Odontobuthus kermanus, Barahoei & Prendini & Navidpour & Tahir & Aliabadian & Siahsarvie & Mirshamsi, 2022

Barahoei, Hossein, Prendini, Lorenzo, Navidpour, Shahrokh, Tahir, H. Muhammad, Aliabadian, Mansour, Siahsarvie, Roohollah & Mirshamsi, Omid, 2022, Integrative systematics of the tooth-tailed scorpions, Odontobuthus (Buthidae), with descriptions of three new species from the Iranian Plateau, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 195, pp. 355-398 : 381-387

ODONTOBUTHUS KERMANUS SP. NOV.

( FIGS 1–5 , 12–14 , TABLES 1 –5)

Zoobank registration: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:98D4CF43-580A-43E0-890D-50C5ED84BFD9

Odontobuthus doriae: Dehghani et al. 2008: 176 (misidentification); Navidpour et al. 2011: 13 (misidentification).

Type material: Holotype ♀ ( SMF), two ♂♂, four ♀♀, one subad. ♂ paratypes ( ZMFUM), IRAN: Kerman Province: Bardsir–Negar–Baft road, 29°58′N 56°42′E, 2238 m, 16.iv.2018, H. Barahoei, daytime excavation, sand.

Etymology: The specific epithet is an adjective, derived from the Iranian province of Kerman, where the type was collected.

Diagnosis: Odontobuthus kermanus may be separated from other species of the genus by the following combination of characters. Scorpions of small to medium size, adults 43–55 mm (♂) and 48–68 mm (♀) ( Fig. 12A–D ). Colour yellow to yellowish green. Median ocular tubercle situated in anterior half of carapace, distance from anterior carapace margin, 0.31–0.39. Pedipalp chela movable finger long relative to manus ( MFL / ML, 1.91–2.25). Median denticle rows of pedipalp chela fixed and movable fingers each comprising 13 or 14 oblique subrows of denticles. Pectinal tooth count, 28–30 (♂) and 19–21 (♀). Ventrosubmedian carinae of metasomal segments II and III each with three or four pairs of tooth-like processes ( Fig. 13C, D, G, H ). Metasomal segment IV length to width (L/W), 1.67– 1.88. Ventrolateral carinae of metasomal segment V with three or four prominent lobate processes; anal arch with two large lobes laterally; posteroventral margin of segment V with six reduced lobes. Telson small, narrow, length to width (TL/W), 2.22–2.50 and length to height (TL/H), 2.26–2.68 ( Fig. 1A, B, E, F ).

Affinities: Odontobuthus kermanus is closely related to O. baluchicus and O. doriae , with which it shares the presence of two prominent lateral lobes on the anal arch of metasomal segment V, and differs from all other species of the genus, which possess three lateral lobes. It differs from O. doriae in possessing four or five pairs of tooth-like processes on the ventrosubmedian carinae of metasomal segments II and III, and from O. baluchicus in metasomal segment I being equal to or wider than long.

