Grosphus mahafaliensis Lourenço, Goodman & Ramilijaona, 2004

Lourenço, Wilson R., 2014, The genus Grosphus Simon, 1880 in South-Western Madagascar, with the description of a new species (Scorpiones, Buthidae), Zoosystema 36 (3), pp. 631-645 : 638-640

Grosphus mahafaliensis Lourenço, Goodman & Ramilijaona, 2004

Grosphus mahafaliensis Lourenço, Goodman & Ramilijaona, 2004: 226 .

TYPE MATERIAL. — Male holotype: Madagascar, South region, Toliara, Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa , N of Efoetse, in coastal Euphorbia scrub (N. Lutzmann & J. Kohler), X.2001 (under rock), MNHN. RS-8671 .

DIAGNOSIS. — Scorpion of medium size with a total length of 55 to 60 mm. General coloration reddish-yellow with some dark zones on the body. Carapace and tergites moderately granular. Pectines: pectinal teeth count 27-31 in females and 34-38 in males; basal middle lamellae of each pecten elongated and curved, widening after the first internal tooth, covering 3 to 4 most proximal teeth. Dorsal carinae on segments II to IV without any posterior spinoid granule. The telson vesicle is globular in shape ( Fig. 3E, F ). Fixed and movable fingers with 11-13 oblique rows of granules.

DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGY. — Grosphus mahafaliensis was described based on a single male specimen collected in the Province de Toliara. Recent collections however, indicate that this species is very common in the region of the Plateau Mahafaly. Almost 150 new specimens have been obtained by the use of pit fall traps, including females which were previously unknown. The general shape of the basal middle lamellae of the female pectines is similar to G. limbatus , however the basal middle lamellae of G. mahafaliensis is broader, and covers the four most proximal teeth. Further, these two species show notable differences in colour patterns – G. mahafaliensis being reddish-yellow without any spots over the body or appendages. Moreover, pectinal tooth counts in G. mahafaliensis are notably greater. For more details on G. mahafaliensis see the original description by Lourenço et al. (2004).

Based on the study of an extensive amount of material, it can be inferred that Grosphus mahafaliensis has a broad distribution across the inventory sites on the limestone substrate of the Mahafaly Plateau. These new data indicate that this species occurs in sympatry with G. olgae , and based on pitfall trap captures, it is the more abundant of the two scorpions. There is one case of G. mahafaliensis occurring in sympatry with Neogrosphus griveaudi (Vachon, 1969) . Thus, these three species show broad geographical overlap in portions of South-Western Madagascar. Based on pitfall captures male G. mahafaliensis greatly outnumber females.

Other species of scorpions known to occur specifically in the Tsimanampetsotsa area or elsewhere on the Mahafaly Plateau include: Grosphus annulatus from the region of Sarodrano close to sea-level; G. olgae from near Mitoho Cave within the Parc National de Tsimanampetsotsa; Pseudouroplectes betschi Lourenço, 1995 from the Mahafaly Plateau to the north of Itampolo ( Lourenço 1995, 2004); and Palaeocheloctonus pauliani Lourenço, 1996 from Efoetse ( Lourenço 1996).

Figures

FIG. 3. Ỏ Grophus ssp., Metasomal segment V and telson,lateral aspect:A, B, Grosphus annulatus Fage,1929:A, male paralectotype; B, female lectotype; C, D, Grosphus intertidalis LourenÁo, 1999, male (C) and female (D); E, F, Grosphus mahafaliensis LourenÁo, Goodman & Ramilijaona, 2004, male (E) and female (F). Scale bars: 2 mm.