Published May 3, 2019 | Version v1

Vaejovis mexicanus C. L. Koch 1836

Description

Vaejovis mexicanus C. L. Koch, 1836

Figures 4, 13k, 14j, 15k, 16k, 17k, 18k, 19k, 29

Vaejovis mexicanus C. L. Koch, 1836: 51, pl. XCI, Fig: 206.

Parabroteas montezuma Penther, 1913: 244 –245, Fig: 5–7.

Vejovis mexicanus mexicanus: Hoffmann, 1931: 394 –396, Fig: 39; Hoffmann, 1938: 318; Gertsch, 1958: 6; Díaz Najera, 1964: 20, 23, 24, 25; Stahnke, 1974: 113, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 136, 137, 138; Díaz Najera, 1975: 7, 22, 25; Sissom, 2000: 541 –542; Soleglad & Fet, 2003: 8; Soleglad & Fet, 2005: 2; McWest, 2009: 20, 34, 75, 102, Figs. 245–249 Parabroteas montezuma: Birula, 1917: 139 –140; Werner, 1934: 287.

Pentheria montezuma: Kovarík, 1998: 128.

Vaejovis mexicanus C. L. Koch, 1836: Gertsch, 1958: 5 –6; Gertsch & Soleglad, 1966: 3; Sissom, 1990: 47, 49: Fet et al., 2006: 5, 7, 11; Graham & Fet, 2006: 11; Francke & González-Santillán, 2006 (2007): 557; Fet & Soleglad, 2007: 251 –161, Figs. 1–7; Soleglad & Fet, 2008: 5, 13, 28, 46, 51, 77, 99, 100; Fig: 14, 39; Sissom & Reddell: 2009: 31; Teruel & Rein, 2009: 1, 2, Fig: 1, 2; Graham & Bryson, 2010: 286; Santibáñez-López & Francke, 2010: 556; Ayrey & Soleglad, 2011: 1, 2; Graham et al., 2012: 281, 285, 286; Gurrola et al., 2012.

Type material. Neotype of V. mexicanus and lectotype of Parabroteas montezuma adult female. MEXICO: México City. II-6-1883 (leg. Bilimek), permanently deposited in NMW. Not examined.

Paralectotypes two females, same locality and label information. Lectotype and paralectotype designation labels for P. montezuma were placed in original vial by M. E. Soleglad in July 1976; published by Soleglad & Fet (2008). Not examined.

Other specimens examined. Vaejovis mexicanus: MEXICO: Ciudad de Mexico, Coyoacán. VII-2013. Col.: H. Karazawa. 6 ♂, 5 ♀ (CNAN-SC3633). MEXICO: Ciudad de Mexico, Coyoacan, Ciudad Universitaria. X-10- 2005. Without collector data. 1 ♂ (CNAN-SC1325). MEXICO: Ciudad de Mexico, Xochimilco. IV-15-1992. Col.: P. Guzmán. 1 ♂, 4 ♀ (CNAN–SC1336). MEXICO: Morelos, La Pera, Huitzilac (N 19.03°, W 99.23°; elev. 2560 m.) III-14-2 0 0 4. Col.: M. Córdova. 1 ♂, 3 ♀ (CNAN-SC-0257). MEXICO: Estado de Mexico, Malinalco, Road to San Simón el Alto. (N 18.98954°, W 99.49039, elev. 2169 m.). IV-25-2012. Cols.: O. Francke, D. Barrales, and J. Mendoza. 6 ♂, 6 ♀ (CNAN-SC3193).

