Scorpions of the Brandberg Massif, Namibia: Species richness inversely correlated with altitude Author Prendini, Lorenzo Author Bird, Tharina L. text African Invertebrates 2008 2008-12-31 49 2 77 77 http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.5733/afin.049.0205 journal article 10.5733/afin.049.0205 2305-2562 7661550 Opistophthalmus ugabensis Hewitt, 1934 Opisthophthalmus undulatus ugabensis : Hewitt 1934: 408–410 ( AMGS 6574 : ^lectotype only, not _ ), pl. I, fig. 3. Material examined: 2 specimens ,Brandberg [ 21°14'S : 14°30'E ], 18.xi.1971 , D.P. van Schoor ( 1 juv .^TMSA 10844), iv.1999 ( 1 subad .^SMN 2104); 2 juv. _ 1 juv .^( SMN 101), Brandberg base camp [ 21°07'S : 14°25'E ], 16.viii.1969 , P.J.Buys; 2 juv. _ ( NMSA 10038), Brandberg Mtns, northern valleys [ 21°01'S : 14°33'E ], 20.ii.1969 , B.H. Lamoral & R . Day; 1^( SMN 91), Brandberg West mine [ 21°00'S : 14°09'E ], 20.iv.1966 , Manager of mine; 6 specimens , Brandberg, Basswald Rinne [ 21°10'S : 14°38'E ], 16.iv.1980 ( 1 subad. _ AMNH [ AH 1350], 1 subad .^AMNH [ AH 1351]), 17–18.iv.1980 ( 1 subad. _ AMNH [ AH 1353], 1 subad .^AMNH [ AH 1352]), under stones ( 1 subad. _ 1 subad .^AMNH ), A. Harington; 1 _ 1 subad .^( AMNH ), 1 juv .^( AMCC 144211 [ LP 2581]), Brandberg, base of Ga-Aseb Gorge, 21°13'41.6"S : 14°34'44.1"E , 781 m , 21.xii.2003 , L. Prendini, T .L.Bird & N.C. Krone, dry riverbed surrounded by steep rocky slopes comprising igneous rocks with Sterculia , Acacia montis-usti and Commiphora , UV detection on warm, dark, still night, specimen collected in open midslope; 1 juv. _ 2 juv .^( SMN 1633), Brandberg, Ga-Asab Gorge [ 21°14'S : 14°35'E ], 21.xii.1988 , E.Griffin; 1^( AMNH [ AH 4000]), Brandberg, Goaseb Gorge [ 21°14'S : 14°35'E ], 20.xii.1988 ,A.Harington; 2^( AMNH [AH 3448, 3538]), Brandberg, Naib base [ 21°03'S : 14°25'E ], 7.v.1982 , H. Pager; 1 _ ( AMNH [ AH 4422]), Brandberg, Numas base [ 21°07'S : 14°25'E ], 25.viii.1981 , H. Pager; 3 juv. _ 1 juv .^( SMN 100), Brandberg, Numas Gorge [ 21°08'S : 14°26'E ], 5.viii.1969 , P.J. Buys; 2 juv .^( SMN 95), Brandberg, Numas Plateau, Camp I [ 21°08'S : 14°27'E ], 9.viii.1969 , P.J. Buys; 4 specimens , Brandberg, Numas Valley, 21°06'S : 14°23'E , 13.viii.1995 , under stones, between slabs (1 _ 1^SMN 1800), 14.viii.1995 , rocky hillside under stones in crevices ( 1 juv. _ 1 juv .^SMN 1801), M. & E. Griffin; 1 _ 1^( AMNH ), 1 _ 1^( CASC ), 1 _ 1^( SAMC C5183), 1^1 subad. _ 1 subad .^( SMN 2017), 1^( SMN 2016 [ LP 1223]), 1 subad .^( AMCC 100933 [ LP 1169]), 1 juv .^( AMCC 100934 [ LP 1170]), Numaskloof,Brandberg, 21°07.48'S : 14°25.54'E , 470 m , 17.i.1998 , L. Prendini & E.Scott,steep rocky slopes, coarse granitic sandy loam, UV detection, syntopic with H.conspersus , P. villosus , H. tityrus and O. wahlbergii ; 3 juv. _ ( AMNH [ AH 1859]), Brandberg, Orabes Gorge [ 21°13'S : 14°37'E ], 16.iv.1980 ,A. Harington; 1 subad. _ ( CASC ), Brandberg, Tsisab Canyon [ 21°06'S : 14°40'E ], 550 m , 11.v.1958 , E.S. Ross & R .E. Leech; 2 subad .^Brandberg , White Lady [ 21°06'S : 14°39'E ], 25.iv.1999 , under stone ( SMN 1864), iv.1999 , J.J. van der Walt, under stone ( SMN 2015 [ LP 1000]); 1 juv. _ ( SMN 1640), W of Brandberg [ 21°04'S : 14°20'E ], 10.viii.1985 , E. & M. Griffin, under stone; 1^( NHRM [ JF 107]), 1^1 subad. _ ( NHRM [JF]), Tafelkop, 20 km E [ 21°03'S : 14°26'E ], 16.iv.2002 , C. R . Owen. Ecology and distribution: This semi-lithophilous species excavates shallow scrapes under stones in consolidated gritty or clayey substrata ( Prendini 2000 a , 2001 b ). It is endemic to Namibia (Lamoral 1979; Prendini 2005 a ) and has been collected in rocky areas on landforms surrounding the Brandberg, e.g. Tafelkop, in gorges intersecting the Massif, e.g. Numaskloof ( 470 m ), and on its lower slopes ( Fig. 5 ). The highest altitude at which it has been collected on the Massif is 781 m . It is replaced by O. carinatus at higher altitudes on the Massif ( Figs 6–8 ).