Vaejovis sierrae, Sissom & Graham & Donaldson & Robert W. Bryson, 2016

Sissom, W. David, Graham, Matthew R., Donaldson, Taylor G. & Robert W. Bryson, Jr., 2016, Two new Vaejovis C. L. Koch 1836 from highlands of the Sierra Madre Occidental, Durango, Mexico (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae), Insecta Mundi 2016 (477), pp. 1-14 : 2-5

Vaejovis sierrae , new species

( Fig. 2–20 )

Type data. Holotype male taken from near Rancho Las Margaritas, SE Mezquital, 23.31279°N, 104.30334°W (2724 m), Durango, Mexico on 18 July 2010 by R. W. Bryson, Jr. ( CNAN) . Paratypes. Four adult, two juvenile females with same data as holotype. Deposited as follows: two adult females ( CNAN), one adult female, one juv. female ( AMNH), one adult female, one juv. female ( CAS).

Etymology. The specific epithet is a patronym named after Sierra Elizabeth Bryson, daughter of the last author.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality ( Fig. 1 ).

Diagnosis. Vaejovis sierrae is most similar to V. montanus from several localities in Chihuahua. Vaejovis sierrae is a smaller species with the single male at 19.62 mm in total length and females (n = 6) ranging from 22.80–27.27 mm (males of V. montanus exceed 26 mm and four females measure more than 28 mm in length). Vaejovis sierrae has more slender pedipalps (chela length/width in the holotype male is 3.68 and in the paratype females 3.61–3.95), with poorly developed carinae and only the dorsal marginal and dorsointernal carinae with granulation; V. montanus has robust pedipalp chelae (chela length/width in the paratype male is 3.33 and in the paratype females 3.55–3.65), with well-developed granulose carinae. Vaejovis sierrae has only feeble granulation on the intercarinal spaces of metasomal segment V, whereas V. montanus has extensive granulation on these surfaces. The pedipalp patella bears a weak basal tubercle on the internal (prolateral) face in V. sierrae , but a strong tubercle in V. montanus . Lastly, the dorsolateral carinae of metasomal segments I–IV bear 0:0:0:1 (86%) or 0:0:1:1 (14%) setae (n = 14 carinae) in V. sierrae , whereas the counts are 0:0:1:1 (100%) in V. montanus (n = 10 carinae).

Description. The following description is based on the holotype male.

Coloration ( Fig. 2–5 ). Carapace and tergites yellowish brown, with distinct pattern of dusky markings. Metasomal segments light orange brown; dorsal markings limited to posterior ends of carinae and small dark spots in dorsal intercarinal spaces; lateral fuscosity more extensive, associated with the carinae, setal pits, and intercarinal spaces; ventral fuscosity limited to carinae and setal pits; metasoma V with heavier fuscosity in posterior half. Telson orange brown with a few small lateral dusky spots; aculeus dark reddish brown. Cheliceral manus yellowish, dorsally with distal edge and movable finger bearing dusky markings; cheliceral teeth dark brown. Pedipalp femur and patella orange brown with small amounts of fuscosity located at or near trichobothrial setal pits. Pedipalp chela orange brown with fuscous spots surrounding trichobothria and setal pits and a band of fuscosity at distal end of manus which extends well onto fixed finger. Carinae of pedipalps and metasoma dark brown to reddish brown. Coxosternal region and sternites III–VI yellow brown, unmarked; sternite VII yellow brown with moderate fuscosity. Legs lighter yellow brown with strong fuscosity.

Prosoma. Carapace length slightly greater than posterior width; ratio of carapace L/metasomal segment V length 0.91. Median ocular prominence slightly raised above carapacial surface. Anterior margin obtusely emarginate; median notch rounded. Carapace densely finely granular, with scattered coarse granulation associated with fuscous areas.

Mesosoma. Median carina absent on I–II; on III–VI represented by faint granular ridges. Tergite VII with median carina present, weak on anterior half, granular; both pairs of lateral carinae strong, serratocrenulate. Pre-tergites densely finely granular; post-tergites densely, finely granular with scattered coarse granulation in fuscous areas. Pectinal teeth numbering 13/13. Sternite III with an anterior medial macroseta and a transverse, recurved row of four macrosetae near midsegment; sternites IV–VI with two macrosetae anterior to each book lung spiracle (lateral macroseta missing on right side of sternite IV) and a transverse, recurved row of four macrosetae near mid-segment; sternite VII with three pairs lateral setae (two of these on lateral carina) and one pair of medial setae; all five sternites with regularly spaced lateral and posterior marginal macrosetae. Sternite V with an inconspicuous medial pale patch along posterior margin; anterior edge of patch evenly convex. Sternites III–VII shagreened medially, with granulation laterally (stronger and more dense on posterior sternites). Sternite VII with one pair of moderate, granulose lateral carinae.

