Vaejovis tapalpa, 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 : 78-81

Vaejovis tapalpa sp. n.

Figures 4 , 35k , 36k , 3 hk, 38k, 39k, 40j, 41k, 51

Type material. Holotype male. MEXICO: Jalisco, Tapalpa, 1 Km E of Los Espinos (N 19.98318°, W 103.73019°, elev. 2294 m). VII-21-2012. Cols.: O. Francke, D. Barrales, G. Contreras and A. Valdez ( CNAN-T0835 ).

Paratypes: MEXICO: Jalisco, Tapalpa, Residencial San Carlos, Los Espinos , (N 19.99292°, W 103.7315°, elev. 2310 m). IV-3-2012. Cols.: L. Olguín, C. Santibáñez, J. Mendoza, D. Ortíz and G. Contreras, 3 ♀ ( CNAN-T0836 ) ; 2 ♀ ( AMNH) . MEXICO: Jalisco, Tapalpa , 4 km E of Tapalpa (N 19.96645°, W 103.72646°, elev. 2261 m). IV-3- 2012. Cols.: L. Olguín, C. Santibáñez, J. Mendoza, D. Ortíz and G. Contreras, 3 ♀ ( CNAN-T0837 ) .

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the municipality where the type locality of this species is found and it is used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Vaejovis tapalpa sp. n. (Fig: 51-a, d) is a medium sized scorpion with adult total length of 20.4 mm in holotype (range in adults 20.4–23.2 mm). Carapace (Fig: 35-k) as long as metasomal segment V (Carapace L/ SMV: 1 [1.09 ± 0.05]), but longer than pedipalp femur (Carapace L/Femur L: 1.27 [1.32 ± 0.07]); anterior margin of carapace slightly concave, with a faint median notch. Mesosomal tergite VII with a pair of strong lateral carinae, each a single row of rounded granules, not reaching posterior margin. Pectinal counts: 12 [11–12] teeth; sternite V without a whitish spot on posterior margin; sternite VII with a pair of weak carina, composed by an irregular row of tubercles not well differentiated and with 10 [10] setae. Metasomal segment I rectangular in dorsal view (MSI L/ W 0.62 [0.57 ± 0.11]); intercarinal spaces on segments I–IV minutely granular to granular; segment V less than twice as long as wide, and always wider than deep (MS-V L/W: 1.86 [1.64 ± 0.02]; W/D: 1.25 [1.12 ± 0.02]). Vesicle slender (Fig: 36-k), about twice longer than wide (L/W: 2.23 [1.67 ± 0.17]) and thin, almost as wide as deep (W/D: 1.3 [1.44 ± 0.16]), with two lighter median longitudinal bands ventrally and two lateral longitudinal bands, noted as smooth cuticular depressions; ventral face smooth, with sparse setae; dorsal face smooth, flat and without any pale coloration resembling a vesicular gland. Pedipalp femur (Fig: 37-k) more than three times longer than wide (L/W: 3.14 [2.71 ± 0.16]); retrolateral median carinae weak, composed by several scattered granules; pedipalp patella (Fig: 38-k) less than three times as long as wide (L/W: 2.77 [2.47 ± 0.23]), with the prolateral median carina weak, composed of 4 or 5 pointed granules in line. Chela globose (Fig: 39, 40-k) (CM L/W: 1.71 [1.72 ± 0.06]; W/D: 1 [1.02 ± 0.06]) with dorsal prosubmedian, dorsal internal and prolateral median carinae differentiated in coloration from the rest of the hand, formed by an elevation of the cuticle and some slightly pointed granules. Pedipalp chela fingers dentate margins straight, without scalloping.

Hemispermatophore ( Figs. 41-k ): Lamelliform (TL: 3.6; LL: 1.2; LW: 0.8 mm); lamella straight, as wide as the capsule and with a small apical crest; hook short, basal, with two small, pointed denticles. Capsule with median lobe entally.

