Mesobuthus gorelovi, Fet & Kovařík & Gantenbein & Kaiser & Stewart & Graham, 2018

Fet, Victor, Kovařík, František, Gantenbein, Benjamin, Kaiser, Ronald C., Stewart, Alexander K. & Graham, Matthew R., 2018, Revision of the Mesobuthus caucasicus complex from Central Asia with descriptions of six new species (Scorpiones Buthidae), Euscorpius 255, pp. 1-77 : 21-26

Mesobuthus gorelovi sp. n.

( Figs. 63–72, 97–114, 267, 277, 292–293, 307, 326, Tables 2, 4–6) http: //zoobank. org/urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: F61979 C

B-33C0-4B76-B75C-A155EB309205

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Turkmenistan: Akhal Province , Tejen District, near Tejen Reservoir, ca. 12 km SSE of Gangaly, 36.92°N 60.83°E, 235 m a.s.l. ; FKCP.

REFERENCES (selected); see Fet (1989) and Fet & Lowe (2000) for full list before 1998:

Buthus caucasicus sbsp . typica forma β parthorum (nec Pocock, 1889): Birula, 1897: 386 (in part).

Buthus caucasius parthorum (nec Pocock, 1889): Birula, 1904b: 31 (in part); Birula, 1911: 16 (in part).

Buthus caucasicus parthorum (nec Pocock, 1889): Birula, 1917: 71 (in part).

Buthus caucasicus (nec Nordmann, 1840): Kaplin, 1978: 32.

Mesobuthus caucasicus parthorum (nec Pocock, 1889): Fet, 1980: 224; Fet, 1989: 104–107 (in part); Fet, 1994: 528 (in part); Gromov & Kopdykbaev, 1994: 20.

Mesobuthus caucasicus intermedius (nec Birula, 1897): Gromov & Kopdykbaev, 1994: 20; Sun & Zhu, 2010: 3, figs. 2, 11–13; Sun & Sun, 2011: 61, figs. 3–4, 10.

Olivierus caucasicus parthorum (nec Pocock, 1889): Fet & Lowe, 2000: 192 (in part).

Mesobuthus caucasicus (nec Nordmann, 1840): Gantenbein et al., 2003: 413 (in part; Kapchagai; Baigakum; Bukhara; Karakalpak Steppe); Parmakelis et al., 2006: 2886.

ETYMOLOGY. The species is named in honor of Yuri Gorelov (Chernogolovka, Russia), an oustanding naturalist, whose long-term work and life in Turkmenistan (Badghyz Natural Reserve) has been an inspiration and role model for many young zoologists, including VF.

DISTRIBUTION. Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan ( Figs. 328, A 5).

TYPE MATERIAL. Kazakhstan , Kyzyl-Orda Province, Chiili District , ca 2.5 km NW of Baigakum, 44.65°N 66.02°E, 127–143 m a.s.l., 25 May 2002, 1♀ 1♂ juv. (paratypes), leg. VF & AG ( FKCP) ; Zhambyl Province, Moyinkum Desert , 8 May 1979, 2juvs. (♂ ♀, paratypes) ( ZMUH) . Turkmenistan, Akhal Province, Ashgabat, Gurtly ( Kurtli ) Reservoir , 38.00°N 58.37°E, 23 April 1984, 1♀ (paratype), leg. J. Strnad ( FKCP) ; Akhal Province, Bakharden , 38.43°N 57.44°E, 26 April 1992, 1♀ (paratype), leg. M. Snížek ( FKCP) ; Akhal Province, Tejen District, near Tejen Reservoir , ca. 12 km SSE of Gangaly, 36.92°N 60.83°E, 235 m a.s.l., 3 April 2002, 1♂ (holotype, Figs. 65–72, 97–98, 101, 104, 109–111, 267, 292, 307) 1♀ ( Fig. 277) 1♂ juv. (paratypes), leg. VF & AG ( FKCP) ; Lebap Province, Charzhev District, Karakum Desert, Repetek Nature Reserve , 14 April–2 May 1990, 1♀ (paratype), leg. J. Farkač ( NMPC) , 38.55°N 63.17°E, 201 m a.s.l., 15–18 April 2002, 4♀ (paratypes, Figs. 63–64, 99–100, 102–103, 105–108, 112–114, 293) 1♂ juv. (paratype), leg. VF & AG ( FKCP) ; Mary Province, Serketabad District, Badghyz Plateau, N shore of Eroilanduz Depression , 35.68°N 61.82°E, 7 April 2002, 1♂ (paratype), leg. AG ( FKCP) . Uzbekistan, Buxoro Province, Romitan District, between Buxoro ( Bukhara ) and Gazli , 12 km NW of Kokushtuvan, 40.0838°N, 64.0672°E, 206 m a.s.l., 11 May 2002, 1♂ 1juv. (paratypes), leg. VF & AG ( FKCP) ; Fargona [ Fergana ] Province, Yazyavan District , Karakalpak Steppe , ca 18 km W of Yazyavan, 40. 6580°N, 71.5072°E, 403 m a.s.l. ( Fig. 326), 20 May 2002, 2♀ (paratypes), leg. VF ( FKCP) ; Samarqand Province, Qarshi Steppe near Mubarek , 39.33°N 65.08°E, 272 m a.s.l., 10 May 2002, 3juvs.(♂ ♀) (paratypes), leg. VF ( NMPC) .

