Research Article |
Corresponding author: Zhiyong Di ( zydi@ustc.edu.cn ) Academic editor: Wilson Lourenço
© 2015 Shijin Yin, Yanning Qiu, Zhaohui Pan, Zhiyong Di, Shaobin Li.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation:
Yin S, Qiu Y, Pan Z, Li S, Di Z (2015) Chaerilus pseudoconchiformus sp. n. and an updated key of the chaerilid scorpions from China (Scorpiones, Chaerilidae). ZooKeys 495: 41-51. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.495.9016
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A new species, C. pseudoconchiformus sp. n., is described from Xizang, China. The present new species is distinguished from its congeners by a body length of 32−40 mm, carapace with the anterior margin straight, chela with length/width ratio average of 3.3 in males (3.2−3.4, two adults), and 2.5 in females (2.3−2.6, nine adults), eight or nine (eight usually) rows of denticles on fixed and movable fingers of pedipalp chelae, five pectinal teeth in males and three or four in females. To date, the chaerilid species fauna of China consists of nine species. An updated identification key to Chaerilus from China is presented.
Chaerilidae , Chaerilus , new species, Xizang, China
The small monotypic family, Chaerilidae, has been reported containing one genus with 39 species (1/2015, http://www.ntnu.no/ub/scorpion-files/). The only genus is Chaerilus, which is found in southern and southeast Asia. In Xizang (Tibet), the chaerilid scorpions live under stones and fallen trees in humid habitats.
Chaerilid scorpions have a unique type B trichobothrial arrangement (
Illustrations and measurements were made using a Motic K700 stereomicroscope with an Abbe drawing tube and an ocular micrometer. The photos were taken with a Canon (650D) camera. Measurements follow Sissom (1990) and are given in mm. Trichobothrial notations follow
Holotype, male, China: Xizang, Nyingchi County (Linzhi County), VIII/2014, Zhiyong Di and Tao Li leg. (Ar.-USTC-XZLZ1401); paratypes: 1 adult male, 9 adult females, same data as holotype (Ar.-USTC-XZLZ1402−11) (kept in USTC).
The new species differs from its congeners by the following features: approximately 30−40 mm in total length (Table
C. pseudoconchiformus sp. n. Male holotype: 5 Carapace, dorsal aspect 6 Lateral eyes area 7–8 Chelicera, dorsal and ventral aspects 11 Tegument of the seventh sternite; 12 Sternum, genital operculum and pectines 14–15 Metasomal segment V, lateral and ventral aspects 16 Telson 18–19 Femur, dorsal and external aspects 20–22 Patella, dorsal, external and ventral aspects. Female paratype (Ar.−USTC−XZLZ1402): 9–10 Chelicera, dorsal and ventral aspects 17 Telson 23–24 Femur, dorsal and external aspects 25 Patella, dorsal aspect. Scale bars = 2 mm.
Measurements (mm) of C. pseudoconchiformus sp. n., male holotype (Ar.-USTC-XZLZ1401) and female paratype (Ar.-USTC-XZLZ1402). The information of C. wrzecionkoi from
C. pseudoconchiformus sp. n. | C. wrzecionkoi | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Male holotype | Female paratype | Male holotype | Female paratype | |
Total length | 37.4 | 37.1 | 37.0 | 39.0 |
Carapace: -Length -Anterior width -Posterior width |
4.5 2.4 5.0 |
4.4 2.7 5.3 |
4.3 4.4 |
4.5 5.1 |
Mesosomal segments: -Length |
11.3 |
13.5 |
||
Metasomal segment I: -Length -Width -Depth |
2.0 2.9 2.1 |
1.8 2.8 2.1 |
2.0 2.4 |
1.8 2.7 |
Metasomal segment II: -Length -Width -Depth |
2.6 2.4 1.9 |
2.2 2.4 1.8 |
2.4 2.0 |
2.2 2.2 |
Metasomal segment III: -Length -Width -Depth |
2.9 2.3 1.7 |
2.5 2.2 1.8 |
2.4 2.0 |
2.2 2.0 |
Metasomal segment IV: -Length -Width -Depth |
3.3 2.1 1.6 |
3.0 2.0 1.6 |
2.7 1.9 |
2.7 1.8 |
Metasomal segment V: -Length -Width -Depth |
5.4 1.9 1.5 |
4.9 1.8 1.5 |
4.7 1.8 |
4.4 1.6 |
Telson: -Length -Width -Depth |
5.5 2.1 1.7 |
4.8 2.0 1.7 |
4.9 |
4.9 |
Pedipalp femur: -Length -Width -Depth |
5.4 1.8 1.9 |
4.1 1.7 1.9 |
4.5 1.6 |
3.7 1.7 |
Pedipalp patella: -Length -Width -Depth |
5.3 1.9 2.1 |
4.1 2.0 2.4 |
4.8 1.7 |
4.0 2.2 |
Chela: -Length -Width (manus) -Depth (manus) |
10.2 3.2 3.1 |
9.0 3.6 3.1 |
9.0 3.5 |
8.3 3.5 |
Movable finger: -Length |
5.2 |
5.2 |
5.0 |
4.5 |
Pectinal teeth (left/right) | 5/5 | 4/4 | 4/5 | ? |
Feature datasets of body length (BL, mm; segment by segment was measured and added in type specimens, while others were measured for overall length only), chela with length/width ratio (CR), number of granule rows of movable finger of pedipalp (RN), and number of pectinal teeth (PT) of C. conchiformus (CO, Ar.-USTC-XZLZ1412), C. pseudoconchiformus sp. n., and C. tryznai (TY, Ar.-USTC-XZBM1401−02).
