Grosphus angulatus, Lowe & KOvAřík, 2022

Lowe, Graeme & KOvAřík, FRANtIšEk, 2022, Reanalysis of Teruelius and Grosphus (Scorpiones Buthidae with descriptions of two new species, Euscorpius 356, pp. 1-105 : 75-79

publication ID

https://doi.org/ 10.5281/zenodo.7475051

publication LSID

lsid:zoobank.org:pub:FB8F03EF-37AC-4462-894A-51E23F4E0A93

persistent identifier

https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3E597234-FFB6-CB14-6328-E0D1FD138229

treatment provided by

Felipe

scientific name

Grosphus angulatus
status

sp. nov.

Grosphus angulatus View in CoL sp. n.

( Figs. 13–15 View Figures 13–16 , 20 View Figures 19–22 , 23–28 View Figures 23–28 , 30–35 View Figures 29–33 View Figure 34 View Figure 35 , 43–44 View Figures 36–44 , 49–50 View Figures 45–52 , 54 View Figures 53–66 , 71–74 View Figures 67–90 , 93–94, 103–105 View Figures 91–104 View Figures 105–129 , 160 View Figures 150–164 , 165–167 View Figures 165–168 , 175–178 View Figures 173–178 , 180, 182–183 View Figures 179–182 View Figure 183 , 189 View Figures 184–189 , 196–209 View Figures 196–199 View Figures 200–203 View Figures 204–205 View Figures 206–209 , 285–324, 326–327 View Figure 285 View Figure 286 View Figures 287–288 View Figures 289–303 View Figures 304–309 View Figures 310–319 View Figures 320–327 , 393, Tabs. 13–14) http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8CA04BBF-

5698-459A-8E69-AA16838667E1

Grosphus sp. nr hirtus Lowe & Kovařík, 2019: 13 , 19, 21, 30–31, 41, 43–44, 54, 60; figs. 26, 36, 40, 107, 111, 158.

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Madagascar: Moramanga env., Anjiro, 1995; NZAC, GLPC .

TYPE MATERIAL. Madagascar: Moramanga env., Anjiro, 10.II.1995, 1♀ (holotype), 4♀ (paratypes) NZAC; 1♀ (paratype) GLPC.

ETYMOLOGY. The species name refers to the angulate distal vertex of the modified basal pectinal tooth ( bpt ) in females.

DIAGNOSIS (ADULT FEMALES). Medium-sized member of the genus, total length of adults around 50 mm; base color dark reddish-brown, carapace with weak variegated fuscous pattern; pedipalp patella with obsolete dorsointernal carina; femoral trichobothrium e 1 level with or slightly proximal to d 5; pedipalp chela movable finger with 11–12 median denticle subrows, fixed finger with 13; female bpt with angulate distal vertex; PTC 14– 16; spiracles wide, ovoid in profile; metasoma II–IV with 3–4 robust, dentate granules on posterior dorsosubmedian carinae; telson vesicle hemielliptic in lateral profile, with small subaculear tubercle; morphometrics, L/W ratios (n = 6): metasoma I 0.86– 0.92, metasoma II 1.06–1.10, metasoma III 1.18–1.20, metasoma IV 1.42–1.45, metasoma V 1.84–1.90, pedipalp chela 3.72–3.86, pedipalp femur 2.45–2.74, pedipalp patella 2.06–2.24.

DESCRIPTION (FEMALE). Coloration ( Figs. 285–286 View Figure 285 View Figure 286 , 310, 312, 314–317 View Figures 310–319 ). Base color dark reddish-brown; carapace with weak variegated fuscosity; coxosternal area and sternites III–VI dark orange-brown; pectines yellow; legs dark-reddish brown to orange-brown, with more pale telotarsi; chelicerae dark reddish-brown, dorsal manus with fuscous anterior margin and reticulation.

Carapace ( Figs. 285 View Figure 285 , 287 View Figures 287–288 ). Subrectangular, W/L 1.10–1.19; medial surface level along its entire length; anterior margin slightly concave with small epistomal process; preocular L/ carapace L 0.36-0.38; surface mostly bearing fine granules of moderate density, except in some bilateral smooth strips and areas around central median, posterior median, posterior transverse and posterior marginal furrows; granulation more coarse and dense on preocular triangle; superciliary carinae granulate; macrosetae absent; lateral eye groups composed of either 3 large + 2 small ocelli (8/12 groups), or 2 large + 2 small ocelli (4/12 groups), i.e., type 5 or type 4B, respectively ( Loria & Prendini, 2014); 4 carapaces with type 5/5 pattern, 2 carapaces with type 4B/5 pattern, 1 carapace with type 4B/4B pattern (left group/right group); median eyes of moderate size, eye diameter/ carapace L 0.086.

