PUBLICATIONS OF THE MUSEUM TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY Three publications of The Museum of Texas Tech Univer¬ sity are issued under the auspices of the Dean of the Gradu¬ ate School and Director of Academic Publications, and in cooperation with the International Center for Arid and Semi- Arid Land Studies. Short research studies are published as Occasional Papers whereas longer contributions appear as Special Publications. Papers of practical application to col¬ lection management and museum operations are issued in the Museology series. All are numbered separately and pub¬ lished on an irregular basis. The preferred abbreviation for citing The Museum’s Occa¬ sional Papers is Occas. Papers Mus., Texas Tech Univ. Institutional subscriptions are available through Texas Tech Press, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409. Individuals can purchase separate numbers of the Occasional Papers for $2.00 each from Texas Tech Press. Remittance in U.S. currency check, money order, or bank draft must be enclosed with request (add $1.00 per title or 200 pages of publications requested for foreign postage; residents of the state of Texas must pay a 5 per cent sales tax on the total purchase price). Copies of the “Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 1982” (Jones et al., 1982, Occas. Papers Mus., Texas Tech Univ., 80:1-22) are available at $1.00 each in orders of 10 or more. ISSN 0149-175X Texas Tech Press Lubbock, Texas 79409 OCCASIONAL PAPERS vl US. COMP. ZOOL LIBRARY THE MUSEUM HARVARD TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY NUMBER 88 7 OCTOBER 1983 REDESCRIPTION OF CENTRUROIDES TESTACEUS (DEGEER) AND DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES FROM THE LESSER ANTILLES (SCORPIONES: BUTHIDAE) W. David Sissom and Oscar F. Francke Scorpio testaceus DeGeer was described in 1778 from specimens collected in “Amerique,” and since that time references to that species have appeared many times in the literature. Thorell (1877) placed it in the genus Centrums (= Centruroid.es Marx) but did not report a locality for the specimens he examined. Subsequent authors reported C. testaceus from Montserrat (Pocock, 1893), Hispaniola (Haiti) (Roewer, 1943), and southern Florida (Banks, 1900). The record for Florida has been discredited (Gertsch and Soleglad, 1966; Muma, 1967). Kraepelin (1895, 1899) considered Tityus serenus Koch (distribution unknown) and Tityus griseus Koch (from St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands) to be synonyms of C. testaceus. Koch’s specimen of T. griseus was recently examined, and Kraepelin’s synonymy shown to be incorrect (Francke and Sissom, 1980). Meise (1934) transferred all members of Centruroides to Rhopa- lurus Thorell and recognized four polytypic species, one of which was R. testaceus. A new subspecies, R. testaceus exsul Meise, was described from the Galapagos Islands. Hoffmann (1939) relegated all species to their former status, and C. exsul has subsequently been considered a valid species (Mello-Leitao, 1945; Kinzelbach, 1973). We have examined some speciments of C. exsul and agree with those authors; further, C. exsul does not appear to be closely related to C. testaceus, based on differences in carinal morphology 2 OCCASIONAL PAPERS MUSEUM TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY of the pedipalps and metasoma, granulation of the mesosomal tergites, and morphometry. We have been able to locate and examine the following material previously referred to as Centruroides testaceus: the two available syntypes of Scorpio testaceus DeGeer, Pocock’s specimens from Montserrat, and Roewer’s specimen from Haiti. In addition we have examined material from the nearby islands of Guadeloupe, St. Kitts, Nevis, Les Saintes, La Desiderade, and Marie Galante. Attempts to locate the