The scorpions of Yunnan (China): updated identification key, new record and redescriptions of Euscorpiops kubani and E. shidian (Arachnida, Scorpiones)

Abstract We present an identification key to the scorpion species of Yunnan (China) with notes on the distribution and ecology. Euscorpiops kubani is recorded for the first time for China. The redescriptions of Euscorpiops shidian and Euscorpiops kubani are provided. The number of known scorpion species from Yunnan is raised to nine.

Type locality. India orientali, UZMD. Diagnosis. (Modifi ed from Kovařík 1997). Total length about 40-65 mm in males and females (Figs 1-4). Male diff ers from female in having fi ngers of pedipalps proximally twisted (Fig. 5). Sixth cutting edge on movable and fi xed fi ngers of pedipalps, usually with 3 external granules each (rarely 2 or 4 granules). First and second metasomal segments with 10 carinae, third and fourth segments with eight carinae. Ventral surface of seventh mesosomal segment with two carinae (not always discernible). Position and distribution of trichobothria on pedipalps as fi gures 5-9.
From its general morphology, L. mucronatus certainly related to L. krali Kovařík, 1995, described from Umphang River in Th ailand. Th ey have same important characters: second segment of metasoma with ten carinae, third metasomal segment with eight carinae; sixth cutting edge on movable fi ngers of pedipalps with two to four external granules; legs spotted. L. mucronatus can be distinguished from L. krali by the following characters: manus of pedipalps bright yellow with sparse, minute black spots, patella predominantly dark, compared with L. krali, in which the manus of pedipalps have the same color as patella and femur; pectinal teeth number 16-26, pectinal teeth 10-19 in L. krali; metasoma of approximately the same length in both sexes in L. mucronatus, whereas the metasoma much longer in males than in females in L. krali (Kovařík 1997: 360). Ecology. Th is species is common. We collected from mixed forest and buzzed canebrake. Th ey are found in the bark, the gap of soil and under the stones.
E. kubani is similar to E. shidian Qi, Zhu and Lourenço, 2005 in shape and color (Figs 10-13, 50-53): both are characterized by the presence of 18 trichobothria (E. kubani: mainly with 18) on the external surface of pedipalp patella, 6-8 pectinal teeth, chela with similar length/width ratio (Tab. 2). Both species can be separated by: male pedipalp chela fi ngers strongly scalloped in E. kubani, whereas in E. shidian males are slightly scalloped or straight, being the lobe and corresponding notch are reduced to absent; pectinal fulcra small, reduced or absent in E. kubani, but well developed in E. shidian.
Description (based on specimens: Ar.-MWHU-YNMH1001-02). Coloration: Carapace dark red brown. Median and lateral ocular tubercles black. Tergites mostly dark red brown to dark brown. Metasoma segments dark red brown to dark brown. Vesicle red brown with a reddish aculeus. Chelicerae yellow brown with fi ngers dark red brown gradually lighter toward the tip. Pedipalp femur and patella dark red brown, chela manus and fi ngers red brown. Legs red brown with yellow brown tarsi. Tarsal ungues yellowish brown. Sternum, genital operculum and sternites pale brown. Pectines yellowish.
Morphology. Prosoma: Carapace with sparse, coarse granules; lateral furrow broad; anterior median furrow broad and moderately deep; posterior median furrow deep; margin behind lateral eyes with granules, other margins smooth. Median eyes situated anteriorly compared to center of carapace; three pairs of lateral ocelli, posterior smallest. Median ocular tubercle with granules and a pair of big median eyes and a median furrow. Lateral ocular tubercle with some granules around eyes.
Mesosoma: Tergites sparsely covered with coarse granules, posterior part of tergites with bigger granules; tergites II-VI with a median carina; tergite VII with two pairs of lateral carinae (with bigger granules). Pectinal teeth count 6-8, fulcra small reduced to absent. Genital operculum subtriangular. Sternites smooth and shiny; segment VII with 4 weak ventral carinae and few granules. Metasoma: Tegument coarse. Segments II to V longer than wide; segments I to V with respectively 10-8-8-8-7 carinae, segments II-IV with a pair of vestigial lateral carinae; all dorsal carinae crenulate, slightly stronger distally; segment V carinae with smaller granules dorsally and larger serration ventrally. Vesicle with few setae and granules.
Legs: Tegument coarsely granular dorsally, except basitarsi and telotarsi, smooth ventrally. Trochanters with few setae. Femur dorsal surface with few small granules, external surface with a granular carina, internal surface with two granular carinae. Patella internally with a dentate carina. Tibia with few setae and small granules, without spurs. Basitarsi with some spinules, few setae and 2 lateral pedal spurs. Tarsi ventrally with one row of short spinules and few setae. Tarsal ungues curved and hook-like.
Variation. Female and male paratypes: coloration and morphology are very similar to holotype (Kovařík 2004). Sexual dimorphism: adult males, with more pronounced lobes on the movable fi ngers of the chela, and a more pronounced notch in the fi xed fi nger and bigger pectinal teeth than females. Measurements in table 1. Feature datasets in table 2.
Ecology. Th is species was collected from moist mixed forest and village. Th ey are found in the shambles (brick or stones) and under the clod.
Distribution. China (Yunnan), Laos.  3.4 † It is visible that the right patella of pedipalp of this specimen (Ar.-MWHU-YNPMH1004) didn't developed well, in respect that with external trichobothria et 4 and est 2 absent (the position and terminology followed Kovařík 2000:157). § As these specimens came from the same village, it is very puzzling that with obvious external trichobothria diff erence. # Maybe there are diff erent methods of measurement adopted by these authors lead to an enormous diff erence among length/width ratio of chela of type specimens and new material, however, it is obvious that they are with the same shape ( Diagnosis. E. puerensis diff ers from all other species in the genus on the basis of the following combination of characters: 18 external trichobothria (5 eb, 2 esb, 2 em, 4 est, 5 et), and 10 or 11 ventral trichobothria in the pedipalp patella (10 specimens); chela with a length/width ratio average of 2.7 in males and females (5 males and 2 females); pedipalp chela fi ngers of adult females and males scalloped; pectinal teeth count 7-8; pectinal fulcra present.

