Androctonus najdensis, Yağmur & Alqahtani & Badry, 2025

Androctonus najdensis sp. nov.

Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 , 3 View Figure 3 , 4 View Figure 4 , 5 View Figure 5 , 6 View Figure 6 , 7 View Figure 7 , 8 View Figure 8 , 9 View Figure 9 , 10 View Figure 10 , 11 View Figure 11 , 12 View Figure 12 , 13 View Figure 13 , 14 View Figure 14 , 15 View Figure 15 ; Table 2 View Table 2

Buthus crassicauda : Kraepelin 1899: 16–17.

Androctonus crassicauda View in CoL : Vachon 1966: 210; Vachon 1979: 31–34; Levy and Amitai 1980: 23–29; Al-Safadi 1992: 96; El-Hennawy 1992: 97, 101, 109–110; Fet and Lowe 2000: 72–73; Hendrixson 2006: 38–43; Al-Asmari et al. 2007: 836; Al-Asmari et al. 2009: 100 View Cited Treatment ; Al-Asmari et al. 2013: 5–7; Alqahtani et al. 2019: 21–22 View Cited Treatment ; Alqahtani et al. 2022 a: 171 –179; Alqahtani et al. 2022 b: 1 –18; Alqahtani et al. 2022 c: 1 –7.

Type material.

Holotype: • ♂ Saudi Arabia, Al Ahsa Province, Khurais , 25°04'12"N, 48°01'12"E, 449 m a. s. l., 10.III.2021, leg. A. Alqahtani ( AZMM /Sco-2021:25 ) GoogleMaps . Paratypes: • Saudi Arabia, Hail, Almada’n , 27°22'12"N, 41°43'48"E, 1038 m a. s. l., 1 ♀, 10.III.2021, leg. A. Alqahtani ( AZMM /Sco-2021:25 ) GoogleMaps ; • 5 ♂, 27°22'12"N, 41°43'48"E, 1038 m a. s. l., 10.III.2021, leg. A. Alqahtani ( AUZC /Sco-2021:1103 –1107) GoogleMaps . • Al Qassim, Buraydah 26°14'27"N, 43°56'24"E, 665 m a. s. l., • 2 ♀, 20.III.2021, leg. A. Alqahtani ( AUZC /Sco-2021:1108 –1109) GoogleMaps . • 5 ♂, Hail, 27°22'12"N, 41°43'48"E, 1038 m a. s. l., 20.III.2021, leg. A. Alqahtani ( AUZC /Sco-2021:1110 –1114) GoogleMaps . • Riyadh; 2 ♀, Dhurma , 24°32'23"N, 46°10'11"E, 628 m a. s. l., 5.IV.2021, leg. A. Alqahtani ( AZMM /Sco-2021:1115 –1116) GoogleMaps . • Dhurma , 24°32'23"N, 46°10'11"E, 628 m a. s. l., 4 ♂, 5.IV.2021, leg. A. Alqahtani ( AUZC /Sco-2021:1117 –1120) GoogleMaps . • Saudi Arabia, Al Ahsa Province, Khurais , 25°04'12"N, 48°01'12"E, 449 m a. s. l., 8 ♀, 10.IV.2021, leg. A. Alqahtani ( AUZC /Sco-2021:1121 –1128) GoogleMaps . • Saudi Arabia, Al Ahsa Province, Khurais , 25°04'12"N, 48°01'12"E, 449 m a. s. l., 2 ♂, 10.IV.2021, leg. A. Alqahtani ( AUZC /Sco-2021:1129 –1130) GoogleMaps .

Diagnosis.

Medium-sized scorpions. Average body length 73 mm in males and 79 mm in females. General coloration ranges from dark brown to blackish brown. Carapace carinae strong and bear coarse granules in males, and moderate granules in females. Intercarinal areas densely covered with coarse to medium granules in males, and with medium to minute granules in females. Chela manus smooth and lustrous; internal surface densely granular in males and sparsely granular in females. Movable fingers of the pedipalps bear 16 rows of denticles, with external and internal accessory denticles and three distal granules. Fixed fingers bear 15 rows of granules, also with external and internal accessory granules and three distal granules. Trichobothrium et located between dt and est, and proximal to dt. Pectines bear 30–35 teeth in males and 23–28 in females. Tergites I – VI densely granular. All metasomal segments robust, longer than wide, and wider than deep. Segment V considerably more robust in males. Segments I – III have ten carinae, segment IV has eight, and segment V has five carinae. Dorsolateral carinae strong, with granules increasing in size posteriorly on segments I – IV; serrate on segment I, serrate to dentate or subdentate on segment II, and dentate on segments III – IV. On segment V, dorsolateral carinae strong, smooth anteriorly, and serrate posteriorly. Ventrolateral carinae strong on segments I – IV, with moderate and rounded granules on segments I and II, and coarse, rounded granules on segments III and IV. On segment V, ventrolateral carinae strong, bearing somewhat large granules that gradually and slightly increase in size posteriorly, without enlarged denticles.