Vaejovis tapalpa sp. n. is geographically and morphologically close to V. monticola but differs from it as follows: the lateral carinae on sternite VII are arranged in a neat row of granules in V. tapalpa sp. n., whereas on V. monticola they are formed by randomly placed granules; V. tapalpa sp. n. presents a femur slightly more than three times longer than wide, whereas in V. monticola the femur is less than three times as long as wide; also the vesicle is thinner and longer in V. tapalpa sp. n. with a proportion of two times longer than wide, whereas on V. monticola the vesicle is usually one and a half times longer than wide. Another species geographically close to V. tapalpa sp. n. is V. dugesi , but they differ as follows: V. tapalpa sp. n. has the lateral carinae of sternite VII arranged in a neat row of granules, whereas in V. dugesi those carinae are absent; pedipalp chela in V. tapalpa sp. n. is broader (L/W= 1.71) than in V. dugesi (L/W= 2.14). Morphologically, V. granulatus is another species close to V. tapalpa sp. n., but they differ as follows: the ventromedial carinae on segment I are weak and smooth in V. granulatus , whereas on V. tapalpa sp. n. they are strong and granular. The pectinal tooth count in V. tapalpa sp. n. is 12 teeth in males and in females 11–12 (N= 16, mode= 12); in V. dugesi males have 13–13 (N= 4, mode= 13), females have 11–12 (N= 19, mode= 12); in V. granulatus males have 16–17 (N= 6, mode= 17) and females have 13–16 (N= 10, mode= 15) and in V. monticola males have 13–15 (N= 4, mode= 15) females have 10–13 (N= 4, mode= 12).

Description holotype male: Prosoma (Fig: 35-k): Pale brown with underlying fusco-piceous pattern; anterior margin of carapace slightly concave, with a faint median notch. Surface of the carapace smooth, over pale brown areas, shagreened to granular, over infuscated areas.

Mesosoma: Tergites pale brown with underlying fusco-piceous pattern: I–II shagreened, with posterior margin slightly granular; III–VI anterior half shagreened, posterior half sparsely granular; VII basal third shagreened, rest sparsely granular; tergite VII paramedian carinae strong, with a single row of rounded granules, not reaching posterior margin; lateral carinae strong, a single row of pointed granules well differentiated from each other, reaching posterior margin. Sternites III–VI smooth, pale brown with a blurry fusco-piceous pattern; sternite V without a whitish spot along posterior margin; sternite VII pale brown, with dense fusco-piceous pattern, and with distinctive pale triangle distally; median carinae absent; lateral carinae weak to vestigial, an irregular row of tubercles not well differentiated; with 10 setae. Pectinal tooth count: 12-12.

Metasoma: coloration pale brown, with underlying fusco-piceous pattern, denser ventrodistally. Dorsal lateral carinae on segments I–IV formed by irregular lines of granules, well-differentiated and ending distally with a larger, elevated granule. Lateral median carinae strong, composed of single rows of rounded granules, on segments II–III ending distally with a larger one. Lateral inframedian carinae on I strong, a single row of rounded granules; on II present only on distal half, composed of a single row of rounded granules; on III present only on posterior third, composed of a few granules in line; on IV absent. Ventral lateral carinae on I–IV strong, composed of a single row of rounded granules. Ventral submedian carinae on I weak to vestigial, composed of a slight elevation of the cuticle and some unordered granules; on II–IV strong, composed of a single row of rounded granules, separated from each other. Segment V longer than pedipalp patella and femur; dorsal lateral carinae weak, several unordered rows of rounded flattened granules; lateral median carinae weak, several rows of unordered, rounded flattened granules, absent on posterior quarter; ventral lateral carinae strong, a single row of rounded granules; ventral median carina strong, an irregular row of rounded granules, not reaching posterior margin. Setae count of metasomal segments I–IV as follows: dorsal lateral 0-0/1-0/1-1/2-2; lateral median 0-0/1-2/2-3/3-3; lateral inframedian 2-2/1-1/1-1/2-3; ventral lateral 2-2/2-2/2-3/4-4; ventral submedian 3-3/3-3/3-3/4-4. Segment V: dorsal lateral 5-5; lateral median 4-4; ventral lateral 7-7 and ventral median 6-6.

Telson (Fig: 36-k): Vesicle slender, about twice longer than wide (L/W: 2.2) and thin, almost as wide as deep (W/D: 1.3), coloration pale brown, infuscated, with two lighter median longitudinal bands ventrally and two lateral longitudinal bands, noted as smooth cuticular depressions; ventral face smooth, with sparse setae. Dorsal face smooth, flat and without any setae or granules; without trace of vesicular gland.

