Vaejovis ceboruco, A & Oscar, 2019

A, Contreras-Félix Gerardo & Oscar, Francke B., 2019, Taxonomic revision of the “ mexicanus ” group of the genus Vaejovis C. L. Koch, 1836 (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae), Zootaxa 4596 (1), pp. 1-100 : 20-29

Vaejovis ceboruco sp. n.

Figures 4 , 12 , 13a , 14a , 15a , 16a , 17a , 18a , 19a

Type material. Holotype male. MEXICO: Nayarit, Jala, central valley of the Ceboruco Volcano, Municipio de Jala , Nayarit, México (N 21.11539°, W 104.50392°, elev. 2048 m). VII-18-2012. Cols.: O. Francke, D. Barrales, G. Contreras and A. Valdez ( CNAN-T0825 ).

Paratypes: 5 ♂ and 2 ♀ same data as holotype ( CNAN-T0826 ) . MEXICO: Nayarit, Jala, central valley of the Ceboruco Volcano , (N 21.11760°, W 104.50126°, elev. 1922 m.). IV-1-2012. Cols.: L. Olguin, C. Santibáñez, G. Contreras, J. Mendoza and D. Ortíz . 14 ♂ and 25 ♀, ( CNAN-T0827 ) ; 1 ♂ and 2 ♀, ( AMNH)

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the volcano where this species is found, and it is used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Medium sized scorpion with adult total length 29 mm in holotype (Fig: 12-a, d) (range in adults 27.3-33.6 mm). Carapace (Fig: 13-a), shorter on males, or as long as, metasomal segment V on females (Carapace L/MS-V 0.96 ±0.04 [1.12 ±0.1]), but longer than the pedipalp femur (Carapace L/Femur L 1.17 ± 0.05 [1.2 ±0.03]); anterior margin of the carapace notched, almost bilobate. Mesosomal tergite VII with a pair of welldeveloped lateral, granular carinae, beginning on middle of segment, not reaching posterior margin. Pectinal tooth counts: 13–15 [12–14]; sternite V with a diffuse white patch, oval in shape and only present on posterior edge; sternite VII lateral carinae weak to vestigial, composed of a slight elevation of the cuticle and few small granules; with 10–12 (12) [10–12 (12)] setae. Metasomal segment I on males subquadrate, on females more rectangular in dorsal view (MSI L/ W 0.73 ±0.05 [0.63 ± 0.1]); intercarinal spaces on I–IV smooth; segment V more than one and a half times longer than wide (MS-V L/W 1. 83 ±0.11 [1.64 ±0.07]; W/D 1.3 ±0.2 [1.24 ±0.03]); lateral median carina present on anterior two thirds of segment. Vesicle (Fig: 14-a) long and rounded, almost twice longer than wide (L/W: 1.9 ±0.06 [1.54 ±0.06]), but broad, almost twice as wide as deep in males, one and a half times in females (W/D: 1.9 ±0.2 [1.54 ±0.06]); ventral surface irregular; two median longitudinal bands, noted as slight depressions of the cuticle; dorsal side smooth, flat with a large vesicular gland present medially over four fifths of segment. Pedipalp femur (Fig: 15-a) and patella (Fig: 16-a) less than three times longer than wide (Femur L/ W 2.84 ±0.12 [2.72 ± 0.2]; patella L/ W 2.89 ±0.1 [2.7 ±0.15]); patella almost as deep as wide (W/D 1.07 ±0.7 [1.07 ±0.02]); external carina weak, composed of some low scattered granules. Chela (Fig: 17, 18-a) globose (CM L/W.67 ±0.14 [1.68 ±0.01]; W/D 1 ±0.05 [1.01 ±0.04]) with dorsal median, dorsal prosubmedian, dorsal internal, prolateral median and ventral median carinae slightly granular, with few pointed granules and an elevation of the cuticle. Pedipalp chela fingers dentate margins straight, without scalloping.

