Hottentotta tamulus (Fabricius, 1798)

Kovařík, František, 2007, A revision of the genus Hottentotta Birula, 1908, with descriptions of four new species (Scorpiones, Buthidae), Euscorpius 58 (58), pp. 1-107 : 76-81

Hottentotta tamulus (Fabricius, 1798)

( Figs. 19 , 114–120 )

Scorpio tamulus Fabricius, 1793: 152 (nomen nudum); Fabricius, 1798: 294; Herbst, 1800: 85; Kraepelin, 1891: 228; Zimsen, 1964: 638.

Buthus tamulus : Pocock, 1900a: 23; Kraepelin, 1905: 195; Simon, 1905: 160; Takashima, 1945: 76; Tolunay, 1959: 368; Khatoon, 1986: 645.

Buthus (Hottentotta) tamulus : Birula, 1914: 654; Birula, 1917: 214.

Buthotus tamulus : Vachon, 1949: 147 (1952: 233); Vachon & Stockmann, 1968: 91; Pérez Minocci, 1974: 21; Kovařík, 1992: 183.

Mesobuthus tamulus : Hjelle, 1990: 48; Simard & Watt, 1990: 419; Dupré, Lambert & Gérard, 1998: 70; Fet & Lowe, 2000: 179; Khatoon, 1999: 212.

Hottentotta (Hottentotta) tamulus : Kovařík, 1998: 110.

Hottentotta tamula : Kovařík, 2001b: 84; Kovařík, 2002: 8.

Hottentotta tamulus : Kovařík & Whitman, 2005: 108.

Buthus tamulus typicus : Pocock, 1900a: 24.

Mesobuthus tamulus tamulus : Tikader & Bastawade, 1983: 216; Bastawade, 1992: 221; Bastawade, 1994: 435; Fet & Lowe, 2000: 179; Bastawade, 2002: 294.

= Buthus nigro lineatus Dufour, 1856: 570 (syn by Kraepelin, 1899: 20).

Buthus nigrolineatus : Kraepelin, 1905: 196.

= Buthus grammurus Thorell, 1889: 567 ; Kraepelin, 1899: 20; Kraepelin, 1901: 267; Kraepelin, 1913: 128; Roewer, 1929: 611; Vachon, 1940b: 248 (syn. by Pocock, 1900a: 23).

Buthus (Buthus) grammurus : Roewer, 1943: 206.

Buthus martensii : Pocock, 1889: 335; Pocock, 1890b: 236 (in part); Pocock, 1893: 303; Kraepelin, 1895: 82 (in part) (syn. by Pocock, 1900a: 23).

= Buthus tamulus concanensis Pocock, 1900a: 25 . Syn. n.

Mesobuthus tamulus concanensis : Tikader & Bastawade, 1983: 188; Fet & Lowe, 2000: 179; Bastawade, 2002: 294.

Hottentotta (Hottentotta) tamulus concanensis : Kovařík, 1998: 110.

= Buthus tamulus sindicus Pocock, 1900a: 25 ; Birula, 1917: 241. Syn. n.

Buthotus tamulus sindicus : Pérez Minocci, 1974: 21.

Mesobuthus tamulus sindicus : Tikader & Bastawade, 1983: 194; Fet & Lowe, 2000: 180.

Hottentotta (Hottentotta) tamulus sindica : Kovařík, 1998: 110.

= Buthus tamulus gujaratensis Pocock, 1900a: 25 . Syn. n.

Buthotus tamulus gujaratensis : Pérez Minocci, 1974: 22.

Mesobuthus tamulus gujaratensis : Tikader & Bastawade, 1983: 201; Fet & Lowe, 2000: 180.

Hottentotta (Hottentotta) tamulus gujaratensis : Kovařík, 1998: 110.

= Buthus tamulus gangeticus Pocock, 1900a: 25 ; Kraepelin, 1913: 129. Syn. n.

Buthotus tamulus gangeticus : Pérez Minocci, 1974: 22.

Mesobuthus tamulus gangeticus : Tikader & Bastawade, 1983: 208; Fet & Lowe, 2000: 180.

Hottentotta (Hottentotta) tamulus gangeticus : Kovařík, 1998: 110.

