A new species of Neoscorpiops from India

Shauri Sulakhe and co-workers have recently published an analysis of the species of the genus Neoscorpiops Vachon, 1980 (Euscorpiidae) and a new species from India is described.

Neoscorpiops phaltanensis Sulakhe, Sayyed, Deshpande, Dandekar, Padhye & Bastawade, 2020

Abstract:
All species of the genus Neoscorpiops Vachon, 1980 are compared and taxonomic validity is established based on molecular phylogeny and morphological comparisons through integrated taxonomic approach. A new species Neoscorpiops phaltanensis sp. nov. is described from India and differs from its congeners on the basis of internal surface of patella with anterio-ventral tubercle medium to almost equal compared to posterio-ventral tubercle; dorsal carination on II-IV metasomal segments ending in a short spine; chela length to manus width ratio in males and females 3.1:3.6; anterior portion of carapace finely granular; trichobothria on patella ventral 17–19; trichobothria on patella exterior 27–29. In addition to external morphology, hemispermatophore morphology of the new species is also provided. Neoscorpiops phaltanensis sp. nov. is closely related to N. satarensis and differs by morphological features and raw genetic divergence of 7.1–7.3%. The entire study is complemented with colour and UV photographs. First molecular phylogeny of genus Neoscorpiops is presented here.

References:
Sulakhe S, Sayyed A, Deshpande S, Dandekar N, Padhye A, Bastawade D. Taxonomic validity of Neoscorpiops Deccanensis, N. Tenuicauda, N. Satarensis and N. Maharashtraensis with description of a new species of Neoscorpiops Vachon, 1980 (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae) from India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 2020;117. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to Dr. Rajiv Karbhal for sending me the article!

Family Euscorpiidae