Description.

(based on male holotype and female paratypes) Coloration (Figs 1 View Figure 1 , 2 View Figure 2 , 4 View Figure 4 , 6 View Figure 6 , 8 View Figure 8 , 10 View Figure 10 ). Base coloration dark brown to blackish brown. Prosoma: carapace dark brown to dark reddish brown in males, and dark reddish brown in females; carinae and granules black. The area surrounding and between median eyes marked with black pigmentation. Chelicerae: manus shiny yellowish brown to dark brown with dark brown reticulations; fingers reddish brown to dark brown, with reddish brown teeth. Pedipalps: femur and patella dark brown dorsally, with black carinae. Chela manus lustrous reddish brown; fingers dark brown posteriorly and dark yellow anteriorly. Denticles black. Legs: tarsi dark yellow; other segments brown. Mesosoma: blackish brown in males; dark brown to dark reddish brown in females. Sternites III – V yellowish brown; poststernites dark yellow medially. Sternite VI pale brown; sternite VII dark brown. Coxae yellowish brown to reddish brown. Pectines pale yellow. Metasoma: ventral surfaces of segments I – V dark brown to black in males and dark brown in females. Lateral and dorsal surfaces reddish brown to brown. Carinae exhibit dark brown to black pigmentation. Vesicle: black ventrally, reddish brown dorsally. Aculeus: reddish brown at base, black at tip.

Morphology.

Prosoma (Figs 4 A, C View Figure 4 , 5 A, C View Figure 5 ): carapace trapezoidal, longer than wide. Carinae strong with coarse granules in males, and moderate granules in females. Intercarinal area densely covered with coarse to medium granules in males, and with medium to minute granules in females. Granules larger and flattened anteriorly, and smaller between posteriomedian, centromedian, and anteromedian carinae. Anterior margin nearly straight and pitted, bearing several stout macrosetae and a row of large, rounded granules. All furrows moderate in depth. Median ocular tubercle located slightly anterior to the centre of carapace. Median eyes separated by a distance equivalent to two ocular diameters, situated in an area bearing several medium-sized granules. There are five pairs of lateral eyes: the first three are moderate in size, aligned, and located above an area with moderate granulation; the last two are vestigial.

Sternum typical for the genus (Type 1), triangular and narrow, longer than wide. The genital operculum longitudinally divided into two semi-oval plates.

Pectines (Figs 4 B, D View Figure 4 , 5 B, D View Figure 5 ): long (extending well beyond leg IV coxa / trochanter joint in males, slightly surpassing it in females), narrow, and densely setose. Tooth count ranges from 31–33 in males and 23–28 in females. Basal plate heavily sclerotized and wider than long; anterior margin bears a strong median indentation, while posterior margin broadly convex.

Chelicerae (Figs 4 A View Figure 4 , 4 C View Figure 4 , 5 A View Figure 5 , 5 C View Figure 5 ): cheliceral dentition typical for the genus, as defined by Vachon (1963). The surface smooth and shiny, bearing several granules arranged in longitudinal ridges. A distinct cluster of granules is present beneath the movable finger.

Pedipalps (Figs 6 View Figure 6 – 9 View Figure 9 ): trichobothrial pattern Type A, orthobothriotaxic. Dorsal trichobothria on femur arranged in a beta configuration, with d 2 located on dorsal surface. Femur pentacarinate, moderately slender, and straight. Dorsointernal, dorsoexternal, and ventrointernal carinae strong, bearing coarse, rounded granules. Ventroexternal carina weak, with moderately sized, spaced, subspinoid granules. Internal median carina weak, with spaced, distinct conical granules. Dorsal intercarinal surface densely covered with granules of various sizes, while ventral intercarinal surface bears fine granules sparsely, with scattered minute granules medially in anterior portion of segment. Patella has eight carinae and moderately stocky and straight. Dorsointernal carina strong and crenulate, bearing three spaced conical granules and terminating distally in a large spinoid granule. Ventrointernal carina strong and granular, terminating in a moderately sized spinoid granule. Dorsal, dorsomedian, and ventromedian carinae strong, bearing coarse, rounded granules. Dorsoexternal and ventroexternal carinae moderate, weakly granular to nearly smooth. Exteriomedian carina weak and smooth. Dorsal intercarinal surface densely covered with fine granules; ventral surface less densely granular. Chela moderately elongated, but manus considerably wider than patella (chela width / patella width = 1.27). Fingers moderately elongated (movable finger / manus length ratio = 1.51) and evenly curved. Manus smooth and lustrous; its internal surface densely granular in males and sparsely granular in females. movable fingers of pedipalps bear 16 rows of denticles, with external and internal accessory denticles and three distal granules. Fixed fingers bear 15 rows of denticles, also with external and internal accessory granules and three distal granules. Trichobothrium et located between dt and est, and proximal to dt.