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. India orientalis; original type lost. Neotype from India, Maharashtra, Bombay env., hereby designated; NMPC.

TYPE MATERIAL EXAMINED. India, Gujarat, Karaghora in Kattywar 1♀ (lectotype of Buthus tamulus gujaratensis Pocock, 1900 hereby designated, Figs. 116– 117 ) 1♀ (paralectotype of Buthus tamulus gujaratensis Pocock, 1900 ), leg. H. Buckley, BMNH No. 1896.7.30.44–46; Maharashtra, Bombay env., 1965, 1♂ (neotype of Scorpio tamulus Fabricius, 1793 hereby designated, Fig. 118 ), NMPC; Ratnágiri, South Konkan , 1♂ (lectotype of Buthus tamulus concanensis Pocock, 1900 hereby designated, Figs. 114–115 ), 1♀ (paralectotype of Buthus tamulus concanensis Pocock, 1900 ), leg. W. H. Drew, BMNH No. 1896.7.30.6–16; Uttar Pradesh, Dehra Dun, 1♂ (lectotype of Buthus tamulus gangeticus Pocock, 1900 hereby designated) 3♀ 2juvs. (paralectotypes of Buthus tamulus gangeticus Pocock, 1900 ), leg. A. V. Kemball, BMNH No. 1896.10.20.34–39. Pakistan, Khalat frontier in Upper Sind, 1♂ (No. 946, lectotype of Buthus tamulus sindicus Pocock, 1900 hereby designated, Fig. 119 ) 2♂ 3♀ (paralectotypes of Buthus tamulus sindicus Pocock, 1900 ), leg. A. V. Kemball, BMNH No. 1896.10.20 .?28– 33.