Diagnosis. Adult size 50 to 60 mm long (Fig: 29-a, b). Carapace (Fig: 13-k), shorter than metasomal segment V (Carapace L/MS-V 0.89±0.1 [0.93±0.07]; subequal to femur length (Carapace L/Femur L 1.02±0.07 [1.08±0.05]); anterior margin of carapace slightly concave, may present a small median notch. Mesosomal tergite VII with a pair of well-developed granular carinae. Pectinal teeth 18–19 [16–17]; sternite V on males usually with a conspicuous bright semi-oval whitish patch on posterior margin; sternite VII presents a pair of granulose paramedial carinae and 10 to 14 setae. Metasomal segment I subquadrate in dorsal view (MSI L/ W 0.82 ±0.08 [0.75±0.05]); intercarinal spaces on segments I–IV smooth, with some scattered granules. In males segment V as wide as deep, in females wider than deep (MS-V W/D 1.03±0.1 [1.19±0.05]). Vesicle (Fig: 14-k) rounded (L/ W 1.6 ±0.1 [1.6±0.1]), broad (W/D 1.36± 0.15 [1.22±0.1]), ventrally with two lighter median longitudinal bands; an oval whitish vesicular gland dorsally easily distinguished on males. Pedipalp femur (Fig: 15-k) more than three times longer than wide (L/ W 3.39 ±0.1 [3.2±0.2]); patella (Fig: 16-k) approximately three times longer than wide (L/ W 2.98 ±0.2 [2.98±0.1]), wider than deep (W/D 1.24± 0.03[1.22±0.09]); chela (Fig: 17, 18-k) globose (CM L/ W 1.91 ±0.09 [1.89±0.05]), with the dorsal prosubmedian, dorsal internal and ventral median carinae granulose; other carinae smooth. Pedipalp chela fingers dentate margins on males straight, without basal scalloping.

Hemispermatophore (Fig: 19-k): Lamelliform (TL 3.3; LL 1.7; LW 0.5 mm); lamella simple, presents a pair of hooks located basally, pointed and slightly bent at the top.

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

Distribution. This species can be found on the Mexican states of Mexico and northern parts of Morelos, and Ciudad de Mexico (formerly known as the Distrito Federal) (Figure 4).

Natural history. This species is commonly found under rocks or fallen logs, and can be found in pine forest or slightly drier environments as deciduous oak forest. It is fairly commonly found inside houses in Mexico City, especially during the rainy season. Some females have litters of as many as 45 newborn and can be found with them on their backs in the months of June and July.

Notes

Published as part of A, Contreras-Félix Gerardo & Oscar, Francke B., 2019, Taxonomic revision of the " mexicanus " group of the genus Vaejovis C. L. Koch, 1836 (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae), pp. 1-100 in Zootaxa 4596 (1) on pages 44-45, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4596.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2659091

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Linked records

Additional details

Biodiversity

Collection code
CNAN-SC
Material sample ID
CNAN-SC1325 , CNAN-SC1336 , CNAN-SC3193 , CNAN-SC3633
Event date
1992-04-15 , 2005-10-10 , 2012-04-25 , 2014-03-02
Verbatim event date
1992-04-15 , 2005-10-10 , 2012-04-25 , 2014-03-02
Scientific name authorship
C. L. Koch
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Order
Scorpiones
Family
Vaejovidae
Genus
Vaejovis
Species
mexicanus
Taxon rank
species
Taxonomic concept label
Vaejovis mexicanus Koch, 1836 sec. A & Oscar, 2019

