First
record of Thelyphonus sepiaris(Butler 1873) (Uropygi: Thelyphonidae)
from Andhra Pradesh, India
S.M. Maqsood Javed 1, K. Thulsi Rao 2, Farida Tampal 3 & C. Srinivasulu4
1,3 World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF), APSO, Ho. No. 818,
Castle Hills, Road No. 2, Near NMDC, VijayanagarColony, Hyderabad 500057, Andhra Pradesh, India
2 Eco-Research and Monitoring Laboratories, Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve, Sundipenta,
Kurnool District, Andhra Pradesh 518102, India
4 Wildlife Biology Section, Department of Zoology, University
College of Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad,
Andhra Pradesh 500007, India
Email:
1 javedwwf2007@gmail.com
Date of online publication 26
July 2009
ISSN 0974-7907 (online) |
0974-7893 (print)
Editor: Vinod Khanna
Manuscript details:
Ms # o2088
Received 23 October 2008
Final received 11 July 2009
Finally accepted 14 July 2009
Citation: Javed, S.M.M., K.T. Rao, F. Tampal & C. Srinivasulu(2009). First record of Thelyphonus sepiaris (Butler 1873) (Uropygi:Thelyphonidae) from Andhra Pradesh, India. Journal
of Threatened Taxa 1(7): 395-397.
Copyright: © S.M. Maqsood Javed, K. Thulsi Rao, Farida Tampal & C. Srinivasulu2009. Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 UnportedLicense. JoTT allows unrestricted use of this article
in any medium for non-profit purposes, reproduction and distribution by
providing adequate credit to the authors and the source of publication.
Acknowledgement: The authors are
very much thankful to Sri K.S. Rao, IFS, Prl. Chief Conservator of Forests, Sri Hitesh Malhotra, IFS, Prl. Chief
Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Sri Sunil Kumar,
IFS, Addl. Prl. Chief Conservator of Forest
(Wildlife) and Sri A.K. Nayak, IFS, Conservator of
Forests & Field Director, Nagarjunasagar Srisailam Tiger Reserve for constant encouragement and
sustained support. We are also grateful to Dr. Rajesh Gopal,
IFS, Inspector General of Forests, Ministry of Environment and Forests for
funding support and encouragements. SMMJ & FT expresses gratitude to Sri
Anil Kumar V. Epur, Chairman, WWF-AP State Committee,
Sri Ravi Singh, Secretary General & CEO, WWF-India, New Delhi for constant
support and encouragement. CS acknowledges CSIR, New Delhi for funding and
Head, Department of Zoology, Osmania University, Hyderabad
for encouragement. We are very much thankful to Dr. D.B. Bastawade,
Senior Scientist (Retd.), ZSI, WRS, Pune, Maharashtra for Identifying and providing references
and other valuable information.
Whip-scorpions are recognized globally
by 103 species under 16 genera (Harvey 2002, 2003) and from the Indian
subcontinent by 19 species in six genera (Pocock 1900). Uropygids are imposing,
robust tropical predators with enlarged raptorial pedipalpsand a multi-segmented elongated post-pygidium. Like schizomids,
they possess anal glands that they use to spray a chemical to deter predators
(Eisner et al. 1961). Detailed
systematic work on this neglected group was carried out by Rowland & Cooke
(1973) and Harvey (2002).
The Whip-scorpion Thelyphonus sepiaris (Butler 1873) is being recorded for the
first time from different localities in Andhra Pradesh during the preparation
of current Arachnid faunal inventory. The present communication deals with the new and known distribution and
a short description for Thelyphonus sepiaris (Butler 1873).
Material examined: Three adult
males of the Whip-scorpion Thelyphonus sepiaris (Butler 1873) were sighted and studied from
three different localities in Andhra Pradesh. An adult male Whip-scorpion (Image 2) was captured on 9 May 2005, from
the Damarla Kunta (15057’N
& 78048’E) near Peddacheruvu, Nagarjunasagar-SrisailamTiger Reserve, Kurnool district, Andhra Pradesh (Image 1) by KTR & SMMJ and
preserved in 70% alcohol. The identified
material has been deposited in the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department’s Field
Museum of Ecological Research and Monitoring Laboratories, Sundipenta,
Kurnool District. Subsequently, a male
specimen was sighted by CS from Godavari River basin on 30 June 2006 near Tadwai (Image 1), EturnagaramWildlife Sanctuary, Warangal District and another male was sighted on 12February 2007, near Perantalapally Temple (17027’N
& 81026’E, 48.5m above msl) (Image 1) by FT &
SMMJ on the right bank of river Godavari in the PapikondaHills of northern Eastern Ghats, Khammam District.
