Hottentotta nigrimontanus, Kovařík & Lowe, 2021

Kovařík, František & Lowe, Graeme, 2021, Scorpions of the Horn of Africa (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Part XXVI. Records of Hottentotta polystictus (Pocock, 1896), with descriptions of H. haudensis sp. n. and H. nigrimontanus sp. n. (Buthidae) from Somaliland, Euscorpius 330, pp. 1-28 : 16-23

Hottentotta nigrimontanus sp. n.

( Figures 91–135 , 138–139 , 147–150 , Table 2) http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:98AC8E51-

D3BA-43E0-B4FE-C7FDE28546DB

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Somaliland , Mader Mage village, between Erigavo and Maid, 10°48'03"N 47°17'46"E, 1389 m a. s. l. (Locality No. 18SD, Fig. 139 and fig. 82 in KovařÍk et al., 2019a: 15) ; FKCP.

TYPE MATERIAL ( FKCP). Somaliland , between Erigavo and Maid, 10°48'15"N 47°19'14"E, 1031 m a. s. l. (Locality No. 17SL), 3.IX.2017, 1♂ 3♀ 3♂ juvs. 7♀ juvs. (paratypes, 1399), leg. F. KovařÍk et al.; Mader Mage vill., between Erigavo and Maid, 10°48'03"N 47°17'46"E, 1389 m a. s. l. (Locality No. 18SD), 23.VIII.2018, 1♂ (holotype) 1♂ 4♀ (paratypes), leg. F. KovařÍk ; Rugay village , between Erigavo and Maid, 10°50'46"N 47°18'23"E, 428 m a. s. l. (Locality No. 18 SE) , 24.VIII.2018, 1♂ (paratype, 1337), leg. F. KovařÍk ; Maid , 11°00'03"N 47°06'30"E, 52 m a. s. l. (Locality No. 18SG =17SN), 25.VIII.2018, 1♀ juv.(paratype), leg. F.KovařÍk ; Buq vill. near Erigavo, 10°37'25"N 47°10'53"E, 1723 m a. s. l. (Locality No. 18SH), 27.VIII.2018, 5♂ 1♀ 1♂ juv. 2♀ juvs. (paratypes, 1547), leg. F. KovařÍk.

ETYMOLOGY. Named after the Cal Madow Mountains ("Black Mountains") where the new species is found (see Fig. 138 ).

DIAGNOSIS. Total length of adult males 47–58 mm, of females 55–65 mm. Trichobothrium db on fixed finger of pedipalp situated between trichobothria et and est. Sexual dimorphism not pronounced; manus of pedipalp of usually about the same width in both sexes, but males have fingers of pedipalps slightly undulate. Pectinal teeth number 24–27 in males, 19–23 in females. Chelicerae yellow without reticulation. Pedipalps sparsely hirsute. Metasoma with only a few setae. Base color yellowish or orange brown. Dorsal surfaces of pedipalps and ventral surfaces of metasoma with numerous dark spots. Mesosoma yellowish to reddish brown, with black spots. Femur of pedipalp with 5 carinae that may be incomplete. Patella with 8 granulated carinae. Chela lacks carinae, surfaces usually granulate. Movable fingers of pedipalps with 13–14 rows of denticles and 4 or 5 terminal and one basal terminal denticles. Seventh sternite bears 4 well marked granulated carinae. Metasoma I–III with 10 carinae; metasoma IV with 8 or 10 carinae; metasoma V with 5 carinae. All carinae granulated, dorsal carinae bear larger posterior terminal granules. Metasoma narrow; metasomal segment I of adults longer than wide; metasomal segment IV length/width ratio 1.66–1.83 in both sexes. Telson vesicle bulbous, telson length/depth ratio 2.52–2.56 in females.

DESCRIPTION. Total length of adult males 47–58 mm, females 55–65 mm. Trichobothrium db on fixed finger of pedipalp is situated between trichobothria et and est. Pedipalp fingers slightly undulate in males and almost straight in females. Female has more bulbous telson vesicle than males. Chelicerae yellow without reticulation. For the position and distribution of trichobothria see Figs. 113–117, 119–120 .

Coloration ( Figs. 91–94 , 132–135 ). Whole body yellowish or orange brown; carapace, tergites, metasoma, telson, dorsal surfaces of pedipalps and legs with black spots; tarsomeres of legs yellow without spots.

