Mesobuthus eupeus ( C.L.Koch, 1839 )

Mirshamsi, Omid, Sari, Alireza, Elahi, Elahe & Hosseinie, Shidokht, 2011, Mesobuthus eupeus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Iran: A polytypic species complex, Zootaxa 2929, pp. 1-21 : 8-14

Mesobuthus eupeus ( C.L.Koch, 1839)

Fig. 9–34 , Table 1 & 2

For complete list of synonymies see Fet & Lowe (2000).

Androctonus eupeus C. L. Koch, 1839:127 , tab. 175, fig.419; Fet, 1988:85; Androctonus thersites C.L.Koch 1839: 51 , tab. 193, fig. 466; Fet, 1988:85; Androctonus ornatus Nordmann, 1840:732 ; Fet, 1988:85; Androctonus cognatus L. Koch, 1878:58 ; Fet, 1988:85; Buthus eupeus Simon 1879:100 ; Fet, 1988:85; Buthus ornatus Simon 1879: 100 ; Fet, 1988:85; Buthus cognatus Simon 1879:100 ; Fet, 1988:85; Buthus afghanus Pocock 1889a: 116 , fig.4; Fet, 1988:85; Buthus pachysoma Birula 1900: 370 ; Fet, 1988:85; Buthus barszczewskii Birula, 1904: 21 ; Buthus bogdoensis Birula, 1896:116 ; Buthus iranus Birula, 1917:40 ; Buthus kirmanensis Birula, 1900: 364 ; Buthus mesopotamicus Penther, 1912: 111 ; Buthus pachysoma Birula, 1900:370 ; Buthus persicus Pocock, 1899: 404 ; Buthus philippovitschi Birula, 1905: 122 ; Mesobuthus haarlovi Va cho n, 1958:160; Mesobuthus eupeus Vachon, 1958: 148 ; Vachon, 1966: 213; Habibi, 1971: 44; Farzanpay, 1986: 334; Fet, 1994: 527; Kovařík, 1997: 49; Kovařík, 1998: 114; Fet & Lowe, 2000: 175; Farzanpay, 1986: 150; Fet, 1988:86; Farzanpay, 1988: 38; Karataş & Karataş, 2001: 297;Teruel, 2002:75; Karataş & Karataş, 2003:1; Akbari, 2007: 76.

Material examined. M. e. eupeus : Azerbaijan Province: 1Ƥ, West Azerbaijan Province, Bazargan-Gerik road, 12 June 2008, leg. G.M. Kashani (ZUTC-arach-1118); 1Ƥ, West Azerbaijan Province, Bazargan, Oskanlu-Kalibar road, 12 June 2008, leg. G.M. Kashani (ZUTC-arach-1119); 1Ƥ, West Azerbaijan Province, Buralan- Poldasht road, 12 June 2008, leg. G.M. Kashani (ZUTC-arach-1120).

M. e. philippovitschi : Mazandaran Province: 53, 19Ƥ, ca. 15 km South of Kiasar, Savasareh village, 36.23ºN, 53.54ºE, 15 July 2008, leg. O. Mirshamsi (ZUTC-arach-1083 to ZUTC-arach-1105); 13, 4Ƥ, ca. 40 km Southwest of Chalus, Kordichal, 36.5166ºN, 51.2166ºE, 30 June 2006, leg. O. Mirshamsi (ZUTC-arach-1003 to ZUTC-arach-1007).

M. e. afghanus : Khorasan Razavi Province: 1Ƥ, 1 juv., Gonabad, ca.10 Km Northeast of Kakhk, 34.185°N, 58.754°E, 23 March 2007, leg. O. Mirshamsi (ZUTC-arach-1001, 1002); 5Ƥ13, 2 juv., ca.10 Km Northeast of Kakhk, 34.185N, 58.75486E, 1 April 2009, leg. O. Mirshamsi (ZUTC-arach- 1145 to 1152); 5Ƥ, Gonabad, ca. 6 km South of Kakhk, 2 April 2009, leg. O. Mirshamsi (ZUTC-arach- 1153 to 1157); 2Ƥ, Nehbandan, Mighan vill., 31.821 ºN, 59.5044 ºE, 10 July 2008, leg. O. Mirshamsi (ZUTC-arach-1106, 1107).

