Orthochirus zagrosensis, Kovařík & 1996, 2004

Kovařík, Baloorthochirus becvari & 1996, 2004, Revision and taxonomic position of genera Afghanorthochirus Lourenço & Vachon, Baloorthochirus Kova ík, Butheolus Simon, Nanobuthus Pocock, Orthochiroides Kova ík, Pakistanorthochirus Lourenço, and Asian Orthochirus Karsch, with descriptions of twelve new species (Scorpiones, Buthidae), Euscorpius 16, pp. 1-33 : 22-23

Orthochirus zagrosensis sp. n.

( Table 1)

Orthochirus sp. n.?: Kovařík, 1997: 47 (in part).

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Iran, Dasht-E- Arzhan , 29°34’644”N, 51°56’889”E, alt. 2000 m ; FKCP.

TYPE MATERIAL. Iran, Dasht-E-Arzhan, 21– 22.4.2000, 29°34’644”N, 51°56’889”E, alt. 2000 m, 1♂ A (holotype), leg. J. Šobotník ; prov. Boyerahmad-va- Kuhgiluyeh, alt. ca. 1800–2500 m, Zagros Mts., Kuh-e- Dinar ridge, Yasuj 10 km N by road, 30°39’N, 51°36’E, 1–2.V.1996 (loc. No. 13 in Frynta et al., 1997: 4), 1♀ A (allotype) A, leg. J. Pitulová ; prov. Esfahan, alt. ca. 2000–2200 m, Zagros Mts., Qamishlu , 32°02’N, 51°29’E, 27–28.IV.1996, (loc. No. 5 in Frynta et al., 1997: 4), 1♀ E (paratype), leg. M. Kaftan ; prov. Yazd, E of Taft , 31°44’N, 54°13’E, 1542 m, 7.IV.2004, 1im.A (paratype), leg. V. Vignoli & P. Crucitti ; prov. Yazd, W of Baghdadabad, Taft , 31°35’N, 54°24’E, 1502 m, 9.IV.2004, 1♀ A (paratype), leg. V. Vignoli & P. Crucitti ; prov. Yazd, 23 km W of Ardakan , 32°09’N, 53°49’E, 1450 m, 12.IV.2004, 1♀ A (paratype), leg. V. Vignoli & P. Crucitti. All types are in FKCP.

ETYMOLOGY. Named for the Zagros Mountains, where the entire type series has been collected .

DIAGNOSIS: Fourth and fifth metasomal segments ventrally punctate and without carinae. Spaces among punctae smooth, without granules. Metasoma ventrally glabrous (short, thin setae may issue from punctae), dorsolateraly may bear marginal row of long hairs. Dorsal surface of all metasomal segments mesially smooth, without granules. Mesosoma and metasoma black, telson reddish brown to black, femur and patella of legs and pedipalps black, tibiae of legs yellow to yellowish green, manus of pedipalp black, fingers yellow to yellowish green. Movable fingers of pedipalps bear 8 or 9 rows of granules with internal and external granules and 2 distal granules. Tarsomere I of first to third legs with bristlecombs composed of only 4–6 bristles, fourth legs without bristlecombs.

DESCRIPTION: The adult male is 28.4 mm long and the females are about 45 mm long. Measurements of the carapace, telson, segments of the metasoma and segments of the pedipalps, and numbers of pectinal teeth are given in Table 1. The distance between trichobothria d 1 and d 3 on the femur of pedipalp is approximately equal to that between d 3 and d 4; trichobothrium e 1 is situated between d 3 and d 4.

COLORATION: The mesosoma and metasoma are black, the telson is reddish brown, the femur and patella of legs and pedipalps are black, and the manus of pedipalp is also black; only the fingers of pedipalps and tibia of legs are yellowish green. The seventh sternite is black, other sternites are yellowish green.

MESOSOMA AND CARAPACE: The mesosoma bears a median carina. The carapace is densely granulated, only the interocular triangle is smooth. The seventh sternite is smooth or granulated and bears four smooth or granulated carinae. The other sternites are smooth. Pectinal teeth number 18 to 20 in the females and 21 or 22 in the male.

METASOMA AND TELSON: The first segment bears 10 granulated carinae, only lateral carinae may be smooth. The second and third segments lack lateral carinae, the fourth segment bears only dorsal carinae, and the fifth segment bears dorsal carinae and two incomplete ventrolateral carinae present only in the posterior half and composed of large teeth. All segments are smooth and punctate. Punctation is weak on the first three segments and better developed on the fourth and fifth segments of adults, but less so in juveniles. Spaces among punctae are smooth. The dorsal surface of all segments is mesially smooth except for several tubercles along dorsolateral carinae. The entire metasoma and telson are nearly glabrous, only the dorsolateral edges of segments, particularly of the fifth segment, bear a single row of long hairs in the allotype and of short, inconspicuous hairs in the holotype and paratype. The telson is punctate and lacks granules.

PEDIPALPS: The femur of pedipalp bears four smooth carinae of which the ventral carinae are poorly developed. The patella has seven smooth carinae, and the chela has smooth carinae which may be discernible throughout the length of the fixed fingers. The pedipalps may be hirsute, especially the femur. The movable fingers bears 8 or 9 rows of granules with external and internal granules and 2 distal granules.

LEGS: The femur bears four granulated carinae, the patella may have five carinae, and the tibia is smooth. The patella bears only a few solitary hairs and spines. The tibia bears several spines, namely on the outer side where they form two rows. Tarsomere I of first to third legs bears bristlecombs composed of 4-6 bristles, fourth legs lack bristlecombs.

AFFINITIES. The described features distinguish Orthochirus zagrosensis sp. n. from all other species of the genus. O. zagrosensis sp. n. is close to O. fuscipes (Pocock, 1900) from Pakistan, which differs in coloration (see the key below).