Vaejovis ceboruco sp. n. is similar to V. monticola Sissom, 1989 in size and is geographically close; but differs from this species as follows: on the metasomal segments the ventral intercarinal spaces are shagreened on V. ceboruco sp. n., whereas on V. monticola they are densely granulose; the hemispermatophore lamella in V. ceboruco is slender and long, whereas in V. monticola it is short and stubby. Another species similar to V. ceboruco sp. n. is V. santibagnezi sp. n. from Sierra de Manantlán, Jalisco, which is well separated geographically and has a larger size than V. ceboruco sp. n.; V. ceboruco sp. n. differs from V. santibagnezi sp. n. as follows: V. santibagnezi sp. n. has the pedipalp chela carinae conspicuously granulose, whereas on V. ceboruco sp. n. the carinae are smooth, present only as an elevation of the cuticle; on V. santibagnezi sp. n. the vesicle has well differentiated lateral lobes on the posterior end, whereas V. ceboruco sp. n. lacks this differentiation and the posterior end is almost straight; the pedipalp patella and femur on V. santibagnezi sp. n. are more than three times longer than wide and V. ceboruco sp. n. has the pedipalp femur and patella less than three times longer than wide; on V. ceboruco sp. n. metasomal segment V, is shorter than the carapace whereas in V. santibagnezi sp. n. metasomal segment V, is longer than the carapace. Another species similar to V. ceboruco sp. n. is V. mexicanus , but it differs as follow: V. mexicanus has the lateral carinae of mesosomal sternite VII well developed and granular, whereas on V. ceboruco sp. n. those carinae are weak to vestigial, only noted by an elevation of the cuticle and some flattened granules. The lateral intercarinal spaces on metasomal segments I to IV on V. mexicanus have a sparse but distinctly granular pattern, whereas on V. ceboruco sp. n. they are shagreened and without distinct granules; the hemispermatophore in V. ceboruco sp. n. has a lamella with an apical crest and not narrower at the level of the hooks, whereas in V. mexicanus the hemispermatophore lamella lacks an apical crest and is narrower basally at the level of the hooks. Another species similar to V. ceboruco sp. n. is V. dugesi , and differs as follow: most conspicuous is the difference between these two species in base coloration, brown (pale to dark brown) in V. ceboruco sp. n., whereas in V. dugesi it is spotted, yellowish to pale yellow base color with some variegated fuscosity; the pedipalp manus in V. dugesi is slender and has the carinae on the manus vestigial, whereas in V. ceboruco sp. n. the manus is broader and presents more than three strong carinae. The pectinal tooth count in males in V. ceboruco sp. n. is 13–15 (N= 16, mode= 14), and in females it is 12–13 (N= 18, mode 13); in V. dugesi in males it is 13–13 (N= 4, mode= 13), in females it is 11–12 (N= 19, mode= 12); in V. mexicanus in males it is 17–20 (N= 10, mode= 18), in females it is 15–17 (N= 10, mode= 16); in V. monticola in males it is 13–15 (N= 4, mode= 15) and in females it is 10–13 (N= 4, mode= 12); finally, in V. santibagnezi sp. n. is 13–15 (N= 4, mode= 15) in males and it is 11–14 (N= 18, mode 12) in females.

Description Holotype male (Fig: 12-a, b): Prosoma (Fig: 13-a): Pale brown with underlying fusco-piceous pattern; anterior margin of carapace concave, median notch “U” shaped. Surface: granulated over the fusco-piceous pattern, smooth over the pale brown coloration.

Mesosoma: Tergites pale brown with underlying fusco-piceous pattern; tergites I–II surface shagreened, with few sparse granules on posterior margins; tergites III–VI with anterior half shagreened over the fusco-piceous pattern, becoming sparsely granular on posterior half of segment. Tergite VII shagreened on anterior third, sparsely granular on the rest; paramedian carinae well developed on posterior half of segment, not reaching the posterior margin, composed of rounded granules, well differentiated; lateral carinae strong, well-developed from the middle of the segment backwards, not reaching the posterior margin, composed of rounded granules and ending posteriorly with a larger granule. Sternites III–VI smooth, pale brown with a whitish band on posterior margin, and blurry dark patterns on the sides; sternite V with a diffuse oval white patch, only present on posterior edge. Sternite VII pale brown, with a blurry dark pattern on the sides reaching the lateral carinae; lateral carinae weak to vestigial, composed of a slight elevation of the cuticle and few small granules. Sternite VII with 12 setae. Pectinal tooth count: 14–14.