Metasoma ( Fig. 6 ). Segment I length/width ratio 0.75, III length/width ratio 1.04, V length/width ratio 2.32. Segments I–IV: Dorsolateral carinae strong, irregularly serratocrenulate; terminal denticles distinctly enlarged, spinoid. Lateral supramedian carina on I strong, serratocrenulate, on II–III strong, crenulate; terminal denticles enlarged, spinoid on I–III, flared on IV. Lateral inframedian carinae on I strong, complete, granulose; on II present on posterior one-half, stronger posteriorly, crenulate; on III present on posterior one-third, stronger posterior, crenulate; on IV absent. Ventrolateral carinae on I moderate, serratocrenulate; on II–IV strong, serratocrenulate. Ventral submedian carinae on I weak, crenulate; on II moderate, crenulate; on III–IV strong, crenulate. Intercarinal spaces densely, finely granular with a few scattered coarse granules in fuscous areas. Segment V: Dorsolateral carinae stronger anteriorly, granulose. Lateromedian carinae moderate basally, weak distally; present on anterior three-fourths, granulose. Ventrolateral and ventromedian carinae strong, serrate. Intercarinal surfaces densely finely granular, with a few coarse granules ventrally in fuscous areas. Metasomal I–IV carinal setation: dorsolaterals, 0/0:0/0:0/0:1/1; lateral supramedians, 0/0:1/1:1/1:2/2; lateral inframedians, 1/1:0/0:0/0:0/0; ventrolaterals, 2/2:3/2:2/2:3/3; ventral submedians, 3/3:3/3:3/3:4/3; ventromedian intercarinal spaces lacking accessory setae. Setation of metasomal segment V: dorsolaterals, 3/3; lateromedians, 2/2; ventrolaterals, 4/4; ventromedians, 1/1 + 2/2.

Telson ( Fig. 6 ). Moderately slender, distinctly narrower than metasoma V and with length/depth ratio 2.39. Dorsal surface of telson with a distinct pale, elongate oval depression. Underside of vesicle with eight pairs of macrosetae and several smaller paired setae, especially at the base. Ventral aspect of telson with sparse, scattered granulation.

Chelicera. Movable finger dorsally with one large distal tine, one smaller subdistal tine (two on left side, with distalmost arising from distal tine), one large medial tine, and one small basal tine. Ventral margin of cheliceral movable finger with well-developed serrula.

Pedipalp. Trichobothrial pattern, Type C, orthobothriotaxic ( Fig. 7–15 ). Femur ( Fig. 7 ): length/width ratio 2.92. Tetracarinate: dorsointernal carina moderate, irregularly crenulate; dorsoexternal carinae moderate, granulose; ventrointernal carina strong, crenulate; ventroexternal carina weak, granular. All faces densely, finely granular; internal face additionally with about 20 larger, irregularly-spaced, rounded granules. Internal face with one supramedial macroseta and three inframedial macrosetae; external face with two medial macrosetae. Patella ( Fig. 8–10 ). Length/width ratio 2.57. Pentacarinate. Dorsointernal carina moderate, irregularly crenulate; internomedian carina oblique, moderate, granulose, without pronounced basal tubercle; ventrointernal carina moderate, serrate; dorsoexternal and ventroexternal carinae moderate, granular. All faces densely, finely granular. Internal face with two supramedial and two inframedial macrosetae. Chela ( Fig. 11–15 ). Dorsal marginal carina weak, with a few small granules distally; dorsal secondary, digital, and external secondary carinae represented by faint, smooth, rounded ridges; dorsointernal carina weak, with several medium-sized granules; ventrointernal carina weak, with a few small granules; ventromedian and ventroexternal carinae absent. Intercarinal surfaces shagreened, with a few coarse granules at base of fixed finger. Dentate margin of fixed finger with primary denticle row divided into six subrows by five enlarged denticles; six inner accessory denticles ( Fig. 14 ). Dentate margin of movable finger with primary row divided into six subrows by five enlarged denticles; apical subrow consisting of a single denticle; six inner accessory denticles ( Fig. 15 ). Dentate margins of chela fingers straight in lateral profile. Chela length/width ratio 3.68; fixed finger length/carapace length ratio 0.66.

Leg. Telotarsus III with ventromedian spinule row terminating between a single pair of enlarged spinules; thirteen macrosetae (excluding superoterminal landmark macroseta) as follows (L/R): ri 1/1, rid 1/1, rit 1/1, rm 1/1, rmt 1/1, rs 1/1, rst 1/1, pi 1/1, pid 1/1, pit 1/1, pm 1/1, pmt 1/1, pst 1/1.

Hemispermatophore ( Fig. 16–20 ). Lamelliform with strong dorsal crest on distal lamina extending approximately one-third the length of the blade; distal lamina with basal constriction, widening at middle, and distinctly tapering distally. Two dorsal “hooks” positioned just above the dorsal trough, with ectal hook distinctly larger. Ventral capsular area with a flat, rounded plate bearing a sharp prong which projects ectally.

