Hadruroides graceae Ochoa & Prendini 2010, n. sp.
Creators: name: Ochoa, José A.
name: Prendini, Lorenzo
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2010
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Scorpiones
Caraboctonidae
Hadruroides
Hadruroides graceae

description: Hadruroides graceae, n. sp.
Figures 1, 4D, 14–17; table 2
TYPE MATERIAL: PERU: Ancash Department: Huarmey Province: Holotype ♂, 5 ♂, 5 ♀, 1 juv. paratypes (MHNC), 6 ♂, 6 ♀, 2 subad. ♂ paratypes (AMNH), 1 ♂, 1 ♀ paratypes (MUSA), 1 ♂, 1 ♀ paratypes (MUSM), Huarmey, 10 km E on road to Huambo, 10 ° 00 ' 52.2 " S 78 ° 01 ' 00.2 " W, 89– 157 m, 3.i.2008, R. Gutiérrez, D. Apaza, and J.A. Ochoa.
ETYMOLOGY: The specific name is a patronym honoring Grace Servat, a Peruvian ornithologist from Huarmey, who made valuable contributions to the knowledge of the biodiversity and conservation of the fauna in the Peruvian Andes.
DIAGNOSIS: Hadruroides graceae appears to be most closely related to H. leopardus, based not only on their small size and similar pigmentation pattern on the metasoma, but on the slender pedipalp chela, compared with other species of the genus, in which the fixed and movable fingers of the adult male are straight (i.e., no proximal gap is evident when the fingers are closed); and the similar carination of sternite VII and the metasomal segments (except for the VSM carinae of segment I). The two species may be distinguished by means of the macrosetal count of metasomal segment V. Hadruroides leopardus possesses 12–18 ventral setae and 3–5 lateral setae, whereas H. graceae possesses 7–8 ventral setae and 6–8 lateral setae. The hemispermatophore is similar in the two species but the lamina is less inclined in H. leopardus. Both species may be further separated by means of the dimensions of the pedipalp chela: in H. graceae, the length:width ratio of the chela is 5.00–5.41 (♂) and 4.46– 5.12 (♀), whereas in H. leopardus the ratio is 3.93–4.54 (♂) and 4.23–4.64 (♀). The ventral surface of metasomal segment IV, which is densely granular in H. graceae (fig. 15C) and smooth in H. leopardus, provides another diagnostic difference between these species. The lateral surface of metasomal segment V is also more granular in H. graceae (figs. 15A, 16A) than in H. leopardus. In some respects, H. graceae is similar to H. udvardyi. For example, the chela fixed and movable fingers of both species are straight, without a proximal gap. However, the two species do not occur in close geographical proximity: H. udvardyi inhabits inter-Andean valleys above 2000 m in southern Ecuador, whereas H. graceae inhabits the coastal desert of central Peru. Hadruroides graceae may be separated from H. udvardyi based on the granulation of the metasoma and telson: the ventral surface of the vesicle is smooth in both sexes of H. udvardyi, but very granular in female H. graceae; the ventral and lateral surfaces of metasomal segment V are more densely granular in H. graceae than in H. udvardyi; and the ventral surface of metasomal segment IV is smooth in H. udvardyi, but granular in H. graceae.
DESCRIPTION: Based on the holotype and paratypes. Measurements of the holotype ♂ and a paratype ♀ are recorded in table 2.
