Vaejovis nanchititla, A & Oscar, 2019

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 : 50-53

Vaejovis nanchititla sp. n.

Figures 4 , 13o , 14n , 15o , 16o , 17o , 18o , 19o , 33

Type material. Holotype male. MEXICO: Estado de Mexico, Luvianos, Parque Estatal Sierra de Nanchititla (N 18.88364°, W 100.341763°, elev. 2042 m). X-12-2012. Cols.: G. Montiel, D. Barrales, J. Mendoza and G. Contreras ( CNAN-T0828 ).

Paratypes: same data as holotype, 1♂, 4 ♀ ( CNAN-T0829 ); 1 ♂, 4 ♀ ( AMNH) .

Other specimens examined. Vaejovis nanchititla : MEXICO: Estado de Mexico, Luvianos, Estación Biológica Sierra de Nanchititla ,(N 18.861991°, W 100.42387°, elev. 1747 m). X-12-2012. Cols.: G. Montiel, D. Barrales, J. Mendoza and G. Contreras. 1 ♀ ( CNAN-SC3696 ) . MEXICO: Estado de Mexico, Luvianos, 2 km north from the Entrance of the Parque Estatal Sierra de Nanchititla. XII-16-2001. Cols.: O. Francke, O. Martinez, M. Martinez and E. González. 3 ♀ ( CNAN-SC3697 ) .

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the State Park where the type locality of this species is found and it is used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Vaejovis nanchititla sp. n. is a medium to small sized scorpion, with length of 22.3 mm. in holotype (range in adults 20.7–25.9) (Fig: 33-a, d). Carapace (Fig: 13-o) on males shorter that metasomal segment V, on females as long (Carapace L/MS-V 0.9 ±0.01 [1 ±0.01]), but longer than pedipalp femur (Carapace L/Femur L 1.2 ±0.01 [1.2 ±0.01]); anterior margin of the carapace slightly concave, almost straight. Mesosomal tergite VII with a pair of well-developed lateral carinae, present on posterior half, with a single row of rounded granules. Pectinal tooth counts: 14–15 [13–14]; sternite V with a large whitish patch, triangular in shape, almost reaching anterior margin of segment; sternite VII pale brown, with one pair of weak to faint lateral carinae and 10 [10] setae. Metasomal segment I wider than long, rectangular in dorsal view (MSI L/ W 0.67 ±0.03 [0.7 ±0.01]); intercarinal spaces on metasomal segments I–IV smooth; segment V longer than wide (L/ W 1.9 ±0.1 [1.7 ±0.01]); 1.1 ±0.01 [1.1 ±0.03]); lateral median carinae present only on the anterior half of segment. Vesicle (Fig: 14-o) slender, about twice longer than wide (L/ W 2.1 ±0.1 [1.9 ±0.1]), but slightly broad, slightly wider than deep (W/D 1.3 ±0.2 [1.3 ±0.01]), with two lighter longitudinal bands ventrally; ventral surface smooth and with sparsely distributed setae; with an aggregation of granules at base of aculeus resembling a weak spine. Dorsal face flat, smooth, with a small white vesicular gland on posterior margin. Pedipalp femur (Fig: 15-o) more than three times longer than wide on males (L/D 3.2 ±0.3 [2.9 ±0.1]); patella (Fig: 16-o) usually less than three times longer than wide (L/ W 2.93 ±0.1 [2.7 ±0.2]); retrolateral dorsosubmedian carina weak to vestigial, not differentiated in coloration and composed of some scattered granules. Chela (Fig: 17, 18-o) longer than wide, as wide as deep (CM L/ W 1.8 ±0.1 [1.9 ±0.1]; W/ D 1.02 ±0.05 [1 ±0.01]) with dorsal retrolateral, dorsal median and dorsal prosubmedian carinae weak, with small flattened granules, and dorsal internal carina strong. Pedipalp chela fingers dentate margins straight, without scalloping.

Hemispermatophore (Fig: 19-o): Lamelliform (TL: 2.9, LL: 1.7, LW: 0.4 mm); lamella slightly curved, narrow, almost half the width of capsule and without an apical crest; basal lamellar hooks with two denticles on margin and a long narrow notch. Capsular region entally with a small, sclerotized median lobe.

