Chactopsis Kraepelin, 1912

Ochoa, José A., Rojas-Runjaic, Fernando J. M., Pinto-da-Rocha, Ricardo & Prendini, Lorenzo, 2013, Systematic Revision Of The Neotropical Scorpion Genus Chactopsis Kraepelin, 1912 (Chactoidea: Chactidae), With Descriptions Of Two New Genera And Four New Species, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2013 (378), pp. 1-121 : 17-25

Chactopsis Kraepelin, 1912

Chactopsis Kraepelin, 1912: 86 , 87, figs. 10–12 [type species by monotypy: Chactopsis insignis Kraepelin, 1912 ]; Birula, 1917: 163; Werner, 1934: 287; Mello-Leitão, 1942: 126; 1945: 116; Scorza, 1954a: 158; 1954b: 163; 1954c: 188, 198; Esquivel de Verde and Machado-Allison, 1969: 27, 31, 32; Bücherl, 1969: 769; 1971: 329; Vachon, 1974: 915, 935; Soleglad, 1976: 300; González-Sponga, 1977: 304, 309, 310; 1978: 22, 170, fig. 4; 1982: 127, 128; 1984a: 20, 53, 99; 1984b: 142, 144; Francke, 1985: 7, 16, 20; Lourenço and Francke, 1986: 550; Lourenço, 1988: 330; Sissom, 1990: 111, 113; González- Sponga, 1991: 13, 26; Nenilin and Fet, 1992: 12, 13; González-Sponga, 1996: 24–27, 110; Kovařik, 1998: 126; Lourenço, 1998: 133; Sissom, 2000: 310; Soleglad and Sissom, 2001: 25–88, 92, figs. 21, 79, 92, 106, 205, 207–215, tables 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10, 15; González-Sponga, 2001: 29, 40, 49; Lourenço, 2002a: 37, 41, 216, 222; 2002b: 404, 413, 428, 433, figs. 19, 33, 56, 63; 2003: 167, 168, fig. 14; Soleglad and Fet, 2003b: 35, 52, 61, 67, 94, 105, tables 3, 4, 9; 2004: 84; 2005: 6; Lourenço et al., 2005: 246; Prendini and Wheeler, 2005: 448, 464, 477, 478, 481; Fet and Soleglad, 2005: 1, 12; Fet et al., 2006: 7, 8; Graham and Fet, 2006: 2, 10, 11; Dupre´, 2007: 4, 14, 16; Flórez and Mattoni, 2007: 83, 84; Rojas-Runjaic and de Sousa, 2007: 299, table I; Botero-Trujillo, 2008: 34; Flórez et al., 2008: 32; Soleglad et al., 2009: 3; Stockmann and Ythier, 2010: 41, 195, fig. 9c; Lourenço, et al., 2011: 65.

TYPE SPECIES: Chactopsis insignis Kraepelin, 1912 .

DIAGNOSIS: Chactopsis is most closely related to Chactopsoides , n. gen., from which

it may be separated as follows. Pedipalp chelal trichobothrium ist is absent and isb present, it is situated between est and em, Et 1 and Et 2 are situated in the same axis, and dm 1 is situated proximal to or in the same axis as et 3 in Chactopsis (figs. 25, 28, 31, 34, 37, 40, 43); whereas ist is present and isb absent, it is situated between et 3 and est, Et 2 is situated distal to Et 1, and dm 1 is situated distal to et 3 in Chactopsoides , n. gen. (figs. 56, 60, 63). The hemispermatophore lamina is long and broad in Chactopsis (figs. 8, 26, 29, 38, 41, 44) but short and narrow in Chactopsoides , n. gen. (figs. 57, 61). The hemispermatophore flagellum is curved or straight, and the ental fold present and distinct along the ental margin, noticeably toward the dorsal surface, in Chactopsis , whereas the flagellum is slightly undulated (never curved) and the ental fold absent in Chactopsoides , n. gen. The hemispermatophore trunk is moderately or strongly tortuous medially, the sheathshaped portion and the foot extend half or less than half the length of the trunk, the median longitudinal sulcus is absent, and the ventral concavity well developed in Chactopsis (fig. 8), whereas the trunk is elongated, the sheath-shaped portion extends more than two-thirds the length of the trunk, the foot extends almost the entire length of the trunk, the median longitudinal sulcus is present, and the ventral concavity reduced in Chactopsoides , n. gen. (fig. 57). The lobe region of the hemispermatophore is well developed, with two lobes; the ental lobe is slightly sclerotized, forming a projection toward the ental surface, and the median lobe is well developed in Chactopsis , whereas the lobe region is reduced, the ental lobe absent, the median lobe relatively shorter and less developed in Chactopsoides , n. gen. Additionally, the lobe region possesses a sclerotized dorsal apophysis (figs. 8B, 26B), with a crest- or hornshaped projection in Chactopsis , whereas the dorsal apophysis is well developed, but laminar and folded in Chactopsoides , n. sp. (fig. 57B). The hemispermatophores of C. buhrnheimi and C. sujirima are unknown, but these species are retained in Chactopsis based on their pedipalp trichobothrial pattern.