Euscorpiops puerensis
E. puerensis appears to be closely related to E. vachoni Qi, Zhu and Lourenço, 2005: both are medium-sized scorpions characterized by the presence of 10 or 11 trichobothria on the ventral surface of pedipalp patella, a pronounced lobe on the movable fi nger and a corresponding notch on fi xed fi nger of adult males, 7-8 pectinal teeth. Th e shape of the chela manus provides the most pronounced diff erence between them, in E. puerensis is fl at dorsoventrally, whereas it is short, stout, and robust in E. vachoni. E. puerensis may be distinguished from E. kubani and E. sejnai Kovařík 2000  by means of the following features: pedipalp chela fi ngers are distinctly scalloped on adult males and females in E. puerensis, whereas in E. kubani chela fi ngers are scalloped on male and nearly straight on female, and in E. sejnai male chela fi ngers are slightly scalloped (female unknown); 10-11 trichobothria on ventral surface of patella in E. puerensis, whereas there are 9 in E. sejnai, and 9-10 in E. kubani (11 rarely); chela with a length/width ratio average of 2.7 on males and females, whereas in E. kubani is higher than 2.7, and on E. sejnai is 2.75; 7-8 pectinal teeth, whereas there are 4-7 in E. sejnai, 6-8 in E. kubani; total length 48.8 to 60.0 mm in E. puerensis, whereas both E. sejnai and E. kubani are smaller than 48.0 mm (Kovařík 2000(Kovařík , 2004(Kovařík , 2005.  Diagnosis. E. shidian diff ers from all other species in the genus on the basis of the following combination of characters: pedipalp patella with 18 external (5 eb, 2 esb, 2 em, 4 est, 5 et), and 10-12 ventral trichobothria (rarely 10 or 12); chela with length/ width ratio average of 3.3 (5 males and 5 females); inner surface of pedipalp chela fi ngers on adult females and males nearly straight; pectinal fulcra present (few and small).
E. shidian is morphologically most similar to E. kubani. Both species are characterized by the presence of 18 trichobothria (E. kubani: mainly with 18) on the external surface of pedipalp patella, 6-8 pectinal teeth, chela with similar length/width ratio (Tab. 2). Th ey can be separated by: male pedipalp chela fi ngers slightly scalloped or straight in E. shidian, whereas in E. kubani males they are strongly scalloped; pectinal fulcra few but obvious in E. shidian, pectinal fulcra small reduced to absent in E. kubani.
Coloration: Carapace dark red black brown. Median and lateral ocular tubercles black. Tergites mostly dark red brown to dark brown. Metasoma segments dark red brown to dark brown; telson, vesicle brown, aculeus redish. Chelicerae yellow brown, fi ngers red brown gradually lighter toward the tip. Pedipalp femur and patella dark brown, chela manus and fi ngers dark red brown. Legs red brown with yellow brown tarsi. Tarsal ungues yellowish brown. Sternum, genital operculum and sternites brown. Pectines yellowish.
Morphology. Prosoma: Tegument coarse with fi ne and smooth granules. Carapace with sparse, fi ne granules; lateral furrow broad; anterior median furrow broad and moderately deep; posterior median furrow deep; margin behind lateral eyes with granules, other margins smooth. Median eyes situated anteriorly respect to the center of carapace; three pairs of lateral ocelli, posterior smallest. Median ocular tubercle coarse with granules and a pair of big median eyes and a median furrow. Lateral ocular tubercle with some granules around eyes.
