Scorpiops ingens, Yin, Shijin, Zhang, Yunfeng, Pan, Zhaohui, Li, Shaobin & Di, Zhiyong, 2015

Yin, Shijin, Zhang, Yunfeng, Pan, Zhaohui, Li, Shaobin & Di, Zhiyong, 2015, Scorpiopsingens sp. n. and an updated key to the Scorpiops from China (Scorpiones, Euscorpiidae, Scorpiopinae), ZooKeys 495, pp. 53-61 : 54-57

Taxon classification Animalia Scorpiones Euscorpiidae

Scorpiops ingens sp. n. Figs 1-4, 5-8, 9-18

Type material.

Holotype male (USTC), China: Xizang, Lhasa banlieue, 26/VII/2014, Zhiyong Di leg. (Ar.-USTC-XZLS1401); paratypes: 1 adult female, 1 immature fe male, and 1 juvenile male, same data as holotype (Ar.-USTC-XZLS1402-1404) (kept in USTC).

Diagnosis.

In accordance with the grouping of species proposed by Kovařík (2000) for the genus Scorpiops , the new species, which has 7 (rarely 8) trichobothria on the ventral surface of the patella, has to be placed in the Scorpiops hardwickii “complex” group. The new species differs from other members of the group in having yellow-brown color, larger size (length of adults above 70.0 mm), small and dense granules on the tegument, a pair of small median eyes and a lofty median ocular tubercle.

Comments. There are four close relatives from China distributed near to Scorpiops ingens sp. n.: Scorpiops hardwickii , Scorpiops langxian , Scorpiops petersii , and Scorpiops pococki . But Scorpiops hardwickii , Scorpiops langxian , and Scorpiops pococki with red-brown to black-brown color, body length no longer than 65 mm. Although Scorpiops petersii also above 75.0 mm, its carapace is not densely granulated, granules on its mesosoma are widely spaced, with the distance between them far greater than their size ( Kovařík 2000: 193), while the granules are dense on the carapace and mesosoma of Scorpiops ingens sp. n.

Etymology.

The specific name refers to the size of the morphology of the new species.

Description.

Based on male holotype and female paratype.

Coloration. Mostly yellow to yellow-brown (Figs 1-4). Carapace yellow-brown with unconspicuous dark stripe (Figs 5, 7), median and lateral ocular tubercles black. Tergites and metasoma segments yellow-brown. Vesicle yellow-brown with a dark brown aculeus. Chelicerae yellow-brown, with fingers black brown and gradually lighter toward the tip. Pedipalp yellow-brown, with the carinae black-brown. Legs yellow-brown. Claws yellow-brown with brown tips. Sternum and sternites yellow-brown (Figs 6, 8). Genital operculum, basil piece and pectines yellow (Figs 6, 8).

Morphology. Prosoma: Carapace coarse, with sparse and large granules in the area of the front of the eye region, with dense and minute granules in the area of the behind of the eye region; lateral furrow broad and flat; anterior median furrow broad and deep; posterior median furrow deep; anterior margin nearly smooth; posterior and lateral margins and other parts with dense, minute granules (Figs 5, 7). Median eyes small and same as the first lateral eye, situated anterior to the center of the carapace; three pairs of lateral eyes, the third smallest. Median ocular tubercle high and smooth, with a median furrow, which having some granules. Lateral ocular tubercle with some big smooth granules.

Mesosoma: Tergites are almost completely densely covered with equal minute granules in male holotype, posterior part with some bigger granules in female paratypes; from tergite II to VI the trace of a median carina first appears and gradually becomes distinct; on tergite VII with a distinct apophysis and two pairs of lateral carinae. Sternum pentagonal (Figs 6, 8). Pectinal teeth count 6-8 (rarely 8), fulcra absent (Figs 6, 8). Genital opercula subtriangular (Figs 6, 8). Sternites smooth and shiny (Figs 2, 4); segment VII ventrally with four weak carinae.

Metasoma: Tegument coarse. Segments I to V are longer than wide; segments I to V have 10-8-8-8-7 carinae, segments II–IV with a pair of vestigial lateral carinae; all carinae granular; on segment V, ventral carinae with larger serration. Vesicle smooth, with some granules and few setae.

Chelicerae: Tibiae smooth. Movable finger with 4 denticles on dorsal edge and 6 denticles on ventral edge (smaller in female). Fixed finger with 3 denticles on dorsal edge.

Pedipalps: Tegument of femur and patella coarse, tegument of chelae and ventral aspects of femur and patella smooth. Femur with dorsointernal, dorsoexternal, external, ventroexternal, ventrointernal carinae granulated, and internal carinae crenulated. Patella with dorsoexternal, dorsointernal, external, ventrointernal, ventroexternal carinae with large, smooth granules; two small spinoid granules present on the internal aspect. Trichobothrial pattern C, neobothriotaxic; patella with 17 external trichobothria (5 eb, 2 esb, 2 em, 4 est, 4 et) and 7 or 8 (usually 7) ventral trichobothria (Figs 15-18). Chela with 4 ventral trichobothria, with dorsal marginal, external secondary, and ventral internal carinae, all smooth; internal carina vestigial only with few large granules (Figs 9-14). Male pedipalp chela fingers stronger curved than females.

Legs: Tegument coarse except coxa and trochanter. Trochanter with few granules and setae. Femur dorsal surface densely granular and ventrally smooth, internally with 2 granular carinae. Patella dorsal surface densely granular and ventrally smooth, with dorsoexternal, dorsal and ventroexternal granular carinae. Tibiae with few setae, without spurs. Basitarsus with more setae, and two lateral pedal spurs. Tarsus ventrally with row of spinules. Ungues falcate.

Variation.

Female and male: coloration and morphology are very similar. Number (left/right) of ventral trichobothria on the pedipalp patellae: two females with 8/7 and 7/7, two males with 7/7. Number of pectinal teeth: two females with 6/6, two males with 7/7 and 7/8. Measurements in Table 1.

Habitat.

Under stones on a hillside with ruderal vegetation.

Distribution.

China (Xizang).