The large scorpions in the genus Pandinus (Thorell, 1876), sensu lato (Scorpionidae) have been subjected to several taxonomical changes in the recent years. The genus has been split into new generea, and several new species have been described.
Lorenzo Prendini has now published a major paper criticizing many of the decisions for this group of scorpions in the recent years. Prendini concludes by reversing several taxonomic decisions made other authors on Pandinus, sensu lato. The papers also has a revision of the genus Pandinoides Fet, 1997 and a new species is described from Kenya and Tanzania. The two other species in the genus are redescribed.
The large, black scorpions of Africa are very popular in the pet trade and because of this may be threatened in some areas. Having a correct taxonomy and knowledge of these scorpions is important to ensure that they are protected from extinction because of over-harvesting.
These are the main taxonomical conclusion in the paper:
Pandinurus roeseli (Simon, 1872) is synonymized with Pandinus imperator (C. L. Koch, 1841).
Pandinoides duffmackayi Prendini, 2016 (new species from Kenya and Tanzania).
Pandinoides militaris (Pocock, 1900) (raised to species status after previous synonymization with Pandinoides cavimanus (Pocock, 1888).
The genus Pandinoides Fet, 1997 is restricted to three species: P. cavimanus (Pocock, 1888), P. duffmackayi Prendini, 2016 and P. militaris Pocock, 1900.
The following species are synonymized:
Pandinus camerounensis Lourenco, 2014 is synonymized with Pandinus imperator (C. L. Koch, 1841).
Pandinurus prendinii Rossi, 2015 is synonymized with Pandinurus sudanicus (Hirst, 1911).
Pandinurus janae Rossi, 2015 is synonymized with Pandinurus percivali (Pocock, 1902).
Pandinurus bartolozii Rossi, 2015 is synonymized with Pandinurus viatoris (Pocock, 1890).
Pandinurus flagellicauda Rossi, 2015 is synonymized with Pandinurus viatoris (Pocock, 1890).
Pandinurus lorenzoi Rossi, 2015 is synonymized with Pandinurus viatoris (Pocock, 1890).
Pandinurus pantinii Rossi, 2015 is synonymized with Pandinurus viatoris (Pocock, 1890).
Pandinurus pygmaeus Rossi, 2015 is synonymized with Pandinurus viatoris (Pocock, 1890).
Abstract:
The scorpion fauna of East Africa, encompassing Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda, is more diverse than those of West and Central Africa, but a systematic survey has never been conducted and the distributions of its species remain poorly understood. A recent opportunity to examine two extensive collections of East African, and predominantly Kenyan, scorpions and new material acquired by the author permitted a reassessment of the fauna of the region. The present contribution, the first of several emanating from this research, comprises two parts. The first part presents a redefinition and revision of the scorpionid genus Pandinoides Fet, 1997, with a redescription of the type species, Pandinoides cavimanus (Pocock, 1888), a revalidation and redescription of Pandinoides militaris (Pocock, 1900), and a description of Pandinoides duffmackayi, sp. nov. Pending reassessment of the genera and subgenera of Pandinus, sensu lato, based on quantitative phylogenetic analysis, Pandinoides is restricted to the three species with a marked concave depression in the retrodorsal surface of the pedipalp chela manus of the adult male, and Pandinus platycheles Werner, 1916, transferred to Pandinus subgenus Pandinoriens Rossi, 2015, creating a new combination: Pandinus (Pandinoriens) platycheles (Werner, 1916), comb. nov. The availability of large series comprising both sexes and all stages of the three Pandinoides species covered herein revealed considerable variation in counts of pedipalp trichobothria, spiniform macrosetae of the leg telotarsi, and pectinal teeth, among and even within individual conspecifics, calling into question the widespread practice of defining species and supraspecific taxa almost exclusively on trivial meristic differences between small samples of material (often singletons, female or immature). Furthermore, whereas neobothriotaxic patterns with low counts may provide appropriate diagnostic characters for genera and species, in combination with other characters, this is generally inadvisable when trichobothrial counts are high, due to the greater instability of the patterns.
The second part of this contribution assesses the validity of several putative species of Pandinus, sensu lato, recently described or revalidated, in light of data presented in the first part, and presents 10 new synonyms: Heterometrus roeseli Simon, 1872 = Pandinus (P.) imperator (C.L. Koch, 1841), syn. nov.; Pandinus (P.) camerounensis Lourenço, 2014 = Pandinus (P.) imperator (C.L. Koch, 1841), syn. nov.; Pandinurus (P.) prendinii Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (P.) sudanicus (Hirst, 1911), syn. nov.; Pandinurus (Pandicaporiaccous) Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandiborellius) Rossi, 2015, syn. nov.; Pandinurus (Pandicaporiaccous) janae Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandiborellius) percivali (Pocock, 1902), syn. nov.; Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) bartolozii Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) viatoris (Pocock, 1890), syn. nov.; Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) flagellicauda Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) viatoris (Pocock, 1890), syn. nov.; Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) lorenzoi Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) viatoris (Pocock, 1890), syn. nov.; Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) pantinii Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) viatoris (Pocock, 1890), syn. nov.; Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) pygmaeus Rossi, 2015 = Pandinurus (Pandipalpus) viatoris (Pocock, 1890), syn. nov.
Reference:
Prendini L. Redefinition and systematic revision of the East African scorpion genus Pandinoides (Scorpiones: Scorpionidae) with critique of the taxonomy of Pandinus, sensu lato. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 2016(407):1-67. [Open Access]
Thanks to Gerard Dupre for sending me this article!
Family Scorpionidae
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