Heterometrus keralaensis

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Heterometrus keralaensis
Systematics
Sub-stem : Jawbearers (Chelicerata)
Class : Arachnids (arachnida)
Order : Scorpions (Scorpiones)
Family : Scorpionidae
Genre : Heterometrus
Type : Heterometrus keralaensis
Scientific name
Heterometrus keralaensis
Tikader & Bastawade , 1983

Heterometrus keralaensis is an Indian scorpion in the Scorpionidae family .

description

The holotype is a 110 millimeter long male animal with a black base color. The chelae of the pedipalps have a red- brown color , the bases of the chelicerae and the telson a yellowish-brown color. The pedipalps including the chelae are unusually elongated for the genus Heterometrus . The patella of the pedipalps are slightly shorter than the femora . The combs of the comb organ are yellow and have 13 teeth on both sides in the holotype. The chelae of the Pedipalps are slightly lobed and very hairy. The dorsal surface of the chelae bears a few granules of different sizes arranged in rows. The telson is spherical and hairy, the venomous sting is lighter at the base than at the tip, only slightly curved and significantly shorter than the venomous bladder. There are individually standing short and long setae on the legs.

Heterometrus keralaensis differs from the species Heterometrus longimanus, which is very similar according to the information from the first description, by its much narrower limbs of the pedipalps. In addition, the species has 13 teeth on both sides on the crests of the comb organs, while Heterometrus longimanus has 19 teeth on both sides. The Czech arachnologist František Kovařík did not have any specimens of Heterometrus keralaensis for his revision of the genus Heterometrus in 2004 . He assumed that the species is related to Heterometrus thorellii , and differs from it by the smaller size and the narrower and more elongated chelae.

distribution and habitat

The terra typica of Heterometrus keralaensis was given in the first description with Meenmutty, New Amaranbalan (RF) Kerala . The New Amarambalam Reserved Forest is a nature reserve in the Western Ghats and is located in the southern Indian state of Kerala . It is part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve , which extends over several Indian states and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site . In 2004, Kovařík named the southern Indian states of Kerala and Maharashtra as the distribution area .

Heterometrus keralaensis lives in dense forests at an altitude of 500 to 1,600 meters above sea level and is found there under stones. The species is considered rare and its range is approximately 5,000 square kilometers. Of these, only about 500 square kilometers are actually inhabited.

Danger

Heterometrus keralaensis is not on the Red List of Threatened Species of IUCN listed as yet no evaluation was conducted by the experts of the organization. In 1998, however , a study of selected bottom-dwelling invertebrates was published by the Indian Zoo Outreach Organization, a non-governmental organization for the promotion of species protection affiliated with the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums . The investigation was based on the system of hazard categories used by the IUCN. Heterometrus keralaensis was then classified as "endangered". This corresponds to a high level of endangerment and a very high risk of extinction in nature in the immediate future.

The reason given for the endangerment was the small area of ​​distribution, impairment of the habitat and habitat loss caused by humans.

Systematics

Initial description

It was first described by BK Tikader and DB Bastawade as part of their 1983 monograph on the scorpions of India.

Type material

An adult male scorpion, which was collected at the type site in February 1979, was identified as the holotype . The only paratype is a subadult female scorpion. Both types are in the collection of the Zoological Survey of India in Calcutta .

etymology

The species name refers to the southern Indian state of Kerala as the place where Heterometrus keralaensis occurs .

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ BK Tikader and DB Bastawade: Scorpions (Scorpionida: Arachnida), p. 528.
  2. ↑ BK Tikader and DB Bastawade: Scorpions (Scorpionida: Arachnida), S. 530th
  3. ↑ a b c d B. K. Tikader and DB Bastawade: Scorpions (Scorpionida: Arachnida), p. 533.
  4. ↑ a b c František Kovařík: A review of the genus Heterometrus, p. 20.
  5. ^ František Kovařík: A review of the genus Heterometrus, pp. 52–53.
  6. ↑ a b B. A. Daniel, Sanjay Molur and Sally Walker (eds.): Selected Soil Invertebrates of Southern India, p. 54.
  7. ↑ PM Sureshan, DB Bastawade and C. Rdhakrishnan: Taxonomic studies on a collection of scorpions (Scorpiones: Arachnida) from the Western Ghats in Kerala, India with two new distribution records. In: Zoos' Print Journal 2007, Volume 22, No. 12, pp. 2903-2908, doi : 10.11609 / JoTT.ZPJ.1751.2903-8 .
  8. ^ BA Daniel, Sanjay Molur and Sally Walker (eds.): Selected Soil Invertebrates of Southern India, p. 3.
  9. ^ BA Daniel, Sanjay Molur and Sally Walker (eds.): Selected Soil Invertebrates of Southern India, p. 21.