Tityus (Tityus) grottoedensis, Botero-Trujillo & Flórez, 2014

Botero-Trujillo, Ricardo & Flórez, Eduardo, 2014, A new species of Tityus (Scorpiones, Buthidae) from El Edén Cave, Colombia, Zootaxa 3796 (1), pp. 108-120 : 110-116

Tityus (Tityus) grottoedensis sp. nov.

Figures 1–16 ; Table 1

Type material. COLOMBIA, Tolima department, Cunday, Vereda La Camelia : Holotype female (adult): aphotic zone of El Edén Cave at 200 m depth, under a stone, 04º00.718´N 74º45.309´W, elev. 650 m, 06-February-2010; A. Pérez González ( ICN-As-977 ). Paratypes: One adult female with same data of holotype ( MACN-Ar 30879 ). One subadult male from outside of El Edén Cave , ad hoc, 04º00.718´N 74º45.309´W, at night, elev. 650 m, 06-February-2010; A. Pérez González, L. Benavides & D. A. Luna ( ICN-As-905 ). One adult pregnant female and 19 (subsequently born) newborns from the aphotic zone of El Edén Cave , ad hoc while walking on the soil, 04º00.718´N 74º45.309´W, elev. 650 m, 07-September-2010; D. Luna ( ICN-As-872 ). One juvenile (presumably male) from El Edén Cave , “ 550 m ”, 16-November-2012; W. Galvis, A. García, M. Medrano & C. Romero ( ICN- As-837 ). All specimens preserved in 70% ethanol.

Etymology. The species name results from the words grotto (alternate term for referring to a cave; Italian “grotta” and French “grotte”) and Edén. It is allusive to the name of the cavern where most of the specimens of the new species were found.

Diagnosis (male and female). The following combination of morphological features makes the new species unique among other species of Tityus (Tityus) . Species of moderate size (~42.51 mm male; 50.87–54.21 mm female), relatively thin-bodied with a slender metasoma, and coloration predominantly yellow-to-chestnut ( Figs. 4–7 ). Dorsal surface with three yellowish longitudinal stripes crossing the tergites and pre-tergites ( Figs. 4, 6 ); pedipalp hand width slightly greater than pedipalp patella width (male Hw/Pw = 1,03/1,00; female Hw/Pw = 1,06–1,11/1,00); pedipalp segments with carinae strong and granulose; movable finger of pedipalp chela with 14 oblique rows of granules (including the short apical row and invariable in the sample studied); basal piece of the middle lamella of the pectines dilated in male and female ( Fig. 15 ); pectinal teeth count 19–20 in male and 18–19 in female; sternites IV to VI with visible lateral longitudinal carinae beneath the book lung spiracles ( Fig. 16 ); metasomal carinae strong, granulose; dorsosubmedian carinae of metasomal segments I–IV with granules subequal in size, without any spinoid or enlarged terminal granule ( Fig. 14 ); ventrosubmedian carinae complete and parallel in segments I through IV; metasomal segment V and telson not markedly darkened in comparison to the preceding segments.

Comparisons. Among members of Tityus (Tityus) , and based on characters from the external morphology, T. grottoedensis sp. nov. seems to mostly resemble T. demangei Lourenço, 1981 . This species, described from Los Tayos Cave in Ecuador, is similar in that it measures 54.2 mm (male), exhibits a general yellowish coloration with three light longitudinal stripes in the tergites, has metasomal and pedipalpal carinae well developed (granulose), and the movable finger of pedipalp chela bears 14–15 oblique rows of granules ( Lourenço 1981). Tityus grottoedensis sp. nov. can be separated from T. demangei , as the later has metasomal segments IV–V and telson noticeably darkened, the basal piece of the middle lamella of the pectines is not dilated in male, and the pectinal teeth count is slightly lower (16–18, mode 17) ( Lourenço 1981).

