Scorpio viatoris Pocock, 1890: 100
Pandinurus ( Pandipalpus ) bartolozii Rossi, 2015a: 10
Pandinurus ( Pandipalpus ) flagellicauda Rossi, 2015a: 10
Pandinurus ( Pandipalpus ) lorenzoi Rossi, 2015a: 10
Pandinurus ( Pandipalpus ) pantinii Rossi, 2015a: 10
Pandinurus ( Pandipalpus ) pygmaeus Rossi, 2015a: 10
Redefinition And Systematic Revision Of The East African Scorpion Genus Pandinoides (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae) With Critique Of The Taxonomy Of Pandinus, Sensu Lato
Prendini, Lorenzo
Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History
2016
2016-09-21
2016
407
1
66
(Pocock, 1890)
Pocock
1890
[775,1145,538,562]
Arachnida
Scorpionidae
Pandinurus
GBIF
Animalia
Scorpiones
59
2
Arthropoda
species
viatoris
Pandipalpus
Scorpio viatoris Pocock, 1890: 100, 101, pl. I, fig. 1. Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) bartolozii Rossi, 2015a: 10, 11, 22–26, 28, 37, 40, 42, 55, 65, table 2, figs. 46–56, 125, syn. nov. Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) flagellicauda Rossi, 2015a: 10, 11, 22–25, 28, 29, 34, 37, 39, 41, 56, 65, table 2, figs. 57–66, 125, syn. nov. Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) lorenzoi Rossi, 2015a: 10, 11, 13, 23, 25, 26, 29, 37, 40, 42, 58, 65, table 2, figs. 74–80, 125, syn. nov. Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) pantinii Rossi, 2015a: 10, 11, 26, 27, 37, 39, 41, 60, 65, table 2, figs. 90–98, 125, syn. nov. Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) pygmaeus Rossi, 2015a: 10, 11, 26, 28, 29, 36, 39, 41, 61, 65, table 1, figs. 99–105, 125, syn. nov.
TYPE MATERIAL: Scorpio viatoris: Holotype ♂( BMNH1890.4.15.1) [examined], “East Africa” [probably Malawior Zambia]. Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) bartolozii: Holotype ♂(MZUF 1059), allotype ♀(MZUF 1456), Kolwezi, Shaba, Democratic Republic of the Congo(D. R.C.), ii.1990, D. Mosca. Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) flagellicauda: Holotype ♂(MZUF 1457), allotype ♀, 4 ♀ paratypes(MZUF 1458), 1 ♂, 1 ♀ paratypes(ARPC 0251, 0252 ex MZUF), Kolwezi, Shaba, D. R.C., ii.1990, D. Mosca. Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) lorenzoi: Holotype ♂(ARPC 0024), Morogoro, Kigulunyembe, Mt. Uluguru, Tanzania, 18-31.iii.2008. Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) pantinii: Holotype ♂(MSNB), Balaka, Malawi, xii.2004, E. Ferrario. Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) pygmaeus: Holotype ♀[subad.] (MSNB), Likasi, S.-E. Shaba, D. R.C., ii.1986, K. Tshikamba. The type locality of P. viatorisis unknown, but the holotypedescribed by Pocock (1888)probably originated from former British colonial territory, either Northern Rhodesia(now Zambia) or Nyasaland(now Malawi), rather than former German colonial territory (Tanganyika, now Tanzania) as suggested by Rossi (2015a: 65, fig. 125). There are at present no confirmed records of P. viatorisfrom Kenya(former British East Africa).
DISTRIBUTION: Prendini et al. (2003: 234)discussed putative records of P. viatorisfrom Zimbabwe, demonstrated that these records actually occur in Zambia, and noted that there are no credible records of Pandinussouth of the Zambezi River. Kovařík (2012: 19, fig. 64) did not cite Prendini et al. (2003)and erroneously plotted three points for P. viatorissouth of the Zambezi River, one in the extreme north of Zimbabwe(presumably, the specimen erroneously labelled “ Mashonaland” [ZMB 35310]) and two in Mozambique, corresponding to the approximate locations of Teteand Beira, where this species does not appear to occur based on surveys by the author. Rossi (2015a: 29)discussed the reliability of Kovařík’s (2012)Zimbabwean record, but apparently missed the point about the Zambezi River, as he did not mention the other two localities, and went on to describe a new Pandinurusspecies allegedly from Messina, in the Limpopo Provinceof South Africa(see above).
