Vaejovis mexicanus C. L. Koch, 1836

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 : 44-45

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.

Figures

FIGURE 1. a—Carapace, dorsal view (V. santibagnezi sp. n.) showing the distinctive characters of the group; a—red arrows marking the six distinctive setae on the frontal margin; green arrows making the location of the lateral eyes. b—Carapace, lateral view (V. santibagnezi sp. n.) white circles marking the positions and size of each lateral eye. c—Mesosomal tergite VII, dorsal view (V. mexicanus), yellow arrows marking each carina present on this segment. d—Mesosomal sternite VII, ventral view (V. mexicanus), white circles, marking the positions of the 8 setae always present on the species included in the “mexicanus” group. e—Metasoma, lateral view (V. mexicanus), red lines marking the presence and length of lateral inframedian carina on each segment. f—Vesicle, dorsal view (V. mexicanus), purple arrows marking the lack of LAS.

FIGURE 2. a—Pedipalp chela, prolateral view (V. mexicanus), white circles marking trichobothria ib—it on the base of fixed finger. b—Fixed finger, ventral prolateral view (V. mexicanus), showing the prolateral granules and the division of the principal row of granules (the accessory denticles numbered from 1-6 on the right side of each dentcle). c—Movable finger, dorsal view (V. mexicanus), showing the prolateral granules and the division of the principal row (the accessory denticles numbered from 1- 7 on the right side of each denticle). d, e, f—Spermatophores of three different species included in the “mexicanus” group, showing the hooks always present at the base of the lamella (from left to right V. dzahui, V. monticola, V. sprousei).

FIGURE 3. a—Hemispermathophore of V. vorhiesi, included in the “vorhiesi” group, showing the sclerotized mating plug. b—Vesicle, dorsal view (V. crumpi), showing the Lateral Aculear Serrations at the base of the sting. c—Hemispermathophore of V. kochi, included on the “Franckeus+nigrescens” group, showing the sclerotized mating plug. d—Vesicle, dorsal view (V. kochi), showing the Lateral Aculear Serrations at the base of the sting.

FIGURE 4. Known distribution of all the species of Vaejovis, included in the “mexicanus” group.

FIGURE 5. Examples of the difference in habitats of different species within the “mexicanus” group. a-Pine forest, botanical garden IBUNAM, Mexico City. Habitat of V. mexicanus and V. granulatus; b—Pine forest, central valley of Ceboruco volcano, Nayarit, Mexico; habitat of V. ceboruco sp. nov. c—Pine forest, paradero Puerto del Sol, Ixtlán de Juarez, Oaxaca; habitat of V. zapoteca. d—Xeric habitat, San Martin Tenextepec, Veracruz, México; habitat of V. maculosus.

FIGURE 6. Characters diagnosing species from the “mexicanus” group. a—Hemispermatophore V. monticola. b—Hemispermatophore of V. ceboruco sp. nov. red line, representing the longitude of the lamella; black line, representing the comparative longitude of the trunk; red arrow, signaling the point where each hemispermatophore are wider; Blue arrow, signaling the median lobe and its development.

FIGURE 7. Characters to identification species with males: a—Telson showing the vesicular gland, highlighted in red (V. dugesi); b—Telson showing an absent vesicular gland (V. zapoteca); c—Pedipalp chela manus, showing the strong development of carinae (V. santibagnezi); d—Pedipalp chela manus, showing the poor development of carinae (V. tenamaztlei); e—Telson with well-developed vesicular gland (highlighted in red); f—Telson with vesicular gland moderately developed (Highlighted in red); g—Mesosomal sternite V (V. maculosus), highlighted in red the small white patch at the end of the segment; h—Mesosomal sternite V (V. montanus) highlighted in red the white patch from the posterior edge, reaching the front margin.

FIGURE 13. Comparison in shapes on carapace in species within “mexicanus” group: a—V. ceboruco sp. nov.; b—V. chiapas; c—V. coalcoman; d—V. darwini; e—V. dugesi; f—V. dzahui; g—V. franckei; h—V. granulatus; i—V. maculosus; j—V. mcwesti; k—V. mexicanus; l—V. montanus; m—V. monticola; n—V. morelia; o—V. nanchititla sp. nov. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 14. 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. ceboruco sp. nov.; b—V. chiapas; c—V. coalcoman; d—V. darwini; e—V. dugesi; f—V. dzahui; g—V. franckei; h—V. granulatus; i—V. maculosus; j—V. mcwesti; k—V. mexicanus; l—V. montanus; m—V. monticola; n—V. morelia; o—V. nanchititla sp. nov.

FIGURE 15. Comparison in shapes and trichobothrial patterns in the pedipalp femur, in species within “mexicanus” group: a—V. ceboruco sp. nov.; b—V. chiapas; c—V. coalcoman; d—V. darwini; e—V. dugesi; f—V. dzahui; g—V. franckei; h—V. granulatus; i—V. maculosus; j—V. mcwesti; k—V. mexicanus; l—V. montanus; m—V. monticola; n—V. morelia; o—V. nanchititla sp. nov. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 16. Comparison in shapes and trichobothrial patterns in the pedipalp patella, in species within “mexicanus” group: a—V. ceboruco sp. nov.; b—V. chiapas; c—V. coalcoman; d—V. darwini; e—V. dugesi; f—V. dzahui; g—V. franckei; h—V. granulatus; i—V. maculosus; j—V. mcwesti; k—V. mexicanus; l—V. montanus; m—V. monticola; n—V. morelia; o—V. nanchititla sp. nov. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 17. Comparison in shapes and trichobothrial patterns in the pedipalp chela of males in species within “mexicanus” group: a—V. ceboruco sp. nov.; b—V. chiapas; c—V. coalcoman; d—V. darwini; e—V. dugesi; f—V. dzahui; g—V. franckei; h—V. granulatus; i—V. maculosus; j—V. mcwesti; k—V. mexicanus; l—V. montanus; m—V. monticola; n—V. morelia; o—V. nanchititla sp. nov. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 18. Comparison in the different shapes and trichobothrial patterns in the pedipalp chela of females, that selected species within “mexicanus” group present: a—V. ceboruco sp. nov.; b—V. chiapas; c—V. coalcoman; d—V. darwini; e—V. dugesi; f—V. dzahui; g—V. franckei; h—V. granulatus; i—V. maculosus; j—V. mcwesti; k—V. mexicanus; l—V. montanus; m—V. monticola; n—V. morelia; o—V. nanchititla sp. nov. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 19. Comparison on the shapes in the hemispermatophore in species within “mexicanus” group: a—V. ceboruco sp. nov.; b—V. chiapas; c—V. coalcoman; d—V. darwini; e—V. dugesi; f—V. dzahui; g—V. franckei; h—V. granulatus; i—V. maculosus; j—V. mcwesti; k—V. mexicanus; l—V. montanus; m—V. monticola; n—V. morelia; o—V. nanchititla sp. nov. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 29. Habitus of Vaejovis mexicanus (♂): a—dorsal view; b—ventral view. Scale bar = 1 cm.