Euscorpius deltshevi, Fet, Victor, Graham, Matthew R., Webber, Michael M. & Blagoev, Gergin, 2014

Fet, Victor, Graham, Matthew R., Webber, Michael M. & Blagoev, Gergin, 2014, Two new species of Euscorpius (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) from Bulgaria, Serbia, and Greece, Zootaxa 3894 (1), pp. 83-105 : 87-94

Euscorpius deltshevi sp. n.

( Figs 3–22 , 43 ; Table I)

Euscorpius carpathicus: Jurinich1904: 140 (in part; Bulgaria, in part); Valle 1975: 233 (in part, Bulgaria: Belogradchik). Euscorpius carpathicus “Subgroup A1” (in part; Bulgaria: Montana & Pleven Provinces): Fet 2000: 52.

Euscorpius carpathicus “Subgroup A2” (in part; Bulgaria: Sofia & Veliko Tarnovo Provinces): Fet 2000: 52–53. Euscorpius sp. (“ carpathicus ” complex) (in part; “northern” group): Fet & Soleglad 2007: 413.

Type material: Holotype ♂ ( NMNHS), BULGARIA, Sofia Province: Tserovo, 43.00ºN, 23.35ºE, 739 m, 4.05.2005 (V. Fet & A. Popov). Paratypes: same label as holotype, 3♂, 8♀ ( NMNHS), 1♂, 1♀ ( NHMW 21.952–21.953); Tserovo (P. Beron), 1♂, 2♀ ( NMNHS 36); between Tserovo and Iskrets, 1000 m, 25.09.1960 (V. Beshkov), 1♀ ( NMNHS 235); Lakatnik Railway Station, 23.03.1930 (P. Drenski), 1♀ ( NMNHS 313); Lakatnik Railway Station, 6.05.1934 (J. Zonkov), 2♂ sbad. ( NMNHS 305); Lakatnik Railway Station, 20.08.1934 (G. Stoyanov), 1♀ ( NMNHS 300); Lakatnik Railway Station, 10.07.1948 (I.A. Ivanov & P. Tranteev), 1♂ sbad., 2♀ sbad., 1♀ juv. ( NMNHS 274); Lakatnik Railway Station, near Razhishkata Cave, 7.08.1948 (G. Rupev), 2♀, 1♀ juv. ( NMNHS 281); Lakatnik Railway Station, 15.05.1997 (B. Petrov), 2♀ ( NMNHS 220); Lakatnik Railway Station, near Temnata Dupka Cave, 24.07.1988 (P. Mitov), 1♂, 4♀ ( VFPC); Lakatnik Railway Station, 43°05'10"N, 23°23'01"E, 4.05.2005 (V. Fet & A. Popov), 6♀ ( VFPC), 1♀ ( NHMW 21.954); Lakatnik Railway Station, 1970, 1♂, 2♀ ( NMPC), 1♂ ( FKPC); Opletnya near Lakatnik, 43°06'N, 23°25'60"E, 21.05.1994 (P. Stoev), 1♂, 2♀ ( NMNHS 214); Svoge, 8.07.1934 (N. Miladinov), 1♀ ( NMNHS 303); Svoge, 42º58'N, 23º21'E, 679 m, 4.05.2005 (V. Fet & A. Popov), 2♀ ( VFPC); Tompsan Station, Iskar Valley, 29.06.1952 (A. Popov), 1♂ ( NMNHS 532); Zanoge, 1100–1300 m, 2.05.1985 (P. Beron), 4♀ ( NMNHS 114).

TABLE I. Measurements (in mm) of male holotypes and female paratypes of Euscorpius deltshevi sp. n. and E. solegladi sp. n. L, length; W, width; D, depth; Dp, number of pectinal teeth; number of patellar trichobothria: Pv, ventral; et, external terminal; em, external median; eb a, external basal-a; eb, external basal.

Euscorpius deltshevi sp. n. Euscorpius solegladi sp. n.

