Pandinurus awalei, Kovařík & Lowe & Elmi, 2020

Kovařík, František, Lowe, Graeme & Elmi, Hassan Sh Abdirahman, 2020, Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part XXV. Description of Pandinurus awalei sp. n. and the male of Pandiborellius somalilandus (Kovařík, 2012), with remarks on recent synonymies (Scorpionidae: Pandininae), Euscorpius 322, pp. 1-21 : 7-15

Pandinurus awalei sp. n.

( Figs. 23–76 , 83 , Table 1 )

http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:4080C8CB- 2FF9-4A2D-9B85-CCEE3849CA02

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Somaliland, Agabar, 09°53'04.8"N 43°57'40.9"E, 982 m a. s. l. ; FKCP.

TYPE MATERIAL ( FKCP). Somaliland , Agabar, 09°53'04.8"N 43°57'40.9"E, 982 m a. s. l. (Locality No. 19SO, Fig. 53), 9.VII.2019 , 1♂ (holotype, No. 1845, 5 th, maturity ecdysis 27.II.2020, Figs. 25–28 , 31, 33, 35–38 , 40, 45–52 , 62–63 , 67– 72 ) , 1♀ (paratype, scorpion born 18.VII.2019, Figs. 29–30 , 32, 34, 39 , 41–44 , 54–61, 64–66 , 73–74 ), 1♀ (paratype still alive, ecdysis 14.IX.2019, maturity ecdysis 22.VIII.2020, Fig. 76 ), 1juv. (paratype), leg. F. KovařÍk et T. Mazuch , 1♂ (paratype, born 18.VII.2019, 2 nd ecdysis 19.–25.IX.2019, 3 rd ecdysis 15.– 22.XI.2019, 4 th ecdysis 11.I.–20.II.2020, 5 th, maturity ecdysis 11.VII.2020, Fig. 75 ), 7 juveniles or adult females (paratypes) after 5 th ecdysis still alive (born 18.VII.2019, 2 nd ecdysis 19.– 25.IX.2019, 3 rd ecdysis 15.–22.XI.2019, 4 th ecdysis 11.I.–20. II.2020, 5 th ecdysis 10. VI.–25.VIII.2020 ).

ETYMOLOGY. Named after Ahmed Ibrahim Awale, an ecologist from Somaliland, a university lecturer, chairman of Candlelight NGO, and co-founder and chairman of Somaliland Biodiversity Foundation. He is also the author of several scientific papers and books including Environment in Crisis: Selected Essays on Somali Environment (2016); and Introduction to Plants in Central Somaliland (the latter together with Helen Pickering, 2018).

DIAGNOSIS (♂ ♀). Total length 90–105 mm. Color uniformly reddish brown to black; legs yellow; chela orange to brown but yellow in young specimens; telson yellowish brown to black. Chelicerae yellowish brown, reticulate, with black fingers and anterior margin. Carapace lacking carinae but with sparse granules, anterior part smooth. External trichobothria on patella number 17–19 (5 eb, 4–6 esb, 2 em, 3 est, 3 et); ventral trichobothria on patella number 35–43; internal trichobothria on chela number 3, accessory external trichobothrium ea on chela absent, ventral trichobothria on chela number 11– 13. Pedipalp densely hirsute, mainly on chela. Granules on dorsal surface of chela of pedipalp conical and rounded. Lobe of chela granulated with the same intensity as whole dorsal surface of chela. External surface of chela with granules and without carinae which could be indicated in females. Chela of male length/ width ratio 1.87. Pectine teeth 17–19 in both sexes. Dorsal carinae on second through fourth metasomal segments granulate by large pointed tooth. Spiniform formula of tarsomere II = 6-7/4: 6-7/4: 7/5: 7–8/5. Tarsomere II with 2 spines on inclined anteroventral surface. Length to width ratio of metasoma V of male 2.79.

DESCRIPTION. Habitus as shown in Figs. 25–26 , 29–30 . Total length 90–105 mm.

Coloration ( Figs. 25–26 , 29–30 , 43–46 , 73–76 ). Base color uniform reddish brown to black, young specimens more pale ( Fig. 75 ). Legs yellow, pedipalp chela orange to brown but yellow in young specimens, and telson yellowish brown to black. Chelicerae yellowish brown, reticulate, with black fingers and anterior margin.

