Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida, Scorpiones). Part XVII.Revision of Neobuthus, with description of seven new species from Ethiopia, Kenya and Somaliland (Buthidae)

Abstract

Euscorpius is the first research publication completely devoted to scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Euscorpius takes advantage of the rapidly evolving medium of quick online publication, at the same time maintaining high research standards for the burgeoning field of scorpion science (scorpiology). Euscorpius is an expedient and viable medium for the publication of serious papers in scorpiology, including (but not limited to): systematics, evolution, ecology, biogeography, and general biology of scorpions. Review papers, descriptions of new taxa, faunistic surveys, lists of museum collections, and book reviews are welcome. Derivatio Nominis The name Euscorpius Thorell, 1876 refers to the most common genus of scorpions in the Mediterranean region and southern Europe (family Euscorpiidae).

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“…n. from all other species of the genus. According to the characters used in the key published in Kovařík et al (2018), the new species is most similar to N. gubanensis Kovařík et al, 2018, which is also confirmed by DNA phylogeny (paper in preparation). Morphologically, it is difficult to distinguish these two species based on single specimens but we can see that female of N. solegladi sp.…”

“…n. from all other species of the genus. According to the characters used in the key published in Kovařík et al (2018), the new species is most similar to N. amoudensis Kovařík et al, 2018 and N. gubanensis Kovařík et al, 2018, which is also confirmed by DNA phylogeny (paper in preparation). All examined specimens of N. amoudensis have pedipalp movable finger with 6 subrows of denticles (figs.…”

“…Small buthid scorpions, total length 15-25 mm (males), 22-32 mm (females); carapace strongly trapezoidal, surface granular with only anterior median carinae developed; ventral aspect of cheliceral fixed finger with single denticle; tergites with three carinae, of which the lateral pair may be less conspicuous; sternites III-VI with finely micro-denticulate posterior margins, lacking larger non-contiguous denticles; pectines with fulcra, hirsute; metasomal segments I-III with 8-10 carinae, segment V with enlarged lobate dentition on posterior ventrolateral carinae; telson rather bulbous, vesicle steeply inclined posteriorly, aculeus shorter than vesicle; macrosetae on vesicle normal to surface (♂) or oriented in anterior direction (♀); pedipalps short with stout segments, movable finger of pedipalp with 4-6 subrows of primary denticles flanked by mid-row internal and proximal external accessory denticles, 3 denticles just proximal to terminal denticle; movable finger without dense terminal brush of setae on ventral surface; strongly spatulate microsetae not present on termini of fixed and movable fingers; pedipalp finger margins straight, without proximal scalloping or basal lobe and notch; trichobothrial pattern type A, orthobothriotaxic or neobothriotaxic minorante, dorsal trichobothria of femur arranged in b-configuration; trichobothrium d 2 of pedipalp femur present or absent on dorsal surface, d 2 of pedipalp patella present or absent, d 3 of pedipalp patella situated internal to dorsomedian carina, V 2 of chela manus strongly displaced internally relative to V 1 , chela fixed finger with db located in proximal half, proximal to est; tibial spurs present on legs III-IV; sexual dimorphism in setation, granulation and metasomal dentition: pedipalps, legs and metasoma with weaker granulation and long, filiform macrosetae in females, stronger granulation and shorter (often spiniform) macrosetae in males, ventrosubmedian and ventrolateral carinae on segments II-III strongly developed with enlarged dentition in females and regular dentition in males; capsule of hemispermatophore with 4 lobes in typical 3+1 configuration, basal lobe a broad, robust, hook-like process, flagellum well separated from lobes. Kovařík et al, 2018 ( Figure 70) Kovařík & Lowe, 2012 ( Figure 70)…”

“…Chelicera. Fingers with typical buthid dentition (Vachon, 1963;Lowe & Kovařík, 2016;Kovařík et al, 2018); fixed finger with large distal denticle, 1 subdistal denticle and 2 basal denticles fused into bicusp, single denticle on ventral surface at level of bicusp; dorsal margin of movable finger with 5 denticles: 1 large distal denticle, medium-sized subdistal and medial, and 2 small, partially fused basal denticles; ventral margin with 2 denticles. Mesosoma (Figs.…”

“…The buthid genus Neobuthus includes several small scorpion species from northeastern Africa (Horn of Africa), which were revised by Kovařík et al (2018). In 2019, I had an opportunity to participate in another expedition to Somaliland, during which 26 Neobuthus specimens were collected from five localities, representing four species: Neobuthus amoudensis Kovařík et al, 2018, N. awashensis Kovařík & Lowe, 2012 (first record from Somaliland), and two new, hereby described species, N. haeckeli sp. n. and N. solegladi sp.…”