Carapace and mesosoma ( Figs. 95–98 ). Carapace carinate and unevenly covered by granules of varying size; much of the granulation is fine, but some granules are larger and distinctly rounded. Tergites I–VI bear three carinae and are granulated, with some intercarinal granules small and others larger and rounded. Tergite VII is pentacarinate. Pectinal tooth count is 24–27 (9x24, 8x25, 7x26, 1x27) in males and 19–23 (3x19, 11x20, 16x21, 4x22, 4x23) in females. Pectinal marginal tips extend to the proximal ¾ of sternite IV in males and to the proximal ¾ of sternite III in females. Pectines have 3 marginal lamellae and 8–9 middle lamellae. Lamellae bear numerous dark long setae, each fulcrum with 3–5 setae. All sternites sparsely hirsute and finely granulated with smooth parts mainly in medial area. Sternite VII with four granulate carinae, other sternites have two furrows.

Metasoma and telson ( Figs. 105–112 ). All metasomal segments only very sparsely hirsute. Metasoma I–III with 10 carinae, metasoma IV with 8 or 10 carinae, metasoma V with 5 carinae. All carinae granulated, dorsal carinae bear larger posterior terminal granules. All metasomal segments of adults longer than wide. Telson vesicle bulbous and sparsely granulated. Telson length/depth ratio 2.52–2.56 in females.

Pedipalps ( Figs. 113–131 ). Pedipalps sparsely hirsute and granulated. Femur with five granulate carinae, patella with eight granulate carinae and chela without carinae but surfaces are usually finely granulate. Movable fingers of pedipalps bear 13–14 rows of denticles and 4 or 5 terminal and one basal terminal denticles.

Legs ( Figs. 99–102 ). Tarsomeres have two rows of macrosetae on the ventral surface and numerous macrosetae on the other surfaces; bristle combs absent. Femur coarsely granulose with only several macrosetae, femur and patella with carinae well developed. Moderate tibial spurs present on legs III–IV and absent on other legs.

Hemispermatophore ( Figs. 147–150 ). Flagelliform; flagellum folded into pars recta and pars reflecta. Pars recta shorter, with fin-like expansion of anterior margin; pars reflecta about twice as long as pars recta, narrow, hyaline. Trunk long, narrow, basally widened with attached pedicel. Capsule short, sperm hemiduct divided into 3 laminate lobes: posterior lobe longest, with gently pointed apex; median lobe shortest, tapered, apically acuminate, concave side connected to posterior lobe along proximal half of midline rib or median lobe carina; anterior lobe of intermediate length, distal portion narrower but not tapered, with blunt apex. Basal lobe short, strong, hook-like, located at base of median lobe. Morphology was similar in 6 examined hemispermatophores (left and right hemispermatophores from 3 paratypes: 1337, 1399 and 1547). Measurements of left hemispermatophore of paratype 1547 (mm): trunk L, 6.00; capsule L 0.55; flagellum pars recta L 1.65, pars reflecta L 2.60, total L 4.25.

Measurements. See Table 2.

AFFINITIES. The described features distinguish H. nigrimontanus sp. n. from all other species of the genus. Certain morphological features (characteristic spots and narrow metasoma) are shared with H. polystictus , suggesting a close affinity with this species. These two species can be differentiated by: 1) total length 47–58 mm (males), 55–65 mm (females) in H. nigrimontanus sp. n., vs. total length 35–45 mm (males), 40–55 (females) mm in H. polystictus ; 2) chelicerae yellow without reticulation ( Figs. 103–104 ) in H. nigrimontanus sp. n., vs. chelicerae yellow with anterior manus reticulated ( Fig. 8 ) in H. polystictus ; 3) pectinal tooth counts of 24–27 in males, 19–23 in females of H. nigrimontanus sp. n., vs. counts of 22–24 in males, 18–20 in females in H. polystictus .

COMMENTS ON LOCALITY AND LIFE STRATEGY. The type locality of H. nigrimontanus sp. n., 18SD (Somaliland, Mader Mage vill., between Erigavo and Maid, 10°48'03"N 47°17'46"E, 1389 m a. s. l., Fig. 139 and fig. 82 in KovařÍk et al., 2019a: 15) is a mountain slope with trees and bushes, and is also the type locality of the scorpionid Pandinurus fulvipes KovařÍk et al., 2019 . All specimens were collected by day under rocks and at night during UV collecting. At this locality, the first author recorded a minimum nighttime temperature of 24 ºC. The minimum recorded humidity was 37%.