Sex | BL | CR | RN | PT | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
XZLZ1401 | ♂ | 37.4 | 3.2 | 8/8 | 5/5 |
XZLZ1402 | ♀ | 37.1 | 2.5 | 8/8 | 4/4 |
XZLZ1403 | ♂ | 32.0 | 3.4 | 8/8 | 5/5 |
XZLZ1404 | ♀ | 36.0 | 2.5 | 8/8 | 4/4 |
XZLZ1405 | ♀ | 39.0 | 2.6 | 9/9 | 4/4 |
XZLZ1406 | ♀ | 32.5 | 2.4 | 8/8 | 3/3 |
XZLZ1407 | ♀ | 38.0 | 2.6 | 8/8 | 4/3 |
XZLZ1408 | ♀ | 37.0 | 2.3 | 8/8 | 3/3 |
XZLZ1409 | ♀ | 38.0 | 2.3 | 8/8 | 3/3 |
XZLZ1410 | ♀ | 37.0 | 2.5 | 8/8 | 4/3 |
XZLZ1411 | ♀ | 35.5 | 2.5 | 8/8 | 4/3 |
XZLZ1412(CO) | ♀ | 32.0 | 1.9 | 7/7 | 4/4 |
XZBM1401(TY) | ♀ | 44.0 | 2.8 | 8/8 | 3/3 |
XZBM1402(TY) | ♀ | 39.0 | 2.6 | 8/8 | 3/3 |
The differences between chaerilids from China: C. conchiformus, C. dibangvalleycus, C. mainlingensis, C. pictus, C. pseudoconchiformus sp. n., C. wrzecionkoi, C. tessellatus, C. tricostatus, and C. tryznai; body length (BL, mm); carapace with the anterior margin (straight or curving, CA); chela with length/width ratio respectively in females and males (CR(F), CR(M)), dorsal secondary carinae of the chela (DS); rows number of denticles on fixed and movable fingers of chelae (RF); the tegument of the seventh sternite (SVII); holotype (H), paratype (P), new material (N).
conchiformus (H&N) | dibangvalleycus (H&P) | mainlingensis (H&P) | pictus (H&P) | pseudoconchiformus sp. n. (H&P) | wrzecionkoi (H&P) | tessellatus (H&P) | tricostatus (N) | tryznai (H, P&N) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BL | 32−44 | 36−42 | 40−41 | 38−66 | 32–39 | 33−41 | 35−52 | 48−60 | 30–44 |
CA | straight | slightly curving | slightly depressed | slightly curving | straight | straight | straight | straight | straight |
CR(F) | 1.8−1.9 | ? | 2.4−2.8 | 2.4 | 2.3−2.6 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2.2−2.4 | 2.6−2.9 |
CR(M) | ? | ? | ? | 2.5 | 3.2−3.4 | 2.6 | ? | 3.7 | >3 |
DS | present | absent | absent | present | present | present | present | absent | present |
RF | 8 | 7 or 8 |
7 | 13 or 14 | 8 or 9 | 8(9?) |
11 | 11or 12 | 8 |
SVII | weakly granular; with carinae | granular; with carinae | weakly granular; with carinae | ? | granular; without carinae | granular; without carinae | with carinae | granular; with carinae | granular; without carinae |
The specific name refers to the geographically and morphologically most closely related species C. conchiformus, adding the Greek prefix “pseudo−” as “pseudoconchiformus”, because the habitus of both sexes is very similar to that of C. conchiformus.
