07 April, 2010

A new Mesobuthus from China

The scorpion fauna of China is growing. This time Sun, Zhu & Lourenco have described a new species from Xinjiang Province of China.

Mesobuthus bolensis Sun, Zhu & Lourenco, 2010 (Buthidae)

In the same paper they transfer Mesobuthus songi Lourenco, Qi & Zhu, 2005 to Hottentotta. The same decision was very recently published by Teruel & Rein (2010).

Abstract:
A new species, Mesobuthus bolensis from the Province of Xinjiang, in the Western region of China, is described. The new species can be defined by a densely granular carapace; carinae, granulation, and metasomal segment V without any dark pigmentation; carinae of carapace and pedipalp patella dispersively granular. Furthermore, restudy of the characters of Mesobuthus songi Lourenc¸o, Qi & Zhu 2005, described from the southern region of Pulan, Xizang (Tibet), China led us to accommodate this species in the genus Hottentotta Birula, as a new combination Hottentotta songi (Lourenc¸o, Qi & Zhu 2005).

Reference:
Sun D, Zhu M-S, Lourenco WR. A new spcies of Mesobuthus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) from Xinjiang, China, with notes on Mesobuthus songi. Journal of Arachnology. 2010;38:35-43 [Subscription required for fulltext, but free fulltext after 12 months].

Family Buthidae

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