Mesosoma: Tergites densely covered with fi ne granules, posterior part of tergites with bigger granules; tergite II to tergite VI with a median carina; tergite VII with two pairs of lateral carinae. Pectinal teeth count 6-8, fulcra small and obvious. Genital operculum subtriangular. Sternites smooth; segment VII with four weak ventral carinae with granules.
Metasoma: Tegument coarse. Segments II to V longer than wide; segments I to V with respectively 10-8-8-8-7 carinae, segments II-IV with a pair of vestigial lateral carinae; dorsal carinae crenulated, slightly stronger distally; on segment V carinae with smaller granules dorsally and larger serration ventrally. Vesicle with sparse small granules, and few setae.
Chelicerae: Tegument smooth. Tibiae smooth. Movable fi nger with 4 teeth on dorsal edge and 6-7 teeth (not constant) on ventral edge. Fixed fi nger with 3 teeth on dorsal edge.
Legs: Tegument coarse dorsally except basitarsi and telotarsi, smooth ventrally. Trochanters with few setae. Femur dorsal surface with some small granules, external surface with one granular carina, internal surface with two granular carinae. Patella internally with one dentate carina. Tibia with few setae and small granules, without spurs. Basitarsi with some spinules, few setae and two lateral pedal spurs. Tarsi ventrally with one row of short spinules and few setae. Tarsal ungues curved and hook-like.
Variation. Female and male paratypes: coloration and morphology are very similar to holotype (see Qi, Zhu and Lourenço 2005). Sexual dimorphism: the pectinal teeth of adult males are clearly bigger than those of adult females; this sexual dimorphism is common in Euscorpiops and Scorpiops. Measurements in table 1. Feature datasets in table 2.
Ecology. Th is species was collected from moist mixed forest and hamlets. Th ey are found on the wall in the night and under stones in the day.
Distribution. China (Yunnan). E. vachoni appears to be closely related to E. puerensis: both are medium-sized scorpions, characterized by the presence of 10 or 11 trichobothria on the ventral surface of pedipalp patella, a pronounced lobe on the movable fi nger and a corresponding notch on fi xed fi nger of adult males, 7-8 pectinal teeth. Th e most pronounced diff erence between both species is: chela manus short, stout, and robust in E. vachoni, whereas it is fl at dorsoventrally in E. puerensis. E. vachoni may be separated from E. shidian and E. yangi on the basis of the following character: chela with a length/width ratio smaller than 3.0, whereas in E. shidian higher than 3.2, and in E. yangi 3.4 (males) and 3.3 (females). E. vachoni may be separated from E. kubani and E. validus by the following characters:yellow brown color in E. vachoni, compared with dark red brown in E. kubani, and dark brown inn E. validus; chela manus stout and rounded, whereas in E. kubani and E. validus fl at. E. vachoni may be separated from E. xui by the following characters: patella of pedipalp with 18 external trichobothria whereas in E. xui with 18-19; chela with a length/width ratio smaller than 3.0, whereas in E. xui with a length/width ratio higher than 3.4.

