Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) viatoris
Creators: name: Prendini, Lorenzo
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2016
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Scorpiones
Scorpionidae
Pandinurus
Pandinurus viatoris

description: Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) viatoris
(Pocock, 1890)
Scorpio viatoris Pocock, 1890: 100, 101, pl. I, fig. 1.
Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) bartolozii Rossi, 2015a: 10, 11, 22–26, 28, 37, 40, 42, 55, 65, table 2, figs. 46–56, 125, syn. nov.
Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) flagellicauda Rossi, 2015a: 10, 11, 22–25, 28, 29, 34, 37, 39, 41, 56, 65, table 2, figs. 57–66, 125, syn. nov.
Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) lorenzoi Rossi, 2015a: 10, 11, 13, 23, 25, 26, 29, 37, 40, 42, 58, 65, table 2, figs. 74–80, 125, syn. nov.
Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) pantinii Rossi, 2015a: 10, 11, 26, 27, 37, 39, 41, 60, 65, table 2, figs. 90–98, 125, syn. nov.
Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) pygmaeus Rossi, 2015a: 10, 11, 26, 28, 29, 36, 39, 41, 61, 65, table 1, figs. 99–105, 125, syn. nov.
TYPE MATERIAL: Scorpio viatoris: Holotype ♂ (BMNH 1890.4.15.1) [examined], “East Africa” [probably Malawi or Zambia]. Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) bartolozii: Holotype ♂ (MZUF 1059), allotype ♀ (MZUF 1456), Kolwezi, Shaba, Democratic Republic of the Congo (D. R.C.), ii.1990, D. Mosca. Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) flagellicauda: Holotype ♂ (MZUF 1457), allotype ♀, 4 ♀ paratypes (MZUF 1458), 1 ♂, 1 ♀ paratypes (ARPC 0251, 0252 ex MZUF), Kolwezi, Shaba, D. R.C., ii.1990, D. Mosca. Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) lorenzoi: Holotype ♂ (ARPC 0024), Morogoro, Kigulunyembe, Mt. Uluguru, Tanzania, 18-31.iii.2008. Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) pantinii: Holotype ♂ (MSNB), Balaka, Malawi, xii.2004, E. Ferrario. Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) pygmaeus: Holotype ♀ [subad.] (MSNB), Likasi, S.-E. Shaba, D. R.C., ii.1986, K. Tshikamba.
The type locality of P. viatoris is unknown, but the holotype described by Pocock (1888) probably originated from former British colonial territory, either Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) or Nyasaland (now Malawi), rather than former German colonial territory (Tanganyika, now Tanzania) as suggested by Rossi (2015a: 65, fig. 125). There are at present no confirmed records of P. viatoris from Kenya (former British East Africa).
DISTRIBUTION: Prendini et al. (2003: 234) discussed putative records of P. viatoris from Zimbabwe, demonstrated that these records actually occur in Zambia, and noted that there are no credible records of Pandinus south of the Zambezi River. Kovařík (2012: 19, fig. 64) did not cite Prendini et al. (2003) and erroneously plotted three points for P. viatoris south of the Zambezi River, one in the extreme north of Zimbabwe (presumably, the specimen erroneously labelled “ Mashonaland ” [ZMB 35310]) and two in Mozambique, corresponding to the approximate locations of Tete and Beira, where this species does not appear to occur based on surveys by the author. Rossi (2015a: 29) discussed the reliability of Kovařík’s (2012) Zimbabwean record, but apparently missed the point about the Zambezi River, as he did not mention the other two localities, and went on to describe a new Pandinurus species allegedly from Messina, in the Limpopo Province of South Africa (see above).
REMARKS: Rossi (2015a) described five new species in a new subgenus Pandipalpus, three based on singletons, among them an immature specimen, two from the same locality in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and one from a locality nearby. With one exception, the meristic data (total body length, pedipalp trichobothrial counts, pectinal tooth counts and counts of spiniform macrosetae in the pro- and retroventral rows of the telotarsi) listed as diagnostic for the five species by Rossi (2015a: 23–25, 27, 28, 36, 37, table 1, 2) overlap entirely with one another and with the ranges given for P.viatoris (reproduced here in table 6) with which they are evidently conspecific. The putatively diagnostic difference in total body length between P. pygmaeus and the other species may be dismissed on account of the immaturity of the holotype of the former. As with P. janae, discussed above, Rossi (2015a: 29) mistakenly regarded the holotype of P. pygmaeus to be adult and this assumption formed the basis of his justification for its recognition as a new species: “ Pandinurus (Pandipalpus subgen. n.) pygmaeus n. sp. ha dimensioni minori, 83 mm, contro 100– 125 mm.” It is, however, clear from Rossi’s (2015a: 28, 36, 61, table 1) meristic data and figures 99–105 that the holotype of P. pygmaeus is immature and that it is conspecific with P.viatoris. The holotypes of P. bartolozii and P. flagellicauda, originally part of the same series of specimens, were previously examined by F. Kovařík (in 1997), considered conspecific, and identified as P. viatoris (Kovařík and Whitman, 2005: 114; Kovařík, 2012: 21). Curiously, Rossi (2015a: 25) appears to have regarded the sympatric occurrence of these specimens as evidence for their distinctiveness, despite the lack of data supporting any possible ecological difference:
Pandinurus (Pandipalpus subgen. n.) flagellicauda n. sp. vive in simpatria con la specie Pandinurus (Pandipalpus subgen. n.) bartolozzii n. sp. dalla quale differisce in modo netto. Purtroppo il raccoglitore non ha allegato informazioni ecologiche ai campioni raccolti per cui possiamo solo ipotizzare che le due specie condividano lo stesso ambiente della foresta pluviale.
