Kuarapu Francke and Ponce-Saavedra, 2010

Figures 4, 7, 18C, D, 24B; table 1

Kuarapu purhepecha Francke and Ponce-Saavedra, 2010, type species, by monotypy.

Kuarapu Francke and Ponce-Saavedra, 2010: 52; Ayrey and Soleglad, 2011: 1.

DIAGNOSIS: The following combination of characters differentiates Kuarapu from other genera of Syntropinae. The integument is markedly infuscate, especially on the dorsal surface of the cheliceral manus, the dm carinae of the tergites, the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the metasoma, and the ventral surface of the telson. The carapace anteromedial margin is straight and the median ocular tubercle shallow, protruding slightly, with the superciliary carinae lower than the ocelli. The carinae of the pedipalp chela manus are absent or obsolete (fig. 18C, D). The median denticle row of the pedipalp chela movable finger comprises five primary subrows of median denticles and five retrolateral denticles, and the terminal denticle of the fixed and movable fingers is larger than the preceding denticles (fig. 18C, D), but not hooklike, as in Serradigitus, for example. The intercarinal surfaces of metasomal segments I–V are entirely and uniformly, finely granular (matte; fig. 24B).

Kuarapu shares with the closely related genera, Kochius and Thorellius, the medial position of trichobothrium Dt on the pedipalp chela manus, and further resembles Kochius in the presence of a raised, whitish boss, restricted to the posteromedial third of mesosomal sternite VII, and the finely granular vsm and vl carinae of metasomal segments I–IV. Unlike these genera, however, both of which exhibit a generally robust habitus with incrassate, strongly carinate pedipalp chelae, the habitus of Kuarapu is gracile and attenuate, the chelae slender, elongated, and largely acarinate (fig. 18C, D).

Kuarapu also resembles Vizcaino, gen. nov., in possessing elongate pedipalp chela fingers, with fixed finger trichobothrium it situated between PD5 and PD6, and ib situated at PD6 (fig. 18D). Kuarapu differs from Vizcaino, gen. nov., in having a markedly infuscate integument, and separate rows of dorsal and retrodorsal macrosetae on the basitarsi of legs I–III. The integument is immaculate, and the dorsal and retrodorsal macrosetae are arranged in a sublinear row (forming setal combs) on the basitarsi of legs I–III, in Vizcaino, gen. nov. (fig. 21C).

Kuarapu shares with Konetontli, gen. nov., Maaykuyak, gen. nov., Syntropis, Vizcaino, gen. nov., Chihuahuanus bilineatus, comb. nov., C. coahuilae, comb. nov., and Thorellius cristimanus the presence of a secondary hook on the hemispermatophore, created by an extension of the axial carina of the distal lamina, that forms a pronounced bifurcation with the primary hook.

INCLUDED SPECIES: Kuarapu purhepecha Francke and Ponce-Saavedra, 2010.

DISTRIBUTION: Kuarapu is endemic to the Balsas Depression in the state of Michoacán, Mexico (fig. 4) and known only from the type locality.

NATURAL HISTORY: The type locality of this monotypic genus occurs in tropical deciduous forest at an altitude of 248 m. The known specimens were collected with UV light detection at night, on the surfaces of road-cuts (Francke and Ponce-Saavedra, 2010). The habitat and habitus of Kuarapu, especially the dorsoventral compression of the body, slender, elongated pedipalps, welldeveloped superciliary carinae of the medial ocular tubercle, and the tarsal morphology, are consistent with the lithophilous ecomorphotype (Prendini, 2001a). Kuarapu appears to have converged on this ecomorphotype with three other, unrelated groups of vaejovid scorpions: the monophyletic group comprising Gertschius, Serradigitus, Stahnkeus, and Wernerius; Syntropis; and the former nitidulus group of Vaejovis, presently comprising species assigned to Franckeus and the nigrescens ‘‘group’’ of Vaejovis.

MATERIAL EXAMINED: Kuarapu purhepecha Francke and Ponce-Saavedra, 2010: MEXICO: Michoacán: Municipio de La Huacana: El Vado, 17 km on road Zicuaran–Churu-muco, 18 ° 48.8520 ′ N 101 ° 54.9558 ′ W, 248 m, 30.vi.2008, O.F. Francke, H. Montaño, J. Ponce, and A. Quijano, 1♂, 1♀ paratypes (AMNH).