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REFERENCES cited in text and synonymies should all be included in the list at the end of the paper, using the Harvard System (ibid., idem, loc. cit., op. cit. are not acceptable): (a) Author’s name and year of publication given in text, e.g.: ‘Smith (1969) describes .. .’ ‘Smith (1969: 36, fig. 16) describes...’ ‘As described (Smith 1969a, 1969b; Jones 1971)’ ‘As described (Haughton & Broom 1927)...’ ‘As described (Haughton et al. 1927)...’ Note: no comma separating name and year pagination indicated by colon, not p. names of joint authors connected by ampersand et al. in text for more than two joint authors, but names of all authors given in list of references. (b) Full references at the end of the paper, arranged alphabetically by names, chronologically within each name, with suffixes a, b, etc. to the year for more than one paper by the same author in that year, e.g. Smith (1969a, 19695) and not Smith (1969, 1969a). For books give title in italics, edition, volume number, place of publication, publisher. For journal article give title of article, title of journal in italics (abbreviated according to the World list o Scientific periodicals. 4th ed. London: Butterworths, 1963), series in parentheses, volume number, part number (only if independently paged) in parentheses, pagination (first and last pages of article). Examples (note capitalization and punctuation) BULLOUGH, W. S. 1960. Practical invertebrate anatomy. 2nd ed. London: Macmillan. FISCHER, P.—H. 1948. Données sur la résistance et de le vitalité des mollusques. J. Conch., Paris 88: 100-140. FIsCHER, P.-H., DuUvAL, M. & RarFy, A. 1933. Etudes sur les échanges respiratoires des littorines. Archs Zool. exp. gén. 74: 627-634. Konn, A. J. 1960a. Ecological notes on Conus (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in the Trincomalee region of Ceylon. Ann. Mag. nat. Hist. (13) 2: 309-320. Koun, A. J. 19605. Spawning behaviour, egg masses and larval development in Conus from the Indian Ocean. Bull. Bingham oceanogr. Coll. 17 (4): 1-51. THIELE, J. 1910. Mollusca: B. Polyplacophora, Gastropoda marina, Bivalvia. In: SCHULTZE, L. Zoologische und anthropologische Ergebnisse einer Forschungsreise im westlichen und zentralen Siid-Afrika 4: 269-270. Jena: Fischer. Denkschr. med.-naturw. Ges. Jena 16: 269-270. (continued inside back cover) ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM ANNALE VAN DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE MUSEUM Volume 72 +#2Band April 1977 April Part 11 Deel NOTES ON THE SCORPION FAUNA OF THE CAPE PART | DESCRIPTION OF NEOTYPE OF OPISTHOPHTHALMUS CAPENSIS (HERBST) AND REMARKS ON THE O. CAPENSIS and O. GRANIFRONS POCOCK SPECIES-GROUPS (ARACHNIDA, SCORPIONIDA, SCORPIONIDAE) By E. B. EASTWOOD Cape Town Kaapstad The ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM are issued in parts at irregular intervals as material becomes available Obtainable from the South African Museum, P.O. Box 61, Cape Town Die ANNALE VAN DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE MUSEUM word uitgegee in dele op ongereelde tye na beskikbaarheid van stof Verkrygbaar van die Suid-Afrikaanse Museum, Posbus 61, Kaapstad OUT OF PRINT/UIT DRUK 1, 21, 3, 5-8), 3(1-2, 4-5, 8, t.—p.i.), 51-3, 5, 7-9), 6(1, t—p.i.), 711-4), 8, 911-2, 7), 10(1), 11(1-2, 5, 7, t.-p.i.), 15(4—-5), 24(2), 27, 31(1-3), 33 Price of this part/Prys van hierdie deel R2,20 Trustees of the South African Museum © _ Trustees van die Suid-Afrikaanse Museum 1977 ISBN 0 908407 11 4 Printed in South Africa by In Suid-Afrika gedruk deur The Rustica Press, Pty., Ltd., Die Rustica-pers, Edms., Bpk., Court Road, Wynberg, Cape Courtweg, Wynberg, Kaap NOTES ON THE SCORPION FAUNA OF THE CAPE PART 1 DESCRIPTION OF NEOTYPE OF OPISTHOPHTHALMUS CAPENSIS (HERBST) AND REMARKS ON THE O. CAPENSIS and O. GRANIFRONS POCOCK SPECIES-GROUPS (ARACHNIDA, SCORPIONIDA, SCORPIONIDAE) By E. B. EAsTwooD South African Museum, Cape Town (With 5 figures and | table) [MS. accepted 9 December 1976] ABSTRACT The neotype of Opisthophthalmus capensis (Herbst) is designated and described. The neotype is deposited at the South African Museum, and toponeotypes at the Natal Museum and the Zoologisches Museum, Berlin. Trichobothriotaxy of the capensis—granifrons species complex is examined as a possible diagnostic character, but is found not to be significant. In the light of new data and collections, the taxonomy of this species complex is discussed and evidence given to support the hypothesis that O. capensis and its subspecies, and O. granifrons and allied species are, in fact, a single variable species. New locality data is recorded. CONTENTS PAGE Introduction 3 : : : ; ; 5 F ; : 5 ZAI Description of neotypes . : : : : : 3 : Pall? Notes on trichobothriotaxy as a diagnostic character ; ae 216 Taxonomy of the capensis—granifrons species complex ; Be, Aw) History . ; ; j : : : ; 3 5 ; 5 PAY) Variation ; : : : : : ; : s : . 