Color: Base color yellowish with brown spots on carapace, tergites, metasomal segments, pedipalps, and legs. Carapace markedly pigmented, especially laterally and posteriorly; two oblique stripes extending from median to anterolateral surfaces, creating two depigmented surfaces anteriorly, divided by narrow stripe along anteromedian longitudinal sulcus; ocular tubercle darker. Tergites each with four irregular spots, two shorter submedian spots restricted to posterior third of segment, two longer sublateral spots extending from anterior to posterior margins, including pretergites (fig. 16C), spots usually disconnected and comprising longitudinal bands across mesosoma; VII with similar pattern but spots connected by reticulate pigmentation, creating depigmented surface medially. Sternites III–VI without spots; VII with two lateral bands along VL carina and, occasionally, two faint VSM spots surrounding insertion of setae (fig. 16D). Metasomal segments I–IV, dorsal surfaces with narrow stripes along DL carinae, complete on I and II, restricted to posterior third of III, and usually absent on IV; lateral surfaces with faint pigmentation; ventral surfaces (fig. 16D) with stripes along VL carina connected to lateral pigmentation in posterior half of segments II–IV, additionally with some spots surrounding insertion of setae: segment I usually with 1+1 or 2+2 spots, II and III with 3+3, IV with 4+4 and some median spots forming a narrow VM stripe. Metasomal segment V, dorsal surface with reticulate pigmentation in anterior half and dense pigmentation in posterior third, near DL margin; lateral surface with reticulation, especially in posterior third; ventral surface with two narrow stripes along VL carinae and few spots along VM carina, additionally with 8–10 spots surrounding insertion of setae, depending on number of setae, not all of which surrounded by pigmentation (fig. 16D). Chelicerae with reticulate pigmentation on dorsolateral surface, at base of fixed finger and medially on movable finger. Pedipalp femur pigmented on anterior and posterior margins and near articulations; patella and chela each with irregular spots surrounding insertion of setae, and single stripe on ventral surface of chela and external surface of patella.
Chelicerae: Typical of genus; surfaces smooth; dorsal surface with two macrosetae situated near base of fingers.
Carapace: Anterior margin with weak median projection and six macrosetae; surfaces granular, especially laterally and posteriorly where pigmented, except for anterior third, which is smooth; anteromedian longitudinal sulcus obsolete; posteromedian longitudinal and posterolateral sulci well developed; median ocular sulcus obsolete, bordered with small granules; ocular tubercle well developed.
Pedipalps: Femur with VI, DI, and DE carinae complete, granular; VM and VE vestigial (fig. 15F); dorsal surface smooth or with few scattered granules; internal surface with scattered granules; external and ventral surfaces smooth. Patella with DI carina comprising scattered granules; VI well developed (fig. 15E); DPP with moderately developed spiniform granule and smaller subspiniform granules in anterior half; VPP with small spiniform granule; all other surfaces smooth. Chela narrow, surfaces acarinate and smooth (figs. 15G–I, 16F, G); fingers relatively elongated and straight (i.e., no proximal gap evident when fingers closed); movable finger, median denticle row comprising six subrows, each flanked by one or two internal and external accessory denticles (fig. 16E).
Trichobothrial pattern: Typical of genus; femur with three trichobothria, patella with 20, chela with 26; chelal trichobothrium Et 5 situated slightly distal to Et 4 (figs. 15I, 16G).
Legs: Prolateral surfaces granular; retrolateral surfaces smooth. Leg III, femur tetracarinate, DE, DI, VI, and EM carinae present, VI and EM well developed; patella, DE carinae present in proximal two-thirds of segment, DM in proximal half, DI in distal third, IM comprising few granules medially, VI well developed and complete, EM complete, VM vestigial (some ♂). Basitarsus with several setae. Telotarsus with 7–14 ventromedian spinule clusters (setaceous tufts).
Tergites: Pretergites finely granular (♂) or smooth (♀). Post-tergites I – VI finely granular, becoming more coarsely so posteriorly; VII coarsely granular, with four well-developed longitudinal carinae, less developed in ♀.
Sternum: Subpentagonal; surface granular (♂) or smooth (♀) medially, with six macrosetae; posterolateral surfaces smooth; median sulcus well developed.
Pectines: Pectinal tooth count: 14–16 (♂), 11–13 (♀).
Sternites: Sternites III – VI, surfaces matte (♂) or smooth (♀); spiracles small, narrow, elliptical, situated in posterior half of segment; VII, granulation more developed near external margins, VL carinae well developed, VSM carinae absent or obsolete.
