Isometrus (Reddyanus) bilyi, 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 : 6-7

Isometrus (Reddyanus) bilyi sp. n.

(Fig. 7, Table 1)

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Australia, Queensland, Kuranda ; FKCP.

TYPE MATERIAL. Australia, Queensland, Kuranda , 20.II.2000, 1♀ (holotype), leg. S. Bílý, FKCP . No other material .

ETYMOLOGY. Named after Svatopluk Bílý of Prague, who collected the type specimen .

DIAGNOSIS: Total length about 26 mm (female). Pedipalps and legs yellow, only fingers of pedipalps with black spot. First three metasomal segments yellow, fourth segment reddish brown, fifth segment black. First metasomal segment bears 10 carinae, second through fourth segments bear eight carinae, fifth segment bears five carinae. Telson elongate, with one ventral median carina. Subaculear tooth triangular, dorsally with one pair of granules and one terminal granule. Pectinal teeth number 12.

DESCRIPTION: The total length of the female holotype is 26.1 mm. A color photo of the holotype 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 teeth in the pecten. For the position and distribution of trichobothria on the chela of the pedipalps see Fig. 7. The male is unknown.

COLORATION: The base color is yellow. The chelicera is yellow with one small dark spot near the anterior margin. The carapace and mesosoma are dominantly black, with a weak yellow pattern. The ventral side of the mesosoma is yellow and lacks spots. The femur, patella and manus of pedipalps and legs are yellow, only the fingers bear a black spot. The first three metasomal segments are yellow, the fourth segment is reddish brown, and the fifth segment is black.

MESOSOMA AND CARAPACE: The carapace lacks carinae but bears large granules. The mesosoma bears one median carina and is granulated. The ventral side of the seventh segment is smooth, without carinae.

METASOMA AND TELSON: The first segment bears 10 carinae, the second through fourth segments bear eight carinae, and the fifth segment bears five carinae. The telson is elongate, with one ventral median carina. The subaculear tooth is triangular, dorsally with one pair of granules and one terminal granule. Each dorsal metasomal carina terminates in a tooth which is no larger than preceding granules.

PEDIPALPS: The femur and patella bear complete carinae and are granulated. The manus is smooth, without carinae. 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. bilyi sp. n. from all other species of the genus. They are recounted in the key below. The most similarly colored species is I. krasenskyi Kovařík, 1998 from Java, which however has more granules on the dorsal surface of the subaculear tooth. I. bilyi sp. n. has the femur and patella of pedipalp and legs yellow, without spots, which easily distinguishes it from I. melanodactylus that also lives in Australia, even near the type locality of the new species.

Isometrus (Reddyanus) brachycentrus Pocock, 1899

Isometrus brachycentrus Pocock, 1899a: 263 ; Pocock, 1900: 50; Takashima, 1945: 86.

Isometrus (Reddyanus) brachycentrus: Vachon, 1972: 177 ; Vachon, 1976: 39; Kovařík, 1994: 202; Kovařík, 1997a: 8; Kovařík, 1998a: 36; Kovařík, 1998b: 111; Fet & Lowe, 2000: 152.

Isometrus (Raddyanus) brachycentrus: Tikader & Bastawade, 1983: 268 .

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Mangalore, India ; BMNH.

TYPE MATERIAL EXAMINED. India, Kanara , 2♀ (paratypes), leg. T. R. D. Bell, BMNH No. 1897.11.5.2– 3 .

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. India, Karnataka State, Mysore , 7 mi. SW Virajpet, 650 m., 22.II.1962, 1♂ 5♀ 2juvs., leg. E. S. Ross & D. Q. Cavagnaro , CASC; Tamil Nadu State, Topslip, Anamalai Hills , 760 m, 18.III.1962, 1♀ 1juv., leg. E. S. Ross & D. Q. Cavagnaro , CASC; Karnataka State, Coorg , 10 km SE of Virajpet, 75°46’E 12°06’N, 500–900 m, V.1999, 2♂ 1♀, leg. Z. Kejval & M. Trýzna, FKCP .

DISTRIBUTION. India (Karnataka, Kerala) ( Pocock, 1899a: 264; Tikader & Bastawade, 1983: 268) (Tamil Nadu) (first record) .

Isometrus (Reddyanus) corbeti Tikader & Bastawade, 1983

Isometrus (Raddyanus) corbeti Tikader & Bastawade, 1983: 305 .

Isometrus (Reddyanus) corbeti: Kovařík, 1994: 202 ; Kovařík, 1997a: 8; Kovařík, 1998a: 36; Kovařík, 1998b: 111; Fet & Lowe, 2000: 152.

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Corbet National Park , Pauri District, Uttar Pradesh, India NZSI .

DISTRIBUTION. India (Uttar Pradesh) (Tikader & Bastawade, 1983: 310).

COMMENTS. This species is placed in the key solely on the basis of characters given in the original description, which however contains several contradictions and does not quite agree with the figures. Verification of the status is therefore needed.