Morphological variation of Mesobuthus martensii (Karsch, 1879) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) in Northern China

Abstract

Comparative statistical analysis of morphology of Mesobuthus martensii and Mesobuthus eupeus (Scorpiones: Buthidae) indicated highly significant differences between these two species. Mann-Whitney U test showed that: except Ca_L/AW, Ca_AW/PW and Met-V_L/H in female, Ca_AW/PW and Met-V_L/H in male, all morphometric ratios demonstrated significant differences between M. martensii and M. eupeus. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that M. martensii and M. eupeus are clearly different species in morphology. Three statistical analyses (Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA, PCA and cluster analysis) were applied to M.martensii from 27 confirmed localities in five provinces of northern China. The results suggested that: (a) Although M. martensii is common and widespread in northern China, its morphology does not vary significantly, but there is more variation in females than males, and the variation both in males and females is below species level; (b) the populations from Hebei, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, and Liaoning Provinces were similar to each other while the populations from Qinghai were separated from the others; (c) except Met-I_L/W and Met-V_L/W, each ratio of metasoma in both females and males of Qinghai populations was smaller and the ratio of Ca_L/AW was larger than those from other provinces.

Notes on the scorpions (Arachnida, Scorpiones) from Xizang with the redescription of Scorpiops jendeki Kovařík, 2000 (Scorpiones, Euscorpiidae) from Yunnan (China)

“…Qinghai, Sichuan and Xinjiang, are also with border on of Xizang. In Qinghai, just Mesobuthus martensii martensii (Karsch, 1879) reported in its northeast (Zhu et al, 2004; Zhang & Zhu, 2009). There is no scorpion species reported in Sichuan (Zhu et al, 2004).…”

“…All of the eight species of Chaerilus from China found in Xizang, 10 of 11 species of Scorpiops from China living in Xizang (others: Scorpiops jendeki Kovařík, 1994 found in Yunnan, one unnamed species of Scorpiops in Hubei see Di et al 2011a), 4 of 12 species of Euscorpiops from China found in Xizang (other 8 species in Yunnan; see Di et al 2011b). The scientific expedition investigation of some areas of China has been finished basically which reflected in the papers (Qi et al 2005; Shi et al 2007; Zhang and Zhu, 2009; Di et al 2009, 2010, 2011a and b, 2012; Sun and Sun, 2011). Followed these reports, Xizang is the richest area in China in scorpion diversity.…”

Transcriptome Sequencing and Comparison of Venom Glands Revealed Intraspecific Differentiation and Expression Characteristics of Toxin and Defensin Genes in Mesobuthus martensii Populations

“…In other localities, M. martensii could have yellowish or pale yellow tergites [9]. Zhang & Zhu (2009) analyzed the intraspecific morphological differences of M. martensii from different localities in China; however, these differences were under subspecies level [10]. The results based on a few specimens with no gender information provided by Zhang & Zhu (2009) [10].…”

“…Zhang & Zhu (2009) analyzed the intraspecific morphological differences of M. martensii from different localities in China; however, these differences were under subspecies level [10]. The results based on a few specimens with no gender information provided by Zhang & Zhu (2009) [10]. In addition, the LD50 values of M. martensii venom from different localities in mice were different: compared with the venom of populations obtained from Henan, Liaoning and Shandong Provinces, the LD50 value of venom of the population procured from Shanxi Province in mice was the smallest [11].…”