Hottentotta conspersus ( Thorell, 1876 )

Prendini, Lorenzo & Bird, Tharina L., 2008, Scorpions of the Brandberg Massif, Namibia: Species richness inversely correlated with altitude, African Invertebrates 49 (2), pp. 77-77 : 85-87

Hottentotta conspersus ( Thorell, 1876)

Buthus conspersus: Thorell 1876 a: 115–118 .

Buthus conspersus aeratus Lawrence, 1927: 69–70 (synonymised by Lamoral 1979: 549).

Buthus angolensis Monard, 1930: 38–40 , fig. 2 (synonymised by Vachon & Stockmann 1968: 94–96).

Material examined: 1♀[homotype] ( NMSA 9045), Brandberg Mtns, 21°05'S: 14°40'E, vi.1963, F.Gaerdes; 1 juv.♀( NMSA 10016), Brandberg Mtns, northern valleys [21°01'S: 14°33'E], 20.ii.1969, B. Lamoral & R. Day; 2♀( SMN 3095), 1♀( SMN 3254), Brandberg, 21°11'54.9"S: 14°28'56.0"E, 726 m, 3–4.ii.2007, T.L. Bird, P. Michalik,A. Klann & G. Talarico, on stones; 5♀( AMNH) Brandberg,Amis Gorge [21°11'S: 14°28'E], 30.i.1981 (3♀[AH 2037–2039]), 31.i.1981 (2♀[AH 3372, 3373]), A. Harington, UV detection, found nr sheer cliffs and sloping hills at the base of the mountain and gorge sides, syntopic with P. brevimanus and U. planimanus ; 1 ♂ ( AMNH [ AH 1861]), Brandberg, Amis Gorge base camp [21°11'S: 14°28'E], 600 m, 18.x.1979, H. Pager; 4 ♂ 3♀1 subad.♀( SMN 3082 [TB 07/04(b)]), Brandberg,Amis Gorge (lower foothills), 21°19'43.08"S: 14°47'41.04"E, 740 m, 5.ii.2007, T.L. Bird, P. Michalik,A. Klann & G.Talarico, UV detection; 1 ♂ ( AMNH [ AH 1439]), Brandberg, Basswald Rinne [21°10'S: 14°38'E], 18.iv.1980,A. Harington, syntopic with U. planimanus ; 1 ♂ ( AMNH [ AH 1133]), Brandberg, Goaseb Gorge [21°14'S: 14°35'E], 6.iv.1978, H. Pager; 1 ♂ 2♀1 subad.♀( AMNH), 2 juv. ♂ 2 juv.♀( AMCC 172340 [ LP 2620]), Brandberg, base of GaAseb Gorge, 21°13'41.6"S: 14°34'44.1"E, 781 m, 21.xii.2003, L. Prendini, T.L. Bird & N.C. Krone, dry riverbed surrounded by steep rocky slopes comprising igneous rocks with Sterculia L., Acacia montis-usti Merxm. & A. Schreib. and Commiphora Jacq., UV detection on warm, dark, still night, specimen collected in open midslope; 1 ♂ 1 subad.♀( SMN 2114), Brandberg, Messum Valley, 21°13.29'S: 14°30.98'E, 16.iv.1999, S. van Noort, under rock, bushy Karoo-Namib shrubland; 1♀1 juv.♀( SMN 96), 1♀( NMSA 10411), Brandberg, Numas Gorge base camp [21°07'S: 14°25'E], 16.viii.1969, P.J. Buys; 1 ♂ ( AMNH [ AH 2198]), Brandberg, Numas Gorge [21°07'S: 14°25'E], 30.i.1981,A. Harington, syntopic with P.brevimanus ; 1♀( SMN 99), Brandberg, Numas Valley [21°06'S: 14°23'E], 2.viii.1970, C.G. Coetzee; 1 ♂ ( AMNH), Numaskloof, Brandberg, 21°07.48'S: 14°25.54'E, 17.i. 1998, 470 m, L. Prendini & E. Scott, steep rocky slopes, coarse granitic sandy loam, UV detection, syntopic with P. villosus , H. tityrus , O. ugabensis and O. wahlbergii ; 1 ♂ 1♀( AMNH [ AH 1858]), Brandberg, Orabes Gorge [21°13'S: 14°37'E], 16.iv.1980, A. Harington, syntopic with U. planimanus and O. ugabensis ; 1♀( SMN 1859), N end Tsisab, Brandberg, 21°05'S: 14°40'E, 21.i– 27.ii.1995, E. Marais, preservative pitfall traps; 3♀( AMNH [AH 3295, 4138, 4139]), Brandberg, hill 282, opposite Orabes Wall [21°15'S: 14°38'E], 1.i.1981, A. Harington, syntopic with P.brevimanus , U. planimanus and O. lamorali ; 2 ♂ 3♀2 subad.♀( AMNH [AH 2222–2227]), Brandberg West, 7 km from turnoff towards Uis [21°06'S: 14°17'E], 28.i.1981, A. Harington, sympatric with P. brevimanus and H. tityrus ; 2 ♂ 1♀( SMN 727), Brandberg West Mine Rd, 21°08'S: 14°08'E, 9.iv.1979, S. Louw; 4 ♂ ( AMNH [AH 4492–4495]), 2♀( AMNH [ AH 4496]), 7 km SE of Brandberg West– Cape Cross–Uis T-junction [21°06'S: 14°17'E], 28.i.1981, A. Harington; 3 ♂ ( AMNH [ AH 3156]), 3♀( AMNH [AH 3153–3155]), Zebedeus, S of Uis [21°19'S: 14°48'E], 21.viii.1982, S. Braine.

Ecology and distribution: This lapidicolous species ( Fig. 9 ) shelters under stones (Lamoral 1979; Prendini 2001 b). It is endemic to Angola and Namibia (Lamoral 1979; Prendini 2005 a) and has been collected at the base and on the lower slopes ( Figs 4 , 5 ) of the Brandberg (the highest altitude at which it has been collected on the Massif is 781 m), and in rocky areas surrounding the Massif.

Figures

Figs 9, 10. Adult females, habitus in life: (9) Hottentotta conspersus (Thorell, 1876); (10) Parabuthus brevimanus (Thorell, 1876).

Fig. 4. Brandberg Massif (Namibia), base of Massif at entrance to Goaseb (Ga-Asab) Gorge, facing north to Orabeskopf at summit, wet year. Dominant vegetation, Boscia foetida Schinz and Commiphora sp. Rocky flats, habitat of Hottentotta conspersus (Thorell, 1876), Parabuthus brevimanus (Thorell, 1876), Parabuthus villosus (Peters, 1862), and Opistophthalmus lamorali Prendini, 2000.

Fig. 5. Brandberg Massif (Namibia), lower slopes of Massif in Goaseb (Ga-Asab) Gorge, facing southwest, wet year. Dominant vegetation, Acacia montis-usti Merxm. & A. Schreib., Commiphora sp., Euphorbia sp. and Moringa ovalifolia Dinter & A. Berger. Rocky flats and slopes, habitat of Hottentotta conspersus (Thorell, 1876), Hadogenes tityrus (Simon, 1888) and Opistophthalmus ugabensis Hewitt, 1934.