Betaburmesebuthus vinzentschmidti Lourenço, 2023

Lourenço, Wilson R. & Velten, Jürgen, 2023, A remarkable new species of Betaburmesebuthus Lourenço, 2015 from Burmite (Scorpiones: Palaeoburmesebuthidae), Faunitaxys 11 (78), pp. 1-5 : 2

Betaburmesebuthus vinzentschmidti Lourenço sp. n.

( Fig. 1-13)

ZooBank:https://zoobank.org/ D5A4D6C6-F9DC-4018-AD63-25DEB212256B

Holotype. A juvenile, or possible pre-adult; most certainly a male. Very clear block of pale-yellow amber which measures 33.0 x 21.0 x 5 mm. A number of inclusions and bubbles prevent a 100% observation of all characters. Moreover, the specimen is twisted and several structures are dislocated.

Diagnosis. – General morphology is globally similar to that of other species of the genus Betaburmesebuthus Lourenço,2015 .The following combination of characters can, however be used to diagnose the new species: carapace weakly granulated, almost smooth; anterior margin with a weakly marked median concavity. Sternum subpentagonal. Tergites with one weak median carina, the lateral carinae are totally inconspicuous. Sternites with small semi-oval spiracles. Metasomal segments I and II with 10 carinae; III and IV with 8 carinae; dorsal carinae on segments III and IV with spinoid granules forming serrulas; setation on all metasomal segments weakly marked; telson elongated with severalventral spinoid granules.Internal faces of femur and patella with conspicuous spinoid granules; on patella four spinoid granules are particularly strong.Fixed and movable fingers of pedipalp chela with a series of small rounded granules and a few conspicuous spinoid accessory granules. Trichobothrial pattern conforming with the extant buthid type A(Vachon, 1974): at least 3 internal,5 dorsaland2 external trichobothria on the femur; dorsal trichobothria disposed in beta (β) configuration ( Vachon, 1975); 1 internal and 5 dorsal trichobothria on patella; several external trichobothria can be suggested on patella by the presence of fine setae; 4-5 dorso-external and 2 ventral on chelal hand;6 on fixed finger. Tibial spurs present on leg IV, reduced or absent on III.

Type locality and horizon. – Myanmar ( Burma), Kachin; precise locality unknown; Lower Cretaceous.

Patronym. – The specific name honors Vinzent Schmidt †, a Godchild of Mr. André Schmidt, Schulgasse 3,480 0 Zofingen, Switzerland who supported the present study.

Depository. – The type specimen is deposited in the Collection of Mr André Schmidt , Schulgasse 3,480 0 Zofingen, Switzerland .

Description

Coloration. – The scorpion is yellow to reddish-yellow; carapace and tergites yellow; metasomal segments reddish-yellow; telson reddish-yellow; pedipalps reddish-yellow; legs yellow. Ventral aspect yellow.

Morphology. Carapace weakly granular, almost smooth; anterior margin with a weakly marked median concavity. Carinae inconspicuous; furrows weak. Median ocular tubercle clearly anterior to the centre of carapace; median eyes moderate in size and separated by a little more than one ocular diameter. Three pairs of lateral eyes of moderate size. Sternum subpentagonal. Mesosomal tergites weakly granular, with one weak median carina; lateral carinae totally inconspicuous; VII with five weakly marked carinae. Pectines totally dislocated; probably with a total number of 15-16 teeth. Sternites smooth, with small oval spiracles. Metasomal segment I to IV with 10-10-8-8 carinae; dorsal on III and IV with spinoid granules forming serrulas; segment V slender with five carinae; ventral formed by small spinoid granules; dorsal aspect of segments I to V weakly depressed; setation on all segments weakly marked. Telson with a very long pearshaped vesicle; presence of latero-ventral carinae and a series of ventral strong spinoid granules; aculeus extremely long and strongly curved at the extremity; setation weakly marked. Cheliceral dentition only partially visible; fixed and movable fingers with one basal tooth observable; distal teeth moderately long (Vachon, 1963). Pedipalp femur pentacarinate; patella with 6-7 carinae; internal face of femur and patella with spinoid granules; four are strongly developed on patella. Chela with moderately marked carinae; all faces not granular. Fixed and movable fingers each with one series of small rounded granules and a few conspicuous spinoid accessory granules; extremity of fingers with stronger spinoid granules; setation of pedipalps weakly marked. Trichobothriotaxy of type A (Vachon, 1974), as for extant buthids: at least 3 internal, 5 dorsal and 2 external trichobothria on the femur; dorsal trichobothria disposed in beta (β) configuration ( Vachon, 1975); 1 internal, 5 dorsal and no ventral trichobothria on patella; 4-5 external trichobothria can be suggested on patella by the presence of fine setae; 4-5 dorso-external and 2 ventral on chelal hand; 6 on fixed finger. Tibial spurs present on leg IV, moderately marked; reduced or absent on leg III.

Morphometric values (mm), holotype of Betaburmesebuthus vinzentschmidti Lourenço sp. n.

– Total length 13.69 (including telson).

– Carapace length 1.62; anterior width 1.39; posterior width 1.81.

– Mesosoma : length 3.18.

– Metasomal segments

I: length 1.02, width 0.77;

II: length 1.07, width 0.74;

III: length 1.24, depth 0.54;

IV: length 1.41, depth 0.57;

V: length 1.96, depth 0.61.

– Telson: length 2.19.

– Vesicle: depth 0.34.

– Pedipalp femur length 1.32, width 0.41;

patella length 1.57, width 0.54;

chela length 2.77, width 0.37;

movable finger length 1.97.

Relationships. – The presence of very conspicuous spiniform granules on the internal face of femur and patella and that of spinoid granules forming serrulas on the dorsal carinae of metasomal segments III and IV places the new species in a very isolated position. Only Betaburmesebuthus bidentatus Lourenço, 2015 , showed some strong spinoid granules in the internal face of patella (Lourenço,2015).The knowledge of this last species is however incomplete.