Chaerilus tessellatus Qi, Zhu & Loureno, 2005

Zhu, Ming-Sheng & Lourenço, Guang-Xin Han And Wilson R., 2008, The chaerilid scorpions of China (Scorpiones: Chaerilidae), Zootaxa 1943, pp. 37-52 : 44-51

Chaerilus tessellatus Qi, Zhu & Loureno, 2005

Figs. 30 –44, 60, Table 1

Chaerilus tessellatus Qi, Zhu & Loureno, 2005: 30–34 , figs. 109–117.

Material examined. CHINA: Xizang, Mêdog County, Beibeng Town ,29°.02' N, 95°.03' E, 22 Aug. 2003, 1 female (holotype, examined), Feng Zhang leg.(Ar. –MHU–XZ0301) ; Xizang, Bomi County, 29°.08' N, 95°.07' E, 14 August , 2002, 1 female (paratype, examined), Ming-Sheng Zhu leg.(Ar. –MHU–XZ0203) ; Xizang, Mêdog County, 108K-8K, 17 August 2003, 1 female (paratype, examined), Feng Zhang leg.(Ar. –MHU– XZ0302) ; Xizang, Bomi County, Mt. Sela , 3 Aug. 2002, 1 female, Ming-Sheng Zhu leg.(Ar. –MHU– XZ0204) ; Xizang, Nyingchi County, Dongjiu villige, 21 Sept. 2007, 2 juv. females, Fu-Ming Shi leg.(Ar. – MHU–XZ0401-0402)(All are deposited in MHBU).13

Diagnosis. The species is of moderate size with total length 35.3 to 51.66. Carapace is almost smooth on lateral and posterior margins, and with the anterior margin weakly concave. Movable and fixed figer of pedipalp chela each with 11 oblique rows of granules. Mesosomal tergites smooth, each with a pair of median circular spots and transverse yellow stripes. Sternite VII with two pairs of dentated lateral carinae. Metasomal segments almost smooth on tegument; Aculeus of telson is long, and reaches 1/2 of vesicular length. Chaerilus tessellatus can be distinguished from other Chaerilus species , and in particular from C. truncatus Karsch, 1879 and C. triznai Kovak, 2000 , the geographically closest species of the genus, by the shape of pedipalp chela and by the following features: (1) carapace is almost smooth on lateral and posterior margins, whereas in C. triznai and C. truncatus which are covered by granules; (2) movable and fixed finger of pedipalp each with 11 oblique rows of granules, whereas in C. truncatus and C. triznai which are 9–13 and 8 oblique rows of granules; (3) mesosomal tergites almost smooth on tegument, whereas in C. truncatus and C. t riznai, covered by large granules; (4) the dorsal and ventral surface of chelicerae fixed finger each with an additional small basal denticle, but none in C. truncatus or C. triznai .

Description. Based on female holotype. (Ar.–MHU–XZ0301)

Coloration. Basically dark brown in alcohol. Carapace: blackish brown with variegated reddish brown areas and black pigmentation following carinae. Mesosomal tergites dark brown with variegated yellow spots and stripes. Metasoma: all segments are dark brown with some dark pigment under carinae. Telson redish brown; aculeus yellow at the base and dark brown at the extremity. Chelicera yellowish with light brown reticular pattern on dorsal surface of basal segment; fingers with darker denticles. Pedipalps brown, patella and chela are reddish brown, with pattern of dark pigment on patella. Legs brownish on proximal segments and yellowish on distal segments. Sternites and genital opercula pale brown to yellow. Sternite VII darker than the rest.

FIGURES 31–44. Chaerilus tessellatus Qi, Zhu & Lourenço, 2005 , female holotype (Ar.–MHU–XZ0301), 31. Carapace, dorsal aspect. 32–39. Trichobothrial pattern. 32–34. Chela dorso–external, ventral and internal aspects. 35–37. Patella, dorsal, external and ventral aspects. 38–39. Femur, dorsal and external aspects. 40–41. Chelicera, dorsal and ventral aspects. 42. Genital operculum and pectines. 43–44. Metasomal segment V and telson, lateral aspects. Scale bars: 1.0mm.

