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| Hottentotta hatamtiorum Amiri, Prendini, Hussen, Aliabadian, Siahsarvie & Mirshamsi, 2024 |
Abstract
Morphological and genetic variation among populations of the widespread buthid scorpion, Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880), occurring in western and southwestern Iran was explored using morphometric variables, one nuclear marker (28S rDNA) and three mitochondrial markers (12S rDNA, 16S rDNA, and Cytochrome c Oxidase Subunit I). Genetic and morphometric statistical analyses revealed extensive cryptic diversity. Phylogenetic analysis with Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood uncovered two divergent clades, one of which is described as a new species, Hottentotta hatamtiorum sp. nov., from Ilam and Khuzestan Provinces, southwestern Iran. The description of the new species raises the total count of Hottentotta Birula, 1908 species to 61, twelve of which are endemic or subendemic to the Iranian Plateau.
Key words: Cryptic diversity, morphology, morphometrics, taxonomy
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| Hottentotta hatamtiorum sp. nov., habitus, dorsal aspect (A, C), ventral aspect (B, D). A, B Holotype ♂ (ZMFUM 1977). C, D Paratype ♀ (ZMFUM 1981). Scale bars = 10 mm. |
Hottentotta hatamtiorum sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Hottentotta hatamtiorum sp. nov. may be distinguished from H. saulcyi by the wider metasomal segment I (MtIL/WHsau 1.01 ± 0.06; MtIL/WHhat 1.17 ± 0.11) and telson (TWHsau 3.99 ± 0.62; TWHhat 4.25 ± 0.70); from H. akbarii by the infuscate anterior part of the carapace, metasomal segment V, and telson; from H. lorestanus by the uniformly yellowish-brown base color; and from H. khoozestanus by the shorter fingers of the pedipalp chela (ChL/ML 2.35; MFL/ML 1.36) and the infuscate ventral and ventrolateral surfaces of metasomal segment V and telson.
Etymology: The specific epithet refers to Hatamti, an ancient civilization centered in the far west and southwest of modern-day Iran (3200–539 BC), in the lowlands of present-day Khuzestan and Ilam provinces and a small part of southern Iraq.
Masoumeh Amiri, Lorenzo Prendini, Fenik Sherzad Hussen, Mansour Aliabadian, Roohollah Siahsarvie and Omid Mirshamsi. 2024. Integrative Systematics of the widespread Middle Eastern buthid Scorpion, Hottentotta saulcyi (Simon, 1880), reveals A New Species in Iran. Arthropod Systematics & Phylogeny. 82: 323-341. DOI: 10.3897/asp.82.e98662