Euscorpiops vachoni Qi, Zhu & Lourenço, 2005
Description. See Qi et al. (2005). Ecology. Th is species is uncommon, type materials collected from moist mixed forest close to the border of China and Laos.

Distribution. China (Yunnan, just the type locality).
Notes. Th e immature male specimen checked bears 18/18 external trichobothria (5 eb, 2 esb, 2 em, 4 est, 5 et), and 10/10 ventral trichobothria in the pedipalp patella, 17 external trichobothria and 10 ventral trichobothria in the pedipalp patella on holotype (see Qi et al. 2005: 18). Diagnosis. Medium-sized scorpions, total length 50.0-59.8 mm. It can be distinguished from other species of Euscorpiops by having thicker chelas. It can be ditinguished from other Euscopiops species from Yunnan by the following features: pedipalp patella with 9 to 10 (rarely 11 or 8) ventral trichobothria; chela strong, length/width ratio: 2.9-3.2 (mean 3.0 in 3 males, and 3.1 in 4 females); pectinal fulcra present (obsolete in some females); chela fi ngers obviously curved; pectinal teeth: 7-8; pectinal fulcra present and small. E. validus can be ditinguished from related Euscopiops species by the following features: in E. shidian there are 11 (rarely 10 or 12) ventral trichobothria on pedipalp patella, chela length/width ratio higher than 3.2 in E. shidian, higher than 3.3 in E.yangi and higher than 3.4 in E. xui; chela fi ngers clearly curved in E. validus, whereas in E. shidian they are nearly straight, in E. kubani female nearly straight and in E. yangi they are slightly undulated in both sexes without sexual dimorphism; chela manus fl at in E. validus, whereas in E. vachoni rounded.

Euscorpiops validus
Description. See Di et al. (2010a). Ecology. Th is species is collected from moist mixed forest. Th ey are found on the wall in the night and under stones in the day.

Diagnosis (Modifi ed from
E. xui appears to be closely related to E. kubani, both can be distinguished by: male chela length/width ratio, about 4.0 in males and 3.5 in females, whereas it is about 3.1 in males and 2.9 in females in E. kubani; pedipalp fi ngers nearly straight (Figs 105, 107), while in E. kubani there is scalloped in males and nearly straight in females (Kovařík 2004;Sun and Zhu 2010).
E. xui can be distinguished from other related species of the genus Euscorpiops by the following features: patella of pedipalp with 10 ventral trichobothria, whereas in E. shidian with 11 (rarely 10 and 12 ); chela with a clear sexual dimorphism on length/width ratio: about 4.0 in males and 3.5 in females, compared with 2.7-3.2 in E. kubani, 2.9-3.2 in E. validus, and 2.   Zhu et al. 2007) Medium-sized scorpion with total length 46.1 to 51.3 (4 males and 1 female); patella of pedipalp with 9 to 10 ventral trichobothria (Figs 115-117); chela narrow and elongated, the length/width ratio is 3.4 on males (4 specimens) and 3.3 on female (1 specimen), the chela length/carapace length ratio is equal or greater than 2.0; pedipalp fi ngers of males and females nearly straight (Figs 112, 114).

Diagnosis. (Modifi ed from
E. yangi can be distinguished from other related species of the genus Euscorpiops by the following features: patella of pedipalp with 9 to 10 ventral trichobothria, whereas in E. shidian with 11 (rarely 10 or 12); chela narrow and elongated; the length/ width ratio is 3.4 in males and 3.3 in females, compared with 2.7-3.2 in E. kubani, 2.9-3.2 in E. validus , and 2.6-2.8 in E. puerensis. E. yangi can be ditinguished from E. xui by the following features: patella of pedipalp with 18 external trichobothria whereas in E. xui with 18-19; chela with length/width ratio 3.4 in males and 3.3 in females, whereas on E. xui with length/width ratio 4.0-4.1 in males (2 specimens) and 3.4-3.6 in females (2 specimens).
S. jendeki appears to be closely related to S. hardwickei (Gervais, 1843), both species have the same number of external and ventral trichobothria on the patella, and a similar length/width ratio of chela; however, in the latter the fi ngers of pedipalps are strongly fl exed.  Kovařík 1994Kovařík , 2000. Male holotype. 118-119 Chela dorsal and external aspects 121-122 Patella external and ventral aspecta. Scale bars: 2.0 mm. 120 S. jendeki (followed Kovařík 2000). Female. Chela dorsal aspect. Scale bars: 2.0 mm.
Description. See Kovařík (1994Kovařík ( , 2000. Ecology. Th is species is uncommon, collected from moist mixed forest and in the bark or leavers and moss. Distribution. China (Yunnan).

Key to species of Scorpiones from Yunnan (China)
1 Anterior margin of carapace retuse (Figs 1, 3 Trichobothrium Eb 3 on the external surface of the chela located between trichobothria Dt and Est; telson with an annular ring at the juncture of the vesicle with aculeus (Fig. 48)