Male Female Male Female Holotype Paratype Holotype Paratype Other material studied. BULGARIA. Lovech Province: Thracian sanctuary (Asklepion) near Zlatna Panega Village, 4.08.1948 (Caving Brigade "T. Pavlov"), 4.08.1948, 2♂, 3♀ ( NMNHS 340), 3♂, 1♀ ( NMNHS 341); Karlukovo, 9.09.1923 (I. Buresch), 1♂ ( NMNHS 297); Karlukovo, near Temnata Dupka Cave, 24.11.1935 (K. Popov), 1♂ ( NMNHS 316); Lukovit District, Bezhanovo, Georgikovata Cave, 11.10.1973 (A. Petkova), 1♂ ( NMNHS 157); Lukovit District, Bezhanovo, near entrance of Parnitsite Cave, 15.03.1998 (B. Petrov), 1♂ ( NMNHS 203); Teteven, 42°55'N, 24°16'E, 0 5.2007 ( VFPC); Troyan, 0 6.1919 (P. Drenski), 1♀, 1♀ sbad. ( NMNHS 307). Montana Province: Chiprovtsi District, Beli Mel, 13.06.1973 (P. Beron), 1♂, 2♀ ( NMNHS 49); Chiprovtsi District, Debelidelska Murtvina area, 1100–1300 m, 28.06.1998 (B. Petrov), 1♂, 1♀ juv. ( NMNHS 204); Chiprovtsi District, Martinovo, 4.09.1998 (B. Petrov), 1♂, 2♀ ( NMNHS 207); Chiprovtsi District, Gorna Laka, 43º27'N, 22º54'E, 406 m, 16.05.2005 (V. Fet & S. Fet), 2♂, 1♀ ( VFPC); Diva Slatina, 21.06.1998 (B. Petrov), 2♀ juv. ( NMNHS 205); Chiprovtsi District, Ravna, 1.06.1972 (P. Beron), 1♀ ( NMNHS 348); Gorna Bela Rechka, Vartop Cave, 7.05.1909, 1♀ ( NMNHS 503). Pernik Province: Radomir District, Golo Bardo Mts., 1000 m, 25.03.1937 (P. Drenski), 1♂, 2♀ ( NMNHS 510). Pleven Province: Cherven Bryag District, Reselets, 20– 27.07.1989 (P. Mitov), 1♂, 2♀ ( VFPC); Cherven Bryag District, Deventsi, Haydushkata Cave, 24.08.1927 (H. Matrov), 1♂ ( NMNHS 283); Dolny Dabnik District, Sadovets near Pleven, 29.05.1926 (H. Matrov), 1♀ ( NMNHS 524); Pleven, 0 6.1912 (Klein), 1♀ ( NMNHS 312). Ruse Province: Ruse (“Ruschuk”), 1♀ ( ZMB 15263); Svalenik, Byalata Stena, "Rusenski Lom" Nature Park, 3.10.1999 (B. Petrov), 1♂, 1♀ ( NMNHS 226); Pepelina, 4.10.1999 (B. Petrov), 1♂ ( NMNHS 225). Shumen Province: Preslav (now Veliki Preslav), Patleyna, 13.10.1933 (I. Grozev), 1♀ with juvs. ( NMNHS 293), 3♂, 3♀ ( NMNHS 523). Sliven Province: Sliven, 42°41'N, 26°20'E, 2.05.2003, ca. 800 m (J. O. Rein), 1♀ ( VFPC); environs of Sliven, ca. 500 m, 0 6.1985 (G. Ribarov), 1♀, 1♀ juv. ( NMNHS 343); Byala, 13.06.1927 (I. Julius & P. Drenski), 1♂ sbad. ( NMNHS 311); Davidov Dol, 10.07.1934 (G. Kozarov), 2♀ ( NMNHS 285); Katunishte, 10.1993 (T. Lerov), 1♂ ( NMNHS 239); Kotel, 600 m (G. Ribarov), 2♀ juv. ( NMNHS 240); "Ponor" near Kotel, 30.04.1924 (N. Radev), 1♀ juv. ( NMNHS 509); Sinite Kamani National Park, 29.03.1983 (T. Petrov), 1♀ ( NMNHS 241); Sinite Kamani National Park, between Karandila and Buchvata, 800–900 m, 25.05.2001 (B. Petrov & St. Beshkov), 1♂ ( NMNHS 259). Sofia Province: Beledie Han, 5.10.1958 (A. Popov), 1♀ ( NMNHS 549); Beledie Han, 11 km N of Kostinbrod, 42º53'N, 23º09'N, 17.05.2005 (V. Fet & S. Fet), 2♂, 4♀ ( VFPC); Pravets District, Praveshka Lakavitsa, Aliova Dupka Cave, 5.02.1994 (B. Petrov), 1♂ ( NMNHS 206); Botevgrad District, Lipnitsa Village, 575 m, 8.09.1997 (P. Mitov), 1♂ ( VFPC); Bov