Mesobuthus crucittii, Kovařík & Fet & Gantenbein & Graham & Aydin & Yağmur & Šťáhlavský & Nikita & Poverennyi & Novruzov, 2022

Kovařík, František, Fet, Victor, Gantenbein, Benjamin, Graham, Matthew R., Aydin, Ersen, Yağmur, Šťáhlavský, František, Nikita, Poverennyi & Novruzov, Nizami E., 2022, A revision of the genus Mesobuthus Vachon 1950 with a description of 14 new species (Scorpiones Buthidae), Euscorpius 348, pp. 1-189 : 28-33

Mesobuthus crucittii sp. n.

( Figures 154–195 , 1155, 1157, Table 2) http: //zoobank. org/urn: lsid: zoobank. org: act: AB90C5EF-

1EB6-4B98-9A0B-34E4D1AC695D

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE REPOSITORY. Iran, Khoozestan Province, Baghmalek District, Hore Village , 31°55'30"N 49°31'47"E (31.92°N 49.55°E), 185 m a. s. l. ; NMPC.

REFERENCES:

Mesobuthus eupeus phillipsii: Navidpour et al., 2008a: 11–13 , figs. 22, 81–84.

Mesobuthus eupeus phillipsi: Mirshamsi et al., 2010: 2867 (in part).

Mesobuthus phillipsi: Mirshamsi et al., 2011a: 15–19 , figs. 36–43, tables 1–2 (in part): Mirshamsi et al., 2011b: 20 (in part); Barahoei et al., 2020: 398–399, fig. 16 (in part).

TYPE MATERIAL EXAMINED ( NMPC). Iran, Bushehr Province, Deylam road, 30°26'31"N 49°55'26"E (30.43°N 49.92°E), 85 m a. s. l. (Locality No. OM-D 804 ), June 2007, 1♀ (paratype), leg. Navidpour, Masihipour & Tofigh ; Genaveh , (29.52°N 50.50°E), 227 m a. s. l. (Locality No. Bu-G1), January 2005, 2♀ (paratypes), leg. Hayader & Tofigh ; Ilam Province, Mehran to Dehloran road, 32°55.42'N 46°41.32'E (32.92°N 46.68°E), 375 m a. s. l. (Locality No. IL-822), October 2007, 2♀ 1juv. (paratypes), leg. Hayader, Masihipour & Bahrani ; Khoozestan Province, ca 100 m a. s. l., Chogha Zanbil (zikkurat) env., 32°00'N 48°31'E (32.00°N 48.52°E), 5–6 May 1996, 3♂ 2♀ 1juv., leg. D. Král & M. Kaftan ; Baghmalek District, Hore Village , 31°55'30"N 49°31'47"E (31.92°N 49.55°E), 185 m a. s. l., 2♂ (holotype and paratype) 4♀ (paratypes), February 2007, 2♀, leg. Kazemi ; Chogha Zanbil (zikkurat), 32°00'55"N 48°31'04"E (32.00°N 48.52°E), 68.5 m a. s. l. (Locality No. Ch- 100), June 2007, 4♂ (paratypes), leg. Navidpour & Masihipour ; Chogha Zanbil (zikkurat), 32°00'55"N 48°31'04"E, 68.5 m a. s. l. (Locality No. Ch-103), VI.2007, 2♂ 1♀ (paratypes), leg. Navidpour & Masihipour ; 45 km NW of Masdjedsoleyman, Lali , 31°18'33"N 49°03'39"E (31.30°N 49.05°E), 329 m a. s. l. (Locality No. La-815-4 and 5), October 2007, 2♀1♀ juv. (paratypes), leg. Masihipour & Hayader ; Kohgilouyeh & Boyer Ahmad Province, Behbahan to Gachsaran ( Dogonbadan ) road, 30º28'36"N 50º30'05" (30.47°N 50.50°E), 498 m a. s. l. (Locality No. Y-1), March 2008, 2♀ juvs. (paratypes), leg. Ghafarnia & Habibzadeh ; Yasuj, Deelaroo Village , 30º33'44"N 50º44'44"E (30.55°N 50.73°E), 820 m a. s. l. (Locality No. Y-2), March 2008, 1♂ 1♀ 2juvs. (♂ ♀) (paratypes), leg. Navidpour, Ghafarnia & Bahrani.

DNA DATA. Mesobuthus crucittii sp. n., in our opinion, was represented among the populations studied by Mirshamsi et al. (2010) in their survey of Iranian Mesobuthus (four

DNA sequences from the Khoozestan Province, Baghmalek, 31.50°N, 49.90°E) ( Table 16).

ETYMOLOGY. The new species is named in honor of our colleague Pierangelo Crucitti (Rome, Italy) for his contributions to scorpiology.