OTHER MATERIAL EXAMINED. India, Lanooli , 1♂ 3♀, 10.XII.1911, leg. Löw-Beer, SMFD Nos. 5251 and 5260; Dekan, Nilgiris, 1im., SMFD No. 8851/193; Dekan, Anamalei , 1juv., SMFD No. 8852/194; mouth of a river Ganga , 1♂ 4♀, leg. Šmala, NMPC ; N. India, Behr, Mongyo Dist. , 2♂ 2♀ ( Fig. 120 ) 1juv., FKCP ; Andhra Pradesh, 2 mi W Narkatpalli , 800 m, 7.XI.1962, 1juv., leg. E. S. Ross et D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Gandavaram , 2.IX.1966, 1♀, leg. E. Jacob, CASC ; Nellore, Kovur Taluk , 11.IX.1966, 4♀, 12.IX.1966, 3♀, leg. E. Jacob, CASC ; Podile , 10.VIII.1966, 1♀, 13.II.1967, 1♀ 20juvs before first ecdysis, 23.VIII.1967, 1♂ 1♀, leg. D. E. Johnson, CASC ; Kandukur env., IX.1980, 2♂ 4♀, leg. P. Rojek, FKCP ;? Andhra Pradesh, Tharigoppula , 2.VII.1967, 1im., 3.VIII.1967, 2♀ 1juv., leg. A. L. Slater, CASC ; Merireddy Palem , 7.VIII.1966, 1♂, 10.VIII.1966, 1♀, 12.VII.1966, 1♀, leg. D. E. Johnson, CASC ; Hanamkonda , 10.VIII.1967, 1juv., leg. E. Wiebe, CASC ; Bihar, 3 mi. N Kodarma , 440 m., 12.XI.1961, 1♀ 2juvs., leg. E. S. Ross et D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Gujarat, Bhuj-Hill, Desert of Kutch , X.1970, 1♀, leg. M. S. Dubale, CASC ; Jharkhand, 12 mi. NE Dumka , 200 m., 31.X.1961, 1♀1♀ (im.)5juvs., leg. E. S. Ross et D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Dhanbad env., XI.1980, 1♀, leg. P. Rojek, FKCP ; Deoghar env. X.1980, 2♀, leg. P. Rojek, FKCP ; Madhya Pradesh, 5 mi SW Manpur , 480 m., 13.I.1962, 2juvs, leg. E. S. Ross et D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; 21 mi from Damoh , 15.VII.1965, 1♀, leg. S. N. Banerjee, CASC ; Maharashtra, 3 mi NW Sinnar , 700 m., 16.I.1962, 1juv., leg. E.S.Ross et D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Khandala , 500 m., 19.I.1962, 1juv, CASC ; Daulatabad , 625 m., 27.I.1962, 1im., leg. E. S. Ross et D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; 3 mi W Edalabad , 240 m., 28.I.1962, 2♀ (ims.) 1juv., leg. E. S. Ross et D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; 5 mi SE Indapur , 450 m., 9.II.1962, 1♀ (im.), leg. E. S. Ross & D. O. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Dekan, Bombay 6♂ 18♀ 17juvs., SMFD No. 327/1; Bombay env., 1965, 1♂, FKCP ; Bombay , IV.1980, 1♀ ( Fig. 19 ), leg. P. Rojek, FKCP ; S. Poona, 5 km N Sartara , 11.VII.1996, 2♀, leg. Werner & Lorenz, FKCP ; Pondichery, Karaikal , 31.V.1951, 1juv., 16.VII.1951, 1juv., VII.1951, 1♀, III.1952, 2♂ 5♀, VI.1952, 3♀ 1juv., 22.VI.1952, 1♀, VI.1953, 1♂, VII.1953, 1♀, IV.1961, 1♀, V.1961, 1♂ 2♀, III.1962, 1♀, X.1962, 1♀, leg. P. Susai Nathan, CASC ; Karaikal, T.R.S.N. coll., 2002, 1♂ 1♀, 2003, 4♀ 1im., 2003, 2♂ 2♀, FKCP ; Rajasthan, Dausa , 1650 ft., 5.I.1962, 2juvs., leg. E. S. Ross et D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Mahwah , 280 m., 5.I.1962, 1juv., leg. E. S. Ross et D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Barr , 450 m., 7.I.1962, 1juv., leg. E. S. Ross et D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Hill S. Pali , 275 m., 8.I.1962, 1im. 1juv., leg. E. S. Ross et D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Alwar district, Naranimata env., 27 ° 05,46 N 76 ° 17,17 E, 380 m., VI–VIII.2002, 1♂ 1im. 1juv., leg. P. Šrámek, FKCP ; Tamil Nadu, Kurumbargum , VII.1954, 1♀, II.1957, 1♀, CASC ; Coimbatore , VII.1951, 1♀, 29.XII.1951, 1♀, 14.IX.1953, 1♀, V.1961, 1♀, CASC ; 10 mi S Udamalpet , 450 m., 19.III.1962, 1♀, leg. E. S. Ross & D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; outside of Madras (now Chennai ), XII.1964, 1♂ (im.), leg. F. B. Steiner, CASC ; Tiruparan Kundram, 8 km SW. Madurai , 26.XII.1989, 1juv., leg. V. et B. Roth, CASC ; Alagarkoil , 21 km NE Madurai, 27–28.XII.1989, 6juvs., leg. V. et B. Roth, CASC ; Nagia Birbhan , 30 mi. SW Agra, 240 m., 2.I.1962, 1juv., leg. E. S. Ross et D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Dindigul Anna district , 10 km NE di Dindigul, 21.X.1997, 1♂, leg. A. Sforzi & L. Bartolozzi, MZUF No. 735; Coimbatore , X.1980, 1♀, leg. P. Rojek, FKCP ; West Bengal, Calcutta , 13.VIII.1965, 1♂, col. Manik Lal Seth, 17.VIII.1965, 2♂ 3♀ 2juvs., VIII.1965, 1♀, leg. B. V. College, 9.VIII.1966, 1♂, 26.III.1967, 1♀, leg. Duial Mondal, IV.1967, 1♂, leg. K. N. Das, 4– 15.IV.1967, 1♀, leg. D. N. Santra, 9.VII.1967, 1im. 1juv., leg. Duial Mondal, 15.VII.1967, 1♀, leg. Madhab, CASC ; 6 mi. NE Borio , 220 m., 30.X.1961, 1♀, leg. E. S. Ross et D. Cavagnaro, CASC ; Calcutta , X.1980, 1♀, leg. P. Rojek, FKCP . Pakistan, 7 mi NW Las Bela dist. , 2.I.1960, 1♀, leg. S. A. Minton, CASC ; 7 mi NW Uthal, Las Bela dist. , 2.I.1960, 1♂, leg. S. A. Minton, CASC ; Tatta env., XII.1979, 1♀, 1980, 1♂, leg. P. Rojek, FKCP .

