v7i4.192

ISSN: 1800-427X (print)
eISSN: 1800-427X (online)
DOI:10.47605/tapro.v7i4.192

Submitted date: 7 October 2014
Accepted date: 7 April 2015
Published date: 15 August 2015
Pp. 213–218, Pl. 1–4.

A NEW SCORPION OF THE GENUS Buthoscorpio WERNER, 1936 (SCORPIONES: BUTHIDAE) FROM KERALA, INDIA

K. Aswathi*, P.M. Sureshan & Wilson R. Lourenco
*Corresponding author. E-mail: aswathik101@gmail.com

Abstract
A new scorpion species of the genus Buthoscorpio Werner, 1936 is described from Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Idukki District, Kerala, India. The new species, Buthoscorpio chinnarensis can be distingued from the other congeners by having (1) carapace with scattered granulation on lateral portions; (2) median eyes situated anteriorly in the ratio 1:2; (3) prominent tubercles present at the basal portion of the pedipalp femur; (4) marginal lamellae of pectines composed of three pieces and middle lamellae comprises seven pieces of sclerites; (5) dorsal carinae present on metasomal segments III–V; (6) subaculear tubercle absent on telson; (7) Pectinal teeth count 14/16 (female paratypes with 17/17 and 16/17 respectively); (8) Metasomal segments I–IV wider than long, segment V longer than wide; (9) arrangement of lateral eyes. After the description of this new species, the total number of known species in the genus is raised to five; four in India and one in Sri Lanka.

Key words : Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Sri Lanka, taxonomy, Western Ghats

Section Editor: Erich Volschenk