Village, Mt. Izdremets, 1400 m, 14.09.1999 (B. Petrov, V. Beshkov & Yu. Gorelov), 1♂ ( NMNHS 224); Chepan Hill, above Dragoman, 28.05.1932 (J. Zonkov), 1♀ sbad. ( NMNHS 284); Goten Mt. above Buhovo Village (G. Stoyanov), 1♂ juv., 2♀ ( NMNHS 513); Kremikovski Monastery, 23.04.1900 (I. Buresch), 2♀ ( NMNHS 273); Novi Iskar, Kurilo, 6.05.1952 (A. Popov & I. Buresch), 1♂ juv. ( NMNHS 517); Kurilo, 30.05.1952 (G. Stoyanov), 1♂, 1♀ ( NMNHS 540); between Milanovo and Gorna Bela Rechka, 0 5.1911 (P. Drenski), 4♂, 2♀, 1♂ juv. ( NMNHS 270); Ogoya, 12.06.1938 (G. Stoyanov), 5♀ ( NMNHS 327); Rebrovo Railway Station, 10.06.1949 (G. Zagorov), 1♂ ( NMNHS 233); Iskar Valley, Batuliya, Rebrovo Station, 23.05.1954 (I. Urumov & I. Buresch), 1♂, 2♀ ( NMNHS 542); Rebrovo, 9.10.1980 (P. Beron), 1♀ ( NMNHS 109); Rebrovo, 10.10.1985 (M. Kvartirnikov), 15♂, 39♀ ( ZMMSU); Sedemte Prestola Monastery, 10.04.1988 (P. Beron), 1♂ juv. ( NMNHS 232); Sofia (with firewood?), 1.06.1957 (A. Popov), 1♂ ( NMNHS 516). Targovishte Province: valley near Targovishte, 43.26ºN, 26.59ºE, 207 m, 1.05.1962 (I. Buresch), 1♀ ( NMNHS 539). Veliko Tarnovo Province: Arbanasi, Lyaskovskata Cave, 6.08.1968 (P. Beron), 1♀ ( NMNHS 39); Preobrazhenski Monastery near Tarnovo, 25.07.1928 (Kr. Tuleschkov), 1♀ ( NMNHS 538). Vidin Province: Belogradchik, Neprivetlivata Pothole, 6.06.1973 (P. Beron), 1♂ ( NMNHS 333); Belogradchik, 43º37'38"N, 22º41'E, 538 m, 16.05.2005 (V. Fet & S. Fet), 5♀ ( VFPC); Oreshets Railway Station, 17.10.1971 (P. Beron), 1♀ ( NMNHS 339); Oreshets Railway Station, near Suhi Pech Cave, 43º29'26"N, 22º44'20"E, 16.05.2005 (V. Fet & S. Fet), 4♀ ( VFPC). Vratsa Province: Vratsa town, 1.07.1924 (I. Buresch), 1♀ sbad. ( NMNHS 291); environs of Vratsa, 2.06.1926 (H. Matrov), 1♂ sbad, 1♀ ( NMNHS 278); Vratsa, 290 m, 8.05.1999 (S. Boev), 4♀ ( VFPC); southern Vrachanska Mts., 880 m, 1.01.2005 (T. Ljubomirov), 1♀ ( NMNHS); Chelopek (near Vratsa), Malata Yama pothole, 30 m deep, 1.07.1929 (N. Radev), 1♂ ( NMNHS 304); Cherepishki Monastery, 1.05.1959 (A. Popov), 1♂ ( NMNHS 528); Chiren Village, small cave near entrance of Ponora Cave, 22.04.1995 (T. Ivanova) ( NMNHS 234); Roman District, Kunino, 1.05.1993 (T. Ivanova), 2♀ ( NMNHS 186); near Dyavolska Vodenitsa Cave, near Kunino, Iskar Valley, 5.04.1924 (I. Buresch), 1♂ ( NMNHS 529); near Ledenika Cave, 5.06.1933 (D. Papazov & N. Atanassov), 1♂ ( NMNHS 289), 1♂ ( NMNHS 294); Vrachanska Mts., Lyutadjik, 450 m, 1.04.2000 (B. Petrov & V. Beshkov), 1♀ ( NMNHS 237); Vrachanska Mts., Matnishki Monastery, Cherniya Izvoz Cave, 3.04.1999 (B. Petrov), 1♀ ( NMNHS 209); Vrachanska Mts., Parshevitsa Hut, 1000 m, 2.05.1994 (P. Stoev), 1♀ ( NMNHS 216). Yambol Province: Yambol, 10.08.1934 (I. Tarpanov), 1♂ ( NMNHS 302). SERBIA. Nišava Province: E of Niš, 1♀ ( NHMW 11748); Niš, no date (I. Karaman), 1♀ ( VFPC); Niš, Niška Banja, 15.04.2006 (I. Karaman), 1♀ ( VFPC); Niš, Gornja Studena (“Grustudena”), 43º16'N, 22º05'E, 31.05–2.06.1954 (excursion Zool. Mus. Amsterdam), 2♀ ( MNHN 6316–6317).