Legs (Figs 14 View Figure 14 , 15 View Figure 15 ) long, slender, and bear several macrosetae. Basitarsus of legs I – III bears bristle combs, while that of leg IV lacks a bristle comb. Proventral and retroventral basitarsal (pedal) spurs present on legs I and IV, whereas tibial spurs present on legs III and IV. Tarsus of legs I – IV bears spine-like setae ventrally, arranged in two rows.

Mesosoma (Figs 1 View Figure 1 – 3 View Figure 3 ): tergites I – VI possess three moderate, granular carinae (one median and two submedians). Submedian carinae reduced on tergite I. Tergites I – VI densely granular overall. Pretergites finely granular; posttergites coarsely granular, with posterior margins bearing a row of distinct, moderate granules. Tergite VII pentacarinate (with median, submedian, and lateral carinae); median and submedian carinae bear large, rounded granules, while lateral carinae crenulate with spinoid granules. Sternites III – VI smooth with shagreened patches, sparsely setose, and feature elongated, slit-like spiracles. Sternite VI bears a pair of moderate granular carinae; sternite VII has two pairs of moderate granular carinae. Sternite VII finely granular and lacks setae.

Metasoma (Figs 10 View Figure 10 – 13 View Figure 13 ): all segments robust, longer than wide, and wider than deep. Segment V considerably stockier in males. Segments I – III bear ten carinae, segment IV has eight, and segment V has five carinae. Lateral inframedian carinae complete, moderate, and granular on segment I; they are incomplete and indistinct on segments II – III, consisting of three granules in the posterior quarter. Dorsolateral carinae strong, with granules gradually increasing in size posteriorly on segments I – IV, serrate on segment I, serrate to dentate or subdentate on segment II, and dentate on segments III – IV. On segment V, dorsolateral carinae strong, serrate posteriorly and smooth anteriorly. Lateral supramedian carinae strong and serrate on segments I – IV, with moderate, rounded granules on segments I and II, and coarse, rounded granules on segments III and IV. Ventrolateral carinae strong on segments I – IV, bearing moderate and rounded granules on segments I and II, and coarse, rounded granules on segments III and IV. On segment V, they are strong, with somewhat large granules that lack enlarged denticles and increase slightly in size posteriorly. Ventral submedian carinae moderate on segments I – IV, bearing moderately sized rounded granules. Ventromedian carina on segment V moderate, with similar rounded granules. Anal arch bears two lateral rounded lobes, the inferior one being twice as large as the superior and slightly split. Metasoma very sparsely setose. Dorsal intercarinal areas finely granular medially on segments I and II, and smooth without granulation on segments III – V. Lateral and ventral surfaces rough and densely covered with fine granules on segments I – V. Dorsal furrow moderately deep and wide on all segments. Telson slender and elongated. Vesicle small, somewhat elongated, with a wrinkled tegument but smooth surface, and shows distinct to obsolete ventromedian carinae. Aculeus long, approximately equal in length to vesicle, and moderately curved.

Etymology.

The new species is named after the Najd Plateau, located in the central region of the Arabian Peninsula.

Affinities.

Androctonus najdensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from other Androctonus species occurring in the Middle East, Iran, and Turkey by the following characters.

General coloration of A. najdensis sp. nov. is dark brown to blackish brown, whereas in A. australis , A. amoreuxi , A. sistanus , and A. tihamicus , it is pale brown to yellow. Androctonus najdensis sp. nov. has a wide manus, while A. bicolor and A. minaeus have a slender manus.

In A. crassicauda and A. orientalis , the fifth metasomal segment in males is elongated, and most of the dorsolateral carinae are serrate. In contrast, in A. najdensis sp. nov., the fifth metasomal segment in males is stocky, and only a small portion of the dorsolateral carina is serrate. Besides, in A. crassicauda and A. orientalis the dorsolateral carina of the fourth segment is distinctly dentate, whereas it is serrate in A. najdensis sp. nov.

Additionally, the ventrolateral carinae of fifth metasomal segment in A. najdensis sp. nov. lack enlarged denticles, whereas in A. ammoneus , A. azerianus , A. barahoeii , A. caspius , A. ishtar , A. kunti , A. sumericus , A. transcaucasicus and A. turkiyensis ventrolateral carinae bear enlarged or somewhat large denticles.

Coloration is brown in A. ammophilus and A. omanensis whereas it is black in A. najdensis sp. nov.

The lateral surface of segment V of the metasoma is smooth and the ventrolateral carinae of segment V bear dentate granules posteriorly in A. omanensis whereas the lateral surface of segment V is finely granular and the ventrolateral carinae of segment V are subconical, and do not bear dentate granules in A. najdensis sp. nov.

The seventh sternite is smooth in A. ammophilus whereas in A. najdensis sp. nov. it is finely granular.