Both these specimens were found under
decaying logs near a water body. The
later specimens sighted and studied were not collected for the want of
collection permits.
Discription
Male (ERMLABS-ARAU-1):Colour blackish brown above and on chelae, reddish
brown below. Legs black with the tibiae
and tarsi deep red-brown. Carapace and terga are coarsely rugose, with close-set punctures and granules. A smooth paler median line is present on 2
and 3 and just traceable on posterior terga. Distinct ocular keel or ridge extends along
the margin of the carapace between the median and lateral eyes of each side
(Image 3). First abdominal sternum is
shining, sparsely punctured and striate, granular marginally; the rest coarselyrugose with deep median groove. Second segment have a
median tooth like spine (Image 8). Last
segment of abdomen (anal segment) is with two ommatoids,
without a dark sclerotized spot near the center
(Image 7). Pedipalp/Chelae:
maxillary process of coxa internally shouldered with
one strong and short tooth (Image 5). Femur and tibia is granular below, polished and punctured above. Trochanter is
granular above, armed below with 2 teeth and with 6 above (Image 4). Femur with two small
tubercles above and one below. Patella of male consists of an unmodifiedapophysis (Image 6). Tibial apophysisarmed in front with 6 teeth and behind with about 3. Hand thicker than
tibia, its inner edge denticulate, granular internally; movable finger with anguliform sub apical tooth. Legs of 2nd,
3rd, and 4th pairs possess tibialspine. Caudal flagellum hairy and
possess 33 segments.
Measurements (in mm)
(ERMLABS-ARAU-1): Total body length (excluding chelicerae and caudal flagellum)
35.00. Carapace, median length 13.00, median width 8.50. Abdomen length (including
anal segments) 22.00, width 10.50. Pedipalps: trochanterlength 4.00, width
4.50; femur length 4.00, width 3.00; patella length 3.50, width 3.50; tibia
length 5.50, width 4.00; tarsus claw length 4.00. Leg I: femur length 8.00, patella length
5.00, tibia length 9.50, tarsus length 7.50. Leg II: femur length 6.50, patella length 5.00, tibia length 8.50,
tarsus (including metatarsus) length 4.50. Leg III: femur length 8.50, patella length 3.50, tibia length 5.50,
(including metatarsus) length 4.50. Leg IV: femur length
11.00, patella length 4.50, tibia length 10.50, (including metatarsus) length
6.00. Caudal flagellum
length 37.00.
Habits and Habitats: All the
specimens encountered were found under either decaying logs or stones near
humid places full of leaf litter near perennial water source. Microhabitat characteristics of all the
places from where the species was sighted were similar. The general habitat of these localities is
typical southern tropical dry deciduous and southern tropical moist deciduous
forest types intermingled with scrub. Generally Whip-scorpions are found near
damp places beneath stones or pieces of wood, in the crannies of rocks or of
termite mounds or other crevices where shelter from light and protection from
the rays of the sun are obtained. Some
of them are known to excavate burrows for protection of their young. The female carries the egg mass encased in a
glutinous membrane attached to the lower side of the abdomen (Pocock 1900).
Known
Distribution: Madras
(now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, India; Jaffna and Trincomalee,
Sri Lanka (Pocock 1900).
Status: Thelyphonus sepiaris (Butler 1873) is endemic to Deccan in
Oriental region. The present report
extends its range further northern and inland in to the Eastern Ghats and
Godavari River basin in Andhra Pradesh, again in Deccan plateau.
Remarks: On the basis of
the known distribution, this is the first ever record of this species from
Andhra Pradesh, India.
References
Eisner, T., J. Meinwald,
A. Monro & R. Ghent (1961). Defense
mechanisms of Arthropods I. The composition and function of the
spray of the whipscorpion, Mastigoproctus giganteus (Lucas) (Arachnida:Pedipalpida). Journal of Insect Phisiology 6: 272-298.
Harvey,
M.S. (2002).The neglected cousins: What do we know about the smaller arachnid orders?. The Journal of Arachnology30: 357-372.
Harvey,
M.S. (2003). Catalogue of the Smaller Arachnid Orders
of the World.CSIRO Publishing, Victoria, Australia, 385pp.
Pocock, R.I. (1900). Fauna of British India, Arachnida.Taylor and Francis, London, 279pp.
Rowland, J.M.
& J.A.L. Cooke (1973). Systematics of the arachnid
order Uropygida (Thelyphonida).The Journal of Arachnology 1: 55-71.