Pedipalps ( Figs. 23–24 , 48–52 , 54–64 ). Pedipalps densely hirsute, mainly on the chela. Femur smooth with several large granules dorsally, and four carinae composed of several strong granules. Patella smooth and rugose externally, with four carinae. Granules on dorsoexternal surface of chela conical and rounded. Lobe of chela granulated with same intensity as whole dorsal surface of chela. Internal surface of chela granulated by conical usually pointed granules mainly in anterior part. Dentate margins of fixed and movable fingers of pedipalp with distinct granules in two parallel rows, present in anterior half of fingers. Posterior half of fingers almost without granules in male, with distinct granules in a row in female. Trichobothriotaxy ( Figs. 54–59 ). External trichobothria on the patella number 17–19 (5 eb, 4–6 esb, 2 em, 3 est, 3 et); accessory external trichobothrium ea on chela absent, ventral trichobothria on patella number 35–43; internal trichobothria on chela number 3, ventral trichobothria on chela number 11–13.

Metasoma and telson ( Figs. 40–47 ). Metasomal segments I–IV each with a total of 8 complete carinae of which the ventral on segments I–III are smooth. Other carinae sparsely granulated. Segment V with five carinae developed and granulated. Dorsal and lateral surfaces of the segments rugose with several granules, segments IV–V more granulated. Dorsal carinae on segments II–IV granulate with large pointed tooth. Entire surfaces of metasoma and telson hirsute with long setae. Telson smooth to rugose, bulbous, with aculeus shorter than vesicle.

Carapace and mesosoma ( Figs. 31–34 ). Carapace smooth without carinae, sparsely covered by large granules medially and laterally, and finely granulated with small granules posteriorly mainly in the male. Anterior margin of carapace bilobate, strongly emarginate medially, bearing several macrosetae. Three lateral eyes present on each side. Tergites finely granulated in the male, almost smooth in the female. Pectinal tooth count 17–19 in both sexes. Pectine marginal tips extend to the anterior first quarter of sternite IV in the male, and anterior third quarter of sternite III in the female. Sternites smooth, without carinae, but with two longitudinal furrows.

Chelicerae ( Figs. 27–28 , 65–66 ). Movable finger dorsal margin with one large subdistal (sd) denticle; ventral margin smooth; ventral distal (vd) denticle longer than prominent dorsal (dd) denticle. Fixed finger with four denticles, median (m) and basal (b) denticles fused into bicusp; no ventral accessory denticles.

Legs ( Figs. 35–39 ). All legs without distinct carinae, smooth. Tarsomeres hirsute, with setae and macrosetae. Spiniform formula of tarsomere II = 6-7/4: 6-7/4: 7/5: 7–8/5. Tarsomere II with 2 spines on inclined anteroventral surface but there could be an additional spiniform seta on external margin indicated by another not well developed spina.

Hemispermatophore. ( Figs. 67–72 ). Lamelliform. Distal lamina long, with robust hook on anterior margin near base. Lamina constricted immediately distal to hook, but gradually widening more distally. Apex of lamina with sharp posterior deflection at ca. 70° angle relative to proximal axis, tapering to a narrow, slightly bent tip. Portion of distal lamina proximal to hook with broad, shallow trough on convex side.Truncal flexure, tectum, hemisolenos and clasper strongly developed. Trunk relatively short, ca. half of length of distal lamina, gradually tapered towards base, with weakly sclerotized diagonal axial rib. Proximal 2/3 of axial rib running along posterior margin of trunk. Both left and right hemispermatophores displayed similar morphology. Measurements of left hemispermatophore (mm): distal lamina: total length from truncal flexure 9.90; length from truncal flexure to base of hook 2.39; length from base of hook to apical deflection 6.37; width immediately proximal to hook 0.97, immediately distal to hook 0.69; width at apical deflection 1.03. Trunk: length 3.47; distal width 1.47, basal width 0.77. Pedicel: length 1.91. Morphometric ratios: distal lamina total length/ trunk length 2.85; distal lamina proximal to hook length/ distal to hook length 3.08.

Measurements. See Table 1 .

REMARKS. Overall structure of the hemispermatophore of Pandinurus awalei sp. n. is quite similar to those recorded for seven other Pandinurus spp. (KovařÍk et al., 2017c), which also have a long, narrow distal lamina that is sharply deflected at its apex, and a short trunk.

AFFINITIES. Pandinurus awalei sp. n. is reliably distinguished from all other Pandinurus species by the following unique combination of characters: accessory external trichobothrium ea on pedipalp chela absent; granules on dorsal surface of chela of pedipalp conical and rounded, not pointed; legs yellow; pedipalp chela densely hirsute; pedipalp chela of male length/ width ratio 1.87; spiniform formula of tarsomere II = 6-7/4: 6-7/4: 7/5: 7–8/5.

