Hemiscorpius (Monod & Lourenco, 2005)

Lowe, Graeme, 2010, Two new Hemiscorpius Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Hemiscorpiidae) from northern Oman, Euscorpius 91 (91), pp. 1-24 : 22

Key to females of Hemiscorpius

The two new species can be distinguished from other Hemiscorpius by the following dichotomous key, which is based on examination of the comparative material listed above and data given in Monod & Lourenço (2005). The key was constructed for females, for which more species are represented in available material than males. H. persicus is not included in the key as females were unavailable for study. However, assuming males and females share characters of pedipalp patella carination and trichobothriotaxy (as in other species with both sexes known), female H. persicus is likely to group with the large species because the pedipalp patella has a strongly developed external carina, and is likely to be differentiated from them by its smaller size (adult carapace L <5 mm) and very basal positioning of trichobothrium Dt, on the manus. Some of the morphometric criteria in the key may require revision when more samples of Hemiscorpius species become available for study.

1 Large species, adult carapace L> 6.5 mm; pedipalp patella with strong, granulated external carina; metasoma very elongated, metasoma I L/W> 2.0, metasoma V L/W> 3.8; pedipalp chela with trichobothrium Dt placed forward on basal 1/3 of fixed finger.............................. 2 Small to medium sized species, adult carapace L <6.0 mm; pedipalp patella with weak or obsolete external carina; metasoma not elongated or moderately elongated, metasoma I L/W <2.0, metasoma V L/W <3.8; pedipalp chela trichobothrium Dt placed at base of fixed finger or on distal manus.............................. 4