type of Tityus serenus Koch have failed; Dr. W. R. Lourenyo, who is currently studying that genus, informs us that the specimen is probably lost (personal communi¬ cation). Likewise, we have been unable to locate Thorell’s speci- men(s). Examination of the above specimens indicates that two distinct species are involved; in this paper their status is clarified. The material from the various islands is described as a new species, and the identity of the syntypes of C. testaceus is established. The specimen from Haiti studied by Roewer (1943), is a juvenile male (not a female as indicated by that author), most similar to the new species described below. However, in the genus Centruroides , juveniles of closely related species are very difficult to distinguish; thus, we are uncertain about the specific identity of the juvenile male from Haiti. Repositories for type material and specimens examined are referred to in the text by institutional acronyms, a key to which appears in the acknowledgments section. Centruroides pococki, new species (Figs. 1-9) Centrums testaceus : Thorell, 1877:160 (in part ?); Kraepelin, 1891:130 (misidentifi- cation), 1895:95 (misidentification), 1899:91 (nnsidentification); Pocock, 1893:389, pi. 30, figs. 11, 11a (misidentification); Waterman, 1950:168 (misidentification). Rhopalurus testaceus : Meise, 1934:30-36 (misidentification). Centruroides testaceus: Werner, 1934:274 (misidentification); Francke, 1978:70 (misidentification); Schawaller, 1979:14 (misidentification); Francke and Sissom, 1980:1 (misidentification). Centruroides testaceous: Stahnke and Calos, 1977:1 12, 1 17, 119 (misidentification); Stahnke, 1978:280 (misidentification). Centruroides sp.: Armas, 1982:7 Type data. — Adult male holotype, cat. no. RS-6234, from Guadeloupe, “dans un dot, cote sous le vent sous les galets des plages,” 1-II-1963 (J. L. Raton); deposited MNHN, Paris. Distribution. — Known from the Lesser Antillean islands of St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Guadeloupe, Les Saintes, La Desiderade, and Marie Galante. SISSOM AND FRANCKE— CENTRUROIDES TESTACEl S 3 Etymology . — The specific name is a patronym honoring Mr. R. I. Pocock for his contributions to scorpion systematics. Diagnosis . — Adults 65-75 mm in length. Golden brown with variable underlying fuscosity; pedipalp fingers and distal seg¬ ments of metasoma brownish. Tergites I-VI monocarinate, VII pentacarinate, all carinae strong. Sternite VII weakly tetracarinate. Pectinal tooth count in males 20-23 (mode 22), in females 19-22 (mode 20). Metasomal carinae moderate on I-IV in both sexes. Telson with subaculear tubercle weak to obsolete. Pedipalp chela fixed finger with eight rows of denticles (Fig. 3), movable finger with eight rows of denticles and a short apical row of four denti¬ cles (Fig. 4); inner and outer supernumerary granules present on both fingers. Ratio of metasoma V length to carapace length aver¬ aging 1.43 (range = 1.36-1.48, N = 9) in males, 1.10 (range = 1.06- 1.13, /V = 12) in females. Ratio of fixed finger length to carapace length averaging 0.99 (range = 0.93-1.06, N = 22). Description . — The following description is based on males; parenthetical statements refer to females. Measurements of the holotype male and a paratvpe female appear in Table 1. Prosoma. Carapace; anterior margin emarginate. Anterior median furrow moderately wide, deep; posterioi median furrow wide, deep; posterior lateral furrows wide, deep, curved; other fur¬ rows inconspicuous. Superciliary, lateral oculat. central ocular, and posterior median carinae moderate, coarseh granular; other carinae less distinct. Interocular region densely and coarsely gran¬ ular; remainder of carapace with less dense, coarse granulation. Sternum: subtriangular, with deep anteriorly directed Y-shaped longitudinal furrow. Mesosoma. Pretergites