Vaejovis smithi Pocock, 1902

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 : 72-73

Vaejovis smithi Pocock, 1902

Figures 4 , 35h , 36h , 37h , 38h , 39h , 40h , 41h , 48

Vaejovis mexicanus smithi Pocock, 1902: 9 .

Vaejovis mexicanus smithi Ewing, 1928: 12 ; Díaz Najera, 1975: 7, 27; Kovarík, 1998: 147; Beutelspacher, 2000: 95, 140, 142, 153, map 73; Sissom, 2000: 542; McWest, 2009: 20, 76, 78, 102, Figs: 250–254.

Vejovis mexicanus smithi: Hoffmann, 1931: 396 –398, Fig: 40; Hoffmann, 1938: 318; Gertsch, 1958: 6.

Vaejovis smithi: Fet & Soleglad, 2007: 251 , 260; McWest, 2009: 20, 76, 78, 102, Figs: 250–254. Soleglad & Fet, 2008: 46, 77, 100.

Type material. Neotype Female, (designated by Fet & Soleglad, 2007). MEXICO: Morelos, Cuernavaca (elev. 1730 m.) ( BMNH). Not examined.

Other specimens examined. Vaejovis smithi : MEXICO: Morelos, San Juan Tlacontenco, Tepoztlán (N 19.020833°, W 99.086111°, elev. 2441 m.). X-7-2003. Cols.: M. Córdova and A. Jaimes. 13 ♀ ( CNAN-SC2359 ) . MEXICO: Morelos, Nepopualco, Totolapán (N 18.993611°, W 98.937222°, elev. 1975 m.) II- 2-2004. Cols.: M. Córdova and A. Jaimes. 2 ♂, 8 ♀ ( CNAN-SC2355 ) . MEXICO: Morelos, Cerro El Tepeito, Huitzilac (N 19.024722°, W 99.281111°, elev. 2481 m.) III-30-2004. Cols.: M. Córdova and A. Burgos. 6 ♀ ( CNAN-SC2354 ) . MEXICO: Morelos, Tepoztlán. V-23-1946. Without collector data. 5 ♀ ( CNAN-SC2358 ) . MEXICO: Morelos, Tepoztlán. III-12/17 -2007. Col.: W. López. 3 ♂, 11 ♀ ( CNAN-SC3204 ) . MEXICO: Morelos, Tepoztlán. X-2012. Col.: W. López. 4 ♀ ( CNAN-SC3205 ) . MEXICO: Morelos, Cueva del Diablo, Tepoztlán (N 18.99528°, W 99.06012°, elev. 1947 m.). VII-29-2009. Cols.: O. Francke, T. López, C. Santibáñez, C. Quijano and A. Valdez. 5 ♂, 9 ♀ ( CNAN-SC03165 ) .

Diagnosis. Adults 28 to 50 mm long (Fig: 48-a, b). Carapace (Fig: 35-h) shorter than metasomal segment V (Carapace L/MS-V 0.81±0.03 [0.95±0.05]), longer than femur (Carapace L/Femur L 1.05±0.1 [1.06±0.06]); anterior margin of the carapace concave, with a “U” shaped median notch. Mesosomal tergite VII bearing one pair of lateral carinae; intercarinal space conspicuously granulose. Pectinal teeth 20–22 [20–21]; sternite V with a whitish semi-triangular patch along posterior margin; sternite VII with one pair of feebly granular carinae, and 12 setae. Metasomal segment I slightly wider than long, subquadrate in dorsal view (MSI L/ W 0.84 ±0.08 [0.85±0.1]), with ventrolateral carinae weak; intercarinal spaces on segments I–IV smooth, may present some scattered granules; segment V twice longer than wide (MS-V L/ W 2.26 ±0.2 [1.98± 0.2]; W/D 1.2±0.08 [1.25± 0.07]). Vesicle (Fig: 36-h) slender (L/ W 1.85 ±0.15 [1.64± 0.1]) and thin (W/D 1.25±0.11 [1.24±0.08]), with ventral surface smooth; on males a conspicuous whitish vesicular gland posterodorsally. Pedipalp femur (Fig: 37-h) and patella (Fig: 38-h) over three times longer than wide (Femur L/ W 3.53 ±0.5 [3.34± 0.3]; Patella L/ W 3.24 ±0.2 [3.13±0.15]); patella wider than deep (W/D 1.25±0.03 [1.31±0.1]); external carina granular, divided by trichobothria; dorsointernal carina present on anterior two thirds of segment, appearing serrated and continuous. Chela (Fig: 39, 40-h) almost twice longer than wide (CM L/ W 1.87 ±0.16 [2.01±0.1]; W/D 0.96±0.06 [0.96±0.1]); fixed finger slightly longer than chela manus (CM L/FF 1.14±0.1 [0.87±0.15]); dorsal median, dorsal prosubmedian, dorsal internal, prolateral median and ventral retrolateral carinae present, feebly granular. Pedipalp chela fingers dentate margins straight, without scalloping.

Hemispermatophore (Fig: 41-h): Lamelliform (TL 4; LL 2.2; LW 0.6 mm.); lamella simple, without distal crest; lamina constricted basally at level of hooks; a pair of hooks located basally, lobe-shaped.

Full morphometric variation is given in tables 13 and 14. Setae variation is given in tables 9–12.

Distribution. México: Morelos ( Figure 4 ).

Natural history. This species inhabits in mixed pine–oak forest; it also can be found living in cities such as Tepoztlán. Because of its dark coloration, it is easily spotted under rocks or fallen logs.

Figures

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 37. Comparison in shapes and trichobothrial patterns in the pedipalp femur, 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 38. Comparison in shapes and trichobothrial patterns in the pedipalp patella, 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 39. Comparison in shapes and trichobothrial patterns in the pedipalp chela of males 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 40. Comparison in the different shapes and trichobothrial patterns in the pedipalp chela of females, that selected species within “mexicanus” group present 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. talpa sp. nov; j—V. tapalpa sp. nov; k—V. tenamaztlei; l—V. tesselatus; m—V. trespicos; n—V. zapoteca. Scale bar = 1 mm.

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.

FIGURE 48. Habitus of Vaejovis smithi (♂): a—dorsal view; b—ventral view. Scale bar = 1 cm.