Metasoma: coloration pale brown with underlying fusco-piceous pattern on all segments. Dorsolateral carinae on I–IV strong, each composed of a row of pointed granules, ending posteriorly with an enlarged granule. Lateral supramedian carinae strong on I–IV, composed of pointed granules, well differentiated from each other; on II–III ending distally with an enlarged granule. Lateral inframedian carinae: on I strong, composed of a single row of rounded granules; on II–III weak to vestigial, composed of just a few rounded granules, on IV absent. Ventral lateral carinae on I–IV strong, composed of a single row of pointed granules directed backward. Ventral submedian carinae on I weak, with poorly developed granules; on II–IV strong, composed of a single row of pointed granules, clearly separated from each other. Segment V longer than pedipalp femur and patella. Dorsal lateral carinae weak, composed of several irregular rows of rounded, flattened granules; lateral supramedian carinae weak, composed of a scattered row of flattened granules, reaching basal 3/4 of segment, absent distally; ventral lateral carinae strong, composed of a single row of pointed granules, directed posteriorly; ventral median carina strong, composed of a single row of pointed granules, not reaching the posterior margin of the segment. Setae counts over carinae of metasomal segments I–IV as follows: dorsal lateral 0-0/0-1/1-1/2-2; lateral supramedian 0-0/1-1/2-2/3-3; lateral median 2-2/3-3/2-2/0-0; lateral inframedian 2-2/2-2/3-3/3-3; ventral submedian 3-3/3-3/4-4/4-4. Segment V: Dorsal lateral 5-5; lateral median 4-3; ventral lateral 6-6 and ventral median 5-6.

Telson (Fig: 14-a): Vesicle long and rounded, almost twice longer than wide (VL/W: 1.94), but broad, slightly wider than deep (V W/D: 1.2); ventral surface irregular; two median longitudinal bands, noted as slight depressions of the cuticle. Dorsal side smooth, flat, with a large vesicular gland present medially over four fifths of segment.

Pedipalp: pale brown, with underlying variegated fusco-piceous pattern. Orthobothriotaxia type “C”. Femur (Fig: 15-a): wider than deep. Dorsal prolateral carina strong, composed of an irregular row of large, rounded granules clearly separated from each other; dorsal retrolateral carina strong, composed of large rounded granules; ventral retrolateral carina weak to vestigial, composed of scattered granules; ventral prolateral carina strong, composed of a line of pointed granules. Dorsal face flat, shagreened, with sparse granules; ventral face concave, coloration pale brown, surface shagreened to granular. Patella (Fig: 16-a): prolateral median carina strong, slightly differentiated in coloration, composed of an irregular row of large flattened granules, not completely differentiated from each other; dorsal prolateral carina strong, composed of a single row of rounded granules; dorsal retrolateral carina weak to vestigial, composed of some low granules; external carina weak, composed of some low scattered granules; ventral retrosubmedian carina weak, slightly differentiated in coloration, composed of several irregular rows of rounded granules; ventral median carina vestigial to absent, if present only few granules basally; ventral prolateral carina strong, composed of a line of large, pointed granules. Chela (Fig: 17-a): Dorsal retrolateral and retrolateral median carinae smooth, formed by a conspicuous elevation of the cuticle, surface smooth and slightly differentiated in coloration; dorsal median, dorsal prosubmedian, dorsal internal, prolateral median and ventral median carinae slightly granular, with few pointed granules and also as an elevation of the cuticle; ventral prolateral carina weak, almost vestigial, just noted as a few lines of flat granules.

Legs: Base color pale brown, with considerable portions of segments with dark brown infuscations. Basitarsus I ventrally with two subrows of spinules divided by three pairs of larger asymmetrical setae; basitarsus II ventrally with two subrows of spinules divided by four and five pairs of larger asymmetrical setae; basitarsus III ventrally with two subrows of spinules divided by four pairs of asymmetrical larger setae; basitarsus IV ventrally with two subrows of spinules divided by three symmetrical larger setae. Telotarsi I–IV with a single row of spinules ventrally, with two distal spinules, only one leg IV presents 3 spinules; legs I:II:III:IV, right/left: 2/2:2/2: 2/x:3/2; pi / ri setae count: 2/2:2/2:3/3:3/3.

Hemispermatophore (Fig: 19-a): Lamelliform (TL 5; LL 2.7; LW 1 mm); lamella slightly curved, not as wide as the capsule, with a weak apical crest; hooks basal, with two denticles on the margin Capsule mesally with a small, sclerotized median lobe.

Measurements: Table 1 . Full morphometrics are given in tables 13 and 14.