In view of the evidence, the following new synonyms are presented: Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) bartolozii Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) viatoris (Pocock, 1890), syn. nov.; Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) flagellicauda Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) viatoris (Pocock, 1890), syn. nov.; Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) lorenzoi Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) viatoris (Pocock, 1890), syn. nov.; Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) pantinii Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) viatoris (Pocock, 1890), syn. nov.; Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) pyg-
maeus Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) viatoris (Pocock, 1890), syn. nov. Ongoing research has revealed low levels of genetic divergence between populations of P. viatoris in Malawi and Tanzania, further supporting the conclusion that P. viatoris is a single, panmictic species (L. Prendini, unpublished data).
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL EXAMINED: 1 subad. ♀ (AMNH). DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF
CONGO: Haut-Katanga Prov.: Lukafu, 10°31′S 027°33′E, 1930, G.F. de Witte, 1 ♀ (MRAC 61.608 old 23.806), 6–22.xii.1930, G.F. de Witte, 3 juv. ♀ (MRAC 23.970–972), 1 juv. ♂, 2 juv. ♀ (MRAC 23.973–975); Monasterie N.O. de Béthanie [04°24′S 019°19′E], Katanga, 10°00′S 027°00′E, 1947, R. R. Soeurs, 1 ♂ (MRAC 57.722). Haut-Lomami Prov.: Bukama, 09°12′S 025°51′E, 1937, P. Brien, 1 ex. (MRAC 168.782); Kabongo, 07°20′S 025°35′E, 1952, Dierkx, 1 ♀ (MRAC 73.615); Kamina [08°44′S 024°59′E], Luabo [09°03′S 024°47′E], 1949, Ecole Normale, 1 ♀ (MRAC 65.801); Kisanga [06°51′S 024°10′E], Kele [06°55′S 023°10′E], Katanga, 1959, R.F.A. van Oost, 5 ex. (MRAC 207.425). Lualaba Prov.: Muema, 10°25′S 024°49′E, 1927, A. Bayet, 3 ♂, 2 juv. (MRAC 130.812), 3 ex. (MRAC 130.813). Zilo [10°30′S 025°28′E], Shaba, v.1991, 1 ♂ (NHRM [JF, 57]). Maniema Prov.: Misosa [?Musasa, 03°53′S 026°49′E], vii.1939, H.J. Bredo, 13 ex. (MRAC 57.597–610), 19 ex. (MRAC 57.611–630), 19 ex. (MRAC 57.631–650). North Kivu Prov.: Beni, 00°29′N 029°28′E, Lisfrane, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ (MRAC 57.743). Tanganyika Prov.: Tanganika, J. Hecq, 1 ♂ (MRAC 130.814); Baudouinville [Kirungu], 07°02′S 029°47′E, iii.1954, H. Bomans, 1 juv. (MRAC 78.968). KENYA: Rifl Valley Prov.: Narok Distr.: S Guaso Nejiro, Toita plains, 1 subad. ♀ (USNM). MALAWI: Southern (Blantyre) Region: Mangochi Distr.: Fort Johnston [Mangochi, 14°29′S 035°16′E], Sir Alfred, 1 ♂ (TM 17462 ex AM 2179); Mangochi [14°28′S 035°16′E], Rift Valley 1 ♂ (AMNH); Monkey Bay [14°03′S 034°55′E], 14.vii.1975, D. Eccles, 1 ♀ (AMNH [AH 204]), 3 juv. ♂ (AMNH [AH 191, 192, 230]), 2 juv. ♀ (AMNH [AH 229, 231]), 19.vi.1975, D. Eccles, found in burrow with mother, 1 juv. ♂, 1 juv. ♀ (AMNH), 23.xii.1993, C. R. Owen, 1 juv. ♂, 1 juv. ♀ (NHRM [JF 140]); Monkey Bay, ca. 1 km S on road S128 to Mangochi, 14°06′25″S 034°55′01″E, 13.xii.2007, L. Prendini & W. R. Schmidt, 485 m, mesic savanna (Miombo Woodland) on flat plain with low granite/dolerite koppies (plains in between), coarse sandy-loam soils, UV light detection on