Heterometrus species with and without pronounced internal tubercle on patella

[Outpost31Survivor]

This is by no means an ID key but simply an informational list collected from Kovarik's review of the Heterometrus genus.

With pronounced internal tubercle on patella:

H.cimrmani
H.keralaensis?
H.liophysa
H.longimanus
H.spinifer
H.thorellii

Without conspicuous internal tubercle on patella:

H.liurus
H.mysorensis
H.rolciki

Without pronounced internal tubercle on patella:

H.barberi
H.beccaloniae
H.bengalensis
H.cyaneus
H.flavimanus
H.fulvipes
H.gravimanus
H.indus
H.kanaraensis
H.laoticus
H.latimanus
H.madrapatensis
H.nepalensis
H.petersii
H.phipsoni
H.scaber
H.sejnai
H.swammerdami
H.tristis
H.ubicki
H.wroughtoni
H.xanthopus

This is just an informational list, nothing less nothing more.

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

Geographical distribution of Heterometrus species:

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

Heterometrus species with pronounced internal tubercle on patella:

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

Sample of Heterometrus species without pronounced internal tubercle on patella:

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

Here is a pretty clear pic of a female H.petersii (note the lack of internal "spurs" or pronounced tubercle on the patella). The patella is between the femur and the chela.

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

Here is a decent close-up pic of a patella of H.mysorensis (without conspicuous internal tubercle of patella or "smaller spurs"). This pic is watermarked if mods feel compelled to delete this post I understand.

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

Here is the gem of my small collection, a subadult male H.spinifer showing off his internal pronounced patella tubercle (or "spur"). Only two of the more common species have this projected "spur", H.spinifer and H.longimanus. I do want to acquire a female in the near future.

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

František Kovařík's 2004 review of the Heterometrus genus:

http://www.science.marshall.edu/fet/euscorpius/p2004_15.pdf (link has color pictures)

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

Comparative pics:

#1: H.petersii

#2: H.spinifer

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

The dorsally tuberculate (spiny) manus of H.spinifer is highlighted with red circles.

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

Two more common species without a pronounced internal tubercle on the patella:

#1: H.cyaneus

#2: H.laoticus

 

[Lubed Tweezer]

Great info !!!
Since the hobby/market is filled with Heterometrus species often branded as Asian forest scorpion (AFS) and thus many questions on this forum regarding ID of a new bought AFS,
Of course most of us know that H. Petersii, H. Spinifer, H. Longimanus and H. Laoticus are most common on the market,
but this info also helps if someone came home with a H. Cyaneus or something because then that someone would know they have got a bit more rare/special species.
Properly identifying a species also helps prevent accidental cross breeding.
I wouldn't be opposed to make this collection of useful information a 'sticky'.

 

[Lewis Catlin]

Fab information very helpful too. My Heterometrus collection is huge one or two in there that I’ve still got listed as a “?”. Sold to me as a Spinifer but really doesn’t have the qualities. More like a Petersii. But I’ll keep checking!

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

A Summation.

Eleven species of Giant (South East) Asian Forest Scorpions:

H.cimrmani* - Thailand, Vietnam
H.cyaneus - Borneo, Indonesia, Lesser Nicobar Islands, Philippines
H.laoticus - Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam
H.liangi - Vietnam
H.liophysa* - Indonesia
H.longimanus* - Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore
H.minotauris* - Thailand
H.petersii - Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Vietnam
H.sejnai - Thailand
H.spinifer* - Malaysia, Thailand
H.thorellii* - Myanmar

* pronounced internal tubercle on patella

H.atrascorpius - India
H.barberi - India
H.beccaloniae - India
H.bengalensis - India
H.flavimanus - India
H.fulvipes - India
H.gravimanus - India, Sri Lanka
H.indus - Sri Lanka
H.kanaraensis - India
H.keralaensis? - India
H.latimanus - India
H.liurus# - India
H.madrapatensis - India
H.mysorensis# - India
H.nepalensis - Nepal
H.phipsoni - India
H.rolciki# - India
H.scaber - India
H.serratus - Sri Lanka
H.swammerdami - India, Sri Lanka
H.telangaensis - India
H.tibetanus - Tibet
H.tristis - India
H.ubicki - India
H.wroughtoni - India
H.xanthopus - India
H.yaleenis# - Sri Lanka

? - possible pronounced internal tubercle
# - without conspicuous internal tubercle

Thank you, guys!

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

Heterometrus thorellii (Myanmar) sexual dimorphism

Male with chela, femur and patella of pedipalp narrower and longer than in female. Chela not lobiform in male, slightly lobiform in female, its length to width ratio 3.8–5.5 in male, 2.6–3.1 in female.

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

Heterometrus cimrmani (Thailand) sexual dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism is expressed in the length of the femur, patella and chela of pedipalp, and also in the width of the chela.

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

Heterometrus petersii sexual dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism (tooth on movable fingers of pedipalp more pronounced in male than in female) distinguishes this species from H. laoticus Couzijn, 1981.

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

Heterometrus liophysa (Indonesia) sexual dimorphism. I can't locate a female pic.

Male with chela, femur and patella of pedipalp narrower and longer than in female. Male fingers of pedipalp very long. Fixed finger longer or at least as long as manus. Chela slightly lobiform, in male widest basally and markedly narrowing toward fingers, its length to width ratio ca. 3.0 in male, ca. 2.2 in female.

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

Sexual dimorphism in proportions of pedipalps not noticeable in H.cyaneus, H.liangi (?), H.laoticus, H.sejnai, and H.spinifer.

I wished I had put stronger emphasis in the title of this thread upon giant Asian forest scorpions as that appears to be its true focus.

 

[Outpost31Survivor]

Heterometrus longimanus (Borneo) sexual dimorphism

Male with chela, femur and patella of pedipalp narrower and longer than in female. Male fingers of pedipalp very long. Fixed fingers longer or at least as long as manus of pedpalp. Chela not lobiform in male, slightly lobiform in female, its length to width ratio 3.3– 4.4 in male, ca. 2.4. in female. Much of manus smooth, sparsely tuberculate.