REMARKS: Rossi (2015a)described five new species in a new subgenus Pandipalpus, three based on singletons, among them an immature specimen, two from the same locality in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and one from a locality nearby. With one exception, the meristic data (total body length, pedipalp trichobothrial counts, pectinal tooth counts and counts of spiniform macrosetae in the pro- and retroventral rows of the telotarsi) listed as diagnostic for the five species by Rossi (2015a: 23–25, 27, 28, 36, 37, table 1, 2) overlap entirely with one another and with the ranges given for P.viatoris(reproduced here in table 6) with which they are evidently conspecific. The putatively diagnostic difference in total body length between P. pygmaeusand the other species may be dismissed on account of the immaturity of the holotypeof the former. As with P. janae, discussed above, Rossi (2015a: 29)mistakenly regarded the holotypeof P. pygmaeusto be adult and this assumption formed the basis of his justification for its recognition as a new species: “ Pandinurus ( Pandipalpussubgen. n.) pygmaeus n. sp.ha dimensioni minori, 83 mm, contro 100– 125 mm.” It is, however, clear from Rossi’s (2015a: 28, 36, 61, table 1) meristic data and figures 99–105 that the holotypeof P. pygmaeusis immature and that it is conspecific with P.viatoris. The holotypesof P. bartoloziiand P. flagellicauda, originally part of the same series of specimens, were previously examined by F. Kovařík (in 1997), considered conspecific, and identified as P. viatoris( Kovařík and Whitman, 2005: 114; Kovařík, 2012: 21). Curiously, Rossi (2015a: 25)appears to have regarded the sympatric occurrence of these specimens as evidence for their distinctiveness, despite the lack of data supporting any possible ecological difference: Pandinurus ( Pandipalpussubgen. n.) flagellicauda n. sp.vive in simpatria con la specie Pandinurus( Pandipalpus subgen. n.) bartolozziin. sp. dalla quale differisce in modo netto. Purtroppo il raccoglitore non ha allegato informazioni ecologiche ai campioni raccolti per cui possiamo solo ipotizzare che le due specie condividano lo stesso ambiente della foresta pluviale. In view of the evidence, the following new synonyms are presented: Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) bartoloziiRossi, 2015= Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) viatoris( Pocock, 1890), syn. nov.; Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) flagellicaudaRossi, 2015= Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) viatoris( Pocock, 1890), syn. nov.; Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) lorenzoiRossi, 2015= Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) viatoris( Pocock, 1890), syn. nov.; Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) pantiniiRossi, 2015= Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) viatoris( Pocock, 1890), syn. nov.; Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) pyg- maeusRossi, 2015 = Pandinurus( Pandipalpus) viatoris( Pocock, 1890), syn. nov.Ongoing research has revealed low levels of genetic divergence between populations of P. viatorisin Malawiand Tanzania, further supporting the conclusion that P. viatorisis a single, panmictic species (L. Prendini, unpublished data).
ADDITIONAL MATERIALEXAMINED: 1 subad. ♀( AMNH). DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO: Haut-Katanga Prov.:Lukafu, 10°31′S 027°33′E, 1930, G.F. de Witte, 1 ♀( MRAC61.608 old 23.806), 6–22.xii.1930, G.F. de Witte, 3 juv. ♀( MRAC23.970–972), 1 juv. ♂, 2 juv. ♀( MRAC23.973–975); Monasterie N.O. de Béthanie [ 04°24′S 019°19′E], Katanga, 10°00′S 027°00′E, 1947, R. R. Soeurs, 1 ♂( MRAC57.722). Haut-Lomami Prov.:Bukama, 09°12′S 025°51′E, 1937, P. Brien, 1 ex.( MRAC168.782); Kabongo, 07°20′S 025°35′E, 1952, Dierkx, 1 ♀( MRAC73.615); Kamina [ 08°44′S 024°59′E], Luabo [ 09°03′S 024°47′E], 1949, Ecole Normale, 1 ♀( MRAC65.801); Kisanga [ 06°51′S 024°10′E], Kele [ 06°55′S 023°10′E], Katanga, 1959, R.F.A. van Oost, 5 ex.( MRAC207.425). Lualaba Prov.:Muema, 10°25′S 024°49′E, 1927, A. Bayet, 3 ♂, 2 juv.