Chactopsis may be separated from Megachactops , n. gen., as follows. The carapace is acarinate and its anterior margin possesses a moderate to shallow median notch in Chactopsis (figs. 10, 11), whereas the carapace exhibits distinct median carinae, and its anterior margin possesses a conspicuous median notch, in Megachactops , n. gen. (fig. 64). The pedipalp patellar DM carinae are absent and the DPP present but weakly developed in Chactopsis , whereas the DM carinae are present and the DPP prominent in Megachactops , n. gen. (figs. 70B, 74B). Pedipalp patellar trichobothria v 6 and v 7 are situated submedially and out of alignment with v 1 – v 5, which are situated close to the VE carina, in Chactopsis (fig. 24D), whereas v 6 and v 7 are aligned with v 1 – v 5 and situated close to the VE carina in Megachactops , n. gen. (figs. 70D, 74D). Pedipalp chela trichobothrium db is situated in the proximal third of the fixed finger, and V 3 is situated medially on the manus, equidistant between V 1 and V 4, in Chactopsis (fig. 25), whereas db is situated medially on the fixed finger, and V 3 is situated in the distal third of the manus, closer to V 1 than to V 4 in Megachactops , n. gen. (fig. 71). The VSM carinae of metasomal segment IV are complete and the VM carina absent in Chactopsis , whereas the VSM carinae are incomplete and the VM carina present medially (well developed or vestigial) in Megachactops , n. gen. (fig. 68). The ML carinae of metasomal segment V occupy more than half the length of the segment in Chactopsis (figs. 15, 16, 17), but less than half its length in Megachactops , n. gen. (fig. 67). The hemispermatophore of the two genera differs as follows. The apex is elongated, the lobe region occupying onefifth of the hemispermatophore length, the dorsal apophysis present, the ental lobe small, slightly sclerotized, and the median lobe usually papillose, in Chactopsis (figs. 8, 26, 29, 38, 41, 44), whereas the apex is short and subtriangular, the lobe region well developed, occupying a third of the hemispermatophore length, the dorsal apophysis absent, with two lobes, the ental lobe elongated, and the median lobe auriculate and almost apapillose, in Megachactops , n. gen. (figs. 72, 76).

DESCRIPTION: The following general description outlines characters common to all species of Chactopsis .

Total length: Small scorpions, ranging in total length from 25–39 mm.

Coloration: Varies from yellowish to brownish with dark spots.

Chelicerae: Manus, dorsoexternal surfaces sparsely setose; ventral and internal surfaces densely setose. Fixed finger, dorsal margin with four teeth (distal, subdistal, median, and basal), median and basal teeth fused into a bicusp. Movable finger, dorsal margin with five teeth (distal, two subdistal, median, and basal); ventral margin usually with two teeth (distal, subdistal), except in C. chullachaqui , n. sp., in which ventral subdistal tooth is absent; dorsal distal tooth smaller than ventral distal tooth; ventral surface with long, well-developed serrula.

Carapace: Anterior margin with moderate to shallow median notch (figs. 10, 11). Posterior margin sublinear, usually with shallow median notch. Surfaces mostly granular, especially in ³, more so on anterior third, ♀ less granular; nongranular surfaces punctate, with scattered microsetae; carinae absent or obsolete. Ocular tubercle well developed, slightly anteromedial; median ocelli well developed. Four pairs of lateral ocelli; anterolateral and median lateral pairs similar in size, approximately half the size of median ocelli; posterolateral pair smaller, approximately one-quarter the size of anterolateral and median lateral ocelli; dorsomedian pair greatly reduced, approximately one-quarter the size of posterolateral ocelli. Anteromedian longitudinal sulcus broad, well developed; postocular sulcus deep; posteromedian longitudinal and posterolateral sulci well developed; posterior transverse sulcus shallow.

Pedipalps: Patella, DM carina absent. Chela manus narrow and cylindrical, slightly more incrassate in ♀, with elongated fingers; nine carinae (D, SD, DS, DMA, DI, E, IM, VE, and VI) obsolete, usually identified by punctation, fine granulation, subtle differences in angles between adjacent surfaces, and/or pigmentation. Fixed-finger carinae moderately developed, costate; two porous areas usually present proximally, in place of DI carinae; dentition complex, median denticle row continuous, complete, flanked by 9– 10 internal and external denticles in distal two-thirds, and numerous accessory denticles arranged in four to five rows, including at least one continuous row of external accessory denticles and at least one discontinuous row of internal accessory denticles.