shagreened; post-tergites coarsely gran¬ ular. Median longitudinal carina on tergites I- 1 1 ( I -1 1 1 ) moderate, coarsely granular; on III- VI (IV-VI) strong, coarsely granular. Tergite VII pentacarinate: median carina strong, granular; sub- median and lateral carinae strong, coarsely granular. Venter: geni¬ tal operculum completely divided longitudinally, genital papillae small (absent). Pectinal basal piece with median depression (large median depression and two small elliptical lateral depressions); pectinal tooth count 20-23, mode 22 (19-22, mode 20). Sternites III- VI smooth; sternite VII tetracarinate, submedian and lateral carinae moderate (weak), finely serrate. Metasoma. Segments I-IV: All carinae moderate. Dorsolateral carinae on I finely serrate, converging posteriorly; on II-III finely serrate (serratocrenulate); on IV crenulate. Lateral supramedian carinae on I finely serrate (serratocrenulate); on II finely serrate to crenulate (serratocrenulate); on III-IV weakly crenulate (serrato- 4 OCCASIONAL PAPERS MUSEUM TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY Table 1. — Measurements (m mm) of Centruroides testaceus (DeGeer) and Cen- truroides pococki, new species. C. testaceus lectotype c holotype d . pococki paratype 9 Total length 66.5 71.0 67.7 Carapace length 6.3 6.2 7.2 Mesosoma length 16.5 18.8 20.2 Metasoma length 36.8 38.9 32.7 I length/width 5.5/3. 4 6. 0/2. 6 5. 1/3.3 II length/width 6.8/3. 3 7. 3/2.5 6.1/3. 2 III length/width 7.4/3. 1 7. 8/2.4 6.4/3. 2 IV length/width 8. 3/2. 9 8. 5/2. 4 7. 1/3.1 V length/width 8.8/2. 8 9. 3/2.5 8.0/3. 1 Telson length 6.9 7.1 7.6 Vesicle length 4.1 5.2 4.8 width 2.3 2.5 2.7 depth 2.2 2.2 2.4 Aculeus length 2.8 2.3 3.2 Pedipalp length 25.4 25.3 27.1 Femur length 6.2 6.6 7.0 width 1.6 1.5 1.8 Tibia length 7.2 7.2 7.6 width 2.3 2.1 2.5 Chela length 12.0 1 1.5 12.5 width 2.6 2.6 2.8 depth 2.9 2.6 2.9 Movable finger length 7.3 7.1 8.2 Fixed finger length 6.6 6.2 7.2 Pectinal teeth (left-right) 28-28 22-23 21-21 crenulate). Lateral inframedian carinae on I complete, finely ser¬ rate; on II-IV absent. Ventrolateral carinae on I finely serrate (ser- ratocrenulate); on II-IV weakly crenulate (crenulate). Ventral submedian carinae on I finely serrate; on II finely serratocrenu- late; on III-IV crenulate. Intercarinal spaces of segments I-IV with coarse granulation. Segment V (Figs. 6, 8): Dorsolateral and lat¬ eral median carinae obsolete; on some specimens very weak, gran¬ ular. Ventrolateral carinae weak, granular. Ventromedian carina moderate, weakly crenulate (crenulate). Intercarinal spaces with dense coarse granulation. Telson (Figs. 7, 9). Vesicle less than twice as long as wide; moderately slender (moderately globose); ventral surface granular (densely granular); subaculear tubercle weak, vestigial, or obsolete. Aculeus length approximately 0.50 (0.65) that of vesicle length, moderately (sharply) curved. SISSOM AND FRANGKE — CENTRUROIDES TESTACEUS Chelicera. Dentition typical of genus; basalmost tooth of mov¬ able cheliceral finger sometimes reduced. Pedipalp. Femur: tetracarinate, with all carinae moderate. Dorsointernal carina serratocrenulate (crenulate); dorsoexternal carina serratocrenulate (serratocrenulate to serrate); ventrointernal carina crenulate (serratocrenulate); ventroexternal carina serrate (serratocrenulate). Internal face with row of large conical gra¬ nules. Orthobothriotaxia “A” (Vachon, 1974). I ibia (Fig. 5): hexacarinate, all carinae moderate. Dorsointernal carina crenulate; dorsomedian, dorsoexternal, and external carinae weakly crenulate; ventrointernal carina granular; ventroexternal carina weakly crenulate. Internal face with row of large conical granules. Orthobothriotaxia “A” (Vachon, 1974). Chela (Figs. 1-4): Fixed finger (Fig. 3) wdth eight oblique row’s of granules; movable finger (Fig. 