Hadogenes tityrus (Simon, 1888)

Prendini, Lorenzo & Bird, Tharina L., 2008, Scorpions of the Brandberg Massif, Namibia: Species richness inversely correlated with altitude, African Invertebrates 49 (2), pp. 77-77 : 96-97

Hadogenes tityrus (Simon, 1888)

Ischnurus tityrus: Simon 1888: 383–384 .

Material examined: 1♀( TMSA 18350), Brandberg [21°14'S: 14°30'E], B.H. Lamoral, 1977; 2♀2 subad.♀( AMNH [AH 1369–1371]), Brandberg, Basswald Rinne [21°10'S: 14°38'E], 17–18.iv.1980, A. Harington, in cracks in red rocks; 1 ♂ 1♀( AMNH), Brandberg, base of Ga-Aseb Gorge, 21°13'41.6"S: 14°34'44.1"E, 781 m, 21.xii.2003, L. Prendini, T.L. Bird & N.C. Krone, dry riverbed surrounded by steep rocky slopes comprising granitic and igneous rocks with Sterculia , Acacia montis-usti and Commiphora, UV detection on warm, dark, still night, specimen collected in open midslope; 1 juv. ( AMCC 172343 [ LP 5702]), Brandberg, Ga-Asab (Goaseb) Gorge, 21°13'10.9''S: 14°34'36.7''E, 1002 m, 1.iv.2006, L. Prendini, T.L. Bird & S.K. Uunona, lower slopes of Brandberg, arid savannah with Acacia montis-usti on sandy-loam soils with granite outcrops, specimen taken in rock crevice; 1♀( AMNH [ AH 4001]), Brandberg, Goaseb Gorge [21°14'S: 14°35'E], 20.xii.1988, A. Harington, on foothills, under granite rocks, syntopic with O. ugabensis ; 1 ♂ 1♀1 juv.♀Brandberg, Numas Valley [21°06'S: 14°23'E], 13.viii.1995, between slabs of stone (1 ♂ SMN 1863), under stones between slabs ( 1♀SMN 2222), 14.viii.1995, rocky hillside, under stones in crevices (1 juv.♀SMN 2225), M.& E. Griffin; 1 ♂ ( AMNH), Brandberg, Numaskloof, 21°07.48'S: 14°25.54'E, 470 m, 17.i.1998, L. Prendini & E. Scott, rocky granite slopes at base of mountain, UV detection, syntopic with H. conspersus , P. villosus , O. ugabensis and O. wahlbergii ; 1♀7 juv.♀( SMN 2101), Brandberg, Numas, 1–14.v.2003, EduVentures 1 expedition; 2 ♂ ( AMNH), Brandberg, summit, below Longipoele, 21°11'34.9"S: 14°33'23.9"E, 1794 m, 23.xii.2003, L. Prendini, T.L. Bird & N.C. Krone, sheltered, flat sandy valley with granite domes and boulders intersected by dry watercourses, granitic loam soil with Stipagrostis –Aristida grassland, Boscia , Cyphostemma , Euphorbia and Ozoroa in rocky areas, specimens collected with UV detection on warm, dark, still night, sitting on rock faces; 1 juv.♀( SMN 3011), Brandberg, nr Umuab vlakte, 21°04'46.5''S: 14°34'07.9''E, 1803 m, 9–12.v.2004, EduVentures 4 expedition; 1♀1 subad. ♂ ( SMN 90), Brandberg West mine [21°00'S: 14°09'E], 27.iii.1964, F. Motonane; 1♀1 juv. ♂ ( AMNH [ AH 2221]), Brandberg West, 7 km from turnoff towards Uis [21°06'S: 14°17'E], 28.i.1981, A. Harington, sympatric with H. conspersus and P. brevimanus ; 1♀( AMNH [ AH 3757]), 5 km SE of Brandberg West– Cape Cross– Uis T-junction [21°05'S: 14°16'E], 22.xii.1988, A. Harington, granite exfoliations of low boulders, no hill per se.

Ecology and distribution: This lithophilous species ( Fig. 17 ) shelters in the cracks and crevices, and under the exfoliating flakes, of weathered rock outcrops and under stones resting on bedrock (Lamoral 1979; Prendini 2001 b). Although it may also occur in Angola, this species has been recorded only from Namibia and South Africa (Lamoral 1979; Prendini 2005 a). It has been collected from the base ( Fig. 4 ) to the summit ( Fig. 8 ) of the Brandberg and also in the areas surrounding the Massif.

Figures

Figs 17, 18. Adult males, habitus in life: (17) Hadogenes tityrus (Simon, 1888); (18) Opistophthalmus carinatus (Peters, 1861).

Fig. 4. Brandberg Massif (Namibia), base of Massif at entrance to Goaseb (Ga-Asab) Gorge, facing north to Orabeskopf at summit, wet year. Dominant vegetation, Boscia foetida Schinz and Commiphora sp. Rocky flats, habitat of Hottentotta conspersus (Thorell, 1876), Parabuthus brevimanus (Thorell, 1876), Parabuthus villosus (Peters, 1862), and Opistophthalmus lamorali Prendini, 2000.

Fig. 8. Brandberg Massif (Namibia), Wasserfallfläche, plateau on summit of Massif, facing southwest, wet year. Dominant vegetation, Boscia albitrunca (Burch.) Gilg & Gilg-Ben., Cyphostemma currorii (Hook.f.) Desc.and Euphorbia sp. Rocky flats and slopes, habitat of Lisposoma elegans Lawrence, 1928, Hadogenes tityrus (Simon, 1888) and Uroplectes planimanus (Karsch, 1879). Sandy flats, habitat of Parabuthus brevimanus (Thorell, 1876) and Opistophthalmus carinatus (Peters, 1861). Woody vegetation, habitat of Uroplectes otjimbinguensis (Karsch, 1879).