220 Ecological and geographical considerations . 5 : en Nes a2p Taxonomic reflections . ; : P ; P : 3 Bay pape Material examined . 3 ; ; : : ; : : e223 Acknowledgements . : ‘ ; : F : : : yo) PPS) References . : : : : 5 : : ; : : 226 INTRODUCTION This is the first of a series of papers correlating previous work on Cape scorpions with new data on distribution and taxanomic interrelationships. It will serve as a foundation for more detailed studies as new material becomes available. Herbst (1800) described Scorpio capensis from three specimens, two from his own collection, and one from the collection of Ludwig-Heinrich Freiher All Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 72 (11), 1977: 211-226, 5 figs, 1 table. DA ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM von Block. Enquiries at the Vienna Museum indicated that none of this material is deposited there. J. Gruber of the Vienna Museum states that all or most of Herbst’s original material may be lost. Likewise, the specimen of Block is not in their collection (pers. comm.). Primarily it appeared that one type specimen may have been among the seven specimens deposited at the Zoologisches Museum, Berlin, collected by Lichtenstein (1811), some of which were examined later by Thorell. However, this cannot be assumed since at some point this material dried out and the original labels were lost (pers. comm. M. Moritz); Herbst described Scorpio capensis in 1800, while Lichtenstein collected in the Cape of Good Hope between 1803 and 1806. Perusal of literature and further enquiries have revealed nothing more. Thus it has been decided to designate neotypes from the South African Museum collection, and redescribe Opisthophthalmus capensis (Herbst). The taxonomic history and variation of the capensis—granifrons species complex are discussed. It is the intention of the author to illustrate the inherent difficulties of coming to any absolute taxonomic decision on this group before adequate collections are made, and to set forth evidence which complements the hypothesis that O. capensis and its subspecies, and O. granifrons and its allied species are likely to be a single variable species. DESCRIPTION OF NEOTYPES Opisthophthalmus capensis (Herbst) Scorpio capensis Herbst, 1800: 62, fig. 2. Opisthophthalmus capensis Koch, 1838: 89, fig. 308. Peters, 1861: 512. Thorell, 1877: 227. Kraeplin, 1894: 97, figs 33-34. Pocock 1896: 234. Purcell, 1899: 148. Opisthophthalmus maxillosus Koch, 1838: 93, fig. 310. Opisthophthalmus pilosus Koch, 1838: 91, fig. 309. Kraeplin, 1894: 100. Opisthophthalmus latro Thorell, 1877: 225. Opisthophthalmus chaperi Simon, 1880: 387. NEOTYPE MALE (Fig. 1) Measurements are given in Table 1. Colour Interocular area of carapace, cauda, pedipalps and legs yellow to reddish yellow; granular areas and ridges dark brown to black; tergum dark reddish brown; vesicle yellow; sternum yellow anteriorly, becoming dark brown posteriorly. Carapace Slightly longer than wide; longer than caudal segments I and II; inter- ocular area almost smooth, very finely punctate; lateral margins granular, a strip of coarser granules borders the interocular area; median eyes far behind the middle of the carapace; anterior median furrow distinctly forked anteriorly. NOTES ON THE SCORPION FAUNA OF THE CAPE 213 25mm Fig. 1. Opisthophthalmus capensis (Herbst). Dorsal view of neotype male. Tergites Granular throughout, becoming more coarsely granular posteriorly; segments II to VI with a smooth, weak median elevation; segment VII with two coarsely granular keels postero-laterally; rows of 3-8 microtrichia extend along the postero-lateral margins of each segment. Sternites Anterior segments almost smooth, becoming progressively more coarsely granular posteriorly; rows of microtrichia extend along lateral and postero- lateral margins. Cauda Segment I: ventrally and laterally granular, dorsally sparsely granular; pair of ventral keels indistinct, ventrolaterals, dorsolaterals and dorsal keels granular and well defined. 214 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM TABLE | Measurements in millimetres of neotype and toponeotypes of Opisthophthalmus capensis (Herbst) Neotype 6 Toponeotype2 Toponeotype 3S Total length . : ; : é ; : 116,0 131,0 106,0-110,0 Carapace length . 3 ; : : : 11,0 13,0 11,5-12,0 width (max) . ; : : : 10,2 13,0 10,2 (min) . Q ; : ; 7,0 8,5 7,0 Median ocelli—anterior edge . : ; 8,0 : 9,0 8,0 Mesomoma length 5 : . : Z 24,5 27,5 19,5-22,0 Metasoma length ; : : : : 44,0 47,0 42,0-44,0 Caudal segment I length . 5 4 ; : ByS) 5,6 5,2-5,5 width . ; 4 ; F 4,5 5,0 4,5 Caudal segment II length . : : ; ; 6,0 6,0 6,0 width . : : F : 4,5 4,6 4,5 Caudal segment III length . ; Bune : 6,0 6,3 6,0 width . ; 5 ; 5 4,0 4,5 4,0 Caudal segment IV length . : ; 5 ‘ 7,0 2 7,0 width . : é ; ; 347. 