Morphology. Carapace covered with sparse granules of unequal size on inner portions of lateral carinae, almost smooth on lateral and posterior margins; lateral furrow is not well marked, but posterior lateral furrow deep and distinct. Lateral carinae well developed. Median ocular tubercle with a few granules and slightly elevated, located anterior to the center of the carapace; lateral ocular tubercles small, with a pair of lateral eyes which are clearly smaller than median eyes. The lateral margins of carapace smooth. Mesosomal tergites not lustrous and almost smooth; each of tergites III to VI bears a pair of obsolete granular carinae on posterior margin; tergite VII with two pairs of granular lateral carinae, but inner pair very short and developed only on basal portion. Sternum pentagonal and slightly longer than wide. 5/5 moderately developed pectinal teeth, fulcra, middle and marginal lamellae weakly developed. Sternites smooth; sternite VII with two pairs of dentated carinae weakly developed; spiracles relatively large and oval. Metasoma is about four times longer than carapace; segment I wider than long. All segments with almost smooth tegument; segments I to V with 10–10–10– 8–7 carinae; all carinae dentated, but lateral carinae of segment II reach to one half of the segment length and lateral carinae of segment III reach to one third of the segment length; ventromedian and ventrolateral carinae of segment V distinctly dentate, and ventromedian carina posteriorly bifurcated. Vesicle almost smooth; aculeus long, about reaching one half of vesicular length and slightly curved. Chelicerae small with elongated fingers; basal segment bears retiform dark brown pigmentation and smooth on ventral surface; thickly covered with numerous short, silky hairs, extending on ventral and dorsal portions of both fingers; their dentition characteristic for family and genus, ventral inner edges of movable finger with eight minute teeth and fixed finger with seven serrations. Pedipalps: femur with dorsal internal and dorsal external carinae minutely granular; ventral internal carinae granular, ventral external carinae smooth; dorsal and ventral surfaces covered with a few, fine granules, but fewer on the ventral surface. Patella with dorsal internal, dorsal external carinae, median carina present only on its distal half; dorsal, external and ventral surfaces almost smooth. Chela rather narrow, length/width ratio 2.2, with digital, dorsal secondary, dorsal marginal, dorsal internal, ventrointernal and ventroexternal carinae, all carinae granular, but interomedian and external secondary carinae obsolete or vestigial; the dorsal surface of chela manus covered with fine granules which form reticular pattern; fingers almost as long as manus and straight, the denticular margin of movable finger with 11 oblique rows of granules. Trichobothriotaxy of type B (Vachon, 1974); femur bears nine trichobothria, patella with 14 and chela with 14.

Legs with a pair of pedal spurs moderately developed. Tarsi with two series of thin bristles and a median row of spinules on ventral surfaces.

Male unknown.

Distribution. China (Xizang).

Chaerilus triznai Kova ř ík, 2000

Figs. 45-59, 60, Table 1

Chaerilus triznai Kovařík, 2000: 65–66 , figs. 32-33, tab. 1–2. (Type material in FKCP, not examined)

Material examined: CHINA: Xizang, Mêdog County, 29°.02' N, 95°.03' E, Hanmi Village , 11 Aug. 2006, 1 female, Zhi-Shun Song leg.(Ar.–MHU–XZ0607) (in MHBU) ; Xizang, Mêdog County, Hanmi Village , 10 Aug. 2006, 1 female, Zhi-Shun Song leg. Zhi-Shun Song leg.(Ar.–MHU–XZ0608)(in MHBU) .