DIAGNOSIS. Total length of adults 40 mm (male) to 65 mm (female). Trichobothrium db on fixed finger of pedipalp situated between trichobothria est and esb, near to est. Male with fingers proximally more twisted than female. Pedipalp chela length/width ratio 3.1–3.65 in both sexes. Pectinal teeth number 24–29 in male, 20–23 in female. Chelicerae yellow, without reticulation. Pedipalps and metasoma rather densely hirsute, with long setae. Carapace and tergites yellow to reddish brown with pigmentation reduced; metasoma, telson, pedipalps and legs yellow or reddish brown. Femur of pedipalp with 4–5 granulated carinae. Patella with 8 usually granulated carinae. Chela lacks carinae. Movable fingers of pedipalps with 11–12 cutting rows of denticles and 5 terminal denticles. Central lateral and posterior lateral carinae of carapace not joined to form a continuous linear series of granules to posterior margin. Sternite VII medially smooth, with 4 smooth carinae. Metasomal segment I with 10 carinae; segments II to IV with 8 carinae, other two carinae are indicated by incomplete row of denticles on metasomal segments II and III; segment V with 5 carinae. Metasoma with all carinae granulated. Intercarinal surfaces on metasomal segments smooth. Length to depth ratio of metasoma III 1.2–1.4, metasoma IV 1.55–1.7 in both sexes. Telotarsus III ventral setation represented by short and strong spiniform setae. Tarsi hirsute, adults with 5–8 retroinferior macrosetae on basitarsus III. Telson bulbous, mainly in female. Anal lobe divided in three parts.

DESCRIPTION. Total length of adult males 38–45 mm, females 45–65 mm. Trichobothrium db on fixed finger of pedipalp situated between trichobothria est and esb, near to est. Male has the fingers proximally more twisted than female. Female has longer and very slightly narrower chela of pedipalps. For measurements, see Table 2.

Coloration ( Figs. 154–157 ). Carapace and tergites yellow to reddish brown with pigmentation reduced. Chelicerae yellow, without reticulation. Metasoma, telson, pedipalps and legs yellowish brown. Metasomal ventral carinae can be black pigmented. Chelicerae yellow, without reticulation, the tips of teeth on cheliceral fingers are black.

Mesosoma and carapace ( Figs. 188–191 ). Carapace is carinate and unevenly covered with granules of varying size, usually more in males; much of the granulation is fine, but some granules are larger and distinctly rounded. Tergites I–VI with three carinae and are granulated, with some intercarinal granules small and other larger and rounded. Tergite VII is pentacarinate. Pectinal tooth count is 24–29 in males, 20–23 in females. Pectinal marginal tips extend to about one-fourth of the sternite V in males and one-fourth of the sternite IV in females. Pectines have three marginal lamellae and seven to nine middle lamellae. Lamellae with numerous long setae, each fulcrum with three to five dark setae.All sternites smooth, sparsely hirsute. Sternite VII with four well marked, usually smooth carinae. Other sternites have two furrows.

Pedipalps ( Figs. 166–187 ). Pedipalps are rather densely hirsute and smooth, only femur is finely granulated dorsally. Femur has four to five granulated carinae, the middle carina on internal surface consists of strong irregular granules. Patella with eight carinae, of which internal and dorsal are always granulated. Chela without carinae. Movable fingers of pedipalps have 11–12 cutting rows of denticles, each with external and internal denticles present, and five terminal denticles.

Legs ( Figs. 192–195 ). Telotarsus III ventral setation represented by short and strong spiniform setae. Tarsi hirsute, in adults with 5–8 retroinferior macrosetae on basitarsus III. Femur with only several macrosetae. Femur and patella with carinae well developed. Tibial spurs present and moderate to strong on legs III and IV and absent on the other legs.

Metasoma and telson ( Figs. 158–165 ). All metasomal segments are rather densely hirsute with long setae. Metasomal segment I with 10 carinae, segments II–III with 8 carinae but other two lateromedian carinae are indicated by incomplete row of granules, segment IV with 8 carinae, and segment V with 5 carinae. Metasoma with all carinae granulated. Intercarinal surfaces on metasoma smooth. Ventrolateral carinae of metasoma V posteriorly with several large lobate denticles. Telson only sparsely hirsute, bulbous, mainly in female, bumpy and smooth. Anal lobe divided in three parts.

DISTRIBUTION. Iran (Bushehr, Ilam, Khoozestan, and Kohgilouyeh & Boyer Ahmad Provinces) (Figs. 1155, 1157).

Figures

Figures 154–157: Mesobuthus crucittii sp. n. Figures 154–155. Male holotype, dorsal (154) and ventral (155) views. Figures 156–157. Female paratopotype, dorsal (156) and ventral (157) views. Scale bars: 10 mm (154–155, 156–157).

Figures 158–165: Mesobuthus crucittii sp. n. Figures 158, 160–162. Male holotype, telson lateral (158), metasoma and telson, lateral (160), dorsal (161), and ventral (162) views. Figures 159, 163–165. Female paratopotype, telson lateral (159), metasoma and telson, lateral (163), dorsal (164), and ventral (165) views. Scale bars: 10 mm (160–162, 163–165).

Figures 166–187: Mesobuthus crucittii sp. n., pedipalp. Figures 166–176. Male holotype, chela, dorsal (166), external (167), and ventral (168) views. Patella, dorsal (169), external (170) and ventral (171) views. Femur and trochanter, internal (172), dorsal (173), and ventral (174) views. Movable (175) and fixed (176) fingers. Figures 177–187. Female paratopotype, chela, dorsal (177), external (178), and ventral (179) views. Patella, dorsal (180), external (181) and ventral (182) views. Femur and trochanter, internal (183), dorsal (184), and ventral (185) views. Movable (186) and fixed (187) fingers. The trichobothrial pattern is indicated in Figures 166–170, 172–173.

Figures 188–195: Mesobuthus crucittii sp. n. Figures 188–189. Male holotype, chelicerae, carapace and tergites I–IV (188), sternopectinal region and sternites (189). Figures 190–195. Female paratopotype, chelicerae, carapace and tergites I–IV (190), sternopectinal region and sternites III–V (191). Left legs I–IV, retrolateral aspect (192–195).