4,0 3,5 Caudal segment V length . . ; ; : 11,0 11,2 10,0-11,0 width . 5 2 : : 3,2 4,0 3,0-3,2 Pedipalp Femur length . : : : : ; 9,0 10,0 9,0 Tibia length . : : ‘ : : 8,5 9,8 8,0-8,5 Chela length . ; : : 5 : : 17,8 20,0 16,5-17,0 width . : : : ; F ; 6,0 10,0 6,0-6,5 movable finger length ; : : ‘ 11,0 13,2 11,0-11,2 Segments II to IV: ventrally and laterally granular; dorsally sparsely granular; pair of lateral keels, ventrolaterals, dorsolaterals distinct and consist of rounded granules; dorsal keels terminate distally with a sharp spine. Segment V: ventrally granular, laterally sparsely granular, dorsally smooth; single ventral keel, ventrolaterals well developed, dorsolaterals obsolete distally; dorsals and accessory keels weakly developed. Vesicle smooth. Pedipalps Keels of femur coarsely granular; dorsal and ventral surface with large rounded granules, external surface smooth with a few rounded granules dorsally; dorsal keel of patella consists of contiguous granules, almost smooth; internally smooth, external surface almost smooth; chelae dorsally slightly wrinkled, almost smooth, ventrally and internally smooth; internal edge of chela coarsely NOTES ON THE SCORPION FAUNA OF THE CAPE 215 granular; digital keel smooth along entire length; inner secondary, subdigital and exterior secondary keels weakly developed. Trichobothriotaxy Chela and femur orthobothriotaxic, with 26 and 3 trichobothria respec- tively; patella neobothriotaxic, with 20 trichobothria, the external subterminal (est) being the accessory trichobothrium. Legs Inner (anterior) edge of femora I-III with sparse comb-like rows of setae; outer edge of femur I with scattered setae; outer edge of femora II and III with sparse rows of setae; femur IV with a few sparse setae internally and externally; patellae I and II with sparse rows of setae internally, ventrally and externally; patellae III and IV with sparse rows of setae internally and externally; second tarsomere of leg I to III with 10 external spine-like setae, 5 internal spine-like setae, second tarsomere of leg IV with 8-9 external spine-like setae, 4 internal spine-like setae; dorsal process flush with lateral lobes. Operculum Subcordiform; cleft longitudinally with a pair of genital papillae below the operculum. Pectines 13-14 teeth. TOPONEOTYPE FEMALE (Fig. 2) Measurements are given in Table 1. Colour As in neotype male, except last sternite darker. Sternites All segments smooth and polished, except the last which is sparsely and finely granular. Legs The second tarsomere with 9-10 external spine-like setae; 5 internal spine- like setae. Ventral rows of setae on patella of legs III to IV absent. Operculum Subcordiform; fused medially. Pectines 10-11 teeth. 216 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM Fig. 2. Opisthophthalmus capensis (Herbst). Dorsal view of toponeotype female. TOPONEOTYPE MALES Measurements are given in Table 1. Pectines 13-16 teeth. NEOTYPE MATERIAL Neotype male Cape Town (34°5’S 18°25’E), June 1975, E. Eastwood legit, SA M-—C2/1, deposited at the South African Museum. Toponeotypes 1 2: Table View, Cape Town, June 1975, Van den Heever legit, SAM-—C35, deposited at the South African Museum. 3 Sd: data as for neotype (SAM-C2/2, C2/3, C2/4). 1 specimen deposited at the South African Museum; | specimen at the Natal Museum; | specimen at the Zoologisches Museum, Berlin, DDR. NOTES ON TRICHOBOTHRIOTAXY AS A DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTER Vachon (1973) proposed a system of nomenclature for trichobothria on the pedipalpal segments, and made a study of their arrangement in several NOTES ON THE SCORPION FAUNA OF THE CAPE DAG families and genera. In a study of the genus Euscorpius Thorell (Chactidae) Vachon (1975) points out the importance of trichobothrial diagrams for the external surface of the patella for subgeneric determination. The difficulties of such a study were demonstrated. According to this system the Scorpionidae fall into the group where the chela and femur are orthobothriotaxic (i.e. having the basic number of trichobothria in their respective territories, a total of 26 on the chela and 3 on the femur). The tibia (brachium or patella) is usually neobothriotaxic (i.e. with accessory trichobothria in addition to the basic arrangement), having a total of 20 or more trichobothria. Specimens of Opisthophthalmus from the Cape show the basic arrangement for the Scorpionidae as indicated by Vachon (1973). Usually the second external suprabasal is the accessory trichobothrium on the patella (Figs 3, 4a). Throughout the O. capensis and O. granifrons species groups the chela is orthobothriotaxic. There is no significant variation in trichobothrial position. The femur also shows no variation. However, the external surface of the patella shows