Published May 3, 2019 | Version v1

Vaejovis smithi , Pocock 1902

Description

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.

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 72-73, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4596.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2659091

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Linked records

Additional details

Biodiversity

Collection code
BMNH , CNAN-SC , II-
Material sample ID
CNAN-SC03165 , CNAN-SC2354 , CNAN-SC2355 , CNAN-SC2358 , CNAN-SC2359 , CNAN-SC3204 , CNAN-SC3205
Event date
1946-05-23 , 2003-10-07 , 2004-02-02 , 2004-03-30 , 2009-07-29 , 2017-03-12
Verbatim event date
1946-05-23 , 2003-10-07 , 2004-02-02 , 2004-03-30 , 2009-07-29 , 2017-03-12
Scientific name authorship
, Pocock
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Order
Scorpiones
Family
Vaejovidae
Genus
Vaejovis
Species
smithi
Taxon rank
species
Type status
neotype
Taxonomic concept label
Vaejovis smithi , 1902 sec. A & Oscar, 2019

References

  • Pocock, R. I. (1902) Arachnida, Scorpiones, Pedipalpi and Solifugae. Biologia Centrali-Americana. Taylor & Francis, London, 71 pp.
  • Ewing, H. E. (1928) The scorpions of the western part of the United States; with notes on those occurring in northern Mexico. Proceedings of the U. S. National Museum, 73 (9), 1 - 24.
  • 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.
  • Kovarik, F. (1998) Stiri. (Scorpions). Jilhava, Madagaskar, pp. 175.
  • Beutelspacher B., C. R. (2000) Catalogo de los Alacranes de Mexico. Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacan, 175 pp.
  • 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.
  • McWest, K. (2009) Tarsal spinules and setae of vaejovid scorpions (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Zootaxa, 2001, 1 - 126.
  • 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.
  • 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.