A new “vorhiesi” group species of Vaejovis from the Galiuro Mountains, southern Arizona (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae) Richard F. Ayrey & Brandon Myers August 2019 — No. 284 Euscorpius Occasional Publications in Scorpiology EDITOR: Victor Fet, Marshall University, ‘[email protected]’ ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Michael E. Soleglad, ‘[email protected]’ Euscorpius is the first research publication completely devoted to scorpions (Arachnida: Scorpiones). Euscorpius takes advantage of the rapidly evolving medium of quick online publication, at the same time maintaining high research standards for the burgeoning field of scorpion science (scorpiology).Euscorpius is an expedient and viable medium for the publication of serious papers in scorpiology, including (but not limited to): systematics, evolution, ecology, biogeography, and general biology of scorpions. Review papers, descriptions of new taxa, faunistic surveys, lists of museum collections, and book reviews are welcome. 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For further details on the new ICZN amendment, see http://www.pensoft.net/journals/zookeys/article/3944/. Publication date: 4 August 2019 http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:582778D3-11B6-4EB5-90B9-91E815A0BE21 Euscorpius - Occasional Publications in Scorpiology. 2019, No. 284 A new “vorhiesi” group species of Vaejovis from the Galiuro Mountains, southern Arizona (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae) Richard F. Ayrey1 & Brandon Myers2 1P. O. Box 2236 Flagstaff, Arizona 86003, USA email:[email protected] 2P. O. Box 361, Huntersville, North Carolina 28070, USA; email [email protected] http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:582778D3-11B6-4EB5-90B9-91E815A0BE21 Summary A new scorpion species, Vaejovis stetsoni sp. n. is described from Galiuro Mountains, Graham County, Arizona. This is the smallest species of the “vorhiesi” group discovered so far, most similar to V. brysoni Ayrey & Webber. The pedipalp fixed finger has five ID denticles and the movable finger has six, like in most other southern ArizonaVaejovis . The most unique characteristics of this species are its small size (18.35 mm) and a large subaculear tubercle. Introduction mm, 0.06 mm and 0.07 mm of the females studied. V. brysoni was found to have the smallest subaculear tubercle of the Including the new species described in this paper from species compared with a height of 0.03 mm. V. cashi shows the Galiuro Mountains, Arizona, there are now 21 “vorhiesi” multiple small tubercles with a height of 0.03mm. V. deboerae group species in the genus Vaejovis in Arizona, western New also shows the presence of multiple tubercles with a broad Mexico & northern Sonora. This species lives under rocks and subaculear tubercle base and a height of 0.04 mm. V. electrum nearby washes in an area of mixed evergreen oak woodland, has a prominent subaculear tubercle with a downward curve in the Galiuro Mountains of southern Arizona. on the distal edge and a height of 0.03 mm. The base of the The new species is the smallest “vorhiesi” group species subaculear tubercle in V. electrum is very broad. Hughes, yet described (18.35 mm). It is also found at one of the lowest 2011 noted in the description of V. electrum that 77% of the elevations for the group, 1,337 m a. s. l. Based on the elevation specimens studied from the Pinaleno Mountains were found and vegetation type (mixed evergreen oak woodland), the to have multiple tubercles, with well-developed and poorly- habitat of Vaejovis stetsoni sp. n. is presumed to be one of the developed tubercles represented in 20% and 3% of the driest for the group. All three of these characteristics; small specimens, respectively. The specimens studied in the present size, low elevation and dry habitat, make this species even paper