DIAGNOSIS. Total length 50–90 mm. For habitus see Figs. 114–120 . Trichobothrium db on the fixed finger of pedipalp chela situated between trichobothria et and est or on level with trichobothrium est. Male with fingers proximally twisted, manus of pedipalps wider than female. Pectinal teeth number 30–39 in males, 27–34 in females. Chelicerae yellow, reticulate. Pedipalps densely hirsute, legs and metasoma sparsely hirsute. The hairs on patella of pedipalps are short. Color uniformly yellow to reddish, mesosoma dark. Ventral carinae on metasomal segments usually black. Femur of pedipalp with 5 carinae. Patella with 2 or 4 carinae on internal surface, no other carinae. Chela lacks carinae. Movable fingers of pedipalps with 13–15 rows of granules and 5 or 6 terminal granules. Seventh mesosomal sternite smooth, with 4 well marked black carinae. First to third metasomal segments with 10 carinae; fourth metasomal segment with 10 or rarely 8 carinae; fifth segment with 5 or 7 carinae. Metasoma sparsely to densely granulated between carinae. Dorsal surface densely and very finely granulated, often bears 2 short, inconspicuous marginal carinae. Telson also granulated. Dorsal carinae of metasomal segments bear terminal granules of size approximately equal to preceding granules. First metasomal segments of adult female wider than long (in male usually as long as wide), second metasomal segment longer than wide for both sexes. Second to fourth metasomal segment width ratio about 1.1. Length to width ratio of fourth metasomal segment about 1.5. Telson bulbous, especially in large females.

COMMENTS. Fixing a neotype of H. tamulus is important because some populations were described as subspecies which are here synonymized. Since the species is widely distributed, it is important to narrow down the type locality. For these reasons I designate a male in the NMPC collection as the neotype. It is a 72 mm long specimen that matches all characters in the above diagnosis.

The lectotypes are being designated in order to stabilize the nomenclature. Fine dorsal granulation of metasomal segments and fine ventral granulation of the mesosoma are variable and their gradation used by Pocock (1900: 23–26) and Tikader & Bastawade (1983: 187–188) to distinguish subspecies of H. tamulus becomes invalid as soon as a sufficient number of specimens is examined. Generally, this granulation is much weaker in males.

The variability of coloration ( Figs. 114 and 120 ) cuts across the subspecies described by Pocock (1900: 25). It is worth mentioning that for the subspecies H. t. gangeticus Pocock (1900: 25) recorded both dark and light forms.

DISTRIBUTION: India (Fabricius, 1798: 295), Pakistan (Pocock, 1900a: 25; Khatoon, 1986: 645).

Figures

Figure 114: Hottentotta tamulus, dorsal view, male lectotype of Buthus tamulus concanensis.

Figure 115: Hottentotta tamulus, ventral view, male lectotype of Buthus tamulus concanensis.

Figure 116: Hottentotta tamulus, dorsal view, female lectotype of Buthus tamulus gujaratensis.

Figure 117: Hottentotta tamulus, ventral view, female lectotype of Buthus tamulus gujaratensis.

Figure 118: Hottentotta tamulus, ventral view, male neotype.

Figure 119: Hottentotta tamulus, dorsal view, male lectotype of Buthus tamulus sindicus.

Figure 120: Hottentotta tamulus, dorsal view, female from India, Behr, Mongyo Dist., FKCP.

Figures 17–20: Carapace and chelicerae. 17. H. saulcyi, female from Iran, prov. Bachtarán, Bisotul, 34°23'31"N 47°26'05"E, FKCP. 18. H. schach, female from Iran, prov. Fars, 10 km E of Sivand vill., FKCP. 19. H. tamulus, female from India, Maharashtra, Bombay, FKCP. 20. H. trilineatus, male from Tanzania, Arusha distr., Naberera env., FKCP.