. M. e. thersites : Turkmenistan: 1Ƥ, 13, Mary Welayaty, Kushka Distr., Badkhyz Reserve, ca. 14–15km SSW of Kyzyldzhar cordon, N. Env. of Eroilanduz, between Bashchenko Well and Kazan Mt., 35 42.067°N, 61 48.883°E, 7 April 2002, leg. A.V. Gromov ( SMF 40264). Khorasan Razavi Province: 2Ƥ, ca. 5 km South West of Mashhad, 36.28ºN, 59.4976ºE, 1 April 2007, leg. O. Mirshamsi (ZUTC-arach-1008, 1009); 3Ƥ, SW of Mashhad, 36.280º N, 59.40º E, 1 April 2007, leg. O. Mirshamsi (ZUTC-arach- 1007 to 1009); 6Ƥ, ca. 30 km SW of Mashhad, Moghan vill., 36.116º N, 59.37º E, 19 April 2007, leg. O. Mirshamsi (ZUTC-arach- 1011 to 1016); 5Ƥ, 9 juv., Sarakhs-Mashhad road, Robat-e Sharaf, 36.316º N, 60.583º E, 13 March 2008, leg. M. Tarahomi (ZUTC-arach- 1032 to 1036); 8Ƥ, ca. 5km SW of Mashhad, 36.280ºN, 59.49ºE, 30 March 2008, leg. O. Mirshamsi (ZUTC-arach- 1047 to 1054); 3Ƥ, ca. 55 km E of Neishaboor, Pivezhan vill., 36.033º N, 59.33º E, 1 April 2008, leg. O. Mirshamsi (ZUTC-arach- 1055 to 1057); 1Ƥ, E of Neishaboor Aliabad vill., 2 May 2009, leg. N. Eskandar Zadeh (ZUTCarach-1159); 1Ƥ, Neishaboor, Binaloud Mountain, Northern Slope, 20 July 2009, leg. O. Mirshamsi (ZUTC-arach- 1180); 2Ƥ, vicinity of Espharayen, 15 June 2010, leg. E. Jamili (ZMFUM-arach-1188, 1189); 6Ƥ 23, ca. 60 km to Espharayen, Pelmis, Shirdeh vill., 20 June 2010, leg. E. Jamili (ZMFUM-arach- 1190 to 1197); 3Ƥ, 33, 3 juv., ca. 10 km S of Kakhk, Maqas vill., 23 March 2010, leg. O.Mirshamsi (ZMFUM-arach- 1198 to 1205); Semnan Province: 1Ƥ, Biarjomand, Khankhodi vill., 30° 0 1 54.7N 50° 0 4 57.6E, 1150 m a.s.l., 27 October 2008, leg. E. Entezari (ZUTC-arach-1131); 1Ƥ, between Ahmadabad and Mohammadabad, Kalate Hizoumi, 30° 28 48.3N, 49° 0 4 12.5 E, 1085 m a.s.l., 27 October 2008, leg. E. Entezari (ZUTC-arach-1130); 13, Semnan, Desret Research centre, 1 August 2009, leg. E. Entezari (ZMFUM-scr-1186).

M. e. kirmanensis : Kerman Province: 1Ƥ, 13, vicinity of Rafsanjan, April 2003, leg. O. Mirshamsi1,(ZUTC-arach-1060, 1061); Ƥ, Jiroft, Khatoon Abad vill., 28° 36 23 N, 57° 43 0 4.5 E, 11 December 2008, leg. G. M. Kashani (ZUTC-arach-1158); 1Ƥ, vicinity of Jiroft, 10 October 2009, leg. E. Entezari (ZMFUMscr-1183); Yazd Province: 1Ƥ, Yazd, Mehriz-Marvast road, 31.109°N 54.211°E, 9 December 2008, leg. G.M. Kashani (ZUTC-arach-1138); Sistan va Baluchistan Province: 1Ƥ, ca. 90 km S of Zahedan, 28.74°N, 60.77°E, 23 November 2008, leg. O. Mirshamsi (ZUTC-arach-1135); 2Ƥ, 13, ca. 10 km S of Bampur, Bampur River, 27.17°N, 60.46°E, 22 November 2008, leg. O. Mirshamsi (ZUTC-arach- 1132 to 1134); 43, 1Ƥ, vicinity of Zabol, 31.04°N, 61.48°E, 1 May 2008, leg. O. Mirshamsi (ZUTC-arach- 1019 to 1023); 1Ƥ, ca. 90 km S of Zahedan, 28.74°N, 60.77°E, 23 November 2008, leg. O. Mirshamsi (ZUTC-arach-1135); 2Ƥ, 13, ca. 10 km S of Bampur, Bampur River, 27.17°N, 60.46°E, 22 November 2008, leg. O. Mirshamsi (ZUTC-arach- 1132 to 1134).

