Mesobuthus haarlovi Vachon, 1958

Kovařík, František, Fet, Victor, Gantenbein, Benjamin, Graham, Matthew R., Aydin, Ersen, Yağmur, Šťáhlavský, František, Nikita, Poverennyi & Novruzov, Nizami E., 2022, A revision of the genus Mesobuthus Vachon 1950 with a description of 14 new species (Scorpiones Buthidae), Euscorpius 348, pp. 1-189 : 57-63

Mesobuthus haarlovi Vachon, 1958

( Figures 2–3, 5 , 365–404 , 1155, 1157, 1162, Tables 5, 15) http: //zoobank. org/urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: F1209912-

0829-4C03-AC28-FD2A4712280E

Mesobuthus eupeus haarlovi: Vachon, 1958: 160–166 , figs. 39–46.

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Afghanistan, Bamyan Province, Puistagoli , 3500 m a. s. l. (35.25°N 70.55°E) ; MNHN.

REFERENCES (selected):

Mesobuthus eupeus haarlovi: Fet, 1994: 527 ; Fet & Lowe, 2000: 173 (complete reference list until 1998); KovařÍk & Whitman, 2005: 110.

Mesobuthus eupeus: KovařÍk & Beron, 2015: 39 (in part: Afghanistan).

Mesobuthus haarlovi: KovařÍk, 2019: 17 .

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Afghanistan, Ghazni Province, Malistan District (33.34°N 67.11°E), 3300 m a. s. l., 25–29 May 2009, 4♂ 5♀, leg. A. Stewart , NMPC; Herat Province, Bala Murghab (35.65°N 62.96°E), 470 m a. s. l., 4 July–21 September 1964, 1♀ 5juvs., leg. O. Jakeš , FKCP , MMBC; Kabul Province, Kabul (34.55°N 68.92°E), 2011, 1♀, VII.2012, 5♂ 3♀ 2juvs., January 2013, 1♀, leg. M. Misch , NMPC; May 2012, 1♂ 3♀, leg. M. Misch , NMPC; Nangrahar Province, Jalalabad (34.42°N 70.44°E), 28 January–30 March 1965, leg. Povolný , 3♂ 7♀ 7juvs., MMBC; Jalalabad , January–March 1965, leg. Povolný , 1♀, FKCP, 5♀ , NMPC; 2 km SW of Jalalabad , 13 February 1966, 2juvs., leg. Povolný & Tenora , MMBC; Jalalabad , 13 February 1966, 1♀, leg. Povolný & Tenora , FKCP; 8 km ESE of Jalalabad , 16 February 1966, 2♀ 1juv., leg. Povolný & Tenora , MMBC; 10 km ESE Jalalabad , 620 m a. s. l., 19 February 1966, 3♀ , MMBC; same locality, 21 February 1966, leg. Povolný & Tenora , 1♂, FKCP, 1♀ 2juvs ., MMBC; same locality, 23 February 1966, 1♂ , FKCP, leg. Povolný & Tenora; Jalalabad , 620 m a. s. l., 26 February 1966, 1♀, leg. Povolný & Tenora , NMPC; 8 km ESE Jalalabad , 620 m a. s. l., 28 February 1966, 1♀, leg. Povolný & Tenora , MMBC; same locality, 1 March 1966, 1♀, leg. Povolný & Tenora , MMBC; 12-20 km ESE Jalalabad , 600 m a. s. l., 7 March 1966, 1♂ 1♀, leg. Povolný & Tenora , MMBC; same locality, 8 March 1966, leg. Povolný & Tenora , 2♀, MMBC, 2♂ 1♀ , NMPC; same locality, 16 March 1966, leg. Povolný & Tenora , 1♂, MMBC. Paktika Province, FOB Curry, Bandar near Gomal , Gowall Village and Surobi Village (32.76°N 69.05°E), 1900-2300 m a. s. l., 2009, 1♂, leg. A. Stewart , NMPC; Firebase Giro, Pana (33.09°N 68.33°E), 2100 m a. s. l., 13 August 2009, 1♂, leg. A. Stewart , NMPC; same locality, 17 July 2009, 2♂, leg. A. Stewart , NMPC; “Campo” (=base camp) (without data; Czech expedition 1977), 3♂ 3♀ , NMPC; Uruzgan Province, Tarin Kowt , 32°37’52.29"N 65°52’06.56"E (32.62°N 65.87°E), 1300 m a. s. l., May 2010, 1♂ 1♀1♀ juv., February 2011, 5♂ 19♀ 19juvs., July 2012, 9♂ 11♀1♀ juv. ( Figs. 365–404 , No. 20–23, 52–54), leg. M. Misch , NMPC; Khas (33.00°N 66.69°E), 2013, 2♀, leg. M. Misch , NMPC; Logar (33.98°N 68.74°E), 2♂, leg. M. Misch , NMPC. Pakistan, Azad Kashmir, Bagh (33.97°N 73.79°E), 12 June 2008, 1♀, leg. Z. Ahmed , NMPC; Balochistan Province, Loralai, Residential College (30.37°N 68.47°E), 27 August 2013, 1♀, leg. Z. Ahmed , NMPC; Quetta (30.18°N 66.88°E), 1 April 1993, 2♂ 12♀, 30 March–2 April 1993, 2♂ 5♀, leg. S. Bečvář , NMPC; Quetta , 13 May 2008, 10♂ 7♀, leg. Z. Ahmed , NMPC.