A recent collection of an adult male and a female of T. demangei from the area of the type locality (see Methods) allowed confirming the above-referred differences. In addition, it was revealed that the median yellowish longitudinal stripe on the tergites of T. demangei is not continued in the pre-tergites (where the median part is brownish), as opposed to T. grottoedensis sp. nov. in which it is continuous in tergites and pre-tergites. Other difference is that the ventral surface of metasomal segments I to V and the latero-distal region of the telson vesicle of T. demangei exhibit large conspicuous brown areas, absent in the new species. Finally, the newly collected specimens revealed that, even though Lourenço (1981: 642) addressed for T. demangei that “aucune trace de la carène intermédiaire sur le II e anneau” [no trace of the intermediate (=median lateral) carina on the second metasomal segment], that species does indeed have one or two posterior granules as vestiges of the median lateral carinae, as it happens to occur in the new species.

Tityus grottoedensis sp. nov., can easily be differentiated from the Colombian con-subgeneric species with close geographical occurrence in the following respects: T. blanci Lourenço, 1994 bears spinoid granules in dorsosubmedian carinae of metasomal segments II–IV; T. sastrei Lourenço & Flórez, 1990 possesses 16 rows of granules in the movable finger of pedipalp chela and metasomal carinae built-up by weak sparse granules; T. rebieri Lourenço, 1997 has ventrosubmedian carinae of metasomal segments III and IV converging proximally forming a ‘Y’; T. gaffini Lourenço, 2000 exhibits a smaller number of pectinal teeth (15–17) and very subdued metasomal carination; T. engelkei Pocock, 1902 is yellow in color without any reticulation pattern and has a smaller pectinal teeth count (15–16); T. lourençoi Flórez, 1996 bears a posterior spinoid granule in dorsosubmedian carinae of metasomal segments and has weak carinae on the pedipalp chela ( Flórez 2001b; Botero-Trujillo 2008; and personally examined material from the arachnological collection of the ICN-UN).

Description. (based on adult females and subadult male only; juvenile male not considered in the description unless otherwise specified; newborns not included in this description).

Color. General color yellowish (male) to light chestnut ( Figs. 4–7 ). Differences in color between the male and the females are presumably due to the male being a subadult. Carapace with variegated brownish pigmentation; median ocular tubercle brownish, not noticeably darkened; lateral ocular tubercles black. Chelicerae with coxa yellow; hand with complete reticular pattern on dorsal surface; movable and fixed fingers entirely brown. Tergites predominantly brown, with three conspicuous yellowish longitudinal stripes crossing tergites and pre-tergites I through VI in the position of medial and dorsolateral carinae; tergite VII predominantly yellow (male) or chestnut (female), without any special coloration design. Coxosternal region, genital operculum, pectinal basal piece and sternites III to V uniformly yellow (male) or chestnut (female) and without pigmentation; pectines whitish yellow; sternite VI with minute brownish area in posterior margin; sternite VII with conspicuous brownish areas medially. Metasomal segments base color same as the rest of the body, with segment V and telson only slightly darker than other segments (female); dorsal and lateral surfaces of segments I–IV and all surfaces of segment V and telson uniformly colored and spotless; segments I–IV ventral surface with brownish mottling (less evident in IV), almost undistinguishable in female. Pedipalps uniformly yellow (male) or chestnut (female) throughout, except for movable and fixed fingers which are blackish with yellowish tips. Legs with or without inconspicuous brownish mottling in patella, tibia and basitarsus.

Morphology. Measurements in Table 1 .

Carapace: Trapezoidal, narrowing anteriorly and granulose throughout; anterior margin subtly emarginated; median ocular tubercle anterior to the centre of the carapace, with pair of medium (normal) sized ocelli; lateral ocular tubercles each with three ocelli; lateral ocular carinae present; anterior median and superciliary carinae continuous, as well as central median and posterior median carinae; all carinae pronounced and elevated; anterior median, median ocular, central median, posterior median, posterior marginal and posterior lateral furrows evident.

Tergites: With similar granulation to that of the carapace; three strong longitudinal carinae (medial; paired dorsolateral) present on the posterior half of tergites I–VI; tergite VII with dorsolateral and lateral carinae complete, and medial carina represented by a granulose anteromedian elevation.