variation in position of trichobothria, and occasionally in number. In specimens of O. capensis from the Cape Peninsula the three terminal trichobothria (et) on the external surface of the patella, show variations in their position, either ef, or ef; move proximally. There appears to be no par- ticular pattern in this variation, all three arrangements being found in the same population (Fig. 4b-d). The subterminals (est) are usually two in number, but in one specimen that was examined both patellae possessed only one each (orthobothriotaxic), and in another specimen one patella had one est, and the other two. The medials (em), suprabasals (esb), and basals (eb) are arranged as in Figure 4a. - terminals (et) i subterminals (est ) -- medials(em) 5mm ; Suprabasals (esb) (ys. Screed 6°00} - -- basals (eb) Fig. 3. External surface of pedipalpal patella of Opisthophthalmus showing trichobothrial arrangement. 218 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM Specimens from the Vredenburg district (Paternoster and St Helena Bay) have the trichobothria on the external surface of the patella arranged as in Figure 4a, except that the position of the first subterminal (est,) may vary as in Figure 4f-g. One male specimen collected near Mossel Bay showed asymmetric varia- tions of the first subterminal trichobothrium (es¢,) as in Figure 4f-g. The single male specimen in our collection from Namaqualand identified as O. capensis had trichobothrial arrangement as in Figure 4d. Examination of the subspecies /Jeipoldti (sensu Hewitt) showed that the terminal trichobothria (et, ef; and ef;) of the pedipalpal patella are usually in a straight line (Fig 2b); ef, may move slightly proximally (Fig. 4d). Two specimens had only one suprabasal on both patellae, the rest had the usual two. It was only possible to determine the trichobothriotaxy of the specimens collected by R. Pattison and C. L. Leipoldt in 1897 (SAM-1724, SAM-1732); those collected by Pattison (SAM-1759) were difficult to determine due to poor preservation. Because of poor preservation it was not possible to discern clearly the trichobothrial arrangement in most specimens of the subspecies fuscipes Purcell but where the territories were clearly visible the external surface of the pedi- palpal patella showed the arrangement as in Figure 4a. The terminal trichobothria of the external surface of the pedipalpal patella of O. granifrons Pocock lie in a straight line (Fig. 4b), but in a few specimens either ef, or ef; move proximally (Fig. 4c—d). The third basal (eb) moves distally in some specimens (Fig. 4e). The position of the first subterminal est, is not constant and varies from a proximal to a more distal position (Fig. 4f-g). abc de f Sh J 000 et ° ° °o.6°8 ° Us Ps est 2 ie} ° em ° esb oj 2 eb : 1° oo [ Fig. 4. (a-j) Diagrammatic representation of the external surface of pedipalpal patellae of Opisthophthalmus, showing variation in position of basal, suprabasal, terminal and subterminal trichobothria. NOTES ON THE SCORPION FAUNA OF THE CAPE 219 Types of O. ater Purcell have either one or two suprabasals (esb). In Klein- zee specimens (Lawrence’s determination) the first suprabasal (esb,) moves proximally or distally (Fig. 4h-1) otherwise there is no variation from the basic arrangement as in Figure 4a. In O. granicauda Purcell the first terminal lies proximally to et, and ef.; this position is constant (Fig. 4c). For comparative purposes 5 specimens each of the following other Cape species were examined: O. /aticauda Purcell, O. pallidipes Koch, O. peringueyi Purcell, O. karrooensis Purcell, OQ. longicauda Purcell, O. wahlbergi nigro- vesicalis Purcell, O. crassimanus Purcell, O. gigas Purcell, O. macer Thorell, O. austerus Karsch, O. latimanus Koch and O. pictus Kraeplin. These were all found to have the same basic arrangement as the O. capensis and O. granifrons species groups. O. pattisoni Purcell and O. chaperi Simon were exceptions, having either two or three suprabasals. Instances where the second trichobothrium was absent on the external surface of the patella and was thus orthobothriotaxic, the author considers atypical and of no particular significance, since it occurs asymmetrically in some specimens, or if on both patellae, other specimens from the same population are neobothriotaxic. In the more detailed examination of the capensis—granifrons group, the inconstancy of the positions of each trichobothrium in its respective territory on the external surface of the patella, indicates that it is not a useful diagnostic character at the specific level. No particular patterns of arrangement could be clearly discerned, due to the variation of position within a single specimen or in members of the same population. THE TAXONOMY OF THE CAPENSIS-GRANIFRONS SPECIES COMPLEX History Purcell (1898) described two species associated with