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 : 14-18

Key to identification of males of the species in the “ mexicanus ” group

1 Lateral inframedian carinae usually with two setae at least on the first three segment of the metasoma; three pi/ri setae on the third and fourth telotarsi................................................................................ 2

1’ Lateral inframedian carinae with one or no seta on the first three segments of the metasoma; two or less pi/ri setae on the third and fourth telotarsi.................................................................................... 7

2(1) Hemispermatophore lamella short and compact; less than two times longer than wide (L/W = 1.76) (Fig: 6-a)........... 3

2’ Hemispermatophore lamella long and slender; more than three times longer than wide (L/W = 3.8) (Fig: 6-b)........... 4

3(2) Vesicle thin, twice longer than wide........................................................... V. tapalpa sp. n.

3’ Vesicle globose, usually as long as wide........................................................... V. monticola

4(2) Caudal gland absent (Fig: 7-a)................................................................. V. coalcoman

4’ Caudal gland present (Fig: 7-b)......................................................................... 5

5(4) Pedipalp chela manus with more than four granular carinae (Fig: 7-c)........................... V. santibagnezi sp. n.

5’ Pedipalp chela manus with three or fewer granular carinae (Fig: 7-d)............................................ 6

6(5) Pedipalp chela ventral accessory carina granular; hemispermatophore hooks bent 90° at the tip; pectinal tooth counts 14–15........................................................................................ V. ceboruco sp. n.

6´Pedipalp chela ventral accessory carina smooth or absent: hemispermatophore hooks straight; pectinal tooth counts 11–12............................................................................................ V. talpa sp. n.

7(1) Caudal gland evident, covering about one third of the dorsal surface of the vesicle (Fig: 7-e); hemispermatophore short, with an apical crest and a well-sclerotized median lobe with small granules on the edge.................................. 8

7’ Caudal gland small or absent (Fig: 7-f); hemispermatophore without an apical crest and the median lobe weak and translucent................................................................................................... 15

8(7) Mesosomal sternite V with light-colored glandular area not differentiated (Fig: 7-g)...................... V. tenamaztlei

8’ Mesosomal sternite V with distinct, whitish glandular area (Fig: 7-h)........................................... 9 9(8) Mesosomal sternite V with the glandular area reaching the anterior margin of the segment.......................... 10

9’ Mesosomal sternite V with the glandular area marginal, only present on the posterior half of the segment.............. 12

10(9) Intercarinal spaces on metasomal segments feebly granulose.......................................... V. montanus

10’ Intercarinal spaces on metasoma segments distinctly granulose................................................ 11

11(10) Caudal gland with a strong and noticeable depression.................................................. V. sierrae

11’ Caudal gland flat or slightly depressed............................................................. V. mcwesti

12(9) Caudal gland well-developed, almost as long as the vesicle (Fig: 7-c)..................................... V. dugesi

12’ Caudal gland poorly developed or absent (Fig: 7-d).......................................................... 13

13(12) Pedipalp chela with the dorsal marginal carina absent; fixed finger almost as long as the pedipalp chela manus (CM L/FF 0.98± 0.02); pectinal tooth count higher than 15 (usually 18–19)............................................. V. sprousei

13’ Pedipalp chela with the dorsal marginal carina present; fixed finger shorter than the pedipalp chela manus (CM L/FF Ẽ 1); pectinal tooth counts lower than 15......................................................................... 14

14(13) Vesicle globular (L/W= 1.62); pedipalp patella more than three times longer than wide; hemispermatophore lamella bent 180° at the tip.................................................................................... V. tesselatus

14’ Vesicle thin (L/W= 2.08); pedipalp patella less than three times longer than wide; hemispermatophore lamella tip straight............................................................................................... V. rossmani

15(7) One telotarsal ventral distal spinule............................................................... V. chiapas

15’ Two or more telotarsal ventral distal spinules.............................................................. 16

16(15) Vesicle rounded and flattened dorsoventrally, less than one and a half times longer than wide and at most one and a half times wider than deep (Fig: 8-a); pedipalp chela fingers with basal notch (Fig: 8-b).................................... 17

16’ Vesicle thin or globular, more than one and a half times longer than wide and at least one and a half times wider than deep (Fig: 8-c); pedipalp chela fingers straight basally (Fig: 8-d)...................................................... 20

17(16) Caudal gland absent..................................................................... V. nigrofemoratus

17’ Caudal gland vestigial................................................................................ 18 18(17) Metasomal intercarinal spaces smooth; metasomal carinae granular..................................... V. franckei

18’ Metasomal intercarinal spaces granulated or if they are smooth then the metasomal carinae have all their granules basally fused................................................................................................... 19

19(18) Metasomal intercarinal spaces granular; metasomal carinae usually composed by a line of granules and serrated or crenulated.......................................................................................... V. granulatus

19’ Metasomal intercarinal spaces smooth; metasomal carinae composed by a raised ridge of the cuticle, and all the granules of the carinae basally fused (Fig: 8-e)................................................................... V. zapoteca

20(16) Anterior margin of the carapace distinctly concave (Fig: 8-f); metasomal carinae on segments IV and V densely hirsute (usually more than 5 setae on each carina), ventral carinae on IV and V with 5 or more setae..................... V. prendinii

20’ Anterior margin of the carapace straight or very slightly concave (Fig: 8-g); metasomal carinae on segments IV and V sparsely hirsute (usually less than 5 setae on each carina), ventral carinae on IV and V with less than 5 setae.................. 21

21(20) Vesicle ventrodistally with an aggregation of granules resembling a subaculear tubercle (Fig: 9-a)...... V. nanchititla sp. n.

21’ Vesicle ventrodistally smooth, without an aggregation of granules (Fig: 9-b).................................... 22

22(21) Metasomal segment I distinctly wider than long (L/W <0.7), appearing rectangular in dorsal view................... 23

22’ Metasomal segment I nearly as long as wide, (L/W> 0.7) appearing almost square in dorsal view.................... 25

23(22) Pedipalp chela with dorsal marginal carinae smooth, vestigial, present as an irregular pigmented line............ V. dzahui

23’ Pedipalp chela with dorsal marginal carina distinct, granular................................................... 24

24(23) Pedipalp femur more than 3 times longer than wide, as wide as deep...................................... V. pusillus

24’ Pedipalp femur less than 3 times longer than wide, and almost one and a half times wider than deep............ V. trespicos

25(22) Caudal gland circular................................................................................. 26

25’ Caudal gland linear.................................................................................. 27

26(25) Pectinal tooth counts 20 or more (usually 20–22); vesicle elongated (L/W ḵ1.7)............................. V. smithi

26’ Pectinal tooth counts less than 20; vesicle globose (L/W Ẽ 1.7)........................................ V. mexicanus

27(25) Pedipalp chela smooth, without granular carinae................................................... V. maculosus 27’ Pedipalp chela with at least one granular carina............................................................. 28 28(27) Pedipalp femur two times wider than deep; vesicle more than two times longer than wide.................... V. morelia 28’ Pedipalp femur never more than one and a half times wider than deep; vesicle less than two times longer than wide...... 29 29(28) Sternite VII with 11–12 setae; chela with dorsal carinae moderate to strong, granulose...................... V. darwini 29’ Sternite VII with 15 or more setae; chela with dorsal carina weak, granulose.............................. V. setosus