Coxosternal region: Sternum longer than wide, not markedly compressed anteriorly thus giving a subpentagonal appearance, with deep median furrow; all the components of this region smooth, devoid of granules except for the anterior margin of coxae which bear granulose carina.

Genital operculum and pectines: Genital operculum divided longitudinally, formed by subtriangular plates; pectines small, not reaching the level of junction of coxae IV with the trochanter; pectinal marginal lamellae with 3/3 pieces; middle lamellae with 8–11 (female) and 10/11 (male); fulcra with 16–18 (female) and 17/19 (male); teeth count 18–19 (female, n=6, mode 19) and 19–20 (male, n=4 including juvenile, mode 19); basal piece of the middle lamella enlarged and oval in both male and female ( Fig. 15 ); pectinal basal piece approximately as wide as long.

Sternites: Thoroughly covered with fine granulation; submedian longitudinal carinae strong, present on posterior two thirds of sternite VII and posterior half of sternite VI, obsolete on V, vestigial on IV, absent on III; lateral longitudinal carinae present medially on sternite VII but not complete, and small but visible medially in sternites IV to VI just beside the book lung spiracles; sternite V with a rather slit-like posterior median hyaline area (gland); book lung spiracles oval elongate ( Fig. 16 ).

Metasoma: Overall metasomal appearance not displaying any remarkable sexual dimorphism (thought to be due to the male specimen being a subadult), segments and telson slender, similar in shape in male and female ( Figs. 4–7 ); segment I with ten complete parallel carinae (paired ventrosubmedian, ventrolateral, median lateral, dorsolateral, and dorsosubmedian carinae); segment II with same carination as segment I but with median lateral carinae represented only by one to three elevated granules on the posterior margin ( Fig. 14 ); segments III–IV with eight carinae (median lateral entirely absent); segment V with five carinae (ventromedian, paired ventrolateral and dorsolateral carinae); dorsosubmedian carinae of metasomal segments I–IV with granules subequal in size, without any spinoid or enlarged terminal granule; ventrosubmedian carinae complete and parallel in segments I through IV; all carinae strong and granulose, made up of elevated granules arranged in straight rows; intercarinal spaces with minute granulation similar to that found in the sternites. Telson with evidence of ventromedian, ventrolateral and dorsolateral carinae, and some conspicuous but dispersed (not in row) granules in-between; subaculear tubercle strong and spinoid, with two small dorsal granules; aculeus strongly curved.

Chelicerae: Cheliceral dentition characteristic of the family Buthidae ( Vachon 1963) . Movable finger externally with two small basal teeth, one median pronounced tooth, one subdistal tooth slightly shorter than the median, and one distal tooth. Fixed finger externally with one basal and one median tooth mounted onto a bicuspid, one subdistal, and one distal tooth. Fixed finger ventrally with only one subdistal tooth slightly basal to the dorsal subdistal. Movable finger ventrally with three strong teeth, one basal, one median, and one distal tooth larger than its dorsal counterpart.

Pedipalps: Similar in male and female, not bulkier in male or displaying any remarkable sexual dimorphism ( Figs. 4–7 ) (thought to be due to the male specimen being a subadult); pedipalp hand width (Hw) slightly greater than pedipalp patella width (Pw) (male Hw/Pw = 1,03/1,00; female Hw/Pw = 1,06–1,11/1,00); chela wider than high; pedipalp surfaces with minute granulation similar to that of the sternites and metasoma. Femur with proximomarginal carina and five complete longitudinal carinae (dorso-interior, dorso-exterior, ventro-exterior, ventrointerior carinae, and an additional carina in internal median position); all carinae strong and granulose, made up of elevated granules arranged in straight rows; patella with seven strong longitudinal carinae (dorso-interior, dorsal, dorso-median, dorso-exterior, exterior-median, ventro-exterior and ventro-interior), made up of granules of similar size arranged in straight rows, except for the dorso-interior carina which is discontinuous and has rather spiniform tubercles; chela with nine longitudinal carinae, of similar characteristics to those of the patella except for those on the internal surface which are weaker. Movable finger of pedipalp chelae (male and female, both sides) with 14 oblique rows of granules (including the short apical row); fixed finger with 12 rows. Pedipalps orthobothriotaxic Type A (Vachon 1974, 1975); femur with α configuration ( Figs. 8–13 ).