O. capensis, viz. O. leipoldti and O. fuscipes. The status of O. fuscipes was later changed to a subspecies of O. capensis (Purcell 1899). Purcell considered that O. /eipoldti was morphologically intermediate between O. capensis and O. granifrons. Hewitt (1918) regarded O. J/eipoldti as a subspecies of O. capensis, as he con- sidered the external surface of the pedipalpal tibia to be too variable in O. capensis to justify specific separation. Associated with O. granifrons were the species O. schlechteri, O. ater and O. granicauda described by Purcell (1898). These three species were distinguished from O. granifrons chiefly by the degree of granulation, or absence of granula- tion on the ventral surface of the caudal segments and sternites. Purcell divided O. granifrons into a northern and southern ‘race’ distinguished chiefly by the degree of granulation of the last sternite of the males. In a study of the morphology in the genus Opisthophthalmus, Purcell (1899) 220 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM found that the only significant diagnostic characters for this group were the structure of the digital keel and the posterior surface of the pedipalpal patella. Variation In the present study, all of Purcell’s collection was examined, plus new additions, as well as specimens of O. capensis collected by Lichtenstein (between 1803 and 1806). The colour of fresh specimens of O. capensis from the Cape Peninsula varies from yellow to reddish-yellow on the interocular area, and intercarinal spaces on the cauda, and the terga and sterna may be light yellowish-brown to almost black. One specimen collected was light green in these areas. Other structures show very little variation from the types. Generally the specimens from Paternoster (Vredenburg district) are darker in colour than in the Cape Peninsula specimens. The secondary keels of the Fig. 5. Map showing approximate distribution of Opisthophthalmus capensis (@) and its subspecies (4. O. c. leipoldti, 5. O. c. fuscipes), and O. granifrons (©) and allied species (1. O. granicauda, 2. O. ater, 3. O schlechteri). NOTES ON THE SCORPION FAUNA OF THE CAPE 221 chela are more distinct and represented by a black line or row of fine granules, extending to the proximal edge. The dorsal surface of the chela is lightly granular. The dorsal surface of the femur of the pedipalp is slightly more granular, and the external surface of the pedipalpal patella is almost smooth or slightly ridged. The last sternal segment of females is generally less granular than Cape Peninsula samples. Female specimens from St Helena Bay (Vredenburg district) are indis- tinguishable from those of the Cape Peninsula, whereas the males have the last sternal segments and caudal segments very sparsely and finely granular. The secondary keels of the chela are almost obsolete. A single male specimen of O. capensis was found associated with O. grani- frons in Namaqualand. This specimen differs from Cape Peninsula specimens as follows: darker colour, dorsal, ventral and internal surfaces of pedipalpal femur very heavily granular; the strip of granules bordering the interocular area more coarsely granular; external surface of pedipalpal patella distinctly ridged; accessory keels of the chela well developed, consisting of rows of raised granules. This was identified as O. capensis because of the well-developed and smooth digital keel, and the smooth interocular area. A detailed re-examination of O. leipoldti showed that of the specimens in the Pattison collection, all of which were from a single population found in Clanwilliam village (Purcell 1899), ten adult males were very close to O. capensis. The strip of granules bordering the interocular area was less coarse; the caudal keels were less distinct; the last sternite and caudal segment I were ventrally less granular than O. capensis. Two of these specimens have the digital keels granular in the proximal half to five-eighths. One male specimen with a com- pletely granular digital keel, was very close to O. schlechteri Purcell, except for the granulation of the last sternite and ventral side of caudal segment I. In those specimens collected by Pattison and Leipoldt, sixteen adult females had the finger keel granular in the proximal third, one adult female had a completely granular digital keel. The last sternite and ventral surface of caudal segment I was very lightly and sparsely granular. The single specimen with the completely granular digital keel had the last sternite and ventral surface of caudal segment I almost smooth, with the keels represented by black lines. This specimen was not easily distinguishable from either O. ater Purcell or O. granicauda Purcell, being intermediate. Five male specimens had smooth digital keels, which were slightly broken proximally; three specimens had granules in the proximal third. Granulation