DNA DATA. Mesobuthus haarlovi was represented in our survey by a single DNA sequence from Afghanistan (Uruzgan Province, Tarin Kowt ) ( Table 16) .

DIAGNOSIS. Total length of adults 38 mm (male) to 50 mm (female). Trichobothrium db on fixed finger of pedipalp situated between trichobothria est and esb, near to est. Male with fingers proximally more twisted than in female. Pedipalp chela length/width ratio 3.0– 3.3 in both sexes. Pectinal teeth number 22–26 in male, 18–21 in female. Chelicerae yellow, without reticulation. Pedipalps and metasoma sparsely hirsute. Carapace and tergites yellowish brown, weakly pigmented; metasoma, telson, pedipalps and legs yellowish brown, only part of metasomal segment V can be black. Femur of pedipalp with 4–5 granulated carinae. Patella with 8 usually smooth carinae. Chela lacks carinae. Movable fingers of pedipalps with 11–12 cutting rows of denticles and 5 terminal denticles. Central lateral and posterior lateral carinae of carapace not joined to form a continuous linear series of granules to posterior margin. Sternite VII smooth, with 4 well marked, usually granulated carinae. Metasomal segment I with 10 carinae; segments II to IV with 8 carinae, other two carinae are indicated by incomplete row of denticles on metasomal segments II and III; segment V with 5 carinae. Metasoma with all carinae granulated. Intercarinal surfaces on metasoma I laterally smooth. Length to depth ratio of metasoma III 1.1–1.3, metasoma IV 1.3–1.45 in both sexes. Telotarsus III ventral setation represented by short and strong spiniform setae. Tarsi hirsute, in adults with 7–9 retroinferior macrosetae on basitarsus III. Telson rather bulbous, telson length to depth ratio is 2.3–2.4 in both sexes. Anal lobe divided into three parts.

HISTORY OF STUDY. Mesobuthus eupeus haarlovi was the only taxon of Mesobuthus described by the great French scorpiologist Max Vachon (1958) who earlier has established the genus Mesobuthus Vachon, 1950 . Prior to Vachon (1958), the scorpion fauna of Afghanistan remained virtually unknown; neither Pocock nor Birula had access to collections from this country.

COMMENTS. Fet & Lowe (2000: 173), following Vachon (1958), listed the following syntypes from Afghanistan (all in MHNN): 13♂ 20♀, Puistagoli (Koh-i-Baba), 3500 m; 1♀, Tarapas ( Koh-i-Baba ); 2♂, Sauzak Pass NE of Herat, 2400 m. However , on the MNHN website, only 21 specimens from Puistagoli ( MNHN RS-2386 , 30 July–1 August 1948, leg. N. Haarlov) are listed as syntypes . We list Puistagoli as the type locality for this species pending a formal designation of lectotype.

DISTRIBUTION. Afghanistan, Pakistan (Figs. 1155, 1157).

Figures

Figures 1–5: Mesobuthus, live specimens and a locality. Figure 1. M. barszczevskii, male. Figure 2. M. haarlovi, female. Figure 3. M. haarlovi, male. Figure 4. M. turcicus sp. n., female. Figure 5. Afghanistan, Kabul, locality of M. haarlovi.

Figures 365–368: Mesobuthus haarlovi from Afghanistan, Uruzgan Province, Tarin Kowt, NMPC. Figures 365–366. Male, dorsal (365) and ventral (366) views. Figures 367–368. Female, dorsal (367) and ventral (368) views. Scale bar: 10 mm.

Figures 369–376: Mesobuthus haarlovi from Afghanistan, Uruzgan Province, Tarin Kowt, NMPC. Figures 369, 371–373. Male, telson lateral (369), metasoma and telson, lateral (371), dorsal (372), and ventral (373) views. Figures 370, 374–377. Female, telson lateral (370), metasoma and telson, lateral (374), dorsal (375), and ventral (376) views. Scale bars: 10 mm (371–376).

Figures 377–396: Mesobuthus haarlovi from Afghanistan, Uruzgan Province, Tarin Kowt, NMPC, pedipalp. Figures 377–386. Male, chela, dorsal (377), external (378), and ventral (379) views. Patella, dorsal (380), external (381) and ventral (382) views. Femur and trochanter, internal (383), dorsal (384), and ventral (385) views. Movable finger (386). Figures 387–396. Female, chela, dorsal (387), external (388), and ventral (389) views.Patella, dorsal (390), external (391) and ventral (392) views. Femur and trochanter, internal (393), dorsal (394), and ventral (395) views. Movable finger (396). The trichobothrial pattern is indicated in Figures 377–381, 383–384.

Figures 397–404: Mesobuthus haarlovi from Afghanistan, Uruzgan Province, Tarin Kowt, NMPC. Figures 397–398, 401–404. Male, chelicerae, carapace and tergites (397), sternopectinal region and sternites (398), and left legs I–IV, retrolateral aspect (401–404). Figures 399–400. Female, chelicerae, carapace and tergites I–III (399), sternopectinal region and sternites (400).