Etymology. Named after our colleague and friend Christo Deltshev (Sofia, Bulgaria), a famous Bulgarian arachnologist.

Geographic range. Known from Stara Planina Mts., Bulgaria, and adjacent areas of Bulgaria and Serbia ( Fig. 1 ).

Diagnosis. Medium sized species (33-35 mm), dark brown in overall coloration, mottling on carapace. Metasomal segments and chelae are somewhat robust in appearance. Dorsal patellar spur (DPS) is enlarged and spinoid. Pedipalp patellar external trichobothria numbers: eb = 4, eb a = 4, esb = 2, em = 4, est = 4, and et = usually 6 to 7 (mean 6.46); ventral aspect of patella 8 to 9 (mean 8.82). Pectinal tooth counts: male usually 8 to 9 (mean 8.57), female usually 7.

Male ( Figs 3–4 ). Description based on holotype male. Measurements of male holotype and female paratype are provided in Table 1. All illustrations (except female chela in Fig. 9 and telson in Fig. 20 ) are based on a mature male specimen originating from Tserovo, Sofia Province, Bulgaria.

Coloration. Overall colour dark brown; legs orange, chelicerae light brown to orange with dark brown mottling, telson orange; pectines light orange to yellow. Pedipalp carinae dark brown to black.

Carapace ( Fig. 7 ). Slight median furrow extends entire length of carapace. Almost smooth with extremely fine granulation, more expressed granulation laterally behind lateral eyes; anterior edge straight with few fine setae. Two pairs of lateral eyes, anterior eye slightly larger; median eyes and tubercle situated slightly anterior of middle with following length and width ratios: 0.431 (anterior edge of the carapace to median tubercle centre/carapace length) and 0.161 (width of median tubercle/width of carapace at that point).

Mesosoma . Dark mottling pattern is present. Tergites with extremely weak to absent carination on segments I–VII; sternites smooth and shiny, carinae absent on segment V with fine granulation; stigmata small, sub-oval.