Diagnosis. Scorpions of medium size, adults 34–57 mm in total length; M. eupeus has eight carinae on metasomal segment IV and is distinguished from M. gibbosus with 10 carinae on this segment. This species differs from M. caucasicus in the number of diagonal rows of denticles on the movable finger of pedipalp (10–11 and 12–13, respectively) and having more prominent lyre-shaped prosomal carination. Also, M. vesiculatus is easily recognizable from M. eupeus by its inflated telson and very short aculeus. Generally, metasomal segments II–IV of M. eupeus are much more robust with eight complete carinae; Pedipalp chela in M. eupeus relatively inflated, wider than patella; with short fingers; Pedipalp femur and patella dorsally smooth; Telson oblong-ovoid or subglobose with dorsal surface flat.

Description: Based on both males and females.

Coloration: Almost light yellowish-brown with a pattern of blackish markings on prosoma and mesosoma arranged into five longitudinal rows. Legs slightly lighter than body and without color patterns; ventral surface slightly lighter than dorsal; metasoma yellow; basal half of metasomal segment V dark brown; ventrolateral carinae of metasomal segments with dusky markings. Pedipalps with dusky markings.

Carapace ( Fig. 9 & 24 ): trapezoid-shaped; wider than long (Ca_L/Ca_Pw: 0.77–0.94 (0.86); Ca_L/Ca_Aw: 1.38– 1.90 (1.45); Ca_Aw/ Ca_Pw: 0.46–0.64 (0.59)); intercarinal space of prosoma smooth and finely granular; anterior margin of prosoma strongly emarginate; prosoma carination well developed and typical of genus Mesobuthus ; central median and posterior median carinae not completely aligned and a slight gap occurs at their junction; anterior median carinae moderately granular; central median, posterior median and central lateral carinae granular; lyra configuration well-developed; in most specimens last granule of posterior median carinae rounded and not extended beyond the posterior margin of prosoma; anteromedian sulcus shallow to absent; posteromedian sulcus shallow and wide; posterolateral furrows wide and curved; posteromarginal furrow narrow and deep; anterior margin with transverse row of distinct setae; ocular tubercle located on anterior half of prosoma with following index: X/ Y = 0.64–0.79 (0.72); distance between median eyes more than twice ocular diameter; three pairs of lateral eyes.

Chelicerae: with two basal denticles on ventral aspect of fixed finger; movable finger with equally sized external and internal distal denticles.

Mesosoma ( Fig. 10 & 11 ): Tergites I–VI tricarinate; lateral carinae on tergites I and II weakly developed, with few distinct granules; tergite VII pentacarinate with lateral pairs moderate serratocrenulate; median carinae on tergite VII incomplete, present on anterior half and weakly granulate; intercarinal surface of tergites finely granulate or smooth; lateral margins of sternites III–VI smooth; on VII weakly crenulated; sternites III–VI without carinae; sternites VII with four moderately developed carinae; pectines long, extends beyond the coxa-trochanter joint of leg IV; with three marginal lamellae and 7–9 median lamellae; fulcra present; pectinal teeth present along the entire posterior margin of each pectine; pectinal tooth count 15–21 in females and 22–24 in males; Sternum Type I, subpentagonal and slightly longer than wide; with a deep median depression flanked by a pair of setae; Genital operculum completely divided longitudinally and with short and scattered bristles.

Legs ( Fig. 25 ): Ventral surface of tarsi with two rows of stout spiniform setae; legs III–IV with tibial spurs; with bifurcate prolateral pedal spurs; prolateral spur with distinct setae.

