Scorpio wahbehi, Afifeh & Yağmur & Al-Saraireh & Amr, 2024

Scorpio wahbehi sp. n.

( Figures 7 View Figures 3–8 , 289–358 View Figures 289–292 View Figures 293–300 View Figures 301–308 View Figures 309–320 View Figures 321–332 View Figures 333–338 View Figures 339–344 View Figures 345–352 View Figures 353–354 View Figures 355–358 , 359, 365 View Figures 359–370 , 373 View Figures 373 ; Table 5) http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:E7FF2A19-

6075-41D9-96DA -9F78E1D714B0

TYPE LOCALITY AND TYPE DEPOSITORY. Jordan, Zarqa Governorate, Wadi Rajel (Wadi Qarma), northeastern desert of Jordan , 14 km SE of Al Azraq, 31°47'43.5''N 36°57'15.1''E, 522 m a. s. l. GoogleMaps , AZMM.

TYPE MATERIAL EXAMINED. Jordan, Zarqa Governorate, Wadi Rajel (Wadi Qarma), northeastern desert of Jordan , 14 km SE of Al Azraq, 31°47'43.5''N 36°57'15.1''E, 522 m a. s. l., 1♂ (holotype) ( AZMM /Sco-2022:12), 1♀ ( AZMM / Sco-2022:13) GoogleMaps , 2♀, 2 May 2022, leg. B. Abu Afifeh & R. Abu Afifeh; Zarqa Governorate, Wadi Rajel ( Wadi Qarma ), northeastern desert of Jordan , 14 km SE of Al Azraq, 31°47'43.5''N 36°57'15.1''E, 522 m a. s. l., 2♂ 3♀, 30 June 2023, leg. B. Abu Afifeh GoogleMaps & R. Abu Afifeh ( BAPC); Zarqa Governorate, Wadi Rajel ( Wadi Qarma ), northeastern desert of Jordan , 14 km SE of Al Azraq, 31°47'43.5''N 36°57'15.1''E, 522 m a.s.l., 3♂ 5♀, 7 July 2023, leg. B. Abu Afifeh GoogleMaps & R. Abu Afifeh ( BAPC) .

ETYMOLOGY. Species name is a patronym honoring Dr. Yahya Wahbeh. A Jordanian paediatrician who used to treat children from scorpion stings, he made a study of Jordanian scorpions with a primary checklist in 1976 to help healthcare system in identifying medically important species in Jordan.

DIAGNOSIS. Medium-big sized species compared with its congeners. Adults are about 61.75–64.95 mm in males, and 60.90–68.79 mm in females. General coloration reddish yellow to olive brown in male, reddish brown to reddish black in females. Carapace is slightly longer than its wide; almost trapezoid in shape. Carapace anterior margin distinctly bilobed with a deep median indentation. Carapace lacks carinae, only posteriomedian carinae slightly visible. Carapace shagreened but a triangular region between median eyes and anterior margin smooth. Median ocular tubercle not distinct and located in the center of the carapace. Tergites I–VII acarinate. Tergites I–VII matt; smooth anteriorly, shagreened posteriorly with scattered medium sized granules on tergites I–IV; tergite VII smooth anteriorly; shagreened posteriorly and covered with moderately dense coarse and pointed granules laterally in males, while tergites I–VII smooth, lustrous in females; posterior of segments III–VI with flattened moderate granules; posterior of tergite VII covered with moderately dense coarse granules laterally. Genital operculum ovoid to subhexagonal in males; anterior margin convex with a small posterior indentation exist, while circular to heart-shaped in females; anterior margin convex; posterior area slightly widely elongated; and a small posterior indentation exist. Pectines short and thin: teeth numbers 12–15 in males and 10–13 in females. Metasoma I–II with 10, III– IV with 8, and V with 5 carinae. Metasoma I slightly wider than long, II usually longer than wide, or sometimes as long as wide, III–V longer than wide. Ventral submedian carinae and ventrolateral carinae strong with moderate, rounded and fused granules on metasom I–II, strong and obsolete granules on III–IV in male; the granules more distinct on segments I–II in females. Ventromedian carina moderate with large, spinoid and pointed granules, bifurcated anteriorly on segment V. Vesicle elongated and smooth; four rows of spinoid granules exist ventrally, more distinct in males. Aculeus long and do not abruptly curved. Two parallel furrows exist on ventral of vesicle. Vesicle with numerous macrosetae reaching the base of aculeus. Pedipalp femur with three carinae, patella with two carinae. The external surface of chela manus with very large and very flattened granules, more distinct and rounded in the anterior area. Ventroexternal and ventrointernal carinae obsolete without granules. Digital carina and external secondary carinae distinct and smooth, the granules fused; and become more dense anteriorly. Chela manus flattened and slightly elongated, longer than depth. Chela fingers are relatively long without granules, longer in females. Fixed and movable fingers with 4–5 strong accessory denticles. Intercarinal surface covered densely with distinct setae on manus and fingers. Trichobothriotaxy of type C; orthobothriotaxic (Vachon, 1974).