Metasoma. Generally stocky and slightly robust in proportions. Dorsal groove is moderately emarginate. Carination - Segments I–IV: Median carina small and granular; dorsolateral weak and composed of a few small rounded granules; intermediary obsolete; ventrolateral weak smooth and shiny on segments III and IV; ventral obsolete. Segment V ( Figs 12–13 ): Median carina weak and granular; dorsolateral weak, round and granular; intermediary absent; ventrolateral rough and weakly serrate; ventral slightly rounded and serrate.

Telson ( Fig. 19 ). Vesicle with fine granulation, and swollen both laterally and ventrally. Aculeus forming a short conspicuous curve; 4 pairs of setae at vesicle/aculeus juncture.

Pectines ( Fig. 21 ). Pectinal tooth counts 8/8 and middle lamellae counts 4/4; fulcra well developed; numerous fine setae situated on anterior lamellae. Sensorial areas of teeth developed along approximately 2/3 their length. Basal piece anterior edge slightly concave.

Genital operculum. Separated most of length, genital papillae extend proximally.

Sternum. Pentagonal, slightly wider than long, length/posterior width ratio 0.910.

Chelicerae. Typical for the genus Euscorpius . Movable finger: dorsal distal denticles considerably shorter than ventral distal denticle; dorsal edge has five denticles, two of which are subdistal denticles; ventral edge smooth, lacking serrulae, and covered with heavy brush-like setae for most of its length. Fixed finger: four denticles, two of which are basal denticles conjoined on a common trunk.

Pedipalps ( Figs 8, 10–11, 14–18 ). Pedipalps with somewhat stocky and robust chelae exhibiting prominent scalloping at finger bases. Femur: dorsal and ventral internal and external carinae crenate to dentate; dorsal and ventral surfaces granulose, internal surface with numerous enlarged rounded to spinoid granules, and external surface contains numerous small rounded granules. Patella: dorsal internal and ventral internal carinae crenate, dorsal external smooth and weakly crenate, and exteromedian rounded and irregularly granulose. Dorsal surface finely granulose, ventral surface contains few weak rounded granules, prominent dorsal patellar spur (DPS) of medium to strong development, ventral patellar spur (VPS) very weak, represented as small granule. Chela carinae: digital strong and smooth; subdigital in relief, represented by weak granulation; dorsal secondary nearly obsolete with few weak granules; dorsal marginal weak and rounded, dorsal internal smooth and rounded; ventroexternal strong, smooth and extending to external condyle of finger, external to trichobothrium Et1. Ventromedian essentially obsolete with sparse minute granules; ventrointernal small, rounded and smooth; and external secondary strong and irregularly granulose. Chelal finger dentition: Median denticle row straight; 7/6 inner denticles, 5/6 outer denticles, and 5/5 inner accessory denticles for fixed and movable fingers respectively.

Trichobothria patterns. Type C, neobothriotaxic (major additive) on patella. Femur ( Fig. 17 ): trichobothrium d positioned slightly proximal in relation to i, and e is situated on dorsoexternal carina, distal in relation to both d and i. Patella ( Figs 13–14 ): ventral series number 9/9 and external series number eb = 4/4, eb a = 4/4, esb = 2/2, em = 4/4, est = 4/4, and et = 7/8. Chela ( Figs 8–10 ): trichobothria on ventral surface is 4/4 (V 1–3 + Et 1), V4 on external surface set in small dimple but removed from ventroexternal carina.

Legs. One pair of pedal spurs present, ungues medium length with average curve. Tarsus ventral median spinule row is formed by variable number of elongated spinules usually terminating distally in a single pair; one or two basal spinules sometimes offset; spinule counts are: tarsus I, 1+10+2/1+9+2; tarsus II, 1+8+2/1+8+2; tarsus III, 1+10+2/2+10+2; tarsus IV, 1+10+2/2+10+2 ( Fig. 43 ).

