Orthochirus nordmanni, Kovařík & Fet & Yağmur, 2020

Kovařík, FrantIšek, Fet, Victor & Yağmur, Ersen Aydın, 2020, Further review of Orthochirus Karsch, 1892 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Asia: taxonomic position of O. melanurus, O. persa, O. scrobiculosus, and description of six new species, Euscorpius 318, pp. 1-73 : 42-46

Orthochirus nordmanni sp. n.

( Figures 2 , 189–235 , 343 , Table 3) http: //zoobank. org/urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: DF063D9A -

CEEA -4ADF -B8FF -2B29CE06907B

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE DEPOSITORY. Afghanistan, Uruzgan Province, Tarin Kowt District, Sosnak Village , 32°38’20”N 65°48’25”E ; FKCP.

TYPE MATERIAL EXAMINED ( FKCP). Afghanistan, Daykundi Province, Gizab [33.42°N 66.11°E], 2012, 1♂ (paratype), leg. M. Misch. Kandahar Province (border with Uruzgan Province), 32°10'36.59"N 65°44'12.45"E, 1798 m a. s. l. ,

1♂ 2♀ (paratypes), April 2011, leg. M. Misch; Nesh Village , 32°07'30"N 65°45'10"E , 2011, 24♂ 5♀ 2juvs (paratypes), leg. M. Misch. Uruzgan Province, Tarin Kowt District, Sosnak Village , 32°38'20"N 65°48'25"E , 2011, 1♂ (holotype) 4♂ 1♀ (paratypes), leg. M. Misch; Tarin Kowt, 32°37'52.29"N 65°52'06.56"E, 1300 m a. s. l., May 2010, 27♂ 17♀ 2juvs. (paratypes), leg. M. Misch; Chora District, Chinarak Village , 32°50'20"N 65°53'30"E , 2011, 4♂ 1♀ juv. (paratypes), leg. M. Misch.

ETYMOLOGY. The species epithet is a patronym honoring the Russian-Finnish zoologist Alexander von Nordmann (1803–1866) who described the scorpion species now called Olivierus caucasicus (Nordmann, 1840) (Buthidae) .

DIAGNOSIS (♂ ♀). Total length of adults 24–40 mm. Trichobothrium d 2 on dorsal surface of pedipalp femur usually absent. Pectinal teeth number 18–23 in males and 16–18 in females. Movable finger of pedipalps with 8–9 rows of denticles, 8–9 ID and 7–9 OD. Dorsal carinae on pedipalp patella developed and smooth. Pedipalp femur dorsal smooth. Metasoma I with 10 carinae, metasoma II– III with 4–6 carinae, metasoma IV–V with 2 dorsolateral carinae and without ventrolateral carinae which are indicate on metasoma V. Ventral carinae of metasoma I–II consist of large granules. Metasoma II–V ventrally and laterally smooth with fine punctation developed, spaces among punctae smooth; metasoma I ventrally and laterally smooth sparsely granulated by large granules with punctation reduced. Metasoma V dorsal surface mesially smooth; metasoma I dorsal surface with 0–5 large granules. Tergites roughly to finely granulated. Sternite VII granulated but medially smooth, with four granulated carinae present. Pedipalp, metasoma and telson glabrous. Moderate tibial spurs present on legs III and IV. Tarsomere I of legs I–III with 4–6 long setae in both sexes. Ratio length/width of metasoma V 1.08– 1.16 in both sexes.

DESCRIPTION. Total length of adults 24–40 mm. Measurements of the carapace, telson, segments of the metasoma and segments of the pedipalps are given in Table 3. For habitus, see Figs. 189–192 .

Coloration ( Figs. 2 , 189–192 ). Carapace, tergites, metasoma, and femur or femur and patella of pedipalps and legs black. Patella of pedipalps and legs could be also yellow or yellowish brown. Chela of pedipalps and tarsomeres of legs yellowish brown. Sternites reddish black with yellow median area indicated in posterior margin of sternite IV and developed on sternite V. Telson reddish black.

Mesosoma and carapace ( Figs. 213–214 , 220–223 ). Tergites with a median carina and is roughly to finely granulated. Seventh sternite granulated but medially smooth, with four granulated carinae present, the other sternites rather smooth but with several areas partly granulated mainly in males. Pectine teeth number 18–23 (1 x 18, 13 x 19, 41 x 20, 37 x 21, 12 x 22, 3 x 23) in males and 16–18 (11 x 16, 13 x 17, 11 x 18) in females.