Diagnosis. Species of moderate size with total length 30.00 to 38.9. Carapace with the anterior margin straight, smooth on posterior margin, median ocular tubercles with a pair of larger median eyes. Movable and fixed finger of pedipalp each with eight oblique rows of granules. Mesosomal tergites with granules of large and unequal size. Entire tegument of chela manus with dense, fine granules. Sternite VII without carinae. Aculeus of telson long reaching 3/5 of vesicular length. This species can be distinguished from other Chaeri- lus species, and in particular from Chaerilus pictus (Pocock, 1890) , by the shape of pedipalp chela, and by the following features: (1) body is smaller size with total length 30–38.9, whereas in C. pictus , 38–65.7; (2) the denticular margin of pedipalps chela movable finger with eight oblique rows of granules, whereas in Chaerilus pictus , 13–14; (4) telson relatively short and aculeus long, whereas in C. pictus , telson rather long in male and aculeus very short in both sexes.

Description. Based on one female. (Ar.–MHU–XZ0607).

Coloration. Basically blackish brown to red brown in alcohol. Carapace blackish. Mesosomal tergites blackish brown with yellowish stripes. Metasoma: all segments blackish, with some dark pigment under carinae. Telson light brown; aculeus light brown at the base and dark red brown at the extremity. Chelicerae yellowish with dark reticular pattern on dorsal surface of basal segment; fingers with dark denticles. Pedipalps: Femur, patella and chela dark red-brown. Legs light brown to yellow on proximal segments, yellowish on distal segments.

Morphology. Carapace covered with sparse granules of large size; lateral furrow not well marked but posterior lateral furrow is deep and distinct; lateral carinae well developed. Median ocular tubercle granular and slightly elevated, located anterior to the center of the carapace; lateral ocular tubercles small with a pair of lateral eyes distinctly smaller than median eyes. Mesosomal tergites clothed sparsely with granules of large and unequal size. Tergites I to III without carinae, each of tergites IV to VI with a pairs of obsolete granular carinae on posterior margin, tergite VII with two pairs of dentated lateral carinae, inner pair very short and poorly developed. Sternum is pentagonal and slightly longer than wide. Pectinae with 3/3 weakly developed pectinal teeth, fulcra developed, middle and marginal lamellae weakly developed. Sternites III to V smooth, sternites VI to VII granular on posterior portion, sternite VII lacks carinae. Spiracles small and circular. Metasoma about four times longer than the carapace; segment I wider than long; tegument of all segments clothed with granules, on the dorsal surfaces with a few weak granules; segments I to V have 10–8–8–8–7 carinae; all carinae dentate granules, the ventromedian and ventrolateral carinae of segment V composed of strong, dentated granules, ventromedian carina posteriorly bifurcated. Vesicle of telson almost smooth; aculeus long, about reaching 3/5 of vesicular length and slightly curved. Chelicerae small with elongated fingers, basal segment smooth on ventral and dorsal surface; thickly covered with numerous short, silky hairs, extending on ventral and dorsal portions of both fingers; dentition characteristic for family and genus, ventral inner edges of movable finger with six minute teeth and fixed finger with four serrations. Pedipalps: Femur with dorsal internal and dorsal external carinae granular, ventral internal and ventral external carinae smooth; dorsal and ventral surfaces covered with sparse and coarse granules. Patella with dorsal internal and dorsal external carinae granular; dorsal, ventral and external surfaces are clothed with granules. Chela narrow and short, length/width ratio 2.2, with digital, dorsal secondary, dorsal marginal, dorsal internal, ventrointernal and ventroexternal carinae, all carinae composed of large or larger, dentate granules except for the interomedian and external secondary carinae which are obsolete or vestigial; entire tegument of chela manus with sparse and coarse granules, not forming a reticular pattern; fingers are longer and straight, denticular margin of movable finger with eight oblique rows of granules. Trichobothriotaxy of type B (Vachon, 1974); femur bears nine trichobothria, patella with 14, and chela with 14. Legs with a pair of pedal spurs moderately developed. Tarsi with two series of thin bristles and a median row of spinules on ventral surfaces.

We did not collect any males. However, Kovařík (2000) reports that the body length of the male of this species is 32.3 mm and the chela of pedipalp slightly longer than that of females.

Distributio n. China (Xizang)