Metasoma: Segments I–IV, dorsal surfaces granular near DL carinae, granulation pronounced on segment I, less so on II and III, absent on IV; surfaces between DL, ML, and LIM carinae granular, becoming less so from segments I to IV (fig. 15B); surfaces between LIM and VL carinae sparsely granular; ventral surfaces, segment I entirely coarsely granular (♂) or granular between VSM and VL carinae only (♀), II and III finely and sparsely granular (♂) or smooth (♀), IV densely granular across entire length of segment (fig. 15C); DL carinae complete, granular on segments I–IV; ML carinae complete, weakly developed on segment IV (fig. 15B); LIM carinae complete on segment I, complete but less developed than on I (some ♂) or restricted to posterior two-thirds of II, restricted to posterior third of III, absent (♀) or comprising few granules in posterior half (♂) of IV; VL carinae complete on segments I–IV, more developed on I, obsolete and comprising few granules on II and III; VSM carinae absent on segments I– IV (♀) or II–IV, comprising few small granules on I (♂). Segment V short and broad, DL, VL, and VM carinae complete, granular (figs. 15A, D, 16A); dorsal surface with small granules near DL carina; lateral surfaces densely granular, especially near VL carina (more so in ♀); ventral surface densely granular; VM carina well developed, extending entire length of segment (fig. 15D); VSM carinae evident in anterior third of segment, obscured by granulation in posterior two-thirds. Segment I with two pairs of ventral setae; II and III each with three pairs; IV with four pairs, the second pair microsetae; V with 7–8 ventral setae and four additional setae along posterior margin.
Telson: Vesicle, ventral surface smooth (♂) or granular (♀), sparsely setose; aculeus comparatively short (figs. 15A, 16B).
Hemispermatophore: Distal lamina inclined to ventral border, apex rounded; crest more than half lamina length (fig. 17).
Variation: Total length: ♂, 29.1–34.5 (mean = 31.4, n = 10); ♀, 34.6–37.9 (mean = 35.9, n = 8). Pedipalp chela, length:width ratio: ♂, 5.00–5.41 (mean = 5.24, n = 10); ♀, 4.46–5.12 (mean = 4.79, n = 8); length:height ratio: ♂, 4.62–4.96 (mean = 4.74, n = 10); ♀, 4.37–4.70 (mean = 4.55, n = 8). Pedipalp femur, length:width ratio: ♂, 3.19–3.47 (mean = 3.32, n = 10); ♀, 2.88–3.23 (mean = 3.07, n = 9). Pectinal tooth count: ♂ (n = 34), 14 (n = 5), 15 (17), 16 (12); ♀ (n = 28), 11 (1), 12 (19), 13 (8). Metasomal segment V, length:width ratio: ♂, 1.90–2.00 (mean = 1.95, n = 10); ♀, 1.79–1.91 (mean = 1.85, n = 9); length:height ratio: ♂, 2.04–2.26 (mean = 2.18, n = 10); ♀, 2.02–2.15 (mean = 2.07, n = 9); number of setae: dorsolateral (n = 38): 3 (n = 7), 4 (29), 5 (2); lateral (n = 38): 3 (26), 4 (11), 5 (1); ventrolateral (n = 38): 4 (1), 5 (13), 6 (20), 7 (4); ventral (n = 17): 7 (2), 8 (15). Telson, length:height ratio: ♂, 2.89–3.14 (mean = 3.06, n = 10); ♀, 3.09–2.24 (mean = 3.19, n = 9). Telotarsus, number of ventromedian spinule clusters (setaceous tufts): III (n = 30), 8 (n = 7), 9 (19), 10 (4); IV (n = 34), 10 (5), 11 (12), 12 (13), 13 (3), 14 (1).
DISTRIBUTION: Hadruroides graceae inhabits coastal desert at elevations between 89 and 157 m in the Ancash Department of central Peru (fig. 1). The type locality of this species occurs in the Pacific desert ecoregion (Brack, 1986).
ECOLOGY: All specimens were collected at night with UV light detection. The Monte Ribereño vegetation (Ferreyra, 1983) of the habitat in which this species occurs is characterized by scattered cacti, shrubs, and small trees.
description: Published as part of Ochoa, José A. & Prendini, Lorenzo, 2010, The Genus Hadruroides Pocock, 1893 (Scorpiones: Iuridae), in Peru: New Records and Descriptions of Six New Species, pp. 1-56 in American Museum Novitates 2010 (3687) on pages 34-36, DOI: 10.1206/684.1, http://zenodo.org/record/4735531