Variation: Vaejovis ceboruco sp. n. shows sexual dimorphism (Fig: 12-a,d; 17, 18-a): males are slightly darker than females; the shape of the chela differs between males (wider) and females (thinner), with more developed carinae (more granulose) on males. Pectinal tooth count variation as follows: Males—2 combs with 12 teeth, 4 with 13, 16 with 14 teeth, and 8 with 15; Females—4 combs with 12 teeth, 18 with 13 and 1 with 14 teeth. Setae variation is given in tables 9–11.

Distribution. This species is only known from the Ceboruco volcano, in Nayarit, Mexico ( Figure 4 ).

Natural history. This species lives in a pine-oak mixed forest localized in the upper parts of the volcano; however, some specimens were collected in disturbed vegetation a few meters below the limits of the mixed pineoak forest.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Known distribution of all the species of Vaejovis, included in the “mexicanus” group.

FIGURE 12. Habitus of Vaejovis ceboruco sp. nov. holotype (♂): a—dorsal view; b—ventral view; habitus of V. ceboruco sp. nov. paratype (♀): c—dorsal view; d—ventral view. Scale bar = 1 cm.

FIGURE 13. Comparison in shapes on carapace in species within “mexicanus” group: a—V. ceboruco sp. nov.; b—V. chiapas; c—V. coalcoman; d—V. darwini; e—V. dugesi; f—V. dzahui; g—V. franckei; h—V. granulatus; i—V. maculosus; j—V. mcwesti; k—V. mexicanus; l—V. montanus; m—V. monticola; n—V. morelia; o—V. nanchititla sp. nov. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 14. Comparison of the different shapes in the caudal gland on species within the “mexicanus” group (each caudal gland, if present, is highlighted in red): a—V. ceboruco sp. nov.; b—V. chiapas; c—V. coalcoman; d—V. darwini; e—V. dugesi; f—V. dzahui; g—V. franckei; h—V. granulatus; i—V. maculosus; j—V. mcwesti; k—V. mexicanus; l—V. montanus; m—V. monticola; n—V. morelia; o—V. nanchititla sp. nov.

FIGURE 15. Comparison in shapes and trichobothrial patterns in the pedipalp femur, in species within “mexicanus” group: a—V. ceboruco sp. nov.; b—V. chiapas; c—V. coalcoman; d—V. darwini; e—V. dugesi; f—V. dzahui; g—V. franckei; h—V. granulatus; i—V. maculosus; j—V. mcwesti; k—V. mexicanus; l—V. montanus; m—V. monticola; n—V. morelia; o—V. nanchititla sp. nov. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 16. Comparison in shapes and trichobothrial patterns in the pedipalp patella, in species within “mexicanus” group: a—V. ceboruco sp. nov.; b—V. chiapas; c—V. coalcoman; d—V. darwini; e—V. dugesi; f—V. dzahui; g—V. franckei; h—V. granulatus; i—V. maculosus; j—V. mcwesti; k—V. mexicanus; l—V. montanus; m—V. monticola; n—V. morelia; o—V. nanchititla sp. nov. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 17. Comparison in shapes and trichobothrial patterns in the pedipalp chela of males in species within “mexicanus” group: a—V. ceboruco sp. nov.; b—V. chiapas; c—V. coalcoman; d—V. darwini; e—V. dugesi; f—V. dzahui; g—V. franckei; h—V. granulatus; i—V. maculosus; j—V. mcwesti; k—V. mexicanus; l—V. montanus; m—V. monticola; n—V. morelia; o—V. nanchititla sp. nov. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 18. Comparison in the different shapes and trichobothrial patterns in the pedipalp chela of females, that selected species within “mexicanus” group present: a—V. ceboruco sp. nov.; b—V. chiapas; c—V. coalcoman; d—V. darwini; e—V. dugesi; f—V. dzahui; g—V. franckei; h—V. granulatus; i—V. maculosus; j—V. mcwesti; k—V. mexicanus; l—V. montanus; m—V. monticola; n—V. morelia; o—V. nanchititla sp. nov. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 19. Comparison on the shapes in the hemispermatophore in species within “mexicanus” group: a—V. ceboruco sp. nov.; b—V. chiapas; c—V. coalcoman; d—V. darwini; e—V. dugesi; f—V. dzahui; g—V. franckei; h—V. granulatus; i—V. maculosus; j—V. mcwesti; k—V. mexicanus; l—V. montanus; m—V. monticola; n—V. morelia; o—V. nanchititla sp. nov. Scale bar = 1 mm.