Measurements of Male Holotype (mm). Total L (additive), 19.62; carapace L, 2.58; mesosoma L, 6.25; metasoma L (additive), 8.14; telson L, 2.65 (missing aculeus tip). Metasomal segments: I L/W, 1.07/1.43; II L/W, 1.22/1.38; III L/W, 1.33/1.35; IV L/W, 1.68/1.28; V L/W, 2.83/1.22. Telson: vesicle L/W/D, 1.84/0.97/0.77; aculeus L, 0.82 (tip broken off). Pedipalps: femur L/W, 2.07/0.71; patella L/W, 2.24/0.87; chela L/W/D, 3.57/0.97/1.02; fixed finger L, 1.71; movable finger L, 2.14; palm (underhand) L, 1.63.

Measurements of Female Paratype (mm). Total L (additive), 22.52; carapace L, 3.08; mesosoma L, 7.40; metasoma L (additive), 9.00; telson L, 3.06. Metasomal segments: I L/W, 1.17/1.73; II L/W, 1.38/1.63; III L/W, 1.45/1.56; IV L/W, 1.94/1.53; V L/W, 3.06/1.48. Telson: vesicle L/W/D, 1.94/1.07/0.87; aculeus L, 1.12. Pedipalps: femur L/W, 2.30/0.79; patella L/W, 2.45/0.97; chela L/W/D, 3.99/1.01/1.02; fixed finger L, 1.99; movable finger L, 2.50; palm (underhand) L, 1.66.

Variation. The six female specimens exhibited pectinal tooth counts as follows: three combs with 12 teeth, six combs with 13 teeth, two combs with 14 teeth, and one damaged. Four of the seven specimens available had six inner accessory denticles on the chela movable finger, one had six on the right side and seven on the left, and two had seven on both fingers. The cheliceral movable finger in all specimens except the holotype has two subdistal teeth, but in almost all cases, the distalmost of the two actually arises from the posterior edge of the larger distal tine.

There was no observed variation in the numbers of macrosetae on the pedipalpal femur (internal supramedials and inframedials; external medians) and patella (internal supramedians and inframedians). There was some variation in metasomal segments I–IV setal counts (n = 14 carinae), as follows: dorsolaterals, 0:0:0:1 (n = 12; 86%), 0:0:1:1 (n = 2; 14%); lateral supramedians, 0:1:1:2 (100%); lateral inframedians, 1:0:0:0 (n = 9; 64%), 1:0:0:1 (n = 3; 21%), 1:0:1:1 (n = 1; 14%), 1:0:1:0 (n = 1; 14%); ventrolaterals, 2:2:2:3 (n = 8; 57%), 2:2:3:3 (n = 2; 28%), 2:2:2:4 (n = 2; 28%), 2:2:2:3 (n = 2; 14%), 2:3:3:2 (n = 1; 14%); and ventral submedians I-IV, 3:3:3:3 (n = 11; 79%), 3:3:3:4 (n = 3; 21%). For segment V, all specimens had three dorsolaterals, 2 lateromedians, and four ventrolaterals; the ventromedian carinae bore 2+2 (n = 9; 64%) or 1+2 macrosetae (n = 5; 36%).

Comments. The dorsal surface of the telson of the male holotype bears an oval-shaped excavation in the position often occupied by telson glands in other vaejovids. However, this particular feature is very unusual, and because it is limited to a single observation, it is unclear whether it represents an aberration or a true character that might have taxonomic value.

Figures

Figure 1. Type localities of species of the mexicanus group of Vaejovis C. L. Koch 1836 from the Sierra Madre Occidental: Vaejovis sierrae sp. nov., V. mcwesti sp. nov., and V. montanus Graham and Bryson 2010.

Figures 2–5. Vaejovis sierrae sp. nov., from near Rancho Las Margaritas, Durango, Mexico. 2) Dorsal aspect, male holotype. 3) Ventral aspect, male holotype. 4) Dorsal aspect, female paratype. 5) Ventral aspect, female paratype.

Figures 6–15. Morphology of Vaejovis sierrae sp. nov., based on male holotype. 6) Lateral view of metasoma and telson. 7) Right pedipalp femur, dorsal. 8) Right pedipalp patella, dorsal. 9) Right pedipalp patella, external. 10) Right pedipalp patella, ventral. 11) Right pedipalp chela, dorsal. 12) Right pedipalp chela, external. 13) Right pedipalp chela, ventral. 14) Apposable dentate margin of chela fixed finger. 15) Apposable dentate margin of chela movable finger.

Figures 16–25. Hemispermatophores of Vaejovis sierrae sp. nov. and V. mcwesti sp. nov. 16–20, Right hemispermatophore of V. sierrae: 16) dorsal surface of hemispermatophore; 17) ectal view of midsection; 18) enlarged view of hooks; 19) ectoventral aspect of capsular disk; 20) ventral surface of hemispermatophore. 21–25, Right hemispermatophore of V. mcwesti: 21) dorsal surface of hemispermatophore; 22) ectal view of midsection; 23) enlarged view of hooks; 24) ectoventral aspect of capsular disk; 25) ventral surface of hemispermatophore.