Microananteris serrulata, Lourenço, 2021

Lourenço, Wilson R., 2021, The genus Microananteris Lourenço, 2003 in French Guiana (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Zoosystema 43 (20), pp. 377-386 : 380

Microananteris serrulata n. sp.

( Fig. 4 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9D94680B-E248-40CF-A9D4-475B5A56EBDD

MATERIAL EXAMINED. — French Guiana. Holotype. ♀; RN Trésor ; 4°35’28”N, 52°18’04”W; 27.IV.1999; J.-M. Betsch leg; dense humid forest of low altitude ( Fig. 5 ), in organic soil (extracted by the Berlese method); MNHN-RS-RS9154 .

ETYMOLOGY. — The specific name refers to the strong serrulas present on metasomal segments II to IV.

DIAGNOSIS. — Total length, including telson 14.00 mm (see Table 1). Anterior margin of carapace straight. Small pectines with 10-11 teeth. Spiracles with a semi-oval shape.Telson with a moderate granulations laterally. Dorsal carinae of metasomal segments II-IV with strongly marked spinoid granules forming serrulas. Trichobothria: Eb 2,3 of chela hand in a more proximal position; dt and db of fixed finger distal in relation to et and est; i trichobothrium of patella very close to d 5; femur trichobotrium d 5 distal in relation to e 1.

DESCRIPTION BASED ON FEMALE HOLOTYPE

Coloration

Basically brownish-yellow, symmetrically marbled with dark brown, producing an overall spotted appearance. Prosoma: carapace yellow, largely covered with brown spots; eyes surrounded by black pigment. Mesosoma: pale brown-yellow with confluent yellow stripes. Metasomal segments I to V yellowish with several pale brown spots; segment V with better marked spots ventrally. Telson: vesicle yellow with brownish spots laterally and ventrally; aculeus yellow at base and reddish at tip. Venter globally pale yellow. Chelicerae yellow with variegated spots over most of surface; better marked anteriorly; fingers yellow with reddish teeth. Pedipalps yellowish densely marked with pale brownish spots which are better marked on femur and patella; chela slightly paler than patella; fingers brownish with rows of granules slightly reddish. Legs yellow densely marked with brownish spots.

Morphology

Carapace moderately granular; anterior margin straight. Anterior median superciliary and posterior median carinae weak. All furrows moderate to weak. Median ocular tubercle distinctly anterior to the centre of carapace; median eyes separated by c. 0.60 of one ocular diameter. Three pairs of lateral eyes. Sternum subpentagonal. Mesosoma: tergites moderately to weakly granular. Median carina moderate to weak in all tergites.Tergite VII pentacarinate. Venter: genital operculum divided longitudinally, each plate having a more or less suboval shape. Pectines small; pectinal tooth count 10-11; most proximal tooth absent; basal middle lamellae of pectines not dilated; fulcra absent. Sternites smooth with short semioval spiracles; sternites III-IV with two longitudinal marked furrows; VII with a few granulations and vestigial carinae. Metasomal segments I and II with 10 carinae, crenulate; segments III-IV with 8 carinae, crenulate; dorsal and subdorsal carinae with spinoid granules forming serrulas; intermediate carinae incomplete on segment II; intercarinal spaces moderately to weakly granular; segment V rounded and with five carinae moderately marked. Telson with a ‘pear-like’ shape, almost smooth with dorsal and ventral carinae; presence of some lateral granulations; aculeus very short and moderately curved; subaculear tooth strong and almost rhomboid. Cheliceral dentition characteristic of family Buthidae ( Vachon 1963) ; fixed finger with two moderate basal teeth; movable finger with two very weak basal teeth; ventral aspect of both finger and manus with dense, long setae. Pedipalps: femur pentacarinate; patella and chela with a few vestigial carinae; internal face of patella with a few vestigial granules; all faces weakly granular, almost smooth. Movable fingers with 6-6 almost linear rows of granules; two accessory granules present at base of each row; extremity of movable fingers with three accessory granules. Trichobothriotaxy: orthobothriotaxy A- β ( Vachon 1974, 1975). Legs: tarsus with very numerous fine median setae ventrally. Tibial spurs developed on leg IV but reduced on leg. III.

Figures

FIG. 4. — Microananteris serrulata n. sp., female holotype: A-E, trichobothrial pattern: A, B, chela, dorso-external and ventral aspects; C, D, patella, dorsal and external aspects; E, femur, dorsal aspect; F, cutting edge of movable finger showing rows of granules; G, metasomal segments III-V and telson, lateral aspect. Scale bars: 1 mm; except for F, 0.5 mm.

FIG. 5. — Dense humid forest of low altitude in the RN Trésor, type locality of M. serrulata n. sp. Photo: Johan Chevalier.