mm in males, 31.8– 33.8 mm in females ( Tab. 1). All adult paratopotypes seem to belong to a single size-class.

Number of principal rows of denticles was essentially fixed at 12/12 on both fixed and movable fingers of all specimens but one. The latter is an adult female with 11/11 rows on right pedipalp chela.

Pectinal tooth counts ( Tab. 4 ) varied from 14–16 in males and 12–15 in females, with modes of 14–15 in the former sex and 14 in the latter. Single-tooth asymmetry was a very common occurrence: 2 out of 4 males and 3 out of 5 females (two adults of this sex had a pecten too damaged for counting); there were no specimens with two or more teeth asymmetry.

AFFINITIES. This species is very easy to distinguish at first sight from the other two described species of the genus by its very dark coloration all over.Adults of T. inaequalis are light to pale yellowish brown, only with faint infuscation in carapace and metasomal segments II–IV (even absent in many specimens, mostly males) and pedipalp fingers, while juveniles are pale orange to yellowish brown, usually with a reduced, sparse pattern of grayish-brown spots on carapace, tergites, legs and metasoma (absent altogether in some individuals) and with pedipalps always immaculate. On the other hand, adults of T. inexpectata are reddish brown, with only the carapace and metasoma densely patterned with dark brown (sometimes also the tergites); juveniles are light orange to pale reddish brown, with the carapace and tergites remarkably less densely spotted with dark to grayish brown.

Apart from coloration, these two species can be distinguished from T. mulata sp. n. as follows: T. inaequalis : 1) size slightly but consistently larger (26– 29 mm in males, 33–36 mm in females); 2) pedipalps with remarkably heavier chela manus; 3) entire habitus markedly slenderer, especially in males; 4) tegument of carapace, tergites, sternites, metasoma and telson with a satin sheen in adult females; 5) pectines relatively larger and with slightly but consistently higher tooth counts (16/ 16 in males, 14–16 in females); 6) carapace and tergites with granulation finer; 7) pedipalps and metasoma with carinae weaker and finer.

T. inexpectata : 1) size smaller (23–25 mm in males, 27–29 mm in females); 2) entire habitus markedly stockier, especially pedipalps and metasoma; 3) pectines with lower tooth counts (13–14 in males, 12–13 in females); 4) sternite V with median smooth patch much wider and widely cordiform in shape; 5) pedipalps and metasoma with carinae weaker and finer.

ECOLOGICAL NOTES. This species lives in mesophylous semicaducifolious forest on limestone karstic soil ( Fig. 37 ). All specimens were collected in the slopes of the mogote, under rocks semi-buried in leaf litter and organic soil, usually hanging to the underside of the rocks, as well as directly on the soil. Two other buthid scorpions live in this site as well: Centruroides guanensis Franganillo, 1931 and Heteroctenus junceus (Herbst, 1800) ; the former is arboreal and the latter occurs both in ground and in the vegetation.

An adult female paratopotype collected on 20/October/2019 gave birth in captivity to 18 pulli on 25 February 2020; the birth process was witnessed and documented by one of us (RT, see Figs. 33d–e ). It lasted for about two hours, i.e., the first pulli was detected at 10:24 hrs when it had one-third out and all pulli finished to accommodate on mother’s back at 12:29 hrs. The female remained all the time hanging from substratum completely horizontal in a “belly-up” position, with the “birth basket” formed by legs I–II (each pair evenly arched and closed by loosely touching the opposite telotarsi). All pulli emerged “headfirst” and nine unfertilized eggs (large, round and uniformly pale yellowish) were delivered and eaten by the female after birth. The first ecdysis was accomplished on 2 March 2020.

COMMENTS. All eight specimens found on August 2016 were juveniles. Four of them were kept alive in captivity, where they readily accepted as prey small insects such as beetle larvae ( Tenebrio molitor L., 1758) and cockroach nymphs ( Blattella germanica (Linné, 1758) and Periplaneta americana (Linné, 1767)) . They did very well in captivity and molted repeatedly until December 2016, when the breeding room became infested with an extremely aggressive, undetermined parasitic fly ( Chloropidae ?); the parasite larvae completely destroyed all individuals but one: the male herein designated as a paratopotype, which had already been preserved after having reached maturity (last ecdysis on November 13, 2016).

DISTRIBUTION ( Fig. 2 ). This species is known only from the type locality. Mogote La Mina is a minute, isolated, karstic limestone plateau near the eastern end of Sierra de los Órganos mountain range. Actually, it represents the westernmost tip of Sierra de Guacamaya, cut off the main massif by erosion.

Figures

Figure 2. Western Cuba, showing the complete geographical distribution of the genus Tityopsis (white symbols) and overlaid, that of the four species of Tityopsis treated herein (red symbols, complemented with habitus of their holotypes): T. mulata sp. n. (star), T. canizaresorum sp. n. (rhombs, the southernmost is the type locality), T. pumila sp. n. (triangle) and T. sheylae sp. n. (square). Image frame size, 500 x 250 km.

Figures 3–4. Tityopsis mulata sp. n., male holotype (3) and female paratopotype (4), habitus: a) dorsal; b) ventral. Scale bar = 10 mm.

Figures 5–6. Tityopsis mulata sp. n., male holotype (5) and female paratopotype (6): a) pedipalp, dorsal view; b) pedipalp chela, external view; c) pedipalp chela, ventral view; d) telson, lateral view.

Figures 7–8. Tityopsis mulata sp. n., male holotype (7) and female paratopotype (8): a) chelicerae and carapace; b) tergites.

Figures 9–10. Tityopsis mulata sp. n., male holotype (9) and female paratopotype (10): a) sternopectinal region; b) sternite V.

Figures 11–12. Tityopsis mulata sp. n., male holotype (11) and female paratopotype (12), metasoma and telson: a) dorsal, b) lateral, and c) ventral views.

Figure 33. Tityopsismulata sp. n., photographed alive inits naturalhabitat unless otherwise noted:a) male holotype;b–c) female paratopotypes; d–e) captive female paratopotype, with litter of instars 1 (d) and 2 (e); f) captive juvenile male paratopotype.

Figures 37–38: Type localities of Tityopsis mulata sp. n. (37) and T. pumila sp. n. (38), a) habitat, b) microhabitat.