Scorpiones, Vaejovidae)
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2001. The Journal of Arachnology 29:42±46 DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES IN THE NITIDULUS GROUP OF THE GENUS VAEJOVIS (SCORPIONES, VAEJOVIDAE) E. Michelle Capes: Department of Life, Earth, and Environmental Sciences, WTAMU Box 60808, West Texas A&M University, Canyon, Texas 79016 USA ABSTRACT. A new species in the nitidulus group of Vaejovis is described: V. mauryi from Sonora, MeÂxico. Morphological characters, including the hemispermatophore of the holotype male, are illustrated. The species is compared to Vaejovis decipiens, Vaejovis janssi, and Vaejovis intermedius. Keywords: Scorpion, Vaejovidae, Sonora, MeÂxico, taxonomy Vaejovis is the most diverse genus of scor- bears enlarged, sharp granules; (11) the ven- pions in North America, with 66 described tral spinule row of the telotarsus is ¯anked species arranged into ®ve species groups (Sis- distally by a single pair of larger spinules; som 2000). Although a comprehensive revi- (12) the male hemispermatophore bears a two- sion of the genus is not available at the present pronged hook at the base of the distal lamina; time, the genus has recently been catalogued and (13) the distal margin of the sperm plug (Sissom 2000). Since the appearance of the is smooth, i.e., devoid of hooks or spines (Sis- catalogue one additional species has been de- som & Francke 1985; Sissom 1991). scribed from Sonora, MeÂxico (Hendrixson The only species in the Vaejovis nitidulus 2001). group previously reported from the state of The Vaejovis nitidulus group is a moderate- Sonora, MeÂxico is Vaejovis decipiens Hoff- ly diverse group with 15 species found from mann 1931; this record is based on two ju- the southern parts of Texas, USA, and through venile females (Sissom 1991). While perusing much of MeÂxico (Sissom & Francke 1985; the collections at the California Academy of Sissom 1991; Sissom 2000). Members of the Sciences, W.D. Sissom found three specimens group share the following characteristics: (1) representing an undescribed species in the ni- the anterior margin of the carapace is obtusely tidulus group from this state. These speci- emarginate, with a distinct median notch; (2) mens, which were subsequently made avail- the genital opercula of the female possess a able to me for description, were discovered membranous longitudinal connection on the after years of careful examination of museum anterior two-thirds to four-®fths; (3) the pec- material from the United States and around tinal teeth of the female are all subequal in the world (Sissom pers. com., September size; (4) the ventral submedian carinae of the 1999). The rarity of this species in musem col- metasoma are obsolete to moderate and cren- lections may be due to its probable lithophilic ulate; (5) the cheliceral movable ®nger bears habits, which make it dif®cult to collect with a well developed serrula on the ventrodistal conventional rock-rolling techniques. aspect; (6) the pedipalps are relatively elon- gated, with chela length/width ratios greater METHODS than 3.3 and usually greater than 4.0; (7) the Terminology for general morphology con- pedipalp chela ®ngers in most species termi- forms to that of Stahnke (1970) with the fol- nate in enlarged claw-like denticles bearing an lowing exceptions: terminology for metaso- apical white patch; (8) chela trichobothria ib mal and pedipalpal carinae is after Francke and it are located at the base of the ®xed ®n- (1977); and trichobothrial nomenclature fol- ger; (9) the denticle row of the pedipalp chela lows Vachon (1974), except that the fourth pe- ®xed ®nger is divided into six or seven sub- dipalpal segment is considered the patella rows; (10) the dorsointernal carina of the ped- rather than the tibia, adhering to Stahnke's ter- ipalp chela is strong and, in most species, minology. 42 CAPESÐNEW SCORPION FROM MEXICO 43 Vaejovis mauryi new species width/depth 3.05/1.8/1.4; aculeus length 1.9. (Figs. 1±11) Pedipalps: total length 16.10; femur length/ Type data.ÐHolotype male, paratype fe- width 4.35/1.25; patella length/width 4.55/ 1.45; chela length/width/depth 7.20/1.65/1.9; male, and paratype subadult female from So- movable ®nger length 4.60; ®xed ®nger length nora, MeÂxico, 288559N, 1098459W, 18 Septem- 3.80. ber 1982 (V. Roth). Deposited at California Description.ÐBased on holotype. Colora- Academy of Sciences, San Francisco. tion (in alcohol): Base color of carapace and Etymology.ÐThe speci®c name is a pa- tergites yellow-brown to orange-brown with tronym honoring the late Emilio A. Maury for an underlying dusky pattern. Interocular area his contributions to the ®eld of arachnology. darkly pigmented. Metasoma light orange to Distribution.