DESCRIPTION (♂ holotype, unless otherwise specified). Coloration ( Figs 7 View Figures 3–8 , 289–292 View Figures 289–292 ). General coloration reddish yellow to olive brown in male, reddish brown to reddish black in females. Carapace: olive brown; posterior area of median eyes and anterior area of carapace with brownish, hardly visible reticulation; posterior margin with an olive yellow band in overlap area of first mesosoma segment in male; reddish brown; posterior area of median eyes and anterior area of carapace with hardly visible yellowish brown patches shaped reticulation in females. Tergites I–VII light olive brown; posterior margins of tergites I–VI with olive yellow bands in overlap area in male; I–VI lustrous and reddish black with reticulations medially; tergites I–VII olive brown in females. Coxae, sternum and genital operculum lustrous and dark olive yellow. Pectines light olive yellow. Sternites III–VII olive brown, poststernites of III-VI olive yellow in male; sternites III–VII yellowish olive, poststernites of IIIVI light olive yellow in females. Pedipalp femur and patella dark reddish yellow with carinae and granules light red. Chela manus dark reddish yellow to reddish brown with reddish brown reticulations, granules reddish brown; ventroexternal and ventrointernal reddish brown; digital carina and external secondary carina and fingers dark reddish brown, tip of fingers reddish yellow. Dental margin and condyles reddish black. Metasoma I–II olive brown, III–V yellowish red dorsally and laterally with reddish black reticulations, reddish black dorsally in male; metasoma I–III yellowish red dorsally and laterally, IV–V reddish black dorsally and laterally, metasoma I–II reddish brown, III–V reddish black dorsally in females. Vesicle yellowish red, aculeus dark yellow in posterior part and reddish black at the tip, granules reddish brown in male; ventroposterior area of vesicle reddish brown, granules reddish black in females. Legs with tarsi and basitarsus dark yellow; pretarsus, femur and tibia reddish yellow. Spinules and condyles reddish brown. Chelicera manus dark olive brown with reticulations posteriorly, brownish black anteriorly. Chelicera fingers brownish black, tip of fingers and teeth dark yellow, tip of teeth reddish black.

Carapace ( Figs. 301–308 View Figures 301–308 ). Carapace is slightly longer than its wide; almost trapezoid in shape. Carapace anterior margin distinctly bilobed with 8 medium to large setae and a deep median indentation. Carapace lacks carinae, only posteriomedian carinae slightly visible. Carapace shagreened but a triangular region between median eyes and anterior margin smooth, along to anteriomedian furrow with several small granules, lateral and posterior surface with scattered small granules in male; carapace smooth and lustrous with several small granules posteriorly in females. Median ocular tubercle not distinct and located in the center of the carapace. A pair of median eyes and three pairs of lateral eyes exist; the third located separately and slightly smaller. Median eyes separated by one ocular diameter. The anteromedian furrow is narrow and distinct. The posteromedian furrow is wide and deep and bifurcated as an inverted T-shaped at posterior edge and located in arrow-shaped depressions between posteriomedian carinae and posterior margin. Posterior lateral furrows wide and distinct. A few setae exist on the anterior area of carapace.

Chelicerae ( Figs. 301–308 View Figures 301–308 ). Cheliceral dentition characteristic for the family of Scorpionidae (Vachon, 1963) ; subdistal tooth and basal teeth conspicuous rather than on the movable finger. Manus lustrous, no longitudinal ridges present anteriorly.