of V. stetsoni sp. n. from the Gailuro Mountains were all more vulnerable to climate change than any of the other 20 found to have well-developed subaculear tubercles. species in the “vorhiesi” group. Fortunately for this species, its habitat is within an area with very poor access via poorly Materials and Methods maintained and infrequently used dirt roads. It should therefore suffer very little impact from human activities. Terminology and conventions In the “vorhiesi” group of Vaejovis, the presence of a The measurements adhered to in this paper follow Stahnke subaculear tubercle appears to be of importance. The authors (1971), trichobothrial patterns are as in Vachon (1974), and have confirmed that it is found in all described species. pedipalp finger dentition follows Soleglad & Sissom (2001). It ranges from obsolete in V. feti to strong in V. stetsoni sp. n. Hughes, 2011 classified the subaculear tubercles of the Abbreviations “vorhiesi” group in three groups: single poorly-developed RFA, personal collection of Richard F. Ayrey, Flagstaff, Arizona, tubercle, well-developed tubercle, and multiple tubercle; with USA; MES, personal collection of Michael E. Soleglad, bifurcated tubercles assigned to the multiple tubercles group. Winchester, California, USA; CNAN, Colección Nacional Females of V. stetsoni sp. n. were compared to females from de Arácnidos, Instituto de Biologia, Universidad Nacional the four most closely related species (Fig. 11). We measured Autónoma de México, México, D.F.; UANL, Universidad the height of the subaculear tubercle from the distal base to Autónoma de Nuevo León, San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo the point. Our results show that the subaculear tubercle of V. León, Mexico; and USNM, United States National Museum, stetsoni sp. n. is the most prominent, with a height of 0.05 Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA. 2 Euscorpius - 2019, No. 284 Figures 1-3: Vaejovis stetsoni sp. n. Figure 1. Paratype female in natural habitat. Figure 2. Paratype male in natural habitat. Figure 3. Paratype gravid female. Ayrey & Myers: Vaejovis stetsoni sp. n. 3 V. stetsoni sp. n. V. stetsoni sp. n. V. stetsoni sp. n. V. stetsoni sp. n. Dimensions (MM) ♀ holotype, RA2077 ♀ paratype, RA2085 ♀ paratype, RA2075 ♂ paratype, RA2081 Carapace L 2.68 2.56 2.48 2.60 Mesosoma L 5.56 6.30 5.27 3.47 Metasoma L 10.11 10.20 9.86 9.10 Segment I L / W 1.04 / 1.41 1.03 / 1.40 0.99 / 1.29 0.98 / 1.12 Segment II L / W 1.20 / 1.38 1.23 / 1.39 1.13 / 1.27 1.07 / 1.07 Segment III L / W 1.26 / 1.30 1.31 / 1.34 1.25 / 1.27 1.16 / 1.05 Segment IV L / W 1.74 / 1.23 1.76 / 1.23 1.69 / 1.16 1.59 / 1.03 Segment V L / W 2.52 / 1.22 2.53 / 1.20 2.47 / 1.19 2.24 / 1.01 Telson L / W / D 2.35 / 0.81 / 0.68 2.34 / 0.76 / 0.64 2.33 / 0.79 / 0.63 2.60 / 0.68 /0.53 Vesicle L 1.59 1.56 1.53 1.33 Pedipalp L 7.87 7.55 7.63 6.14 Femur L / W 2.03 / 0.64 2.01 / 0.64 2.07 / 0.66 1.69 / 0.61 Patella L / W 2.25 / 0.78 2.18 / 0.76 2.21 / 0.75 1.74 / 0.57 Chela L 3.59 3.36 3.35 2.71 Manus L / W / D 1.71 / 0.82 / 0.84 1.68 / 0.78 / 0.82 1.66 / 0.77 / 0.75 1.24 / 0.60 / 0.61 Fixed finger L 1.88 1.68 1.69 1.47 Movable finger L 2.20 1.91 1.80 1.57 Pectinal teeth 11 : 11 11 : 12 11 : 11 13 : 13 Total L 18.35 18.79 17.61 14.63 Table 1. Morphometrics (mm) of Vaejovis stetsoni sp. n. Additional Material Studied Vaejovis deboerae Ayrey, 2009. USA: Arizona: Pima Besides type material listed below under new species Co.: Rose Canyon Campground, Santa Catalina Mountains. description, the following additional specimens were 28 August 2011. R. F. Ayrey & M. M. DeBoer-Ayrey 3 ♂, 5 ♀ examined: (RFA). Same locality. 29 August 2011. R. F. Ayrey & M. M. Vaejovis bandido Graham, Ayrey & Bryson, 2012. DeBoer-Ayrey 4 ♂, 4 ♀ (RFA). Mexico: Sonora: Sierra de los Ajos Mountains. 12–13 October Vaejovis electrum Hughes, 2011. USA: Arizona: Graham 2010, R.W.