Vaejovis nanchititla sp. n. is geographically closer to V. mexicanus C. L. Koch, 1836 , but differs from this species as follows: first, the total length in adults in V. nanchititla sp. n. is 20.7–25.9 mm. and in V. mexicanus is 50–60 mm.; body coloration in V. nanchititla sp. n. is pale brown with a fusco-piceous pattern, whereas V. mexicanus it is dark brown; the frontal margin of the carapace in V. nanchititla sp. n. is slightly concave almost straight, whereas in V. mexicanus it is noticeably concave; the pedipalp chela manus has weak carinae, not differentiated in coloration, whereas on V. mexicanus the manus carinae are strong, raised ridges of the cuticle, and granular. Another species geographically close to V. nanchititla sp. n. is V. pusillus Pocock, 1898 , from the mountains of Guerrero, but differs from it as follows: adults in V. nanchititla sp. n. are bigger than V. pusillus , at least double in size (10.4–17mm); V. pusillus is more densely and darkly infuscated, particularly the vesicle; and the base of the pectines in V. pusillus is darker, whereas in V. nanchititla sp. n. it is pale. Vaejovis granulatus Pocock 1898 , another similar species differs from it as follow: the metasomal ventral intercarinal spaces are densely granulose on V. granulatus , whereas on V. nanchititla sp. n. they are smooth to shagreened; the first metasomal segment in V. granulatus is clearly wider than long, and in V. nanchititla sp. n. it is as long as wide. The pectinal tooth count in males of V. nanchititla sp. n. sp. n. is 14–15 (N= 3, mode= 14) and in females it is 12–14 (N= 8, mode 13); in V. mexicanus in males it is 17–20 (N= 10, mode= 18), in females 15–17 (N= 10, mode= 16); V. granulatus males is 16–17 (N= 6, mode= 17) and females 13–16 (N= 10, mode= 15) and in V. pusillus males is 8–12 (N= 7, mode= 11) and in females 10–12 (N= 4, mode= 12).

Description holotype male (Fig: 33-a, b): Prosoma (Fig: 13-o): Pale brown to yellow brown with fuscopiceous pattern; surface granulated on darker areas, smooth on pale areas. Anterior margin of carapace slightly concave, almost straight.

Mesosoma: Pale brown with underlying fusco-piceous pattern; tergites I–VI with surfaces smooth on pale areas and shagreened on darker portions, becoming granulated on posterior half of tergites. Tergite VII shagreened on anterior quarter, becoming granulated distally; median carinae well-developed, present on posterior half, with a single row of rounded granules; lateral carinae well-developed, present on posterior half, with a single row of rounded granules. Sternites III–VI pale brown, with few dark fuscous markings; sternite V with a large whitish patch, triangular in shape, almost reaching anterior margin of segment; sternite VII pale brown, darkened anterolaterally; shagreened, with one pair of weak to faint lateral carinae. Sternite VII with 10 setae. Pectinal tooth count: 14–14.

Metasoma: Coloration pale brown with underlying fusco-piceous pattern. Dorsal lateral carinae on I–IV strong, well developed, composed of a single row of pointed granules well differentiated from each other, distally ending in a larger, pointed granule. Lateral median carinae on I–IV strong, composed of a single row of pointed granules, on I–III ending distally in a larger, pointed granule. Lateral inframedian carinae: on I strong, composed of a single row of pointed granules and only present on posterior half; on II–III weak, only present on posterior third and composed of a few pointed granules; on IV absent. Ventral lateral carinae on I–IV strong, composed of a single row of pointed granules well differentiated from each other. Ventral submedian carinae: on I weak, with a row of granules not well differentiated from each other; on II–IV strong with a single row of granules, becoming more pointed posteriorly. Segment V longer than pedipalp patella and femur. Dorsal lateral carinae weak, not well differentiated, granulose; lateral median carinae weak to vestigial, not well differentiated, composed of a single row of rounded granules; ventral lateral carinae strong, well developed, formed by a single row of pointed granules; ventral median carina strong, well developed, composed of a single row of pointed granules well differentiated from each other, distally ending before margin. Setae counts over carinae of metasomal segments I–IV as follows: dorsal lateral: 0-0/1-1/1-1/2-2; lateral median: 0-0/0-0/2-2/2-2; lateral inframedian: 1-1/1-1/0-0/0- 0; ventral lateral: 2-2/3-3/4-4/4-3; ventral submedian: 3-3/3-3/4-3/4-4. Segment V: dorsal lateral 3-4; lateral median 2-2; ventral lateral 4-4 and ventral median 5-6.