of last sternite and ventral surface of caudal segment I ranges from finely to coarsely granular. The larger and more coarsely granular female specimens of O. Jeipoldti are not easily distinguishable from specimens of O. granifrons. The colour of fresh specimens of O. granifrons does not vary much, and no record of colour variation was found in Purcell’s work. O. ater is distinguished by being purplish-black (Purcell 1898), but specimens later determined by Lawrence (SAM-B8234) show a coloration similar to O. granifrons. As far as 22D ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM can be determined from preserved material, O. granicauda and O. schlechteri have a coloration similar to O. granifrons. A study of the available specimens of O. granicauda and O. ater showed that there were no characters by which the females of the two species could be separated. The males, however, are easily distinguished by the structure of the first three caudal segments, which are smooth in O. ater and granular in O. granicauda. Ecological and geographical considerations Present locality data would suggest that the O. capensis—granifrons species complex is confined to the coastal strip of the Cape, stretching from Mossel Bay in the east and extending northwards to Namaqualand. Those forms in the south-western Cape found on the western approaches to the Swartruggens, Kouebokkeveld, Hex River Mountains and the Cedarberg, viz. O. leipoldti and QO. fuscipes, show a wider and more complex pattern of variation than O. capensis from the lower altitude of the coastal plains. These forms from the mountainous regions were found in hard, clayey, loamy soils while O. capensis is found in sandy soils and at lower altitudes. The Mossel Bay material (one specimen) falls within the morphological variation of the Cape Peninsula and Vredenburg district samples, as well as occurring at the same altitude on similar soft sandy soils. Newlands (1972) has illustrated the close relationship between habitat and morphology in the genus Opisthophthalmus, relating median eye position to the nature of the substrata. No such relationship could be determined in the group under study. In studies of burrow morphology of O. capensis in the Cape Peninsula, it was found that their construction was related to the nature of the substratum as well as the availability of ground cover. In areas of shallow, stony soil many burrows extended only from 10 to 20 cm, and where the soil was sandy and deep they generally entered the ground at an angle of about 30°, proceeding about 10 cm and then dipping down, winding between roots or stones to about 20-30 cm below the surface. The burrow entrances always opened under rock debris, logs or any suitable cover. In Namaqualand, specimens were usually collected from burrows opening under stones, but in sandy areas with minimal ground cover burrow entrances opened on to unprotected patches between the sparse vegetation. More detailed data on burrow morphology of O. capensis is being accumulated for a subsequent paper. Taxonomic reflections On examining type specimens of O. granifrons and O. capensis there is no doubt as to their specificity, but once the subsequently described subspecies, related species and new forms are included, the picture becomes far more complex. This situation has led to a search for new taxonomic characters including trichobothriotaxy and relative lengths of certain morphological NOTES ON THE SCORPION FAUNA OF THE CAPE D223 structures, and a detailed re-examination of previously applied diagnostic characters. In the present study trichobothriotaxy is shown to have no diagnostic significance and as Vachon (1975) points out, a large number of specimens should be examined before patterns of trichobothrial arrangement can be discerned. Relative lengths of chela and movable finger, length and breadth of chela, length of carapace and distance of median eyes to anterior edge of cara- pace show no particular significance. Other characters such as granulation of chela, interocular area, sides of carapace, last sternite and the first two caudal segments, the structure of the digital keel and external surface of the pedi- palpal patella all show some degree of constancy in samples from a given geographical area, e.g. O. capensis from the Cape Peninsula, and inconstancy in samples from another area, e.g. O. c. /eipoldti from Clanwilliam. The detailed re-examination of O. c. leipoldti shows that the variation overlaps with that of O. granifrons, O. granicauda, O. ater and O. schlechteri from Namaqualand, as well as O. capensis and O. c. fuscipes. Taking this information into consideration it does not seem appropriate at this stage to come to any definite taxonomic conclusion. Thus the author has retained the status of species and subspecies in these two groups until more material becomes