Chelicerae ( Figs. 310–313 View Figures 310–319 ). Dorsal surface of manus granulate on anterior 1/5, smooth on posterior 4/5; anterior granulate area with 8–9 macrosetae, 4–5 pale, fluorescent microsetae; dorsointernal carina strong, granulate; fingers with typical buthid dentition (Vachon, 1963), movable finger dorsal margin with two large subdistal denticles and two small basal denticles, ventral margin with subdistal and basal denticles (notched basal denticle in Figs. 312–313 View Figures 310–319 is atypical or worn, and not present in the holotype and other paratypes), fixed finger with large subdistal denticle and proximal bicusp, two denticles on ventral surface; dorsal surface of movable finger smooth, with dorsal row of 5–7 pale, fluorescent microsetae.

Coxosternal area ( Figs. 286 View Figure 286 , 288 View Figures 287–288 ). All coxae smooth with sparse macrosetae and fluorescent microsetae; sternum smooth, subtriangular, with narrow slit-like posteromedial depression, bearing 2 macrosetae; genital opercula smooth, divided.

Pectines ( Figs. 28 View Figures 23–28 , 32 View Figures 29–33 , 34–35 View Figure 34 View Figure 35 , 43–44 View Figures 36–44 , 286 View Figure 286 , 288 View Figures 287–288 , 320–335 View Figures 320–327 View Figures 328–331 View Figures 332–333 View Figures 334–335 ). Basal piece smooth, with concave anterior margin, surface flat without groove or pit, pectines with 3 marginal lamellae, 4–6 middle lamellae, extending to distal end of coxa IV; marginal and middle lamellae with sparse cover of macrosetae and pale, fluorescent microsetae; fulcra with 2 fluorescent microsetae; bpt with angulate distal vertex.

Hemispermatophore. Unknown.

Mesosoma ( Figs. 54 View Figures 53–66 , 71–74 View Figures 67–90 , 93–94 View Figures 91–104 , 285–288 View Figure 285 View Figure 286 View Figures 287–288 , 393). Tergites: pretergites smooth, with microsulcate posterior margins; tergites densely, finely granulated, with narrow, smooth transverse lateral strips on tergites II–VI; tergite I without discernible carinae, tergites II–VI with single weak, granulate median carina, tergite VII with medial hump and 2 pairs of granulate carinae; all tergites lacking macrosetae. Sternites: sternites III–VI smooth, acarinate; sternite VI smooth with two pairs of weak, granulate carinae; posterior margins of all sternites smooth; spiracles broad, hemi-elliptic; sternite III–VI macrosetae: one submedian pair, one lateral pair, two posterior marginal pairs; sternite VII macrosetae: one submedian carinal pair, one lateral pair; sternites III–VI glossy, sternite VII matte.

Metasoma ( Figs. 105 View Figures 105–129 , 160 View Figures 150–164 , 285–286 View Figure 285 View Figure 286 , 301–303 View Figures 289–303 ). Segments of uniform width, robust. Carination: segments I–III with 10 complete carinae, IV with 8 complete carinae (lateral median carinae indistinct posteriorly), V with 5 complete carinae; all carinae granulate; dorsosubmedian carinae on II–VI with enlarged dentate posterior granules; ventrolateral carinae on V strongly, uniformly granulate; dorsolateral carinae on V irregularly, coarsely granulate; lateral anal margin with 2 small granules, ventral anal margin with up to 18 granules. Intercarinal surfaces: moderately dense, fine granulation on lateral, ventrolateral and ventral surfaces of all segments; I–VI with dorsomedian surfaces finely granulated or shagreened, with decreasing density on more posterior segments, dorsolateral surfaces with sparse fine granules, mostly smooth; V with dorsomedian surface smooth, dorsolateral surfaces with sparse fine granules, mostly smooth. Setation: dorsal surfaces without setae; other surfaces with numerous short macrosetae and fluorescent microsetae, mostly associated with carinae.

Telson ( Figs. 285–286 View Figure 285 View Figure 286 , 301–303 View Figures 289–303 ). Vesicle dorsal surface smooth, lateral and ventral surfaces covered with numerous coarse and fine granules, except along lateral and paramedian longitudinal strips which are smooth; vesicle hemi-elliptic in lateral profile, with distinct subaculear tubercle; numerous short macrosetae and fluorescent microsetae on lateral and ventral surfaces; dorsal surface with posterior patch of short macrosetae; aculeus shorter than vesicle.