OTHER MATERIAL STUDIED. Kazakhstan , Almaty Province, Kapchagai , 43.95°N 77.0667°E, May 2002, leg. A. Feodorov, 1♀ ( VFPC) ; Almaty Province, Balkhash District, 5-6 km SE of Bakanas, right bank of Ili River , sands, 44.77°N 76.33°E, 2-5 June 2000, 3juvs., leg. AG ( VFPC) ; Jizzak Province, Farish District , ca. 17.5 SW of Chardara, 41.1365°N 67.7930°E, 288-309 m a.s.l., 24 May 2002, 5juvs., leg. VF & AG ( VFPC) ; Kyzyl-Orda Province, Chiili District , ca 2.5 km NW of Baigakum, 44.65°N 66.02°E, 127–143 m a.s.l., 25 May 2002, 3♀ 1♂ 1juv., leg. VF & AG ( VFPC) ; Zhambyl Province, Khantau Mts. , 44.18°N 73.815°E, 637 m a.s.l., 28 May 2002, 1juv., leg. VF & AG ( VFPC) ; Zhambyl Province, Moyinkum Sands , SW of Lake Balkhash, 44.1728°N 71.1198°E, 350 m a.s.l., 28 May 2002, leg. AG & S. Morozov, 1♂ ( VFPC) . Turkmenistan, Akhal Province, E of Chagaly , 38.13°N 58.48°E, 129 m a.s.l., 31 March 2002, leg. VF & AG, 1♀ ( VFPC) ; Akhal Province, Gekdepe District, Gekdepe , 35.27°N 62.35°E, 130 a.s.l., 1 April 2002, 3juvs., leg. AG ( VFPC) ; Akhal Province, Tejen District, near Tejen Reservoir , ca. 12 km SSE of Gangaly, 36.92°N 60.83°E, 235 m a.s.l., 3 April 2002, 1♂ 2juvs., leg. VF & AG ( VFPC) ; Akhal Province, Tejen District, Gurudandan Sands , 5 km W of Kazarma, 37.30°N 60.25°E, 184 a.s.l., 2 April 2002, 1♀, leg. VF & AG ( VFPC) ; Mary Province, Bairamali District, Karakum Desert , ca. 10.5 km NNE of Zakhmet, 37.85°N 62.58°E, 233 a.s.l., 14 April 2002, 1juv., leg. VF & AG ( VFPC) ; Lebap Province, Charzhev District, Karakum Desert, Repetek Nature Reserve , 38.55°N 63.17°E, 201 m a.s.l., 15–18 April 2002, 2♀ 5juvs., leg. VF & AG ( VFPC) ; Mary Province, Serketabad District, Badghyz Nature Reserve, Kepele , 35.8°N 61.53°E, 810 a.s.l., 10 April 2002, leg. VF & AG, 1juv. ( VFPC) ; Mary Province, Serketabad District, near Oktyabr’skii Well , ca. 5 km WSW of Niyazov adyndaky, sands, 35.67°N 62.02°E, 382-380 a.s.l., 13 April 2002, 1juv., leg. VF & AG ( VFPC) . Uzbekistan, Buxoro Province, Romitan District, between Bukhara and Gazli , 12 km NW of Kokushtuvan, 40.0838°N 64.0672°E, 206 m a.s.l., 11 May 2002, leg. VF & AG, 1♀ 1juv. ( VFPC) ; Buxoro Province, S of Buxoro (Bukhara), ca. 7 km S of Navumetan, Yagzakkum Sands , 39.62°N 64.38°E, 20 April 2002, leg. AG, 1♀ ( VFPC) ; Fargona [ Fergana ] Province, Besharyk District , Kairakkum Sands , 12.5 km WNW of Besharyk, 40.4735°N, 70.4503°E, 350–352 m a.s.l., 18 May 2002, 1♀, leg. VF & AG ( VFPC) ; Fargona [ Fergana ] Province, Yazyavan District , Karakalpak Steppe , ca 18 km W of Yazyavan, 40. 6580°N 71.5072°E, 403 m a.s.l., 20 May 2002, 1♀ 2 juv., leg. VF ( FKCP) ; Samarqand Province, Qarshi Steppe near Mubarek , 39.33°N 65.08°E, 272 m a.s.l., 10 May 2002, 1♀ 1juv., leg. VF ( VFPC) .

