Vaejovis chiapas Sissom, 1989

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 : 29-31

Vaejovis chiapas Sissom, 1989

Figures 4 , 13b , 15b , 16b , 17b , 18b , 19b , 20

Vaejovis chiapas Sissom, 1989 . 139–141, 157, Fig: 20–28; Kovarík, 1998: 146; Beutelspacher, 2000: 79, 139, 152, map 52; Sissom, 2000: 540; Soleglad & Fet, 2008: 77, 99; Zarate-Galvez & Francke, 2009a: 61; Zarate-Galvez & Francke, 2009b: 21, 24.

Type material. Holotype: female. MEXICO: Chiapas, Las Margaritas, from 48 km NE Las Margaritas on road to Campo Alegre (elev. 2134 m). X-25-1976. Cols.: D. E. and J. A. Breedlove. CAS TYPE 16107 . Examined.

Paratypes: 1 male, 2 females. MEXICO: Chiapas, Las Margaritas , 8–10 Km NE La Soledad, near road between Las Margaritas and Campo Alegre. XII-27-1980. Col: D. E. Breedlove. Examined .

Diagnosis (modified from Sissom, 1989, and based on examination of holotype female): Adult size 24 to 27 mm long (Fig: 20-a,b). Anterior margin of carapace slightly concave, almost straight (Fig: 12-c); ocular tubercle distinctly elevated above the surface and median eyes noticeably enlarged (Fig: 13-b). Carapace shorter than pedipalp femur [Carapace L/Femur L: 0.89] but longer than metasomal segment V [Carapace L/MS-V: 1.2]. Mesosomal tergite VII with two pairs of carinae; present on middle three-fourths and not reaching posterior margin. Pectinal teeth 12–13 [11–13]; sternite V on males with a whitish spot; sternite VII with a pair of feebly granular carinae and 12 setae. Metasomal segment I wider than long, almost rectangular in dorsal view [MSI L/W: 0.6]. Intercarinal spaces on segments I–IV smooth, with some scattered granules; metasomal segment V two times longer than wide [MS-V L/W: 2.0] and slightly wider than deep [W/D: 1.2], with lateral median carinae present on basal three fourths of segment. Vesicle slender, two times longer than wide [L/W: 2] and broad [W/D: 1.3], with ventral surface granular: without a vesicular gland evident. Pedipalp femur (Fig: 15-b) three times longer than wide [L/W: 3.1]; prolateral face with few, large, pointed granules. Patella (Fig: 16-b) slightly over two and a half times longer than wide [L/W: 2.65], with dorsointernal carina crenulated, composed of equal-sized granules. Chela manus (Fig: 17,18-b) longer than wide, [CM L/W: 2.71], subcylindrical [W/D: 0.9]; dorsal retrolateral, dorsal median, dorsal prosubmedian, dorsal internal and prolateral median carinae feebly granular. Dentate margin of fingers straight; fixed finger as long as the chela manus [CM L/FF: 1]. Fixed finger base granular on external face.

Hemispermatophore(Fig: 19-b): Lamelliform (TL2.5; LL 1; LW0.5); lamella long, without apical crest. Capsular region with one large, lobed hook and another vestigial, merged with the union to the lamella. Median lobe present.

Full morphometric variation is given in tables 13 and 14. Setae variation is given in tables 9–12.

Distribution. Chiapas, México. This species is only known from the localities of the type material in the Central Mountains of Chiapas. We have unsuccessfully tried to collect this species several times, and probably this is a rare species in the zone.

Natural history. This species probably inhabits in the pine forests surrounding the type locality. Unfortunately no further information on this species is available.

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 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 20. Habitus of Vaejovis chiapas holotype (♀): a—dorsal view; b—ventral view. Scale bar = 1 cm.