Description: Based on holotype ♀ ( SMF) ( Figs 12A, B , 13A–D , 14A, C, E ) and paratype ♂ ( ZMFUM 1340) ( Figs 12C, D , 13E–H , 14B, D, F ). As for O. baluchicus except where noted. Measurements: ♀: BL: 68.5; CL: 8.0; CWP: 9.5; CWA: 5.7; CX: 2.8; CY: 8.0; CHL: 14.8; ML: 5.0; MFL: 9.8; MtIL: 5.0; MtIH: 3.9; MtIW: 5.0; MtIIL: 6.0; MtIIH: 3.6; MtIIW: 4.4; MtIIIL: 6.0; MtIIIH: 3.4; MtIIIW: 4.2; MtIVL: 7.0; MtIVH: 3.3; MtIVW: 3.9; MtVL: 8.3; MtVH: 2.8; MtVW: 3.3; TL: 8.0; TW: 3.2; TH: 3.6. ♂: BL: 54.8; CL: 6.3; CWP: 7.2; CWA: 5.4; CX: 2.2; CY: 6.3; CHL: 11.7; ML: 4.0; MFL: 7.7; MtIL: 3.9; MtIH: 3.0; MtIW: 3.7; MtIIL: 4.5; MtIIH: 2.8; MtIIW: 3.5; MtIIIL: 4.7; MtIIIH: 2.8; MtIIIW: 3.1; MtIVL: 5.6; MtIVH: 2.6; MtIVW: 3.1; MtVL: 6.9; MtVH: 2.2; MtVW: 2.7; TL: 6.7; TW: 2.7; TH: 2.50. Colour: Carapace brownish-green; dark pigmentation around median and lateral ocelli. Mesosoma dark brown dorsally, paler brown ventrally. Pedipalps and legs lighter brown, distal part of femur and proximal part of patella darker especially on legs III and IV. Pectines light yellow to cream. Metasoma brown, segments darker dorsally, segment V darker than preceding segments. Telson vesicle light brown to yellow; aculeus light brown anteriorly, becoming dark brown to black posteriorly. Carapace: Trapezoid, wider than long, CWA/CL, 0.71 (♀) or 0.85 (♂), CWP/ CL, 1.18 (♀) or 1.14 (♂); anterior margin moderately emarginate; median ocular tubercle situated in anterior half of carapace, CX/CL, 0.35 (♀) or 0.34 (♂), CX/ CY, 0.35 (♀) or 0.34 (♂), distance between median ocelli twice ocular diameter; five pairs of lateral ocelli ( Fig. 12A, C ); anteromedian and posteromedian sulci deep (♂) or shallow (♀); posterolateral sulci wide, curved; carinae distinct, central lateral and posteromedian carinae completely aligned; anteromedian carinae granular; central median, posteromedian and central lateral carinae granular (♀) or serratocrenulate (♂); intercarinal surfaces of prosoma finely granular. Pedipalps: Pedipalp segments relatively short. Femur 3.5 (♀) or 3.24 (♂) times longer than wide; four complete, granular carinae; retrodorsal, prodorsal and proventral carinae granular (♀) or serratocrenulate (♂); prolateral carinae comprising isolated spiniform granules; intercarinal surfaces smooth ( Fig. 14A, B ). Patella 2.89 (♀) or 2.91 (♂) times longer than wide; eight complete carinae; prodorsal carinae distinct (♀) or moderate (♂), granular; dorsomedian, retrodorsal, retrolateral, retroventral and ventromedian carinae obsolete to moderate, smooth ( Fig. 14C ); proventral and prolateral carinae comprising several spiniform granules (♂) ( Fig. 14D ). Chela 2.96 (♀) or 2.92 (♂) times longer than manus; manus wider than patella; fingers 1.96 (♀) or 1.92 (♂) times longer than manus; median denticle subrows, including proximal subrow (left/ right) of fixed finger, 12/12 and movable finger, 13/13; all subrows except proximal flanked by prolateral and retrolateral accessory denticles; movable finger with six (♂, ♀) or seven ♀) subdistal denticles, two prolateral and four (♂, ♀) or five (♀) retrolateral. Trichobothrium et adjacent to midpoint of denticle subrow 7; est adjacent to distal end of denticle subrow 8 (♂) ( Fig. 14F ) or midpoint of denticle subrow 9 (♀) ( Fig. 14E ). Sternum: Type I, triangular; slightly wider than long (♀) or longer than wide (♂); with deep median depression. Genital operculum: Completely divided longitudinally with fine, short bristles ( Figs 12B , 13D ). Pectines: Distal margin extending to (♀) or beyond (♂) coxa-trochanter joint of leg IV; three marginal and six median lamellae; fulcra present; teeth present along entire posterior margin of pecten, count (left/right), 28/38 (♂) and 20/20 (♀). Mesosoma: Tergites I– VI tricarinate; VII pentacarinate, lateral carinae granular (♀) or serratocrenulate (♂), median carinae incomplete, restricted to anterior half of segment and weakly granular; intercarinal surfaces finely (♀) or coarsely (♂) granular. Sternites III– VI acarinate; VII with four moderate (♀) or obsolete (♂), granular carinae, lateral carinae restricted to anterior half of segment. Metasoma: Metasomal segment I decacarinate; II–IV octocarinate; V pentacarinate; all complete carinae moderately to markedly granular on segments I–III and weakly to moderately granular on IV (♀) or weakly to moderately granular on I–IV (♂). Lateral inframedian carinae incomplete, restricted to posterior half of segment II; vestigial, reduced to few granules posteriorly, on III. Ventrosubmedian carinae on segments II and III each with three pairs of rounded (♀) or rounded to subtriangular (♂) toothlike processes. Anteroventral margins of segments III and IV each with four large, rounded granules. Ventrolateral carinae on segment V markedly dentate with large, rounded lobate processes posteriorly; anal arch with two large lobes laterally and four distinct lobes, sometimes laterally bidentate, posteroventrally ( Fig. 13A–H ). Telson: Oblong-ovoid, TH/TL, 0.40 (♀) or 0.37 (♂), TW /TL, 0.45 (♀) or ♂ (0.40); wider than ( TW / MtVW, 1.09) (♀) ( Fig. 14A, B ) or similar to ( TW /MtVW, 1.00) (♂) ( Fig. 14E, F ) width of metasomal segment V; dorsal surface flat, ventral surface curved, smooth (♀) or sparsely granular (♂).