The locality 18SH is a mountain slope in rocky semidesert terrain at 1723 m a. s. l. (cf. fig. 83 in KovařÍk et al., 2019a: 15). The first author visited the locality in the dry season. All specimens were collected by day under rocks and at night during UV collecting. At this locality, the first author recorded a maximum daytime temperature of 27 ºC, and a minimum nighttime temperature of 17 ºC. The recorded humidity was between 37% (minimum at day) and 69% (maximum at night).

The locality, 18SE is rocky semi-desert (cf. fig. 42 in KovařÍk et al., 2019a, and fig. 46 in KovařÍk et al., 2019b), and is also the type locality of the buthid Barbaracurus feti KovařÍk et al., 2019 . The paratype male of H. nigrimontanus sp. n. was recorded at night during UV collecting. The first author visited the locality on 24–25 August 2018 and recorded a maximum daytime temperature of 38 ºC and a minimum nighttime temperature of 32 ºC. The recorded humidity was between 20% (minimum at day) and 33% (maximum at night). More information about the locality is available in KovařÍk et al. (2019a).

The locality, 18SG (=17SN) is in a sandy semi-desert to desert area (cf. fig. 120 in KovařÍk et al., 2018a). The paratype juvenile was recorded at night during UV collecting. More information about the locality is available in KovařÍk et al. (2018) .

Figures

Figures 91–94: Hottentotta nigrimontanus sp. n., paratypes from locality 17SL. Figures 91–92. Male, dorsal (91) and ventral (92) views. Figures 93–94. Female, dorsal (93) and ventral (94) views. Scale bar: 10 mm.

Figures 95–104: Hottentotta nigrimontanus sp. n., paratypes from locality 17SL. Figures 95, 97. Male, chelicerae, carapace and tergites I–III (95) and sternopectinal region and sternites (97). Figures 96, 98–104. Female, chelicerae, carapace and tergites I–III (96), sternopectinal region and sternite III (98), left legs I–IV, retrolateral aspect (99–102), and left chelicera dorsal (103) and ventral (104) views.

Figures 105–112: Hottentotta nigrimontanus sp. n., paratypes from locality 17SL. Figures 105, 107–109. Male, telson lateral (105), and metasoma and telson lateral (107), ventral (108), and dorsal (109). Figures 106, 110–112. Female, telson lateral (106), and metasoma and telson lateral (110), ventral (111), and dorsal (112). Scale bar: 10 mm (107–109, 110–112).

Figures 113–131: Hottentotta nigrimontanus sp. n. Figures 113–122. Male holotype, pedipalp chela dorsal (113), external (114) and ventral (115) views, patella dorsal (116), external (117) and ventral (118) views, femur and trochanter internal (119), dorsal (120), and ventral (121) views, and movable finger dentition (122). Figures 123–131. Female paratype from locality 17SL, pedipalp chela dorsal (123), external (124) and ventral (125) views, patella dorsal (126), external (127) and ventral (128) views, femur and trochanter internal (129) and dorsal (130) views, and movable finger dentition (131).

Figures 132–133: Hottentotta nigrimontanus sp. n., male paratype from locality 18SD (132) and female paratype from locality 17SL (133) in vivo habitus.

Figures 134–135: Hottentotta nigrimontanus sp. n., female paratype from locality 17SL, in vivo habitus with newborns (134) and with juveniles after first ecdysis (135).

Figures 138–139: Figure 138. Map showing the distribution of Hottentotta in Somaliland checked during 2011–2019 expeditions, including records of H. polystictus from Djibouti and Ethiopia. Figure 139. Hottentotta nigrimontanus sp. n., type locality (18SD).

Figures 147–150: Hottentotta nigrimontanus sp. n., hemispermatophore, paratype male (1547). Figure 147. Whole left hemispermatophore, convex view. Figures 148–150. Capsule region of left hemispermatophore, posterior (148), convex (149) and anterior (150) views. Scale bars: 1 mm (147), 200 μm (148–150).

Figures 7–14: Hottentotta polystictus, topotypes, Somaliland, Hamas, between Hargeisa and Berbera, 10°02.267'N 44°47.299'E. Figures 7, 9, 11–14. Male, chelicerae, carapace and tergites (7), sternopectinal region and sternites (9), and left legs I–IV, retrolateral aspect (11–14). Figures 8, 10, Female, chelicerae, carapace and tergites I–V (8), and sternopectinal region and sternites (10).