First definitive record of a whip scorpion Labochirus tauricornis (Pocock, 1900) from Goa, India: with notes on its morphometry and pedipalp micro-morphology

• Main Author: Manoj Ramakant Borkar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society 2018-06-01
• Series: Journal of Threatened Taxa
• Subjects: scanning electron microscopy; sexual dimorphism; taxonomy; uropygid; whip scorpion.
• Online Access: https://www.threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/4084

Bastawade & Borkar in 2008 made a passing reference to the presence of a single uropygid species in Goa, though without much primary diagnostic data on the collected specimen of four females.  The present study puts in place a definitive record of the uropygid, Labochirus tauricornis Pocock, (1900) in the state of Goa, and addresses an important gap in our understanding of its occurrence, morphology, and ecology. Besides documenting the species of this cryptozoic, nocturnal arachnid predator commonly known as ‘Vinegaroon’ on account of their vinegary allomone spray; the present study also describes the gross morphology , morphometry and micro-morphology of non-ambulatory sub-raptorial pedipalps which are of taxonomic-diagnostic value, elucidated using scanning electron microscopy, in addition to routine stereomicroscopy. The paper also examines in detail, sexual dimorphism and morphometry of this uropygid species.