References

  • Koch, C. L. (1836) Die Arachniden. Nurnberg: C. H. Zeh'sche Buchhandlung, 3 (1 - 5), 17 - 104.
  • Penther, A. (1913) Beitrag zur Kenntnis Amerikanischer Skorpione. Annalen des Kaiserlich-Koniglichen Naturhistorischen Hofmuseums in Wien, 27, 239 - 252.
  • Hoffmann, C. C. (1931) Monografias para la entomologia medica de Mexico. Monografia Num. 2, Los escorpiones de Mexico. Primera parte: Diplocentridae, Chactidae, Vejovidae. Anales del Instituto de Biologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, 2 (4), 291 - 408.
  • Hoffmann, C. C. (1938) Nuevas consideraciones acerca de los alacranes de Mexico. Anales del Instituto de Biologia, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, 9, 318 - 337.
  • Gertsch, W. J. (1958) Results of the Puritan-American Museum expedition to Western Mexico. 4. The scorpions. American Museum Novitates, 1903, 1 - 20.
  • Diaz Najera, A. (1964) Alacranes de la Republica Mexicana. Identificacion de ejemplares capturados en 235 localidades. Revista del Instituto de Salubridad y Enfermedades Tropicales, Mexico, 24, 15 - 30.
  • Stahnke, H. L. (1974) Revision and keys to the higher categories of Vejovidae (Scorpionida). Journal of Arachnology, 1, 107 - 141.
  • Diaz Najera, A. (1975) Listas y datos de distribucion geografica de los alacranes de Mexico (Scorpionida). Revista del Instituto de Salubridad y Enfermedades Tropicales, Mexico, 35, 1 - 36.
  • Sissom, W. D. (2000) Family Vaejovidae. In: Fet, V., Sissom, W. D., Lowe, G. & Braunwalder, M., Catalog of the scorpions of the world (1758 - 1997). New York Entomological Society, New York, pp. 503 - 553.
  • Soleglad, M. E. & Fet, V. (2005) A new scorpion genus (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae) from Mexico. Euscorpius, 24, 1 - 13.
  • McWest, K. (2009) Tarsal spinules and setae of vaejovid scorpions (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Zootaxa, 2001, 1 - 126.
  • Werner, F. (1934) Scorpiones, Pedipalpi. In: Bronns H. G., Klassen und Ordnungen des Tierreichs. 5. IV. 8. Lief. 1 - 2 (Scorpiones). Akademische Verlaggesellschaft, Leipzig, pp. 1 - 316.
  • Kovarik, F. (1998) Stiri. (Scorpions). Jilhava, Madagaskar, pp. 175.
  • Gertsch, W. J. & Soleglad, M. E. (1966) The Scorpions of the Vejovis boreus group (Subgenus Paruroctonus) in North America (Scorpionida: Vejovidae). American Museum Novitates, 2278, 1 - 54.
  • Sissom, W. D. (1990) Systematics of Vaejovis dugesi Pocock, with descriptions of two new related species (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae). Southwestern Naturalist, 35 (1), 47 - 53. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 3671984
  • Fet, V., Soleglad, M. E. & Brewer, M. S. (2006) Laterobasal Aculear Serrations (LAS) in scorpion Family Vaejovidae (Scorpiones: Chactoidea). Euscorpius, 45, 1 - 14.
  • Graham, M. R. & Fet, V. (2006) Serrula in retrospect: a Historical look at Scorpion Literature (Scorpiones: Orthosterni). Euscorpius, 48, 1 - 19.
  • Francke, O. F. & Gonzalez-Santillan, E. (2006) A new species belonging to the Vaejovis punctipalpi group (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae) from Southern Mexico. Journal of Arachnology, 34 (3), 586 - 591. https: // doi. org / 10.1636 / 05 - 39.1
  • Fet, V. & Soleglad, M. E. (2007) Synonymy of Parabroteas montezuma Penther, 1913 and designation of neotype for Vaejovis mexicanus C. L. Koch, 1836 (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Boletin de la Sociedad Entomologica Aragonesa, 41, 251 - 263.
  • Soleglad, M. E & Fet, V. (2008) Contributions to Scorpion Systematics. III. Subfamilies Smeringurinae and Syntropinae (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Euscorpius, 71, 1 - 115.
  • Teruel, R. & Rein, J. O. (2009) On the Finding of Vaejovis mexicanus C. L. Koch, 1836 and other scorpions in Norway (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae, Euscorpiidae, Hemiscorpiidae). The Scorpion Files-Occasional Papers, 2, 1 - 3.
  • Graham, M. R. & Bryson Junior, R. W. (2010) Vaejovis montanus (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae), a new species from the Sierra Madre Occidental of Mexico. Journal of Arachnology, 38, 285 - 293. https: // doi. org / 10.1636 / Ha 09 - 90.1
  • Santibanez-Lopez, C. E. & Francke, O. F. (2010) New and poorly known species of the mexicanus group of the genus Vaejovis (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae) from Oaxaca, Mexico. Journal of Arachnology, 38, 555 - 571. https: // doi. org / 10.1636 / Ha 09 - 64.1
  • Ayrey, R. F. & Soleglad, M. E. (2011) A new species of Vaejovis from Prescott, Arizona (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Euscorpius, 114, 1 - 15.
  • Graham, M. R., Ayrey, R. F. & Bryson Junior, R. W. (2012) Multivariate methods support the distinction of a new highland Vaejovis (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae) from the Sierra de los Ajos, Mexico. Journal of Arachnology, 40 (2), 281 - 290. https: // doi. org / 10.1636 / Ha 11 - 78.1
  • Gurrola, G. B., Hernandez-Lopez, R. A., Rodriguez de la Vega, R. C., Vargas, Z., Batista, C. V., Salas-Castillo, S. P., Panyi, G., Del Rio-Portillas, F. & Possani, L. D. (2012) Structure, function and chemical synthesis of Vaejovis mexicanus peptide 24: a novel potent blocker of K v 1.3 potassium channels of human lymphocytes. Biochemistry, 51 (19), 4049 - 4061. https: // pubs. acs. org / doi / 10.1021 / bi 300060 n