Pedipalp: Pale brown, on femur and patella with dense, uniformly dark fuscosity, chela manus with variegated fusco-piceous pattern. Orthobothriotaxia type “C”. Femur (Fig: 37-k): as wide as or slightly wider than deep. Dorsal retrolateral carina weak, with few large rounded granules; dorsal prolateral carina strong, with a single row of large rounded granules well differentiated from each other; ventral prolateral carina weak, not differentiated in coloration and composed by a single line of pale granules; ventral retrolateral carina weak to vestigial, represented by a short line of scattered granules. Dorsal face flat, shagreened and sparsely granular; ventral face slightly concave, almost flat; shagreened, with few small granules. Patella (Fig: 38-k): Retrolateral median carinae weak, composed by several scattered granules; dorsal retrolateral carina strong, with a single row of large flattened granules not differentiated from each other; dorsal prolateral carina strong, with an irregular row of large, flattened granules, sparsely distributed; prolateral median carina weak, composed of 4 or 5 pointed granules aligned; ventral retrosubmedian carina weak, formed by an irregular elevation of the cuticle; ventral median carina vestigial, composed by a row of pale, short granules basally; ventral prolateral carina weak, smooth, may present some flattened granules and not differentiated in coloration. Chela (Fig: 39-k): dorsal retrolateral, retrolateral median and dorsal median carinae differentiated in coloration from the rest of the segment and formed by an elevation of the cuticle and some sparse flattened granules; dorsal prosubmedian, dorsal internal and prolateral median carinae differentiated in coloration from the rest of the hand, formed by an elevation of the cuticle and some slightly pointed granules; the rest of the carinae are vestigial or absent and not differentiated in coloration. Pedipalp chela fingers dentate margins straight.

Legs: Base coloration pale brown, with large portions of segments with dark brown infuscations. Basitarsi I–IV with two subrows of spinules divided by three pairs of asymmetrical, larger setae. Telotarsi I–IV with a single row of spinules ventrally, with two distal spinules on I–IV (Right/left side): 2/2:2/2:2/2:2/2; pi / ri setae count: 2/2:2/2:3/ 3:3/3.

Hemispermatophore (Figs: 41-k): Lamelliform (TL: 3.6; LL: 1.2; LW: 0.8 mm); lamella straight, as wide as capsule and with small apical crest; hook short, basal, with two small, pointed denticles. Capsule with median lobe entally.

Measurements: Table 7 . Full morphometric variation is given in tables 13 and 14.

Variation: V. tapalpa sp. n. shows sexual dimorphism: the males are slightly darker than females; the chela manus on males present granular carinae whereas on females they are crenulated to feebly granulose; females are larger than males. Pectinal tooth count variation as follows: Male—2 combs with 12 teeth; females—4 combs with 11 teeth and 8 combs with 12 teeth. Setae variation is given in tables 9–12.

Distribution. This species is only known from the type locality and two other localities near the city of Tapalpa, Jalisco ( Figure 4 ).

Natural history. The male holotype of V. tapalpa sp. n. was collected in a pine forest, at night with portable U. V. lights, and was found inside a stump; the females were collected during the day under the bark of fallen trees and tree stumps.

Figures

FIGURE 3. a—Hemispermathophore of V. vorhiesi, included in the “vorhiesi” group, showing the sclerotized mating plug. b—Vesicle, dorsal view (V. crumpi), showing the Lateral Aculear Serrations at the base of the sting. c—Hemispermathophore of V. kochi, included on the “Franckeus+nigrescens” group, showing the sclerotized mating plug. d—Vesicle, dorsal view (V. kochi), showing the Lateral Aculear Serrations at the base of the sting.

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

FIGURE 35. Comparison in shapes on carapace in species within “mexicanus” group: a—V. nigrofemoratus; b—V. prendinii; c—V. pusillus; d—V. rossmani; e—V. santibagnezi sp. nov.; f—V. setosus; g—V. sierrae; h—V. smithi; i—V. sprousei; j—V. talpa sp. nov.; k—V. tapalpa sp. nov.; l—V. tenamaztlei; m—V. tesselatus; n—V. trespicos; o—V. zapoteca. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 36. 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. nigrofemoratus; b—V. prendinii; c—V. pusillus; d—V. rossmani; e—V. santibagnezi sp. nov.; f—V. setosus; g—V. sierrae; h—V. smithi; i—V. sprousei; j—V. talpa sp. nov.; k—V. tapalpa sp. nov.; l—V. tenamaztlei; m—V. tesselatus; n—V. trespicos; o—V. zapoteca.

FIGURE 41. Comparison on the shapes in the hemispermatophore in species within “mexicanus” group: a—V. nigrofemoratus; b—V. prendinii; c—V. pusillus; d—V. rossmani; e—V. santibagnezi sp. nov.; f—V. setosus; g—V. sierrae; h—V. smithi; i—V. sprousei; j—V. talpa sp. nov.; k—V. tapalpa sp. nov.; l—V. tenamaztlei; m—V. tesselatus; n—V. trespicos; o—V. zapoteca. Scale bar = 1 mm.