Based on male holotype and female paratype.
Coloration (Figs
Morphology. Carapace carinated, with the anterior margin straight; with dense granules of nearly equal size; lateral furrow moderately deep; large granules form 2 longitudinal lateral carinae (Fig.
Mesosoma: Tergites uniform distributing with granules of larger and unequal size; tergites I to II without carinae, each of tergites III to VI bearing a pairs of obsolete granular carinae on posterior margin, tergite VII bearing two pairs of obsolete granular lateral carinae, but middle pair is represented only by ridges without expressed carinae; sternum pentagonal; genital operculum triangular; pectinal teeth count 5/5 in males and 3−4 in females, with fulcra well developed (Figs
Metasoma: Length about 4.8 times as long as carapace in males and 4.4 in females; segment I always wider than long; segments I to V with 10-8-8-8-7 granular carinae; the ventromedian and ventrolateral carinae of segment V composed of strong, dentated granules, ventromedian carina posteriorly bifurcated as “Y” (Figs
Chelicerae: Tibia surfaces smooth; thickly covered with numerous short, silky hairs, extending to ventral aspect of chelicerae and dorsal aspect of fixed fingers; ventral inner edges of movable finger with some minute teeth (2−3 obsolete teeth in two males and 3−9 well developed and obsolete teeth in nine females) (Figs
Pedipalp: Tegument granular. The femur has four carinae and the patella has five granular carinae (Figs
C. pseudoconchiformus sp. n. Male holotype: 28–30 Chela, dorsoexternal, ventral, and internal aspects 34 Movable finger of pedipalp. Female paratype (Ar.−USTC−XZLZ1402): 26–27 Patella, external and ventral aspects 31–33 Chela, dorsoexternal, ventral, and internal aspects 35 Movable finger of pedipalp. Scale bars = 2 mm.
Legs: Tibia without tibial spur. Basitarsus with two pedal spurs strongly developed. Tarsi with two rows of spiniform setae.
Coloration and morphology in holotype and paratypes are very similar (feature datasets please see Table
Found under the stones in mixed forest.
China (Xizang).
1 | Movable finger of pedipalp with 7–9 rows of granules | 2 |
– | Movable finger of pedipalp with 10–14 rows of granules | 7 |
2 | Chela length to width ratio in female adults 1.6–1.9 | C. conchiformus |
– | Chela length to width ratio in female adults higher than 2.0 | 3 |
3 | Ventral side of seventh mesosomal segment with 2 pairs of granular carinae; carapace with anterior margin straight with a median notch | 4 |
– | Ventral side of seventh mesosomal segment with many granules but without carinae; carapace with anterior margin straight without median notch | 5 |
4 | Pedipalp femur shorter than carapace; 8–9 minute teeth on inner ventral margins of movable and immovable fingers respectively ( |
C. dibangvalleycus |
– | Pedipalp femur longer than carapace, 7–8 minute teeth on inner ventral margins of movable and immovable fingers respectively ( |
C. mainlingensis |
5 | Manus of pedipalp narrower and longer with the ventral margin not round in females ( |
C. tryznai |
– | Manus of pedipalp robust in females with the ventral margin very round in females; chela length/width ratio in females is 2.3–2.6 | 6 |
6 | Chela length/width ratio in males average of 3.3 (3.2−3.4), and 2.5 in females (2.3−2.6), chelae of male and female with sexual dimorphism | C. pseudoconchiformus sp. n. |
– | Chela length/width ratio about 2.6 in male, and about 2.4 in female, chelae of male and female without sexual dimorphism ( |
C. wrzecionkoi |
7 | Movable finger of pedipalp with 13–14 rows of granules; telson of male rather long and about 4.7 times longer than wide, with an obvious sexual dimorphism in both sexes | C. pictus |
– | Movable finger of pedipalp with 11–12 rows of granules; telsons of male and female without sexual dimorphism | 8 |
8 | Carapace and tergites nearly smooth in adults ( |
C. tessellatus |
– | Carapace and tergites with many big granules in adults ( |
C. tricostatus |
We are grateful to Profs. Victor Fet and Wilson R. Lourenço for providing references and linguistic improvement. Sincere appreciation goes to Mr. Tao Li for the help to collect specimens. This work was supported in part by grants from the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (WK2070000056), the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China (30900239 and 81373379) and the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (MOST grant no. 2014FY210200).