warm, dark (overcast), humid night after rain, sitting motionless on soil surface near base of tree, 1 ♂ (AMNH), [leg] (AMCC [LP 8025]). Zomba Distr.: Chinsewu Village, 20.5 km W Zomba on Namadidi Road, 15°19′20″S 35°11′28″E, 11–14. xii.2007, L. Prendini, W. R. Schmidt & R. Mbaya, 584 m, mesic savanna (Miombo Woodland) remnants on flat plain in old lands (subsistence agriculture/hoed fields of maize) in between freshly-hoed lands, well-drained sandy/clayey-loam soil, excavated from burrows in open ground and at base of bushes, burrows often multi-entranced, with several individuals (mixed sex and age) occupying same burrow, 13 ♂, 14 ♀, 6 subad. ♂, 9 subad. ♀, 21 juv. ♂, 20 juv. ♀ (AMNH), 2 juv. ♀ (AMCC [LP 8026]). MOZAMBIQUE: Chifurubasi, iv–v.1905, W. Tiesler, 1 ♂ (ZMB 1092/05). Nampula Prov.: Nampula Distr.: Nampula Mountain [Nampula, 15°07′S 39°16′E, iii.1976, K. Groseh, 1 ♀ (NM 10984). Zambézia Prov.: Gurué Distr.: Lioma [15°10′S 036°48′E], 22.ii.2001, C. R. Owen, 1 ♀ (NHRM [JF 110]), 1 subad. ♂ (NHRM [JF 112]), 28.ii.2001, C. R. Owen, 1 ♀ (NHRM [JF 111]). TANZANIA: Imported for pet trade, probably Serengeti area, 1994, ex M. Scharmach, 2 ♂, 1 subad. ♀, 1 juv. ♂ (AMNH [LP 332]), 2 ♂ (AMNH [LP 337]), 1 ♂ (AMCC 101704 [LP 1557]). Arusha Prov.: Karatu Distr.: Karatu, 03°21.177′S 035°48.871′E, 6.viii.2015, M. Roppo, 1264 m, 1 juv. [leg] (AMCC [LP 13453]). Dodoma Prov.: Kondoa Distr.: Kath Mission, Kwa Mtoro [05°14′S 035°26′E], Ussandawi, i–ii.1912, Dr. E. Obst, 1 ♂, 2 ♀, 1 subad. ♀ (ZMH). Lindi Prov.: Kilwa Distr.: Mbarawala Plateaux, 09°02.374′S 039°07.206′E, 29.ii–4.iii.2008, P. Hawkes, 270 m, 1 ♂ (AMNH). Liwale Distr.: Liwale [09°08′S 038°17′E], iv.1948, C.P.J. Iomides, 1 ♂ (NMK 295). Mara Prov.: Serengeti Distr.: Serengeti, 1 ♀ (NMK 298), x.1949, 1 ♂ (NMK 296), ii.1959, 1 juv. ♂ (NMK 297 old 42). Seren- geti National Park, Wandamu Kopjes, 02°29.441′S 034°55.367′E, 1.viii.2015, M. Roppo, 1523 m, 1 juv. [leg] (AMCC [LP 13452]). Rukwa Prov.: Mpanda Distr.: Lake Tanganyika, Smithsonian Institution African Expedition, 1 ♂ (USNM 156/396); Mpanda town, 06°30′S 031°30′E, xii.1980, K.M. Howell, 1 ♀ (MRAC 159.310). Singida Prov.: Singida Distr.: Mangasini [04°53′S 034°09′E], 14.xii.1929, A. Loveridge, 2 ♂, 1 ♀ (MCZ 15573); Usandawi, 1929–1930, Fliegner, 1 ♀ (ZMB 146D/33); Usandawi, Mangasini [04°53′S 034°09′E], 13.xii.1929, A. Loveridge, 1 juv. ♀ (MCZ 15572). ZAMBIA: Eastern Prov.: Chipata Distr.: Chief Sayiri area, 30 mi. from Fort Jameson [Chipata, 13°38′S 032°39′E], 6–18.i.1965, V.J. Wilson, 2 ♂, 2 subad. ♂, 2 subad. ♀, 1 juv. ♂ (NM 9090); Fort Jameson, V.L. Wilson, 2 ♂, 2 ♀ (NM 18772), i.1965, V.J. Wilson, 1 ♂ (TM 17461). Northern Prov.: Mpulungu Distr.: Mpulungu, 08°46′S 031°08′E, 1994, P.D. Plisnier, 1 ♂ (MRAC 209.525).
ERRONEOUS RECORD: Mashonaland [Zimbabwe], 1893, R. Bartels, 1 ex. (ZMB 35310 old 1247/1911).
description: Published as part of Prendini, Lorenzo, 2016, Redefinition And Systematic Revision Of The East African Scorpion Genus Pandinoides (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae) With Critique Of The Taxonomy Of Pandinus, Sensu Lato, pp. 1-66 in Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2016 (407) on pages 59-62, DOI: 10.1206/0003-0090-407.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4612737