Hottentotta conspersus (Thorell, 1876)

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 : 14-17

Hottentotta conspersus (Thorell, 1876)

( Figs. 6 , 26–29 )

Buthus conspersus Thorell, 1876: 115 ; Kraepelin, 1895: 81; Pavesi, 1895b: 38; Pavesi, 1897: 156; Kraepelin, 1905: 195; Hewitt, 1918: 103; Lawrence, 1955: 225.

Buthotus conspersus : Vachon & Stockmann, 1968: 96; Lamoral & Reynders, 1975: 500; Lamoral, 1979: 549; Newlands, 1987: 38; El-Hennawy, 1992: 115.

Hottentotta conspersa : Sissom, 1990: 90; Kovařík, 2001b: 79; Kovařík, 2002: 7.

Hottentotta conspersus : Kovařík, 1998: 110; Fet & Lowe, 2000: 136; Prendini, 2000: 110; Leeming, 2003: 47; Prendini, 2005: 66.

Buthus trilineatus : Kraepelin, 1899: 21 (in part).

Buthus hottentotta : Kraepelin, 1891: 185 (in part).

= Buthus conspersus aeratus Lawrence, 1927: 69 ; Lawrence, 1928: 269 (syn. by Lamoral, 1979: 549).

Buthus aeratus : Lawrence, 1955: 207, 225; Lawrence, 1959: 384; Lawrence, 1962: 220; Lawrence, 1972: 8.

Buthotus aeratus : Vachon & Stockmann, 1968: 94; Lamoral & Reynders, 1975: 500.

= Buthus angolensis Monard, 1930: 38 ; Monard, 1937: 253 (syn. by Vachon & Stockmann 1968: 94).

Buthotus angolensis : Vachon, 1949: 147 (1952: 233).

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Caffraria; NRHS.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Angola, Naulila env., 1985, 1♂ 1♀ ( Figs. 6 , 26–29 ), leg. J. Cimrman, FKCP . Namibia, 1938, 2♀ 1im., leg. G. Boss, SMFD No. 5393; Farm Okatji Komu, 2♀, 27.X.1952, SMFD ; 1juv., 1956, leg. F. Gardes, SMFD ; near Sesfontein , Kaoko, 2♀, IX.1965, FKCP , 24.I.2002, 1♀, leg. Werner, FKCP ; 28 mi. N Outjo , 1200 m., 22.XII.1966, 1♀, leg. E. S. Ross & A. R. Stephen, CASC ; Namib desert, Garob Mine, 750 m., 10.X.1967, 1♀ (im.), leg. E. S. Ross & A. R. Stephen, CASC ; Farm Glucksburg 152 nr. Outjo, 23.IV.1980, 1♀, leg. A. Harington, CASC ; 13 mi. SE Welwitschia , 800 m., 22.XII.1966, 1♂ 1♀, leg. E. S. Ross & A. R. Stephen, CASC .

DIAGNOSIS. Total length 40–65 mm. For habitus see Figs. 26–29 . Trichobothrium db on the fixed finger of pedipalp situated between trichobothria et and dt, close to or on level with et. Sexual dimorphism not readily apparent, width of pedipalp chela same in both sexes. Pectinal teeth number 19–28 in males, 13–20 in females. Entire body only very sparsely hirsute, especially metasomal segments. Color yellow to yellowish brown. Carapace and carinae on mesosoma and metasoma may be black. As blackish may be the fifth metasomal segment and telson. Chelicerae yellow without reticulation, only tips of teeth on fingers of chelicerae are black. Femur of pedipalps with five carinae, patella with eight carinae. Dorsal surfaces of femur and patella usually granulated. Chela very narrow and with dorsal carinae incomplete. Movable fingers of pedipalps with 11–14 rows of granules and 5 or 6 terminal granules. Seventh metasomal segment with 4 well defined ventral carinae. Mesosoma and carapace granulated. First to fourth metasomal segments with 10 carinae. Fifth metasomal segment with 5 carinae and two ventral rows of granules. Metasoma densely granulated between carinae. First metasomal segment width to length ratio 1.22–1.42 in males, 1.28–1.47 in females. Telson granulated and extremely bulbous.

DISTRIBUTION: Angola ( Monard, 1930: 38), Namibia ( Lawrence, 1927: 69). Reports from South Africa (Thorell, 1876: 118; Vachon & Stockmann, 1968: 94) are regarded as dubious, and definitely erroneous are also reports from Somalia ( Pavesi, 1895b: 38; Pavesi, 1897: 156). Specimens from Somalia were most likely confused with H. polystictus , which has a telson usually more inflated than Hottentotta but smaller than H. conspersus and H. arenaceus . The latter species has been erroneously reported from South Africa.

Figures

Figure 26: Hottentotta conspersus, dorsal view, male from Angola, Naulila env., FKCP.

Figure 27: Hottentotta conspersus, ventral view, male from Angola, Naulila env., FKCP.

Figure 28: Hottentotta conspersus, dorsal view, female from Angola, Naulila env., FKCP.

Figure 29: Hottentotta conspersus, ventral view, female from Angola, Naulila env., FKCP.

Figures 5–8: Carapace and chelicerae. 5. H. buchariensis, female from Afghanistan, prov. Kabul, Poli Charky, FKCP. 6. H. conspersus, male from Angola, Naulila env., FKCP. 7. H. franzwerneri, male lectotype. 8. H. gentili, female from Morocco, Bouizakame, Timoulye, FKCP.