Mesosoma ( Figs. 293–300 View Figures 293–300 ). Tergites I–VII acarinate, matt; smooth anteriorly; shagreened posteriorly with scattered medium sized granules on segment I–IV; tergite VII smooth anteriorly; shagreened posteriorly and covered with moderately dense coarse and pointed granules laterally in males, while tergites I–VII smooth, lustrous in females; posterior of segments III–VI with flattened moderate granules; posterior of tergite VII covered with moderately dense coarse granules laterally. Sternites III–VI with scattered setae, smooth and wrinkled in males; smooth and lustrous in females. Sternite VII with four granular carinae; intercarinal surfaces with scattered, small to medium granules anteriorly. Genital operculum ovoid to subhexagonal in males, anterior margin convex with a small posterior indentation exist, while circular to heart-shaped in females; anterior margin convex; posterior area widely elongated; and a small posterior indentation exist. Pectines short and thin: teeth numbers 12–15 in males and 10–13 in females; three marginal and seven or eight median lamellae. Stigmas linear, angled 45° and conspicuous.

Metasoma and telson ( Figs. 333–352 View Figures 333–338 View Figures 339–344 View Figures 345–352 ). Metasoma I–II with 10, III–IV with 8, and V with 5 carinae. Segment I slightly wider than long, II usually longer than wide, or sometimes as long as wide, segments III–V longer than wide. Lateral inframedian carinae on segment I indistinct, complete, composed of a few spaced rounded granules; on segment II composed 1–2 granules on posterior quarter. Ventral submedian carinae and ventrolateral carinae strong with moderate, rounded and fused granules on segments I–II, strong and obsolete granules on segments III–IV in male; the granules more distinct on segments I–II in females. Dorsolateral carinae strong and crenulated with small, spaced and spinoid granules on segments I–IV. Lateral supramedian carinae strong and granular on segments I–IV. Intercarinal area smooth, finely granular on lateral surfaces of segments I–IV in male, smooth in females. Dorsal surface moderately granular with fine or moderate granules, medially smooth in male, completely smooth in females on segments I–IV. Segment V: Ventromedian carina moderate with large, spinoid and pointed granules, bifurcated anteriorly; ventrolateral carinae strong and serrated with spaced large and conical granules, gradually increase posteriorly, continues in lateral of anal arch; dorsolateral carinae moderate and rounded with small spinoid granules, smooth in females; segment V with a row of granules laterally at posterior half, granules less distinct in females. Lateral surfaces smooth with scattered few fine granules in male. Ventral surface smooth with few large granules. Dorsal surface moderately granular with fine or moderate granules, medially smooth in male, completely smooth in females. Ventral of anal arch serrated with pointed denticles. Ventral and lateral surfaces covered with moderately variable sized setae in segments I-V, more dense and larger on segments IV–V. Vesicle elongated and smooth, four rows of spinoid granules exist ventrally, more distinct in males. Aculeus long and do not abruptly curved. Two parallel furrows exist on ventral of vesicle. Vesicles with numerous macrosetae reaching the base of aculeus.

Pedipalp ( Figs. 309–332 View Figures 309–320 View Figures 321–332 ). Pedipalp femur with three carinae; dorsointernal and ventrointernal carinae moderate with spaced, rounded and conical granules; dorsoexternal carinae strong with separate large and rounded granules. Intercarinal area smooth with small sized granules dorsally and medium sized granules ventrally. Intercarinal surface with a few distinct setae. Patella with two carinae; dorsomedian carina strong with so flattened and fused granules; ventrointernal carinae moderate and obsolete. Intercarinal area of dorsal, ventral and external surfaces smooth and lustrous; internal surface shagreened. Intercarinal surface with a few distinct setae. The external surface of chela manus with very large and very flattened granules, more distinct and rounded in anterior area, posterior part with smaller granules; posterior internal area with less distinct or more flattened granules in male; the granules more flattened and nearly smooth in posterior internal area in females. Posterior margin of external surface and internal margin with large and conical granules in male, females lack these granules. Internal surface of chela manus smooth with moderate pointed granules in middle and anterior area in male, fewer granules in females. Ventroexternal and ventrointernal carinae obsolete without granules. Digital carina and external secondary carinae distinct and smooth, the granules fused; become denser anteriorly. Chela manus flattened and slightly elongated, longer than depth. Chela fingers are relatively long without granules, longer in females. Fixed and movable fingers with 4–5 strong accessory denticles. Intercarinal surface covered densely with distinct setae on manus and fingers. Trichobothriotaxy of type C; orthobothriotaxic (Vachon, 1974).