Distribution: Odontobuthus kermanus is endemic to Iran and recorded in only two provinces: Fars and Kerman.

Additional material: IRAN: Fars Province: Neyriz , 20 km E of Qatruyeh, 29°10′N 54°51′E, 1657 m, 16.iv.2018, H. Barahoei, daytime excavation, loamy sand, one ♂, three ♀♀ ( ZMFUM) . Kerman Province: Bardsir-Sirjan road, 29°57′N 56°33′E, 2036 m, v.2009, A. Koohpaye, H. Jamalizadeh & A. Ebrahimi, Ke-104, one juv. ♀ [ AMCC ( LP 11067 )]. Sirjan, 60 km SW, 29°09′N 55°18′E, 1724 m, 16.iv.2018, H. Barahoei, daytime excavation, loamy sand, two ♀♀, two subad. ♂♂ ( ZMFUM) .

Figures

Figure 1. Geographical distribution of the buthid scorpion genus Odontobuthus plotted on topography of the Middle East. A, known locality records obtained from fieldwork and the literature. Circles with black or white dots indicate type localites of each species. B, localities of material used in molecular phylogenetic analysis (see Table 1 for details).

Figure 2. Boxplots of sex-corrected total length for species of Odontobuthus occurring in Iran.

Figure 3. Lineardiscriminant analysis (LDA) of38 metricand fivemeristic variables among18 populationsofOdontobuthus. Conspecific populations in same colour.

Figure 4. Neighbour-joining phenogram generated from morphometric Mahalanobis distance matrix of 18 populations of Odontobuthus. Conspecific populations in same colour.

Figure 5. Fifty per cent majority rule consensus obtained by analysis of partial DNA sequences of mitochondrial COI gene from Odontobuthus with Bayesian inference (BI). Nodal support values above branches represent posterior probability values from BI and bootstrap values from maximum likelihood analyses, respectively. Letters A and B refer to clades also recovered by Azghadi et al. (2014).

Figure 12. Odontobuthus kermanus. Habitus, dorsal aspect (A, C), ventral aspect (B, D). A, B, holotype ♀ (SMF). C, D, paratype ♂ (ZMFUM 1340). Scale bars = 10 mm (A, B), 5 mm (C, D).

Figure 13. Odontobuthus kermanus. Metasomal segment V and telson, lateral aspect (A, E), ventral aspect (B, F), metasomal segments II and III, lateral aspect (C, G), ventral aspect (D, H). A, C, E, holotype ♀ (SMF). B, D, F, paratype ♂ (ZMFUM 1340). Scale bars = 3 mm (A–D), 2.5 mm (E–H).

Figure 14. Odontobuthus kermanus. Pedipalp femur, dorsal aspect (A, B), patella, dorsal aspect (C, D) and chela, lateral aspect (E, F). A, C, E, holotype ♀ (SMF). B, D, F, paratype ♂ (ZMFUM 1340). Scale bars = 2.5 mm (A, C, E), 1.5 mm (B, D), 2 mm (F).