ÐKnown only from the type dark orange. Telson vesicle orange or reddish- locality. According to maps, this locality lies brown. Legs orange, with dusky markings in the vicinity of MazataÂn, Bacanora and Soy- proximally; basitarsi and telotarsi uniformly pa in the state of Sonora, MeÂxico. yellow. Prosoma: Anterior margin of carapace Diagnosis.ÐWithin the nitidulus group, obtusely emarginate. Median notch shallow. Vaejovis mauryi is most similar to Vaejovis Interocular area ®nely granular with scattered decipiens Hoffmann 1931, V. janssi Williams coarse granules. Remainder densely granular. 1980, and V. intermedius Borelli 1915. It can Mesosoma: Median carina on I-II obsolete; on be easily distinguished from V. decipiens and III feeble; on IV-VI weak, granular. On VII, V. janssi by (1) the presence in V. decipiens median carina weak, granular; lateral carinae and V. janssi of ventral submedian carinae on strong, crenulate to serrate, with distal denticle metasomal segments I-II, with these carinae enlarged. Pectinal tooth count 19±19. Ster- stronger on III-IV; (2) the presence of granu- nites III-VI sparsely setose; VII with two lation in the ventral median intercarinal space weak, ®nely granular lateral carinae. Metaso- in V. mauryi; (3) weaker digital and external ma: Ratio of segment I length/width 0.76; of secondary carinae of the pedipalp chelae in V. segment III length/width 1.00; of segment V mauryi; (4) the presence in V. decipiens and length/width 2.50. Segments I-IV: dorsolateral V. janssi of strong lateral keels on sternite VII; carinae strong, ®nely crenulate, with distal- (5) higher pectinal tooth counts in both V. de- most denticle of I slightly enlarged, spinoid; cipiens (22±25 in males, 21±22 in females) on II-IV distinctly enlarged and spinoid dis- and V. janssi (21±22 in males, 18±21 in fe- tally. Lateral supramedian carinae on I-III males); and (6) the noticeable difference in strong, ®nely crenulate; on IV moderate, gran- size, with V. mauryi being smaller. ular with distalmost denticles on I-III enlarged Vaejovis mauryi can be distinguished from and spinoid. Lateral inframedian carinae on I Vaejovis intermedius by (1) the sparseness of complete, strong, irregularly crenulate; on II setation on the pedipalp chelae, metasoma, present on anterior half as isolated granules, and sternite VII (in V. intermedius these sur- on posterior one-half, weak to moderate, gran- faces are very hirsute); (2) the dorsolateral ca- ular to crenulate; on III present on posterior rinae of V. intermedius are serrate, whereas one-third, moderate, ®nely crenulate; on IV those of V. mauryi are crenulate; (3) the pres- absent. Ventrolateral carinae on I-II moderate, ence of only weak scalloping in the chela ®n- smooth to ®nely granular; on III-IV moderate, gers of V. mauryi (distinct scalloping in V. irregularly, ®nely serratocrenulate. Ventral intermedius); and (4) higher pectinal tooth submedian carinae on I and II obsolete; on III counts in V. intermedius (21±26 in males, 19± weak, feebly granular; on IV weak, irregularly 23 in females). granular. Dorsal and lateral intercarinal spaces Measurements.ÐHolotype, in mm: total sparsely, coarsely granular. Ventromedian in- length 35.90; carapace length 4.60; mesosoma tercarinal space on IV granulose. Setal count length 9.30; metasoma length 17.20. Metaso- on segments I-IV: dorsolateral setae 0/0:1/1:1/ ma: segment I length/width 2.20/2.85; seg- 1:2/2; lateral supramedian setae 1/1:2/1:2/2:3/ ment II length/width 2.60/2.85; segment III 3; lateral inframedian setae 2/2:1/1:1/1:0/0; length/width 2.75/2.75; segment IV length/ ventrolateral setae 3/3:3/3:3/3:4/4; ventral width 3.70/2.65; segment V length/width submedian setae 3/3:4/4:4/4:4/4. Segment V: 5.95/2.35. Telson: length 4.90; vesicle length/ (Fig. 1) Dorsolateral carinae moderate, cren- 44 THE JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY Figures 1±9.ÐMorphology of Vaejovis mauryi (all drawings of holotype male). 1. Lateral view of metasomal segments IV and V and the telson; 2. Dorsal aspect of pedipalp femur; 3. External aspect of pedipalp patella; 4. Dorsal aspect of pedipalp patella; 5. Dentition of pedipalp chela ®xed ®nger; 6. Dentition of pedipalp chela movable ®nger; 7. Ventral aspect of pedipalp chela; 8. External aspect of pedipalp chela; 9. Dorsal aspect of pedipalp chela. ulate basally, granular distally. Lateromedian inal spaces with scattered, coarse granules. carinae weak, granular, present on anterior Segment V setal count: dorsolateral setae 5/6; 3/4. Ventrolateral carinae strong, serrate. Ven- lateromedian setae 4/4; ventrolateral setae 7/9. tromedian carina strong, crenulate. Intercar- Telson: (Fig. 1) Ventral aspect with irreg- CAPESÐNEW SCORPION FROM MEXICO 45 ular punctations and granulation. Ventral mid- line with small granules terminating in a sub- tle subaculear tubercule. Nine pairs of large setae, with several smaller setae. Pedipalps: Trichobothrial pattern type C, orthobothriotax- ic. Pedipalpal ratios: chela length/width 4.20; femur length/width 3.38; ®xed ®nger length/ carapace length 0.83.