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| Isometrus adviteeya, I. anamalaiensis, I. palani, I. thenmala & I. lithophilis Deshpande, Gowande, Dandekar, Joshi, Bastawade & Sulakhe, 2024 |
Abstract
The Western and Eastern Ghats of the Peninsular India are known for their high biological diversity, which is shaped due to various geological barriers and environmental parameters. Scorpion diversity in Peninsular India remains poorly known thereby warranting a need to undertake rigorous arachnological surveys. In our continued effort to discover scorpion lineages hitherto unknown to science, we describe five new species of the genus Isometrus Ehrenberg, 1828 which were obtained from southern India, and discuss morphological, molecular and ecological discordance within this genus. The validity of Reddyanus atherii Amir and Kamaluddin, 2008, Isometrus liaqatii Amir and Kamaluddin, 2008 and Isometrus formosus Pocock, 1894 is also commented upon, with implications to propose taxonomic changes within the genus.
Isometrus adviteeya sp. nov.
Etymology: The species is morphologically unique compared to the congeners. The specific epithet is derived from the Sanskrit word ‘adviteeya’, meaning incomparable.
Isometrus anamalaiensis sp. nov.
Etymology: The specific epithet is named after the Annamalai hill complex which is popularly known for the Indian Elephant, within which the type locality is situated. The name is derived from the Tamil words ‘Yanai’ (= elephant) and ‘Malai’ (= mountain).
Isometrus palani sp. nov.
Etymology: The specific epithet is a noun in apposition indicating the type locality of the species.
Isometrus thenmala sp. nov.
Etymology: The specific epithet is a noun in apposition indicating the Thenmala Reserve Forest which is located near the type locality.
Isometrus lithophilis sp. nov.
Etymology: The specific epithet is an adjective derived from two Greek words ‘lithos’(= rock), and ‘philia’ (= fondness) indicating the close affinity of the species towards rocks.
Shubhankar Deshpande, Gaurang Gowande, Nikhil Dandekar, Mihir Joshi, Deshabhushan Bastawade and Shauri Sulakhe. 2024. A Baffling Case of Morphological, Molecular and Ecological Discordance in Isometrus Ehrenberg, 1828 (Scorpiones: Buthidae) with the Description of Five New Species from southern India. Zoologischer Anzeiger. 308; 71-98. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2023.11.001
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