Isometrus (Reddyanus) khammamensis, Kovařík, 2003

Kovařík, František, 2003, A review of the genus Isometrus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) with descriptions of four new species from Asia and Australia, Euscorpius 10 (10), pp. 1-19 : 8-9

Isometrus (Reddyanus) khammamensis sp. n.

(Figs 2 and 3, Table 1)

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. India, Andhra Pradesh, 4 mi. W Khammam , CASC .

TYPE MATERIAL. India, Andhra Pradesh, 4 mi. W Khammam , 100 m., 7.II.1962, 2♂ 5♀ (holotype and paratypes) A, leg. E. S. Ross & D. Q. Cavagnaro. Holotype, allotypic paratype and three paratypes are in CASC. Two paratypes (1♂ 1♀) are in FKCP.

ETYMOLOGY. Named after the type locality.

DIAGNOSIS: Total length of males 32–38.9 mm, of females about 28 mm. Male has longer metasomal segments and telson. Segments of pedipalps approximately same length and width in both sexes. Pedipalps and legs yellow, with several small brown spots. Femur of pedipalps mostly yellow, patella mostly black. Manus of pedipalps yellow without spots, fingers black. Metasoma yellow with brown spots namely in female, fifth segment darker than preceding. First metasomal segment bears 10 carinae, second through fourth segments bear eight carinae, fifth segment bears five carinae in both sexes. Terminal tubercle of each dorsal carina on first, second and fourth metasomal segments of both sexes scarcely larger than preceding tubercles, on third segment of male terminal tubercle more enlarged. Telson very elongate in male, shorter in female. Subaculear tooth large, rounded, dorsally with one pair of granules and one terminal granule. Pectinal teeth number 12–15 in both sexes.

DESCRIPTION: The total length of males is 32–38.9 mm, that of females about 28 mm. A color photo of the holotype and paratype is in Kovařík (in press). Measurements of the carapace, telson, segments of the metasoma and segments of the pedipalps, and numbers of pectinal teeth are given in Table 1. There are 12–15 pectinal teeth in the both sexes. Sexual dimorphism is manifested primarily in the length of the metasomal segments and telson (see Figs. 2 and 3 and Table 1).

COLORATION: The base color is yellow, with brown spots. The chelicera is anteriorly reticulated and black spots are present on the fingers. The carapace and mesosoma are dominantly black with a yellow pattern. The ventral side of the mesosoma and of pedipalps is yellow without spots. The pedipalps are spotted. The femur of pedipalps is mostly yellow and the patella is mostly black. A large black spot covers nearly the entire femur. The manus of pedipalps is light yellow without spots, and the fingers are black. Legs have the same color and pattern as the femur of pedipalps. The first to fourth metasomal segments of males are yellow to yellowish brown. Most of the male fifth metasomal segment (except the anterior margin) and telson are reddish brown. The female has yellow metasomal segments with several dark spots and a larger dark spot on the fifth segment.

MESOSOMA AND CARAPACE: The carapace is without carinae but with large granules. The mesosoma bears one median carina and is granulated. The ventral side of the seventh segment bears two or four carinae and is granulated.

METASOMA AND TELSON: The first segment bears 10 carinae, the second through fourth segments bear eight carinae, and the fifth segment bears five carinae in both sexes. The terminal tubercle of each dorsal carina on the first, second and fourth segments of both sexes is scarcely larger than the preceding tubercles, whereas on the third segment of male the terminal tubercle is more enlarged. The telson is very elongate in males and shorter in females (Figs 2 and 3). The subaculear tooth is large, rounded, and dorsally with one pair of granules and one terminal granule.

PEDIPALPS: The femur and patella bear complete carinae and are granulated. Complete dorsal carinae are present also on the manus of both sexes. The sixth cutting edge of the movable fingers bears one external granule.

LEGS: The femur and patella bear complete carinae and are granulated. The legs are hirsute and without bristlecombs.

AFFINITIES. The described features distinguish I. khammamensis sp. n. from all other species of the genus. They are recounted in the key below. The female is morphologically closest to I. kurkai Kovařík, 1997 (male is not known), from which it differs in having a rounded and much wider subaculear tooth. Another related species is I. assamensis Oates, 1888 , which however has a shorter and narrower telson, a bluntly pointed subaculear tooth, and the femur and patella of pedipalps similarly colored yellow with some black spots.