( MRAC130.812), 3 ex.( MRAC130.813). Zilo [ 10°30′S 025°28′E], Shaba, v.1991, 1 ♂( NHRM[JF, 57]). Maniema Prov.:Misosa [?Musasa, 03°53′S 026°49′E], vii.1939, H.J. Bredo, 13 ex.( MRAC57.597–610), 19 ex.( MRAC57.611–630), 19 ex.( MRAC57.631–650). North Kivu Prov.:Beni, 00°29′N 029°28′E, Lisfrane, 1 ♂, 1 ♀( MRAC57.743). Tanganyika Prov.:Tanganika, J. Hecq, 1 ♂( MRAC130.814); Baudouinville [Kirungu], 07°02′S 029°47′E, iii.1954, H. Bomans, 1 juv.( MRAC78.968). KENYA: Rifl Valley Prov.: Narok Distr.:S Guaso Nejiro, Toita plains, 1 subad. ♀( USNM). MALAWI: Southern ( Blantyre) Region: Mangochi Distr.: Fort Johnston [ Mangochi, 14°29′S 035°16′E], Sir Alfred, 1 ♂(TM 17462 ex AM2179); Mangochi[ 14°28′S 035°16′E], Rift Valley 1 ♂( AMNH); Monkey Bay [ 14°03′S 034°55′E], 14.vii.1975, D. Eccles, 1 ♀( AMNH[AH 204]), 3 juv. ♂( AMNH[AH 191, 192, 230]), 2 juv. ♀( AMNH[AH 229, 231]), 19.vi.1975, D. Eccles, found in burrow with mother, 1 juv. ♂, 1 juv. ♀( AMNH), 23.xii.1993, C. R. Owen, 1 juv. ♂, 1 juv. ♀( NHRM[JF 140]); Monkey Bay, ca. 1 kmS on road S128 to Mangochi, 14°06′25″S 034°55′01″E, 13.xii.2007, L. Prendini & W. R. Schmidt, 485 m, mesic savanna (Miombo Woodland) on flat plain with low granite/dolerite koppies (plains in between), coarse sandy-loam soils, UVlight detection on warm, dark (overcast), humid night after rain, sitting motionless on soil surface near base of tree, 1 ♂( AMNH), [leg] ( AMCC[ LP8025]). Zomba Distr.: Chinsewu Village, 20.5 km W Zombaon Namadidi Road, 15°19′20″S 35°11′28″E, 11–14. xii.2007, L. Prendini, W. R. Schmidt & R. Mbaya, 584 m, mesic savanna (Miombo Woodland) remnants on flat plain in old lands (subsistence agriculture/hoed fields of maize) in between freshly-hoed lands, well-drained sandy/clayey-loam soil, excavated from burrows in open ground and at base of bushes, burrows often multi-entranced, with several individuals (mixed sex and age) occupying same burrow, 13 ♂, 14 ♀, 6 subad. ♂, 9 subad. ♀, 21 juv. ♂, 20 juv. ♀( AMNH), 2 juv. ♀( AMCC[ LP8026]). MOZAMBIQUE:Chifurubasi, iv–v.1905, W. Tiesler, 1 ♂(ZMB 1092/05). Nampula Prov.: Nampula Distr.: NampulaMountain [ Nampula, 15°07′S 39°16′E, iii.1976, K. Groseh, 1 ♀(NM 10984). Zambézia Prov.: Gurué Distr.: Lioma [ 15°10′S 036°48′E], 22.ii.2001, C. R. Owen, 1 ♀( NHRM[JF 110]), 1 subad. ♂( NHRM[JF 112]), 28.ii.2001, C. R. Owen, 1 ♀( NHRM[JF 111]). TANZANIA:Imported for pet trade, probably Serengeti area, 1994, ex M. Scharmach, 2 ♂, 1 subad. ♀, 1 juv. ♂( AMNH[ LP332]), 2 ♂( AMNH[ LP337]), 1 ♂( AMCC101704 [ LP1557]). Arusha Prov.: Karatu Distr.: Karatu, 03°21.177′S 035°48.871′E, 6.viii.2015, M. Roppo, 1264 m, 1 juv.[leg] ( AMCC[ LP13453]). Dodoma Prov.: Kondoa Distr.: Kath Mission, Kwa Mtoro [ 05°14′S 035°26′E], Ussandawi, i–ii.1912, Dr. E. Obst, 1 ♂, 2 ♀, 1 subad. ♀( ZMH). Lindi Prov.: Kilwa Distr.: Mbarawala Plateaux, 09°02.374′S 039°07.206′E, 29.ii–4.iii.2008, P. Hawkes, 270 m, 1 ♂( AMNH). Liwale Distr.: Liwale [ 09°08′S 038°17′E], iv.1948, C.P.J. Iomides, 1 ♂( NMK295). Mara Prov.: Serengeti Distr.: Serengeti, 1 ♀( NMK298), x.1949, 1 ♂( NMK296), ii.1959, 1 juv. ♂( NMK297 old 42). Seren- geti National Park, Wandamu Kopjes, 02°29.441′S 034°55.367′E, 1.viii.2015, M. Roppo, 1523 m, 1 juv.[leg] ( AMCC[ LP13452]). Rukwa Prov.: Mpanda Distr.: Lake Tanganyika, Smithsonian Institution African Expedition, 1 ♂( USNM156/396); Mpanda town, 06°30′S 031°30′E, xii.1980, K.M. Howell, 1 ♀( MRAC159.310). Singida Prov.: Singida Distr.: Mangasini [ 04°53′S 034°09′E], 14.xii.1929, A. Loveridge, 2 ♂, 1 ♀( MCZ15573); Usandawi, 1929–1930, Fliegner, 1 ♀(ZMB 146D/33); Usandawi, Mangasini [ 04°53′S 034°09′E], 13.xii.1929, A. Loveridge, 1 juv. ♀( MCZ15572). ZAMBIA: Eastern Prov.: Chipata Distr.: Chief Sayiri area, 30 mi.from Fort Jameson [Chipata, 13°38′S 032°39′E], 6–18.i.1965, V.J. Wilson, 2 ♂, 2 subad. ♂, 2 subad. ♀, 1 juv. ♂(NM 9090); Fort Jameson, V.L. Wilson, 2 ♂, 2 ♀(NM 18772), i.1965, V.J. Wilson, 1 ♂(TM 17461). Northern Prov.: Mpulungu Distr.: Mpulungu, 08°46′S 031°08′E, 1994, P.D. Plisnier, 1 ♂( MRAC209.525). ERRONEOUS RECORD: Mashonaland[ Zimbabwe], 1893, R. Bartels, 1 ex.(ZMB 35310 old 1247/1911).