Opistophthalmus ugabensis Hewitt, 1934

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 : 102

Opistophthalmus ugabensis Hewitt, 1934

Opisthophthalmus undulatus ugabensis: Hewitt 1934: 408–410 ( AMGS 6574 : ♀lectotype only, not ♂), pl. I, fig. 3.

Material examined: 2 specimens,Brandberg [21°14'S: 14°30'E], 18.xi.1971, D.P. van Schoor (1 juv.♀TMSA 10844), iv.1999 (1 subad.♀SMN 2104); 2 juv. ♂ 1 juv.♀( SMN 101), Brandberg base camp [21°07'S: 14°25'E], 16.viii.1969, P.J.Buys; 2 juv. ♂ ( NMSA 10038), Brandberg Mtns, northern valleys [21°01'S: 14°33'E], 20.ii.1969, B.H. Lamoral & R. Day; 1♀( SMN 91), Brandberg West mine [21°00'S: 14°09'E], 20.iv.1966, Manager of mine; 6 specimens, Brandberg, Basswald Rinne [21°10'S: 14°38'E], 16.iv.1980 (1 subad. ♂ AMNH [ AH 1350], 1 subad.♀AMNH [ AH 1351]), 17–18.iv.1980 (1 subad. ♂ AMNH [ AH 1353], 1 subad.♀AMNH [ AH 1352]), under stones (1 subad. ♂ 1 subad.♀AMNH), A. Harington; 1 ♂ 1 subad.♀( AMNH), 1 juv.♀( AMCC 144211 [ LP 2581]), Brandberg, base of Ga-Aseb 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 , Acacia montis-usti and Commiphora, UV detection on warm, dark, still night, specimen collected in open midslope; 1 juv. ♂ 2 juv.♀( SMN 1633), Brandberg, Ga-Asab Gorge [21°14'S: 14°35'E], 21.xii.1988, E.Griffin; 1♀( AMNH [ AH 4000]), Brandberg, Goaseb Gorge [21°14'S: 14°35'E], 20.xii.1988,A.Harington; 2♀( AMNH [AH 3448, 3538]), Brandberg, Naib base [21°03'S: 14°25'E], 7.v.1982, H. Pager; 1 ♂ ( AMNH [ AH 4422]), Brandberg, Numas base [21°07'S: 14°25'E], 25.viii.1981, H. Pager; 3 juv. ♂ 1 juv.♀( SMN 100), Brandberg, Numas Gorge [21°08'S: 14°26'E], 5.viii.1969, P.J. Buys; 2 juv.♀( SMN 95), Brandberg, Numas Plateau, Camp I [21°08'S: 14°27'E], 9.viii.1969, P.J. Buys; 4 specimens, Brandberg, Numas Valley, 21°06'S: 14°23'E, 13.viii.1995, under stones, between slabs (1 ♂ 1♀SMN 1800), 14.viii.1995, rocky hillside under stones in crevices (1 juv. ♂ 1 juv.♀SMN 1801), M. & E. Griffin; 1 ♂ 1♀( AMNH), 1 ♂ 1♀( CASC), 1 ♂ 1♀( SAMC C5183), 1♀1 subad. ♂ 1 subad.♀( SMN 2017), 1♀( SMN 2016 [ LP 1223]), 1 subad.♀( AMCC 100933 [ LP 1169]), 1 juv.♀( AMCC 100934 [ LP 1170]), Numaskloof,Brandberg, 21°07.48'S: 14°25.54'E, 470 m, 17.i.1998, L. Prendini & E.Scott,steep rocky slopes, coarse granitic sandy loam, UV detection, syntopic with H.conspersus , P. villosus , H. tityrus and O. wahlbergii ; 3 juv. ♂ ( AMNH [ AH 1859]), Brandberg, Orabes Gorge [21°13'S: 14°37'E], 16.iv.1980,A. Harington; 1 subad. ♂ ( CASC), Brandberg, Tsisab Canyon [21°06'S: 14°40'E], 550 m, 11.v.1958, E.S. Ross & R.E. Leech; 2 subad.♀Brandberg, White Lady [21°06'S: 14°39'E], 25.iv.1999, under stone ( SMN 1864), iv.1999, J.J. van der Walt, under stone ( SMN 2015 [ LP 1000]); 1 juv. ♂ ( SMN 1640), W of Brandberg [21°04'S: 14°20'E], 10.viii.1985, E. & M. Griffin, under stone; 1♀( NHRM [ JF 107]), 1♀1 subad. ♂ ( NHRM [JF]), Tafelkop, 20 km E [21°03'S: 14°26'E], 16.iv.2002, C. R. Owen.

Ecology and distribution: This semi-lithophilous species excavates shallow scrapes under stones in consolidated gritty or clayey substrata ( Prendini 2000 a, 2001 b). It is endemic to Namibia (Lamoral 1979; Prendini 2005 a) and has been collected in rocky areas on landforms surrounding the Brandberg, e.g. Tafelkop, in gorges intersecting the Massif, e.g. Numaskloof (470 m), and on its lower slopes ( Fig. 5 ). The highest altitude at which it has been collected on the Massif is 781 m. It is replaced by O. carinatus at higher altitudes on the Massif ( Figs 6–8 ).

Figures

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.

Fig. 6. Brandberg Massif (Namibia), upper slopes of Massif in Goaseb (Ga-Asab) Gorge, facing northeast, wet year. Dominant vegetation, Cyphostemma currorii (Hook.f.) Desc. and Ozoroa crassinervia (Engl.) R. Fern & A. Fern. Rocky slopes, habitat of Brandbergia haringtoni Prendini, 2003, Lisposoma elegans Lawrence, 1928, Hadogenes tityrus (Simon, 1888), and Uroplectes planimanus (Karsch, 1879). Woody vegetation, habitat of Uroplectes otjimbinguensis (Karsch, 1879).

Fig. 7. Brandberg Massif (Namibia), just below summit of Massif in Goaseb (Ga-Asab) Gorge, facing south to gravel plains, dry year. Rocky slopes, habitat of Brandbergia haringtoni Prendini, 2003, Hadogenes tityrus (Simon, 1888) and Uroplectes planimanus (Karsch, 1879).

Fig. 8. Brandberg Massif (Namibia), Wasserfallfläche, plateau on summit of Massif, facing southwest, wet year. Dominant vegetation, Boscia albitrunca (Burch.) Gilg & Gilg-Ben., Cyphostemma currorii (Hook.f.) Desc.and Euphorbia sp. Rocky flats and slopes, habitat of Lisposoma elegans Lawrence, 1928, Hadogenes tityrus (Simon, 1888) and Uroplectes planimanus (Karsch, 1879). Sandy flats, habitat of Parabuthus brevimanus (Thorell, 1876) and Opistophthalmus carinatus (Peters, 1861). Woody vegetation, habitat of Uroplectes otjimbinguensis (Karsch, 1879).