Metasoma ( Fig. 12–14 & 26–29 ): Segment I decacarinate; Segments II–IV octocarinate; dorsolateral carinae moderately serrate; lateral supramedian moderate to strong, crenulate; lateral inframedian carinae incomplete and present only on posterior half of segments II–III; Ventrolateral carinae moderate to strong, crenulated; ventral carinae on segments II and III strong, serrate, raising posteriorly and usually terminate to a large terminal denticles; Ventrolateral carinae of segment V strongly serrate with large posterior denticles; ventromedian carinae moderate to strong with large posterior granules; dorsal furrow of all segments well developed; anal arch with well-developed denticles; lateral anal arch with two or three teeth; intercarinal spaces of metasomal segments smooth.

Telson: Telson oblong-ovoid with dorsal surface flat (Tl_L/W=1.97–2.64 (2.26); Tl_L/H= 2.16–2.70 (2.44)); ventral surface of telson with median and lateral rows of weak granules; with two distinct subaculear setae ( Fig.12 & 26–27 ).

Pedipalps ( Fig. 15–19 ; 30–31) Pedipalps covered sparsely with short macrosetae; chela inflated, wider than patella and smooth; carinae absent; fingers short (Movable finger length/Manus length= 1.18–1.92(1.54)); dentate margins of fixed and movable fingers with 10 and 11 oblique rows of granules, respectively; with an apical cluster of four small denticles at base of robust terminal denticle on movable finger. Femur pentacarinate and intercarinal space smooth; all carinae distinct and granular, internomedian carinae with short spiniform granules. Patella tetracarinate and intercarinal surface smooth; internomedian carinae with spiniform granules; dorsomedian carinae weakly developed; dorsointernal, internomedian and ventrointernal carinae moderately granular. Trichobothria et and est located just between fourth and fifth and seventh and eighth outer accessory denticles, respectively.

Trichobothriotaxy ( Fig. 35 ): Orthobothriotaxic type Aβ, with following segment totals: femur, 11 (5 dorsal, 4 internal, 2 external), patella, 13 (5 dorsal, 1 internal, 7 external) and chela, 15 (8 manus, 7 fixed finger); in total 39 trichobothria per pedipalp; trichobothria esb, Esb, Eb3, d2 (patella) and d2 (femur) petite.

Hemispermatophore ( Fig. 32–34 ): long and slender, typical of the genus Mesobuthus and the family (flagelliform); with four distinct lobes at truncal flexure; internal lobe larger than others.

Figures

FIGURE 35. Trichobothriotaxy and the number of trichobothria on each segment of pedipalps in M. eupeus. The name and abbreviation of trichobothria after Vachon (1974). The number of trichobothria on each side of pedipalp segments are presented in parentheses.

FIGURES 9 – 14. Female Mesobuthus eupeus thersites under UV fluorescence collected from North East of Iran. 9) prosoma; 10) coxosternal area; 11) right pectine; 12) lateral aspect of metasomal segment V; 13) ventral aspect of metasomal segment V; 14) lateral aspect of metasomal segment II and III. Scale bar: 1, 2: 2 mm; 3: 0.6 mm; 4, 5, 6: 2 mm.

FIGURES 15 – 19. Female Mesobuthus eupeus thersites under UV fluorescence collected from North East of Iran. 15 – 17) dorsal, external and ventral aspect of pedipalp chela; 18) Dorsal aspect of pedipalp patella; 19) Dorsal aspect of pedipalp femur. White circles indicate the position of trichobothria. Scale bar: 7,8,9: 2.25 mm; 10,11: 2 mm.

FIGURES 20 – 21. Mesobuthus eupeus thersites female collected from Northeast of Iran. Habitus viewed under UV fluorescence. 20) dorsal and 21) ventral aspects. Scale bar: 5 mm.

FIGURES 22 – 23. Mesobuthus eupeus thersites male. Habitus viewed under UV fluorescence. 22) dorsal and 23) ventral aspects. Scale bar: 5 mm.

FIGURES 24 – 31. External morphology of female Mesobuthus eupeus thersites. 24) carination of prosoma; 25) prolateral aspect of third walking leg showing bifurcate pedal spur; 26 – 27) ventral and lateral aspects of metasomal segment V and telson; 28 – 29) lateral aspect of metasomal segment II and III; 30 – 31) ventral and external aspects of pedipalp chela, the names of trichobothria are after Vachon (1974). Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURES 32 – 34. Hemispermatophore of M. eupeus eupeus. 32) Ventral aspect of right hemispermatophore; 33) Dorsal aspect of hemispermatophore lobes; 34) Ventral aspect of hemispermatophore lobes. Scale bar = 1 mm.