Vaejovis lapidicola Stahnke, 1940

Graham, Matthew R., 2006, Redescription and lectotype designation of Vaejovis lapidicola Stahnke, 1940 (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae), Euscorpius 46 (47), pp. 1-6 : 1-3

Vaejovis lapidicola Stahnke, 1940

( Figs. 1 –12)

Type Data (designated here). Lectotype: male, 1 mi. E. of Flagstaff in a red sandstone quarry, Coconino County, Arizona, USA, 6 August 1938 (H.L. Stahnke) [missing half of right movable pedipalp finger; left and right pedipalp detached; right leg III detached; metasoma detached at segment II; missing most setae] . Paralectotype: female, 1 mi. E. of Flagstaff in a red sandstone quarry, Coconino County, Arizona, USA, 6 August 1938 (H.L. Stahnke) [missing metasomal segment V, telson, right pedipalp movable finger, and most setae; pedipalps and many legs detached] .

Distribution. Known only from the type locality; a red sandstone quarry one mile east of Flagstaff, AZ.

Diagnosis. Vaejovis lapidicola is a small yellow to orange-brown scorpion with slight brown marbling on the carapace, mesosoma and metasoma. The fifth metasomal segment is more than twice as long as wide. Carapace planate and longer than fifth metasomal segment and as long as segment one plus two. Median eyes and tubercle, which are quite small, are located on anterior one-third of carapace (Fig. 12). Fifth metasomal segment longer than movable pedipalp finger. Chelal fingers with six and seven inner (ID) denticles on fixed and movable fingers (Fig. 11), respectively. Five to seven middle lamellae. Pectinal tooth counts 14 in males and 11–13 in females.

With the exception of total length/pectinal tooth count ratios, the V. lapidicola lectotype fits all the criteria outlined for the “mexicanus” group (Soleglad, 1973). However, this inconsistency may just mean that the specimen is not an adult. With 14 pectine teeth per comb, a male individual would have to be between 26.7 and 41.3 mm in length to meet the requirement. This, plus the fact that the female paralectotype is much larger (see Measurements section), indicates that the lectotype is probably immature. More importantly, however, the lectotype possesses six rows of denticles on the chela fixed finger and has slender pedipalps with trichobothria ib and it located proximally on the fixed finger. Furthermore, the genital operculum of the female is separated on the posterior fifth and likely fits the total length/pectinal tooth count ratios for the group. Vaejovis lapidicola should therefore remain in the “mexicanus” group of the genus Vaejovis .

Of the Arizona scorpion fauna, V. lapidicola seems most closely related to V. paysonensis . Both species possess seven ID denticles on the pedipalp movable fingers and have a carapace longer than metasomal segment V and longer than metasomal segment I plus II. Vaejovis lapidicola can be easily distinguished, however, by a carapace that is much more planate and wider at the median eyes. Ratios of carapace length/width at median eye are 1.25 and 1.44, for V. lapidicola and V. paysonensis respectively.

Two other species of the “mexicanus” group also occur in Arizona, V. jonesi Stahnke , reported from northern Arizona, and V. vorhiesi Stahnke , reported from southeastern Arizona (both “Stahnke inscrutables”). These species have a shorter carapace than V. ladipicola . In V. jonesi the carapace is shorter than the fifth metasomal segment and in V. vorhiesi , it is less than or equal to the fifth metasomal segment, unlike V. lapidicola whose carapace is longer.

Redescription based on lectotype

Color. Carapace, tergites, legs, and metasoma yellow to orange-brown with slight dark brown variegations. Ocular tubercle colored black and lightly traversed by the median furrow. Telson yellow-orange with two brown stripes running longitudinally along ventral surface.

Carapace (Fig. 12). Ratio of median eyes location (from anterior edge)/carapace length 0.32; median eyes and tubercle width/carapace width at that point 0.18. Anterior edge emarginate. Carapace covered with scattered coarse granules with a few interspersed larger granules. Posterior median furrow deep and conspicuous, ending about one third the length of the carapace from the anterior margin.

Mesosoma. Median carina on tergites I–II obsolete, and strong on tergites III–VI. Tergite VII with strong median carina on anterior half and strong dorsal lateral and lateral supramedian granular carinae.

Genital Operculum. Genital papillae protruding from posterior edge of sclerites of male lectotype; sclerites separated on posterior one-fifth of female paralectotype.

Chelicerae. Dorsal edge of movable finger with two subdistal (sd) denticles; ventral edge of movable finger smooth with well developed serrula on distal half.

Pectines. Pectinal tooth count 14/14. Middle lamellae 5/6.

Metasoma. Ratio of segment I length/width 0.79; segment II length/width 1.00; segment III length/width 1.09; of segment IV length/width 1.59; of segment V length/width 2.23. Segments I–IV: Dorsolateral and lateral median carinae strong and subtly serrate with enlarged pointed granule distally; lateral inframedian carinae I–III weakly granular and absent on segment IV; ventral lateral and ventral medial carinae smooth to finely serrate or granular. Segment V: Dorsolateral carinae smooth to finely granular; lateral median carinae weak and finely granular on basal three-fourths, obsolete on distal fourth; ventral lateral and ventral median carinae moderate, serrate; median carina continuous distally, not bifurcated. Intercarinal spaces smooth. Setal counts indiscernible.

Telson (Fig. 10). Smooth to weakly granular with minute rounded subacular tubercle flanked by two large setae. Vesicle moderately setose. Aculeus base with 8/8 LAS denticles.

Pedipalps. Trichobothrial pattern type C (see patterns in Figs. 3–9 ). Pedipalp ratios: chela length/palm width 4.51; femur length/width 3.03; patella length/

Figures

Figures 1–2: Vaejovis lapidicola Stahnke lectotype. 1. Dorsal aspect. 2. Ventral aspect.

Figures 3–9: Trichobothrial patterns of Vaejovis lapidicola Stahnke, based on lectotype. 3. Left pedipalp chela, external. 4. Left pedipalp chela, ventral. 5. Left pedipalp chela, internal. 6. Right pedipalp femur, dorsal. 7. Right pedipalp patella, dorsal. 8. Right pedipalp patella, external. 9. Right pedipalp patella, ventral.