Trichobothria: Femur with three trichobothria (figs. 24A, 27A, 30A, 33A, 36A, 39A, 42A): one external (e), one dorsal (d), one internal (i). Patella with 33 or 34 trichobothria (figs. 24B–D, 27B–D, 30B–D, 33B–D, 36B–D, 39B–D, 42B–D): two dorsal (d 1, d 2); seven ventral (v 1 –v 7), v 1 –v 5 situated close to VE carina, v 6 and v 7 situated submedially and out of alignment with v 1 – v 5; 23 or 24 external trichobothria (et 1 –et 5, est 1 –est 5, em 1 –em 4, esb 1 –esb 4, eb 1 – eb 6), but usually 23, except 24 in C. barajuri , with additional em (em 4); one internal (i). Chela with 26 trichobothria (figs. 25, 28, 31, 34, 37, 40, 43): 10 situated on manus, three ventral (V 1, V 3, V 4), seven external (Et 1 – Et 3, Est, Esb, Eb 1, Eb 2); 16 situated on fixed finger, seven external (et 1 – et 3, est, em, esb, eb), six dorsal (dt, dst, dm 1, dm 2, dsb, db), three internal (it, isb, ib).

Legs: Prolateral surfaces usually granular, retrolateral surfaces smooth. Tibial spurs absent. Pro- and retrolateral pedal spurs present. Basitarsi setose, each with dorsal and ventral rows of small brushlike spinules. Telotarsi setose, each with ventromedian row of elongated spinules, flanked by two paired rows of setae (pro- and retroventral and pro- and retrolateral); ungues well developed, curved, equal in length.

Sternum: Shape subpentagonal with two lateral lobes, and lateral margins converging anteriorly; posterior width greater than length; posterior depression deep (figs. 13, 14).

Pectines: Pectinal plate, anterior margin with conspicuous median notch, lateral margins subparallel (♀) or converging posteriorly (³) (figs. 13, 14). Pectines each comprising four lamellae, proximal and marginal lamellae larger, subdistal and distal lamellae smaller; proximal lamella usually fused with subdistal lamella; fulcra absent. Tooth count, 7–12.

Sternites: Sternites III–VI each with pair of small, oval spiracles, situated mediolaterally; surfaces usually smooth and punctate; VII with VL carinae obsolete.

Metasoma: Metasomal segments I–V, intercarinal surfaces densely granular, nongranular surface punctate; DL, ML, VL, VSM, and VM carinae distinct; LSM carinae often vestigial; DSM carinae usually present on segments I and II; DSM and DL carinae converging distally on segments I–III, subparallel on IV; DL and VL carinae complete on all segments; ML carinae complete on segments I–IV, variably developed on V; LIM carinae less developed, complete only on segment I; porous areas, usually forming raised mounds, present posteriorly in place of LIM carinae on segments II–IV; VSM carinae usually present on segments II–IV; VM carina variably developed on segment V (figs. 15–21).

Telson: Vesicle slightly elongated. Aculeus short, gently curved (figs. 22, 23).

Hemispermatophore: Lamina weakly sclerotized, especially distally (figs. 8, 26, 29, 38, 41, 44); apex elongated, broad proximally and medially, curved, and progressively tapering distally, and terminating in flagellum (fig. 26A–C); frontal and distal crests absent; flagellum short, straight; ental margin with ately developed; ventral surface concave distally, well developed; foot well developed, approximately half the length of trunk. Lobe region (capsule) complex, well developed with two lobes (ental and median lobes; fig. 8) and a sclerotized dorsal apophysis; median lobe usually papillose, forming internobasal reflexion of sperm duct, sometimes with conspicuous median trough; median trough well developed, usually deep.

INCLUDED TAXA: Eight species: C. amazonica ; C. barajuri ; C. buhrnheimi ; C. chullachaqui , n. sp.; C. curupira , n. sp.; C. insignis ; C. siapaensis ; C. sujirima .

DISTRIBUTION: The genus Chactopsis is recorded from Brazil, Peru, and Venezuela (fig. 1).

HABITAT: The known species of Chactopsis inhabit tropical rainforest (fig. 3). Four species ( C. amazonica , C. buhrnheimi , C. curupira , n. sp., and C. insignis ) occur in the Amazon River basin of Brazil, C. chullachaqui , n. sp., occurs in piedmont rainforest on the eastern slopes of the Andes in Peru. Three species occur on the Guiana Shield: C. barajuri occurs in the state of Bolívar in Venezuela, C. sujirima occurs in the Orinoco River basin of Venezuela and Serra do Tapirapecó in Brazil; C. siapaensis occurs at the base of La Neblina mountain near the border between Brazil and Venezuela.