|
|
Genus Syntropis Kraepelin 1900 Synonymy.
Description. Prosoma. – Anterior carapacial margin weakly concave. Mesosoma. – Pectinal tooth counts 26-32 in males, 24-31 in females. All female pectinal teeth similar in size and shape, and with sensorial areas. Metasoma. – Dorsal carinae of segments I-IV with even fine granulation; terminal denticles not distinctly enlarged. Metasoma I-V with a single ventromedian carina. Segment V with ventromedian carina linear throughout. Chelicerae. – Ventral margin of the cheliceral movable finger smooth; fixed finger lacking ventral denticles. Serrula poorly developed distoventrally on movable finger. Pedipalps. – Patella: Inner face with basal tubercles weakly developed; with inner longitudinal carina. Chelal carinae: Ventromedian carina absent, but ventral face of chela more or less convex. All carinae absent to feebly developed. Chela dentition: Terminal denticles moderately large, conically shaped. Chela fixed finger with primary denticle row divided into six subrows of denticles, these are flanked by six inner accessory denticles. Chela movable finger with primary denticle row divided into six to seven subrows of denticles (single denticle of apical "row" sometimes missing), these flanked by eight inner accessory denticles. Chela fingers with distinct white apical caps. Denticles of denticle row subconical, subserrate. Trichobothrial Pattern. Patella with two ventral trichobothria along ventroexternal carina (the third ventral trichobothrium is positioned on the external face). Chela with four ventral (V) trichobothria. Chelal trichobothria ib positioned on the fixed finger near the sixth inner accessory denticle of the primary denticle row. Trichobothrium est positioned about equidistant between et and esb. Legs. – Basitarsi and telotarsi without setal combs. Telotarsi ventrally with a median row of small spinules that are flanked distally by four or more slightly larger spinules. Ventromedian spinule row flanked laterally by paired setae. Hemispermatophore. – Mating plug present, with spines on ental process. Lamellar process a bilobed flange, elevated on distal lamina and positioned on ectal margin. Included species. – Syntropis macrura Kraepelin, 1900. Similar taxa. – See Vaejovis C. L. Koch (eusthenura group). Remarks. - This monotypic genus accommodates S. macrura, one of the most interesting North American scorpions. Its large size (up to 80 mm) and elongated pedipalps and metasoma are striking among vaejovids. For decades known only from the holotype, Williams (1969, 1980) reported additional material and information on its biology. Syntropis macrura is lithophilous and inhabits the narrow cracks and crevices of rock outcrops, boulder-strewn slopes and vertical cliff faces. Literature Cited:
|
|
|