The type locality of Pandinurus awalei sp. n. is relatively close to known areas of distribution of P. hangarale KovařÍk et al., 2017 , P. kmoniceki KovařÍk et al., 2017 , and P. phillipsi (Pocock, 1896) . These other species differ as follows: P. hangarale has the whole body including legs dark (figs. 22–23 in KovařÍk et al., 2017a: 7) and has male pedipalp chela length/ width ratio of 1.59; P. kmoniceki and P. phillipsi have accessory external trichobothrium ea on the chela present and located between trichobothria esb and eb on the base of the fixed finger (fig. 6 in KovařÍk et al., 2017b: 4), and have a pedipalp chela that is not as densely hirsute as in P. awalei sp. n. These species also differ genetically (unpublished data).

COMMENTS ON LOCALITIES AND LIFE STRATEGY. Pandinurus awalei sp. n. inhabits rocky mountain areas in central Somaliland. The types were collected by day under rocks in open terrain. At this locality, the first author also recorded Buthus berberensis Pocock, 1900 , Hottentotta polystictus (Pocock, 1896) , Neobuthus solegladi KovařÍk, 2019 (type locality), Parabuthus somalilandus KovařÍk et al. 2019 , and Hemiscorpius sp.

Figures

Figure 83. Map showing confirmed distribution of Pandinurus spp.

Figures 12–24: Pedipalp segments. Figures 12–22. Pandiborellius somalilandus, male from locality No. 19SL, pedipalp chela dorsal (12), external (13) and ventral (14) views, patella dorsal (15), external (16) and ventral (17) views, femur and trochanter dorsal (18), and ventral (19) views, movable finger dentition under white (20) and UV (21) light and fixed finger (22) dentition under UV light. Trichobothrial pattern indicated in Figures 12–18. Figures 23–24. Pandinurus awalei sp. n., male holotype, movable finger (23) and fixed finger (24) dentition under UV light.

Figures 25–28. Pandinurus awalei sp. n., male holotype, dorsal (25) and ventral (26) views, and right chelicera in dorsal (27) and ventral (28) aspects. Scale bar: 10 mm (25–26).

Figures 29–30. Pandinurus awalei sp. n., female paratype in dorsal (29) and ventral (30) views. Scale bar: 10 mm.

Figures 31–39. Pandinurus awalei sp. n. Figures 31, 33, 35–38. Male holotype, carapace and tergites I–IV (31), coxosternal area and sternites (33), and left legs I–IV, retrolateral aspect (35–38). Figures 32, 34, and 39. Female paratype, carapace and tergites I–III (32), coxosternal area and sternites III–IV (34), and left leg IV, retrolateral aspect (39).

Figures 40–47: Pandinurus awalei sp. n. Figures 40, 45–47. Male holotype, telson lateral (40), and metasoma and telson lateral (45), ventral (46), and dorsal (47) views. Figures 41–44. Paratype female, telson lateral (41), and metasoma and telson lateral (42), ventral (43), and dorsal (44) views. Scale bars: 10 mm (42–44, 45–47).

Figures 48–52: Pandinurus awalei sp. n. Figures 48–52. Male holotype, pedipalp chela and patella dorsal (48), external (49) and ventral (50) views, femur and trochanter dorsal (51), and ventral (52) views. Figure 53. Type locality

Figures 54–66: Pandinurus awalei sp. n. Figures 54–61, 64–66. Female paratype, pedipalp chela dorsal (54), external (55) and ventral (56) views, patella dorsal (57), external (58) and ventral (59) views, femur and trochanter dorsal (60), and ventral (61) views, movable finger dentition under white light (64); right chelicera dorsal (65) and ventral (66) aspects. Trichobothrial pattern indicated in Figures 54–59. Figures 62–63. Male holotype, movable finger dentition under UV (62) and white (63) light.

Figures 67–69. Pandinurus awalei sp. n., left whole hemispermatophore, anterior (67), posterior-concave (68) and convex (69) views. Scale bar: 4 mm.

Figures 70–72. Pandinurus awalei sp. n., left hemispermatophore, capsule, anterior (70), concave (71) and convex (72) views. Scale bar: 1 mm.

Figures 73–74. Pandinurus awalei sp. n., female paratype at the type locality (73) and with newborns (74).

Figures 75–76. Pandinurus awalei sp. n., male paratype shortly after maturity ecdysis (75) and young female paratype two months after maturity ecdysis (76).