available, although the present study strongly suggests that O. capensis and O. granifrons and its allied species are conspecific. The case of the Namaqualand specimen of O. capensis found in association with O. grani- frons, was first considered to belong to a subspecies of O. capensis, but the likely conspecificity of these two groups makes this an unreasonable assumption. Therefore it is also not possible to consider that the capensis—granifrons group is a polytypic species, since sympatry occurs, and to give each geographical sample subspecific status would lead ultimately to more confusion. It is the opinion of the author that this capensis—granifrons group is a single variable species. MATERIAL EXAMINED ZMB refers to reference numbers of the Zoologisches Museum, Berlin; all other material is from the South African Museum collection. O. c. capensis (Herbst) Cape of Good Hope 45g, 322 (ZMB Sila, 51b, 52/1m, 52/2m, 52/3) (Lichtenstein collection 1803-1806) Cape Peninsula Cape Town (34°5’S 18°25’E) 93g, 599 (C1, C4, C9, C10, C11, C12, C14, C64) 2533. 3192 (no reference numbers) 224 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM Vredenburg district St Helena Bay, Jacobsbaai and Paternoster (32°45’S 18°0’E) 3434, 3299 (CS, C26, C31, 10001, 10002, 10008, 10011, 10014, 11495, 11496, 12740, 14372) Mossel Bay district Mossel Bay—Herbertsdale road (34°S 22°5’E) 1g (C23) Namaqualand Gamoep, Platbakkies road (30°5’S 18°30’E) 1g (C58) O. c. leipoldti Purcell Clanwilliam district Clanwilliam (32°10’S 18°52’E) 3493, 4029 (1724, 1732, 1759) O. c. fuscipes Purcell Paarl—Wellington districts Paarl (33°45’S 19°0’E) 1g, 4299 (2984) Wellington (33°40’S 19°0’E) 13, 12 (3770) Tulbagh district ee Road Station (33°15’S 19°5’E) 33d, 629 (481.82) O. granifrons Pocock Namaqualand Steinkopf (29°5’S 17°40’E) 4235, 89° (565.38, 570.38, 1707, 1708, 1710) Kleinsee (29°40’S 17°5’E) 12 (B8238) Concordia, Okiep (29°30’S 17°55’E) LOSS; 1222 (B82175 12714. 12715; 12717) Garies (30°30’S 18°0’E) 2929 (B7294, 1204) Kamieskroon (30°10’S 17°55’E) Noto e le(E38) Gamoep-—Platbakkies road (30°5’S 18°30’E) 12 (C40) NOTES ON THE SCORPION FAUNA OF THE CAPE 225 The following samples were either labelled ‘Namaqualand’ or place names could not be located: T3d, 2492 (569.38, 470.38, 1720, 2129, 2191, 2200, 3768, 5069) O. ater Purcell Namaqualand Steinkopf (29°5’S 17°40’E) 13 (Type) Kleinsee (29°40’S 17°5’E) 12 (B8234) O’Grabies (?) 12 (13564) O. granicauda Purcell Namaqualand Port Nolloth (29°15’S 16°55’E) 733, 12 (Types) (572.5) Steinkopf—Port Nolloth road (29°15’S 17°30’E) 12 (C39) O. schlechteri Purcell Namaqualand Sabies, Wolftoon, Hunitsamas, Henkries (approx. 29°0’S 18°10’E) 433, 1599 (1715, 2183, 2185, 2188, 2201, 2212) Also examined were specimens of the following species: O. laticauda (Nieuwoudtville), O. pallipides (Piketberg), O. peringueyi (Pt Nolloth), O. karrooensis (Montagu), O. longicauda (Kenhardt), O. wahlbergi nigrovesi- calis (Naroep), O. gigas (Naroep), O. macer (Ceres), O. austerus (Hanover), O. latimanus (King Williams Town), O. pictus (Uitenhage), O. pattisoni (Cedar- berg), O. chaperi (Worcester). ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I thank Dr V. Whitehead (Head, Department of Entomology, South African Museum) and Mr A. Prins for help and advice in the preparation of this paper, and the Director of the South African Museum for providing research facilities. Thanks are also due to Dr M. Moritz (Zoologisches Museum, Berlin) for the loan of material, and Dr J. Gruber (Vienna Museum) for supplying informa- tion on type material. 226 ANNALS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN MUSEUM REFERENCES Hersst, J. F. H. 1800. Naturgeschichte der Skorpionen. Berlin. Hewitt, J. 1918. A survey of the scorpion fauna of South Africa. Trans. Roy. Soc. S. Afr. 6: 89-192. Kocu, C. L. 1838. Die Arachniden. 4: 1-140. Niirnberg: in der C. H. Zeh’schen Buchhandlung. KRAEPLIN, K. 1894. Revision der Skorpione. 2. Scorpionidae und Bothruridae. Jahrb. Ham- burg Wiss. Anst. 8: 1-144. LICHTENSTEIN, H. 1811. Reisen im siidlichen Africa in den Jahren 1803, 1804, 1805, und 1806. Berlin: C. Salfeld. NEWLANDS, G. 1972. Notes on psammophilous scorpions and a description of a new species (Arachnida: Scorpionides). Ann. Transy. Mus. 27: 241-254. Peters, W. 1861. Ueber eine neue Eintheiling der Skorpione. Deutsche K. Akademie Wiss zu Berlin, Monatsber: 507-516. Pocock, R. I. 1896. On the species of the South African scorpion genus Opisthophthalmus contained in the collection of the British Museum. Ann. mag. nat. Hist. (6) 17: 233-248. PurRcELL, W. F. 1898. Description of new South African scorpions in the collection of the South African Museum. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 1: 1-32. PurceLL, W. F. 1899. On the species of Opisthophthalmus in the collections of the South African Museum, with descriptions of some new forms. Ann. S. Afr. Mus. 1: 131-180. Sivon, E. 1880. Etude sur les Arachnides du Congo. Bull. Soc. zool. Fr. 1: 12-15, 215-224. THORELL, T. 1877. Etudes Scorpiologiques. Arti. Soc. ital. Sci. nat. 19: 75-272. VACHON, M. 1973. Etude des caractéres utilisés pour classer les familles et les genres de Scorpions (Arachnides).1. La trichobotriotaxie en Archnologie. Sigles trichobotriaux et types de trichobothriotaxie chez les Scorpions. Bull. Mus. natn. Hist. nat Paris 3¢ ser. 140 (Zool. 104): 857-958. VACHON, M. 1975. Recherches sur les scorpions appartenent ou déposés au Muséum d’Histoire naturelle de Genéve. I. Contribution 4 une meilleure connaissance des espéces et des sous-espéces de scorpions du genre Euscorpius Thorell, 1876 (Fam. des Chactidae). Revue suisse Zool. 82 (3): 629-645. a pir 6. SYSTEMATIC papers must conform with the International code of zoological nomenclature (particularly Articles 22 and 51). Names of new taxa, combinations, synonyms, etc., when used for the first time, must be followed by the appropriate Latin (not English) abbreviation, e.g. gen. nov., sp. nov., comb. Nnoy., syn. nov., etc. An author’s name when cited must follow the name of the taxon without intervening punctuation and not be abbreviated; if the year is added, a comma must separate author’s name and year. The author’s name (and date, if cited) must be placed in parentheses if a species or subspecies is transferred from its original genus. The name of a subsequent user of a scientific name must be separated from the scientific name by a colon. Synonymy arrangement should be according to chronology of names, i.e. all published scientific names by which the species previously has been designated are listed in chronological order, with all references to that name following in chronological order, e.g.: Family Nuculanidae Nuculana (Lembulus) bicuspidata (Gould, 1845) Figs 14-15A Nucula (Leda) bicuspidata Gould, 1845: 37. Leda plicifera A. Adams, 1856: 50. Laeda bicuspidata Hanley, 1859: 118, pl. 228 (fig. 73). Sowerby, 1871: pl. 2 (figs 8a—b). Nucula largillierti Philippi, 1861: 87. Leda bicuspidata: Nicklés, 1950: 163, fig. 301; 1955: 110. Barnard, 1964: 234, figs 8-9. Note punctuation in the above example: comma separates author’s name and year semicolon separates more than one reference by the same author full stop separates references by different authors figures of plates are enclosed in parentheses to distinguish them from text-figures dash, not comma, separates consecutive numbers Synonymy arrangement according to chronology of bibliographic references, whereby the year is placed in front of each entry, and the synonym repeated in full for each entry, is not acceptable. In describing new species, one specimen must be designated as the holotype; other speci- mens mentioned in the original description are to be designated paratypes; additional material not regarded as paratypes should be listed separately. The complete data (registration number, depository, description of specimen, locality, collector, date) of the holotype and paratypes must be recorded, e.g.: Holotype SAM-A13535 in the South African Museum, Cape Town. Adult female from mid-tide region, King’s Beach, Port Elizabeth (33°51’S 25°39’E), collected by A. Smith, 15 January 1973. Note standard form of writing South African Museum registration numbers and date. 7. SPECIAL HOUSE RULES Capital initial letters (a) The Figures, Maps and Tables of the paper when referred to in the text _ e.g. ‘... the Figure depicting C. namacolus ...’; ‘. . . in C. namacolus (Fig. 10)...’ (b) The prefixes of prefixed surnames in all languages, when used in the text, if not preceded by initials or full names e.g. DuToit but A.L.du Toit; Von Huene but F. von Huene (c) Scientific names, but not their vernacular derivatives e.g. Therocephalia, but therocephalian Punctuation should be loose, omitting all not strictly necessary Reference to the author should be expressed in the third person Roman numerals should be converted to arabic, except when forming part of the title of a book or article, such as ‘Revision of the Crustacea. Part VIII. The Amphipoda.’ Specific name must not stand alone, but be preceded by the generic name or its abbreviation to initial capital letter, provided the same generic name is used consecutively. Name of new genus or species is not to be included in the title: it should be included in the abstract, counter to Recommendation 23 of the Code, to meet the requirements of Biological Abstracts. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION LIBRARIES “TOIT 3 9088 01206 6544 E. B. EASTWOOD NOTES ON THE SCORPION FAUNA OF THE CAPE PART 1 DESCRIPTION OF NEOTYPE OF OPISTHOPHTHALMUS CAPENSIS (HERBST) AND REMARKS ON THE O. CAPENSIS and O. GRANIFRONS POCOCK SPECIES-GROUPS (ARACHNIDA, SCORPIONIDA, SCORPIONIDAE)