4) with eight oblique row’s of granules plus a short apical row of four granules; supernumerary granules present in later instars, absent in early instars. Fingers moderately scalloped basally. Dorsal marginal carina moderate (w’eak), granular basally, smooth to granular distal ly. Dorsal secondary carina moderate (weak), granular basally, smooth to granular distal ly. Digital carina moderate, granular basally, smooth to granular distal ly. External secondary carina w’eak, granular. Ventroexternal carina moderate, smooth to granular. Ventrointernal carina w’eak, smooth. Internal surface with numer¬ ous small, sharp granules. Orthobothriotaxia “A” (Vachon, 1974). Coloration. Carapace and tergites golden brown; lateral eyes and ocular tubercle black; chelicerae creamy white. Metasoma golden brown, in many specimens gradually becoming orange brown distal ly; telson golden brown to orange brown. Pedipalps: femur, tibia, and chela manus golden brown; chela fingers dark brown. Legs yellow. Carapace, chelicerae, tergites, metasoma, pedipalps, and legs with variable underlying fuscosity. Variation . — The following characters were found to be markedly variable among adults in C. pococki: (1) coloration, (2) pectinal tooth counts, and (3) the size of the subaculear tubercle. Coloration differs primarily in the amount of underlying fuscos¬ ity. There is a gradation from an almost immaculate condition to one of rather dense fuscosity. Pectinal tooth counts in males were found to vary as follows: 3 combs with 20 teeth (15%); 2 combs with 21 teeth (10%); 8 combs wdth 22 teeth (40%); and 7 combs with 23 teeth (35%). Pectinal tooth counts in females w’ere found to vary as fol low’s: 1 comb 6 OCCASIONAL PAPERS MUSEUM TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY Figs. 1-9. — External anatomy of Centruroides pococki, new species: 1, external aspect of right pedipalp chela; 2, dorsal aspect of right pedipalp chela; 3, dentate margin of fixed finger; 4, dentate margin of movable finger; 5, dorsal aspect of right pedipalp tibia; 6, lateral aspect of metasomal segment V of female; 7, lateral aspect of telson of female; 8, lateral aspect of metasomal segment V of male; 9, lateral aspect of telson of male. with 19 teeth (3.6%); 14 combs with 20 teeth (50%); 9 combs with 21 teeth (32. 1%); and 4 combs with 22 teeth (14.3%). The subaculear tubercle varies from obsolete to weak among specimens examined. In addition, the shape of the telson (Figs. 7, SISSOM AND FRANCKE — CENTRUROIDES TESTACEUS 7 9) and the lengths of the metasomal segments (Figs. 6, 8, Table 1) were found to be sexually dimorphic, as is typical of other Cen- truroides. Juveniles differ from adults by being very pale yellow with stronger underlying fuscosity and by lacking the characteris¬ tics of sexual dimorphism discussed above. Comparisons . — C. pococki is most similar to C. testaceus (DeGeer), with which it has been confused in the past. From that species it differs markedly in pectinal tooth counts (in C. pococki, males range from 20-23 in this character and females from 19-22; the lectotype and only known specimen of C. testaceus, a female, has a count of 28-28). In C. pococki the ventrolateral and ventral submedian carinae of the metasoma are moderate, in C. testaceus they are weak. The shape of the telson also differs (see Figs. 7, 16), being more globose in C. pococki. Finally, the metasomal seg¬ ments of C. testaceus are proportionately longer than those of C. pococki: the female of C. _ testaceus has a metasomal segment V length/carapace length ratio of 1.40; in females of C. pococki this ratio ranges from 1.06-1.13. Centruroides pococki may also be eas¬ ily distinguished from Centruroides hasethi Pocock by its lower pectinal tooth counts. Specimens examined. — Lesser Antilles: Saint Kitts: Old Bay Road, April 1969 (F. D. Bennett. 4 cf