Burmesescorpiops velteni Lourenço, 2024, sp. n.

Burmesescorpiops velteni sp. n. (Fig. 1-16) ZooBank:https://zoobank.org/ D2A6A3F0-C9B9-4539-B586-5F7DA9A63FF6 Holotype. A possible juvenile or pre-adult. Sex cannot be clearly determined, however, according to the morphology of pedipalps and pecten it most certainly corresponds to a male. Type locality and horizon: Myanmar (Burma), Kachin; precise locality unknown; Lower Cretaceous. Diagnosis for the new species. – Scorpion with an average size; total length 15.75 mm. General coloration reddish to reddishbrown. Carapace strongly elongated with a marked median concavity; median ocular tubercle anterior to the centre of the carapace; two lateral eyes can be observed. Furrows strongly marked and deep, in special the posterior one. Pectines poorly observable with a possible number of 7-8 teeth. Spiracles with an oval shape, more or less elongated. Telson with a pear-shaped vesicle not flattened laterally; annular ring on the telson not observed. The general morphology of the pedipalps is similar to that of extant Scorpiopidae; fixed and movable fingers with 8-9 rows of small rounded granules, with inconspicuous accessory granules. Chelicera with a dentition similar to that of extant scorpionids (Vachon, 1963). Tarsi of legs with small spines. Trichobothrial pattern similar to type C of Vachon (1974), also defined for the family Euscorpiidae (Vachon, 1980). On the chela hand, trichobothria Esb, Est, Dt, Et 4, Eb 1, Et 1 and 7-8 V can be observed. On the chela fixed finger, trichobothria eb, db, dsb, dt, dst, est can be observed. Patella shows d 1 and d 2 on dorsal face; i is slightly displaced to the dorsal face; on the ventral face 9 V trichobothria are observed. A number of external trichobothria (8-9) can be indirectly observed on the patella by the presence of several transverse hairs; this number is most certainly higher, corresponding to the territories et, em, est, esb and eb. Femur shows trichobothria d, i and e. The presence of a second trichobothrium e, previously suggested by Lourenço (2016) is confirmed. Type locality and horizon. – Myanmar (Burma), Kachin; precise locality unknown; Lower Cretaceous. Patronym. – Specific name honours Mr. Jürgen Velten (Kirchheimbolanden, Germany) who supported our amber studies for almost 10 years now and who never limited his efforts to locate many of the most interesting described taxa. Depository. – The type specimen is deposited in the Collections of Mr. Jürgen Velten (Kirchheimbolanden, Germany). Description Coloration. – The scorpion presents a coloration that ranges from reddish to reddish-brow. Body, pedipalps and legs of an uniform coloration; only metasomal segments and telson are slightly darker. The ventral aspect of the specimen is slightly paler. Morphology. – Carapace without granulations, almost smooth; anterior margin with a marked median concavity. Carinae absent; furrows strongly marked and deep, in special the posterior one. Median ocular tubercle anterior to the centre of carapace; median eyes moderate in size. Two lateral eyes can be observed in both sides of the carapace. Sternum pentagonal to subpentagonal; higher than large. Mesosomal tergites weakly granular, almost smooth with one median carina; VII with five weakly marked carinae. One pecten partially observable with 7 or 8 teeth. Sternites smooth with oval-shaped spiracles, more or less elongated. Metasomal segment I to III with 10 carinae; segment IV with 8 carinae; segment V slender with seven inconspicuous carinae; dorsal carinae of segments I to IV without spinoid granules; dorsal aspect of segments I to V weakly depressed; setation on all segments weakly marked. Telson with a long pear-shaped vesicle not flattened laterally; smooth; aculeus moderately curved; annular ring on the telson not observed. Cheliceral dentition similar to that of extant scorpionids (Vachon, 1963). Pedipalp femur with 4-5 carinae; patella with dorso-internal, ventro-internal, dorso-external and external carinae; internal face with some minor spinoid granules and a moderate apophysis. Chela with moderately marked carinae; all faces weakly granular to smooth. Fixed and movable fingers each with 8-9 rows of small rounded granules; only inconspicuous accessory granules are observable; extremity of fingers with moderate spinoid granules; setation of pedipalps inconspicuous. Trichobothriotaxy recalling type C (Vachon, 1974) of extants Scorpiopidae (see diagnosis). Morphometric values (mm), holotype of Burmesescorpiops velteni sp. n. – Total length 15.75 (including telson). – Carapace length 2.14; anterior width 1.61; posterior width 1.82. – Mesosoma: length 4.10. – Metasomal segments I: length 1.07, width 1.14; II: length 1.14, width 1.07; III: length 1.14, depth 0.95; IV: length 1.21, depth 0.95; V: length 2.41, depth 1.02. – Telson: length 2.54. – Vesicle: depth 0.95. – Pedipalp femur length 1.74, width 0.67; patella length 2.07, width 0.63; chela length 4.22, width 1.14. – Movable finger: length 1.94. – Chelicera: length 0.94. Relationships. – The presence of an accessory external trichobothrium on femur clearly associates the new species to the genus Burmesescorpiops. The new species can, however be distinguished from Burmesescorpiops groehni Lourenço, 2016, by a number of characters: (i) a carapace very elongated with a marked median concavity and strongly marked furrows, (ii) pectines with 7 or 8 teeth; the values cited by Lourenço (2016) for B. groehni, 8-9 are incorrect; the true values observed for this last species are 13-12, as showed in figures 2 and 4 of Lourenço (2016), (iii) more elongated spiracles, (iv) fixed and movable fingers of pedipalps with 8-9 rows of granules. Final remarks. – As previously stated (Lourenço & Velten, 2023a), each new contribution to the already remarkable list of scorpion taxa found in Burmite, highlights its major significance for paleontological research. The present discovery rather reinforces the validity of the subfamily Archaeoscorpiopinae and the genus Burmesescorpiops within the family Palaeoeuscorpiidae and confirms once again the very rich diversity present within the Burmese amber fauna, providing invaluable insights into the ancient scorpion fauna of the Cretaceous period.