Female ( Figs 5–6 ). Granulation of carapace, metasoma and pedipalps same as in male. Chela scalloping/notch combination less expressed in female ( Fig. 9 ) than in male ( Fig. 8 ). The considerably inflated telson vesicle of sexually mature males ( Fig. 19 ) is quite conspicuous when compared to the thinner shaped telson of the female ( Fig. 20 ). The pectines are more prominent on the male, whose teeth are longer and greater in number ( Figs 21–22 Variation. We scored 190 specimens of E. deltshevi sp. n. from Bulgaria for trichobothrial variation, of which 175 specimens (63♂, 112♀) were scored for pectinal teeth variation. Variation was as follows:

Pectinаl teeth number in males (Dp): 7/7 (2), 8/? (1), 8/8 (21), 8/9 (5), 9/8 (5), 9/9 (26), 9/10 (1), 10/9 (2), 10/10 (1); in total: 7 (4), 8 (53), 9 (69), and 10 (5); mean 8.57, SD 0.63 [n=125]. Bimodal, with Dp =8 (42.4%) or 9 (55.2%).

Pectinаl teeth number in females (Dp): 6/6 (9), 6/7 (3),?/7 (1), 7/6 (7), 7/7 (74), 7/8 (4), 8/7 (4), 8/6 (1), 8/ 8 (5), 8/9 (1), 9/8 (2), 9/9 (1), in total: 6 (29), 7 (167), 8 (22) and 9 (5); mean 7.01, SD 0.57 [n=223]. Unimodal, with Dp = 7 in 74.9%.

Number of ventral patellar trichobothria (Pv): 7/? (1), 7/7 (3), 7/8 (4), 8/8 (32), 8/9 (12), 9/8 (8), 8/10 (1), 9/? (1), 9/7 (1), 9/9 (91), 9/10 (13), 10/9 (6), 10/? (1), 10/10 (12); in total: 7 (16), 8 (85), 9 (227), and 10 (45); mean 8.75; SD 0.72 [n=369]. Bimodal, with Pv =8 (23.0%) or 9 (61.5%).

Number of external terminal patellar trichobothria (et): 5/5 (2), 5/6 (4), 6/5 (2), 6/? (2), 6/6 (89), 6/7 (12), 7/6 (15), 7/7 (69), 7/8 (2), 8/7 (2), 8/8 (1); in total: 5 (5), 6 (200), 7 (167), and 8 (6); mean 6.43, SD 0.57 [n=378]. Bimodal, with et =6 (52.9%) or 7 (44.2%). Number of external subterminal (est =4), median (em =4), suprabasal (esb =2), basal-a (eb a =4) and basal (eb =4) patellar trichobothria was constant in all specimens, except one aberrant specimen from Ogoya (NMNHS 327) that had em =3/4.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Geographic distribution of two new species: Euscorpius deltshevi, sp. n., squares; E. solegladi, sp. n., circles; black squares and circles represent populations sampled for DNA; stars represent type localities (both sampled for DNA).

FIGURES 3 – 4. Euscorpius deltshevi sp. n., adult male, general habitus: 3 dorsal view, 4 ventral view.

FIGURES 5 – 6. Euscorpius deltshevi sp. n., adult female, general habitus: 5 dorsal view, 6 ventral view.

FIGURES 7 – 20. Euscorpius deltshevi sp. n. 7 carapace, 8 external view of the chela of adult male, 9 external view of the chela of adult female, 10 ventral view of the chela, 11 dorsal view of the chela, 12 lateral view of the metasomal segment V, 13 ventral view of the metasomal segment V, 14 external view of pedipalp patella, 15 dorsal view of pedipalp patella, 16 ventral view of pedipalp patella, 17 dorsal view of pedipalp femur (line indicates trichobothrium i), 18 ventral view of pedipalp femur, 19 telson of adult male, 20 telson of adult female.

FIGURES 21 – 22. Euscorpius deltshevi sp. n., sternopectinal area: 21 adult male, 22 adult female.

FIGURES 43 – 44. Tarsal spination, legs I – IV (top to bottom): 43 Euscorpius deltshevi sp. n.