Metasoma and telson ( Figs. 224–235 ). Metasoma I with 10, metasoma II–III with 4–6 granulated carinae. Metasoma II–V lacks lateral and metasoma IV–V ventromedian carinae. Ventrolateral carinae are developed on metasoma I–II and indicated or incomplete on metasoma III–V, dorsolateral carinae are present on metasoma I–III. Ventral carinae of metasoma I–II consist of large granules. Metasoma I granulated laterally, metasoma II–V laterally punctate and smooth. Granulation absent on dorsal surfaces of metasoma II–V; metasoma I dorsal with 0–5 large granules. Fine punctation on metasoma II–V ventrally developed, spaces among punctae smooth. Entire metasoma and telson glabrous. Telson smooth with punctation present ventrally.

Pedipalps ( Figs. 193–210 ). Trichobothrium d 2 on pedipalp femur usually absent; trichobothrium e 1 is situated in level with trichobothria d 4. Femur of pedipalps with five granulated carinae and is smooth. Patella has seven smooth carinae, and the chela has smooth carinae which may be discernible throughout the length of the fixed finger. The entire pedipalps are glabrous with several setae only. Movable fingers with 8–9 rows of denticles, 8–9 ID and 7–9 OD.

Legs ( Figs. 215–219 ). Moderate tibial spurs present on legs III and IV. Femur with four partly granulated carinae; patella with five rather smooth carinae; tibia smooth. Patella with only a few setae. Tibia with setae on the outer side of legs I– III. Tarsomere I of legs I–III with 4–6 long setae in both sexes, legs IV with 2–4 setae. Tarsomeres I–II internal of all legs with two rather irregular rows of setae.

Measurements. See Table 3.

AFFINITIES. The combination of five characters (metasoma V dorsal surface mesially smooth; entire metasoma glabrous; sternite VII granulated but medially smooth, with four granulated carinae present; pedipalp movable finger with 8–9 ID and 7–9 OD; punctation on metasoma II–V ventral surface developed with the same intensity in male) is unique in the entire genus Orthochirus .

DISTRIBUTION. Afghanistan ( Fig. 343 ).

Figures

Figure 343. Geographic distribution of the Orthochirus spp. found from Turkey to India. An approximate area where the lectotype of O. melanurus was collected is marked by red ellipse.

Figures 1–2: Orthochirus spp. in vivo habitus. Figure 1: O. melanurus, male from Uzbekistan. Figure 2: O. nordmanni sp. n., male (right) and female paratypes.

Figures 189–192: Orthochirus nordmanni sp. n. Figures 29–30. Holotype male, dorsal (189) and ventral (190) views. Figures 191–192. Paratype female from type locality, dorsal (191) and ventral (192) views. Scale bars: 10 mm.

Figures 193–210: Orthochirus nordmanni sp. n., segments of pedipalps. Figures 193–202. Holotype male. Pedipalp chela, dorsal (193), external (194), and ventral (195) views. Pedipalp patella, dorsal (196), external (197), and ventral (198) views. Pedipalp femur and trochanter, dorsal (199), internal (200) and ventral (201) views. Pedipalp chela, movable finger (202) dentate margin. Figures 203–210. Paratype female from type locality. Pedipalp chela, dorsal (203), external (204), and ventral (205) views. Pedipalp patella, dorsal (206), external (207), and ventral (208) views. Pedipalp femur and trochanter, dorsal (209) and ventral (210) views. The trichobothrial pattern is indicated in Figures 193–197, 199–200 (white circles).

Figures 211–219: Orthochirus nordmanni sp. n. Figures 211–212, 215–218. Holotype male, carapace and tergites (211), sternopectinal region and sternites (212), and distal segments of right legs I–IV, retrolateral aspect (215–218 respectively). Figures 213–214, 219. Paratype female from type locality, carapace and tergites I–IV (213), sternopectinal region and sternites (214), and distal segments of right leg III, retrolateral aspect (219).

Figures 220–221. Orthochirus nordmanni sp. n., holotype male, carapace and tergites (220) and sternopectinal region and sternites (221) under UV light.

Figures 222–223. Orthochirus nordmanni sp. n., paratype female from type locality, carapace and tergites (222) and sternopectinal region and sternites (223) under UV light.

Figures 224–229: Orthochirus nordmanni sp. n., metasoma and telson under white light. Figures 224–226. Paratype female from type locality, lateral (224), ventral (225), and dorsal (226) views. Figures 227–229. Holotype male, lateral (227), ventral (228), and dorsal (229) views. Scale bars: 10 mm (224–226, 227–229).

Figures 230–235: Orthochirus nordmanni sp. n., metasoma and telson under UV light. Figures 230–232. Paratype female from type locality, lateral (230), ventral (231), and dorsal (232) views. Figures 233–235. Holotype male, lateral (233), ventral (234), and dorsal (235) views.