DIAGNOSIS. Total length of adult males 49–52 mm, 61– 70 females. Trichobothrium db on fixed finger of pedipalp situated between trichobothria est and esb, near to est. Fingers little twisted identically in both sexes. Pedipalp chela length/ width ratio 3.72–4.60 in males and 3.90–4.22 in females. Pectinal teeth number 24–28 in males, 17–23 in females. Chelicerae yellow, without reticulation. Pedipalps and metasoma very sparsely hirsute. Color uniformly yellow to yellowish brown, black pigmented dorsal carinae on pedipalp femur and patella, ventral carinae on metasoma, metasomal segment V ventrally, and carapace anteriorly. Femur of pedipalp with 4–5 granulate carinae. Patella with 8 granulated or smooth carinae. Chela with smooth carinae indicated. Movable fingers of pedipalps with 12 cutting rows of denticles and 5 terminal denticles. Seventh sternite bears 4 well marked granulate carinae. First metasomal segment with 10 carinae; second to fourth with 8 carinae, other two carinae on metasomal segment II could be indicated by several denticles posteriorly; fifth with 5 carinae. All carinae granulated by consistent small blunt denticles. Length to width ratio of fourth metasomal segment 1.74–1.91 in males, 1.65–1.88 in females. Telotarsus III ventral setation represented by main row which contains ca 13–15 setae. Second paralel row contains not more than 9 setae. Pedal spur of legs densely hirsute.

DESCRIPTION. The total length of adult males 49–52 mm, 61– 70 females. Trichobothrium db on fixed finger of pedipalp is situated between trichobothria est and esb, near to est. The fingers are little twisted identically in both sexes. Chelicerae yellow, without reticulation, the tips of teeth on cheliceral fingers are black. For the position and distribution of trichobothria see Figs. 65– 69, 71–72. For measurements see tables 2 and 4–5.

COLORATION ( Figs. 97–100). The color uniformly yellow to yellowish brown, black pigmented mainly dorsolateral carinae on pedipalp femur and patella and carapace anteriorly. The black pigment also in ventral surface of metasoma and femur of legs.

MESOSOMA AND CARAPACE ( Figs. 101–104). The carapace is 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. The pectinal tooth count is 24–28 in males, 17–23 in females. The pectinal marginal tips extend to about half of the fifth sternite in males and half of the sixth sternite in females. The pectines have three marginal lamellae and seven to nine middle lamellae. The lamellae bear numerous long setae, each fulcrum with three to five setae. All sternites are smooth and sparsely hirsute. The seventh sternite bears four well marked granulate carinae. The other sternites bear two furrows.

PEDIPALPS ( Figs. 63–72). The pedipalps are sparsely hirsute and smooth. The femur bears four to five granulated carinae, the middle carina on internal surface could be incomplete indicated by several strong denticles. The patella bears eight carinae from which internal and dorsal are granulated and other are smooth in both sexes. The chela is without carinae. The movable fingers of pedipalps bear 12 cutting rows of denticles, each with external and internal denticles present, and five terminal denticles.

LEGS ( Figs. 105–108). The tarsomere I bears two rows of setae on the ventral surface and numerous macrosetae on the other surfaces. The tarsomere II (telotarsus) with main row which contains ca 13–15 setae and second parallel row contains not more than 9 setae. Pedal spur of legs densely hirsute. Femur bears only several macrosetae. Femur and patella with carinae well developed. Tibial spurs present and long on third and fourth legs and absent in the other legs.

METASOMA AND TELSON ( Figs. 109–114). All metasomal segments are only very sparsely hirsute.

The metasomal segment I with 10 carinae, II with 8 carinae but other two lateromedian carinae are indicated by incomplete row of denticles, III –IV with 8 carinae, and V with 5 carinae. All carinae are granulated by consistent small blunt denticles. The dorsal surface of all segments is smooth in the middle and bumpy on margins. Other surfaces are bumpy or smooth with several solitary granules. Ventrolateral carinae of metasomal segment V posteriorly with several large denticles. The telson is only sparsely hirsute, elongate, bumpy and smooth.

NOTES.

1. Mesobuthus gorelovi sp. n. is the largest and the most common psammophile scorpion in the lowland deserts of Central Asia ( Fet, 1980, 1994). This species has been listed for almost 120 years as Mesobuthus caucasicus parthorum (formerly Buthus c. Parthorum ) following the first assignment by Birula (1897). Most specimens available to Birula (1897, 1904a, 1911) were psammophiles that originated from the Karakum Desert (Krasnovodsk, Ashgabat, Anau, Tejen, Repetek etc.), now Turkmenistan. See also Notes under Mesobuthus parthorum below.

2. The specimens listed from Almaty Province of Kazakhstan by Sun & Zhu (2010) and Sun & Sun (2011) most likely belong to M. gorelovi . We have not studied any material from China, therefore we cannot verify the identity of the Chinese population listed by Sun & Sun (2011).