Telson (Fig: 14-o): Vesicle slender, about twice longer than wide (VL/W: 2.1), but slightly broad, slightly wider than deep (V W/D: 1.3); pale brown, with two lighter longitudinal bands ventrally; surface ventrally smooth and with sparsely distributed setae; with an aggregation of granules at base of aculeus resembling a weak spine. Dorsal face flat, smooth, without any setae or tubercles, with a small white vesicular gland present distally.

Pedipalp: Pale brown to yellowish brown with underlying fusco-piceous pattern. Orthobothriotaxia type “C”. Femur (Fig: 15-o): wider than deep. Dorsal retrolateral carina weak, with large rounded granules, not differentiated in color from rest of femur; dorsal prolateral carina weak, composed by a row of granules, some pointed others rounded, not differentiated in color from rest of femur; ventral prolateral carina strong, composed of a straight line of pointed granules; ventral retrolateral carina absent. Dorsal face flat, slightly granulated, pale brown with fuscosity basally and distally. Ventral face concave, pale brown to yellowish brown, shagreened and minutely granular basally. Patella (Fig: 16-o): dorsal retrolateral carina weak, with few rounded, flattened granules; dorsal prolateral carina strong, composed of an irregular line of rounded granules; prolateral median carina strong, composed of a line of rounded granules well separated from each other; retrolateral dorsosubmedian carina weak to vestigial, not differentiated in coloration and composed of some scattered granules; ventral retrosubmedian carina weak, composed of a row of aggregated rounded granules; ventral median carina weak to vestigial, composed of a line of small granules basally; ventral prolateral carina weak, composed by a line of flattened granules not completely differentiated from each other. Chela (Fig: 17-o): dorsal retrolateral, dorsal median and dorsal prosubmedian carinae weak, with small flattened granules; dorsal internal carina strong, composed of a few large rounded granules; prolateral median, ventral prolateral, ventral median and ventral retrolateral carinae weak to faint, smooth. Pedipalp chela fingers dentate margins straight.

Legs: Pale brown to yellowish brown with fusco piceous pattern. Basitarsus I ventrally with two subrows of spinules divided by three pairs of larger asymmetrical setae, II–IV with two subrows of spinules divided by four pairs of larger asymmetrical setae. Telotarsi I–IV ventromedially with a single row of spinules; with 2 distal spinules on all legs 2:2/2:2/2:2/2:2; pi / ri setae count: 2/1:2/2:3/2:3/3.

Hemispermatophore (Fig: 19-o): Lamelliform (TL: 2.9, LL: 1.7, LW: 0.4 mm); lamella slightly curved, narrow, almost half the width of capsule and without an apical crest; basal lamellar hooks with two denticles on margin and a long narrow notch. Capsular region entally with a small, sclerotized median lobe.

Measurements: Table 5. Full morphometric variation is given in tables 13 and 14.

Variation: Vaejovis nanchititla sp. n. shows sexual dimorphism: the males are slightly darker than females; the shape of the chela differs between males (wider) and females (slender), with more strongly developed carinae (higher in elevation and more granulose) on males. Pectinal tooth count variation as follows: Males—5 combs with 14 teeth and 1 comb with 15; Females—1 comb with 12 teeth, 9 combs with 13 teeth, 6 with 14. Setae variation is given in tables 9–12.

Distribution. This species in only known from the type locality and two other nearby localities in the Sierra de Nanchititla, Estado de Mexico ( Figure 4 ).

Natural history. All the specimens of V. nanchititla sp. n. were collected in a pine forest or mixed pine-oak forest, primarily at night with portable U. V. lights.

Figures

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

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 33. Habitus of Vaejovis nanchititla sp. nov. holotype (♂): a—dorsal view; b—ventral view; habitus of V. nanchititla sp. nov. paratype (♀): c—dorsal view; d—ventral view. Scale bar = 1 cm.