Orthochiroides, Kovarik, 1998

Kovařík, František & Lowe, Graeme, 2022, Review of Orthochiroides Kovařík 1998 with description of a new species (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Euscorpius 349, pp. 1-42 : 21

Key to species of Orthochiroides

1. Movable finger of pedipalps with 7 rows of median denticles, 7 ID and 7 OD (Figs. 111–114); metasoma IV–V of adults ventrally smooth and punctate; punctae on ventral surface of metasoma V small, with diameters less than mean distance between their centroids, occupying less area than smooth surfaces between them ( Figs. 82–83 ); pedipalps more slender, patella L/W 2.5–3.0 …… ........... 2

– Movable finger of pedipalps with 8–9 rows of median denticles, 9 ID and 9 OD (Figs. 115–118); metasoma IV–V of adults ventrally rugose-reticulate; inter-reticular depressions or lacunae on ventral surface of metasoma V large, irregularly shaped, with diameters comparable to mean distance between their centroids, occupying more area than raised reticular surfaces ( Figs. 13–18 , 60–63 , 84–86 ); pedipalps more stout, patella L/W 2.1–2.3. ....... 3

2. Pedipalps with patella and chela manus brown or black, darker than fingers (Figs. 87–94); sternite VII matte, almost smooth ................................... O. insularis (Pocock, 1899)

– Pedipalps with patella and entire chela yellow (Figs. 95– 102); sternite VII coarsely granulated ................................ ............................................. O. socotrensis Kovařík, 2004

3. Border between dorsomedian and dorsolateral surfaces of metasoma IV–V distinct, demarcated by dorsosubmedian carina; dorsal surfaces of metasoma III–V weakly rugose laterally ( Fig. 86 ); metasoma IV ventromedially rugosegranulate ( Fig. 85 ). ..................... O. vachoni Kovařík, 1998

– Border between dorsomedian and dorsolateral surfaces of metasoma IV–V indistinct, not demarcated by dorsosubmedian carina; dorsal surfaces of metasoma III–V strongly rugose or rugose-reticulate laterally ( Fig. 18 ); metasoma IV ventromedially granulate ( Fig. 17 ). …………………………………… O. somalilandus sp. n.

Figures

Figures 82–86: Orthochiroides, males. Figures 82. O. insularis, metasoma and telson, ventral view. Figures 82. O. socotrensis, holotype, metasoma and telson ventral view. Figures 84–86. O. vachoni, paratype, metasoma and telson, lateral (84), ventral (85), and dorsal (86) views. Scale bars: 10 mm (82–83, 84–86).

Figures 13–18: Orthochiroides somalilandus sp. n. Figures 13–15. Female paratopotype, metasoma and telson, lateral (13), ventral (14), and dorsal (15) views. Figures 16–18. Male holotype, metasoma and telson, lateral (16), ventral (17), and dorsal (18) views. Scale bars: 10 mm (13–15, 16–18).

Figures 60–63. Orthochiroides vachoni, male from Socotra, metasoma V and telson lateral (60), and metasoma and telson, lateral (61), dorsal (62), and ventral (63) views. Scale bar: 10 mm (61–63).