Pedipalps ( Figs. 289–300 View Figures 289–303 , 304–309 View Figures 304–309 , 318–319 View Figures 310–319 ). Segments robust (see DIAGNOSIS for morphometrics). Femur: dorsointernal, dorsoexternal and ventrointernal carinae distinct, granulate; other carinae indistinct; intercarinal surfaces smooth; sparse short macrosetae and fluorescent microsetae present, mostly associated with granules and carinae. Patella: all carinae obsolete, smooth except for isolated granules on internal surface; numerous short macrosetae and fluorescent microsetae present. Chela: all carinae obsolete, surfaces smooth, with dense cover of short macrosetae and fluorescent microsetae; 11–12 median denticle subrows on fixed finger, 13 on movable finger including short subdistal row (excluding malformations), all subrows except proximal flanked by one mid-row internal and two proximal external accessory denticles. Trichobothriotaxy: orthobothriotaxic, type Aα (Vachon, 1974), femur d 2 internal, e 1 level with or slightly proximal to d 5; chela fixed finger db proximal to est.

Legs ( Figs. 285–286 View Figure 285 View Figure 286 , 314–317 View Figures 310–319 ). Femora and patellae with granulate carinae, prolateral surfaces sparsely granulate and matte, retrolateral surfaces smooth, glossy; tibial spurs present on legs III–IV; retrolateral tarsal spurs simple, prolateral tarsal spurs with very small basal bifurcation; basitarsi with 2 axial rows of macrosetae on ventral surface, irregular macrosetae on lateral and dorsal surfaces; telotarsi with 2 axial rows of up to 8 short macrosetae on ventral surface, lateral apices with 4–6 macrosetae; tarsal ungues stout.

Measurements. See Tables 13–14.

AFFINITIES. G. angulatus sp. n. is similar to three other species of the genus: G. hirtus , G. polskyi and G. voahangyae . The four species share the following characters: metasoma I stout, mean L/W ratio ♀ <0.97, ♂ <1.02 ( Fig. 168 View Figures 165–168 ); dorsointernal carina of pedipalp patella with granulation sparse or absent; pedipalp chela fixed finger with trichobothrium db level with or proximal to 0.92 est ( Fig. 167 View Figures 165–168 ); leg IV tibial spur L/ tibia distal D, mean ratio 0.60–0.65 ( Fig. 50 View Figures 45–52 ). These four species were often recovered as a monophyletic ‘ hirtus ’ group in cladistic analyses (e.g., Figs. 196–200, 203–209 View Figures 196–199 View Figures 200–203 View Figures 204–205 View Figures 206–209 ).

G. hirtus differs from G. angulatus sp. n. as follows: lighter base color of yellowish to reddish-yellow, with more distinct variegated fuscous patterns on body, pedipalps and legs; pedipalp patella with weakly granulate dorsointernal carina; femoral trichobothrium e 1 distal to d 5; female bpt rounded distally ( Fig. 325 View Figures 320–327 vs. Figs. 320–324 View Figures 320–327 ), z-scores of Fourier harmonics clustered separately ( Figs. 34–35 View Figure 34 View Figure 35 ), nonoverlapping in PC1-PC2 plane ( Fig. 326 View Figures 320–327 ), disjunct in PC3- PC4 plane ( Fig. 327 View Figures 320–327 ); metasoma II–IV with smaller dentate granules on posterior dorsosubmedian carinae; more elongate pedipalp patella, L/W ♀ 2.21–2.42. G. voahangyae differs from G. angulatus sp. n. as follows: smaller size, adult female total length around 40 mm; more distinct variegated fuscous patterns on body, pedipalps and legs; femoral trichobothrium e 1 distal to d 5; female bpt ovoid, rounded distally, z-scores of Fourier harmonics clustered separately ( Figs. 34–35 View Figure 34 View Figure 35 ); more elongate pedipalp patella, L/W ♀ 2.22–2.30. Only the male is known for G. polskyi , but the following differences from G. angulatus sp. n. do not exhibit strong sexual dimorphism in species of Grosphus for which both sexes are known: smaller size, adult male total length around 33 mm; lighter base color of reddish-yellow, with more distinct variegated fuscous patterns on body; femoral trichobothrium e 1 distal to d 5; metasoma II–IV without enlarged dentate granules on posterior dorsosubmedian carinae; telson with larger subaculear tubercle. The species G. tavaratra is also similar, but only the male is known. However, G. tavaratra differs in having a granulate dorsointernal carina on the pedipalp patella, femoral trichobothrium e 1 distal to d 5, and narrower spiracles, traits that do not exhibit strong sexual dimorphism in species of Grosphus for which both sexes are known.

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Arthropoda

Class

Arachnida

Order

Scorpiones

Family

Buthidae

Genus

Grosphus

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