Legs: Basitarsus and telotarsus with relatively few setae arranged in rather straight parallel rows (mostly evident in legs III and IV); tibial spur absent; prolateral and retrolateral pedal spurs present in I–IV.

Hemispermatophore: Male code ICN-As-905 was dissected but no hemispermatophores/paraxial organs were found inside.

Remarks. Even though the largest male specimen available closely resembles the size of the females, it does not display any evident secondary sexual characters. Based on this and on the absence of hemispermatophores/ paraxial organs, this specimen is a subadult. The sexual dimorphism in the new species, if present, is therefore unknown.

Field observations. Most of the specimens of the new species herein referred were collected inside the cave; however, this species is also present outside of it. One of the females (ICN-As-872) was collected from the aphotic zone of the cave. This specimen subsequently gave birth to 19 juveniles in the laboratory. In addition to the specimens documented here from the cave, additional anecdotal accounts (alleged to be) for this species have been made by visitors. Outside of it, individuals have been observed under rotten logs. Based on these observations, it seems likely that T. grottoedensis sp. nov. be a eutroglophile or subtroglophile, instead of a trogloxene. Additional studies are needed to determine the degree of association/adaptation of the new species to the cave, however.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality, El Edén Cave ( Figs. 1–3 ). This cave is located at an altitude of 650 m in the municipality of Cunday, Tolima department. This municipality is found in the geographical valley of the Magdalena River, close to the region known as “Middle Magdalena ”. The cave system has an approximate length of 850 m ( Cabrera 1970) and geographical coordinates 4°00´N 74°45´W. The ecosystem in which it is found is considered as tropical humid forest ( Castañeda et al. 1981).

The scorpion fauna of the area where Cunday is embedded has been relatively well investigated, for it has a central position in Colombia close to major cities like Bogotá (capital city), Ibagué (capital of Tolima department), and the municipalities of Melgar and Girardot (both very touristic destinations). The scorpion fauna of the region is relatively well represented in national biological collections (i.e. ICN-UN), and no other specimens of T. grottoedensis sp. nov. have so far been found. Therefore, the new species is probably an endemic element to El Edén Cave and its vicinities.

Figures

FIGURES 1–3. Distribution of Tityus (Tityus) grottoedensis sp. nov. 1. Map showing the location of El Edén Cave in Colombia. 2. Entrance to El Edén Cave from the opposite riverside. 3. Interior passage of El Edén cave. Photographs courtesy of Miguel A. Medrano (Fig. 2) and Iván C. Gonzalez (Fig. 3).

FIGURES 4–7. Tityus (Tityus) grottoedensis sp. nov., habitus. 4–5. Subadult paratype male, dorsal and ventral aspects (ICN- As-905). 6–7. One paratype female, dorsal and ventral aspects (MACN-Ar 30879). Scale bars = 10 mm.

FIGURES 8–13. Tityus (Tityus) grottoedensis sp. nov., subadult paratype male (ICN-As-905), trichobothrial distribution in right pedipalp. 8. Femur, dorsal aspect. 9. Femur, internal aspect. 10. Patella, dorsal aspect. 11. Patella, external aspect. 12. Chela, external aspect. 13. Chela, ventral aspect (palm). Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 14–16. Tityus (Tityus) grottoedensis sp. nov. 14. Subadult paratype male (ICN-As-905), right lateral aspect of metasoma and telson. 15–16. Holotype female (ICN-As-977). 15. Left pectine. 16. Sternites IV–VII; most granulation details of the sternites not depicted, emphasis made on carinae. Scale bars = 3 mm (Figs. 14, 16), 1 mm (Fig. 15).