Legs ( Figs. 353–354 View Figures 353–354 ). Coxa and trochanters smooth. Tarsi of right legs I to IV with 4-5/7-8–5/8–6/9-10–6-7/9 internal and external spines arranged in series.

Measurements. See Table 5.

AFFINITIES. Scorpio wahbehi sp. n. can be distinguished from Scorpio kruglovi Birula, 1910 by a combination of the following characters (more details in Table 6); a) pedipalp chela hand is more elongated in S. wahbehi sp. n.; b) fixed finger of pedipalp chela is less elongated with respect to chela length in S. wahbehi sp. n.; c) external surface of pedipalp chela with flattened granules in females of S. wahbehi sp. n., whereas it is smooth in females of S. kruglovi ; d) aculeus of S. kruglovi is longer and less curved than S. wahbehi sp. n., e) genital operculum is circular of S. wahbehi sp. n., whereas it is cordate in S. kruglovi .

S. wahbehi sp. n. can be distinguished from S. jordanensis sp. n. by several characters shown in Table 6: a) pedipalp chela hand is more elongated in S. wahbehi sp. n. than in S. jordanensis sp. n.; b) fixed finger of pedipalp chela is more elongated in S. wahbehi sp. n. than in S. jordanensis sp. n.; c) the average pectinal tooth numbers in S. wahbehi sp. n. is higher than S. jordanensis sp. n.; d) metasomal segment II is longer than wide or as long as wide in S. wahbehi sp. n., whereas it is always wider than long in S. jordanensis sp. n.; e) S. wahbehi sp. n. is larger in size (adults 64-68 mm), than S. jordanensis sp. n. (adults 53–56 mm); f) the basal lamellae (marginal and median) of pectines is more elongated and narrower in females of S. wahbehi sp. n. than females of S. jordanensis sp. n.; the basal median lamellae is narrowly triangular in shape in S. wahbehi sp. n. ( Fig. 308 View Figures 301–308 ), whereas it is broadly triangular in S. jordanensis sp. n. ( Fig. 164 View Figures 157–164 ); g) the external surface of pedipalp chela mostly with flattened and less distinct granules in S. wahbehi sp. n. ( Figs. 316, 319 View Figures 309–320 ), whereas it is rounded and more distinct in S. jordanensis sp. n. ( Figs. 171, 175 View Figures 165–176 ); h) general coloration is reddish yellow to olive brown in male, reddish brown to reddish black in females of S. wahbehi sp. n., whereas it is light reddish yellow in S. jordanensis sp. n.

S. wahbehi sp. n. can be distinguished from S. fuscus by several characters shown in Table 6: a) general coloration reddish yellow to olive brown in male, reddish brown to reddish black in females of S. wahbehi sp. n. ( Figs. 7 View Figures 3–8 , 289– 292 View Figures 289–292 ), whereas it is dark reddish brown to brownish black in S. fuscus ( Figs. 3–4 View Figures 3–8 , 79–82 View Figures 79–82 ); b) pedipalp chela hand is more elongated in S.wahbehi sp. n. ( Figs. 309–310 View Figures 309–320 ) than in S. fuscus ( Figs. 99–100 View Figures 99–110 ); c) the basal lamellae (marginal and median) of pectines is more elongated and narrower in females of S. wahbehi sp. n. than in females of S. fuscus ; the basal median lamellae is narrowly triangular in shape in S. wahbehi sp. n. ( Fig. 308 View Figures 301–308 ), whereas it is broadly triangular in S. fuscus ( Fig. 98 View Figures 91–98 ); d) pectines is longer in S. wahbehi sp. n. than in S. fuscus ; pectines extending well beyond coxa-trochanter articulation of leg IV in S. wahbehi sp. n. ( Figs. 307–308 View Figures 301–308 ), whereas extending approximately to the coxa-trochanter articulation of leg IV in