Heterometrus thorellii (Pocock, 1892) Kovařík, 2004

Kovařík, František, 2004, A review of the genus Heterometrus Ehrenberg, 1828, with descriptions of seven new species (Scorpiones, Scorpionidae), Euscorpius 15 (15), pp. 1-60 : 44

Heterometrus thorellii (Pocock, 1892) comb. n.

( Fig. 29 )

Palamnaeus bengalensis : Simon, 1884: 36–38 (360– 362); Simon, 1887: 112.

Heterometrus (Heterometrus) bengalensis : Couzijn, 1981: 117 (in part); Kovařík, 1998: 137 (in part); Fet, 2000: 432 (in part); Kovařík, 2002: 17.

Palamnaeus thorellii Pocock, 1892: 40 ; Laurie, 1896a: 193; Laurie, 1896b: 127; Weidner, 1959: 103.

Scorpio longimanus thorellii : Kraepelin, 1895: 40.

Palamnaeus longimanus : Pocock, 1900: 97 (in part).

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Burma, now Myanmar ; BMNH.

MATERIAL EXAMINED. Myanmar, Prome , 1♀ (det. Couzijn, 1977 as Heterometrus bengalensis ), SMFD No. 7986/160; Burma, Shayetunyo, 3ims. 13juvs, BMNH ; Birmania , Mandalay, 1885–1889, 1♂, leg. L. Fea, MZUF No. 1014; Bago Division , Bago Yoma, A 18.81670, E 96.08504, 10.XII.1998, 1♂ 1♀ 6ims.6juvs., leg. J. B. Slowinski, H. E. Robeck, and K. D. Wiseman, CASC ; Malun , 19.VIII.1974, 1♂ 1♀, leg. J. Dostál, FKCP ; XI.1984, 1♂, FKCP ; Division Magwe (Upper Minhla), Malyn Camp. , IX–X.1985, 1♂, leg. M. Veselý, FKCP ; W. Mandalay division, Bagan ( Pagan )-Nyaung- U, 29–31.V.1997, 1♂, leg. J. Rejsek, FKCP .

DIAGNOSIS. Adults 90–120 mm long. Base color of adults uniformly brownish to black, only manus and telson may be reddish brown. Pectinal teeth number 13– 18 in both sexes. Male with chela, femur and patella of pedipalp narrower and longer than in female. Chela not lobiform in male, slightly lobiform in female, its length to width ratio 3.8–5.5 in male, 2.6–3.1 in female. Much of manus reticulate, sparsely punctate and with smooth carinae, without granules. Patella of pedipalp with pronounced internal tubercle. Carapace usually with disc smooth and margins granulate. Telson hirsute, elongate, vesicle longer than aculeus.

COMMENTS. The taxonomy of this species has a rather complex history. First Simon (1884: 36–38) believed it to be P. bengalensis ; then Pocock (1892: 40) described it as P. thorellii and distinguished it from the very similar P. longimanus , but subsequently (1900) he placed it in the synonymy of P. longimanus . This species can be easily distinguished from H. bengalensis on having a pronounced internal tubercle on the patella of pedipalp. It is more similar to H. longimanus , but has a different geographic distribution. The morphological differences between these species are given in the key below. Although Couzijn (1981: 117) was aware of some of the differences, he refused to accept the authenticity of the original type series of H. bengalensis and based on it his new species, H. (Chersonesometrus) fastigiosus Couzijn, 1981 (see comments under H. bengalensis ). For that reason most references to and identifications of H. bengalensis between 1981 and 2002 are mistaken and in reality pertain to H. thorellii (Pocock, 1892) comb. n.

DISTRIBUTION. Myanmar ( Simon, 1884: 38; Pocock, 1892: 40).

Figures

Figure 29: Heterometrus thorellii, dorsal view, male.