Vaejovis tenamaztlei, Contreras-Félix, Gerardo A., Francke, Oscar F. & Bryson Jr, Robert W., 2015

Contreras-Félix, Gerardo A., Francke, Oscar F. & Bryson Jr, Robert W., 2015, A new species of the “ mexicanus ” group of the genus Va e j o v i s C. L. Koch, 1836 from the Mexican state of Aguascalientes (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae), Zootaxa 3936 (1), pp. 131-140 : 133-139

Vaejovis tenamaztlei sp. n.

(Figs. 2–3, 6–9, 11–13)

Holotype. Aguascalientes: Municipio Calvillo, 3 km to the east of “Alamitos” dam, Sierra del Laurel (N 21.73531º, W 102. 69753º, 2440 m), 24.VII.2012. O. Francke, G. Contreras, D. Barrales & A. Valdez. 1 ♂ ( CNAN –T0871).

Paratypes. Aguascalientes: Same data as the holotype. 1 ♂, 3 ♀ ( CNAN T–0872). Municipio Calvillo, Los Alisos, Sierra del Laurel (N 21.725611º W 102.700389º, 2415 m), 10.I.2011. J. C. Arenas. 1 ♂ ( AMNH).

Other specimens examined: Aguascalientes: Municipio Calvillo, Los Alisos, Sierra del Laurel (N 21.725611º W 102.700389º, 2415 m), 20.VII.2010. R. W. Bryson Jr. 1 ♀ ( AMNH), 5 adults ♀, 3 subadults ♂ ( CNAN). Aguascalientes: Municipio Calvillo, 3 km to the east of “Alamitos” dam, Sierra del Laurel (N 21.73531º, W 102.69753º, 2440 m), 24.VII.2012. O. Francke, G. Contreras, D. Barrales & A. Valdez. 2 adults ♀, 9 juvenile ♀.

Distribution. Known only from the two localities within the higher elevations of the Sierra del Laurel in southwestern Aguascalientes ( Fig. 1 ). This species probably occurs in other regions within the Sierra del Laurel, including adjacent areas in northern Jalisco.

Diagnosis. Vaejovis tenamaztlei sp. n. belongs to the “ mexicanus ” group of Vaejovis as diagnosed above; i.e., it has six rows of denticles on the fixed finger of the pedipalp chela, trichobothria ib – it are located at the base of the fixed finger of the pedipalp chela, and the spermatophore lacks a sclerotized mating plug. This is a small to medium-sized species of Vaejovis , with adult total length ranging from 19.4 mm to 26.6 mm ( Table 1 ). Carapace on males shorter than metasomal segment V (C L/MSV L 0.85 ± 0.06), but as long or slightly longer on females [C L/ MSV L 1.02 ± 0.02], and longer than pedipalp femur in both males (C L/F L 1.13 ± 0.13) and females [C L/F L [1.22 ± 0.07]; anterior margin of carapace slightly concave, almost straight, without median notch. Tergite VII with median lateral and lateral carinae weak, composed of a discontinuous line of rounded granules, and both pairs of carinae never reaching posterior margin of segment. Sternite VII with lateral carinae weak, composed of a cuticular ridge and some scattered granules. Metasomal segment I wider than long (L/ W 0.7 ±0.01); intercarinal spaces on metasomal segments I–V shagreened; metasomal segment V wider than deep (W/D 1.15 ± 0.1). Vesicle long and slender (L/ W 2.16 ± 0.1; W/D 1.3 ± 0.03); dorsally with a conspicuous central depression due to a presumed glandular area, deeper on adult males than on females and subadult males, on which it is almost absent. Pedipalp femur less than three times as long as wide (L/ W 2.87 ± 0.13) [2.75 ± 0.15]. Patella less than three times as long as wide (L/ W 2.89 ± 0.11) [2.77 ± 0.13]; patellar prolateral carina weak, with few sharp scattered granules. Chela rounded (L/W 2 ± 0.09) [2 ± 0.1] as wide as deep (W/D 1) [1]; with prolateral median-ventrosubmedian carina feebly granular, but conspicuously more elevated than the rest of the carinae which are represented by low cuticular ridges. Pectinal tooth count on males 16 – 17 (mode=16, n=8), and on females 13 – 14 [mode=14, n=16].

Vaejovis tenamaztlei sp. n. is similar in coloration to the geographically proximate species Vaejovis dugesi Pocock, 1902 , from Guanajuato ( Fig. 1 ), but is well differentiated by the following characters: patella proportionally shorter on V. tenamaztlei sp. n., less than three times as long as wide (L/ W 2.85) [2.75], whereas in V. dugesi the patella is more than three times longer than wide (L/ W 3.23) [3.06]; pectinal tooth counts higher in V. tenamaztlei sp. n. (16–17) [13–14] than in V. dugesi (12–14) [12–13]; additionally the vesicle on V. tenamaztlei sp. n. presents the dorsal face of the vesicle with a noticeably, concave, central depression on males, whereas in V. dugesi the dorsal face of the vesicle is almost flat with no evident depression; distal telotarsal spinules less than four in V. dugesi , (mode=2, n=32) up to six in V. tenamaztlei sp. n. (mode=4, n=40); in adult size, V. dugesi are larger on average (30.4 mm, n=8) compared to V. tenamaztlei sp. n. (24 mm, n=10); additionally, the hemispermatophore hooks are small and present three faint ridges (Fig. 14), but in V. dugesi the hooks are enlarged and there is not an evident division (Figs. 15–17). Vaejovis tenamaztlei sp. n. also resembles Vaejovis tesselatus Hendrixson and Sissom, 2001 , from San Luis Potosí ( Fig. 1 ), but differs from this species by the following characters: the shape of the anterior margin of the carapace is concave in V. tesselatus but almost straight in V. tenamaztlei sp. n.; the coloration of V. tesselatus is brownish and diffuse, but yellowish with dark spots in V. tenamaztlei sp. n.; total setae count on sternite VII is 16 in V. t es s el at u s (mode=16, n=2) and only 10 in V. tenamaztlei sp. n. (mode=10, n=10); finally, the femur in V. tenamaztlei sp. n. is less than three times longer than wide (L/ W 2.87) [2.75], whereas in V. tesselatus it is more than three times longer than wide (L/ W 3.55) [3.09]. Vaejovis monticola Sissom, 1989 , from Jalisco ( Fig. 1 ), is also geographically close to V. tenamaztlei sp. n., but differs as follows: Vaejovis monticola presents a nearly uniform dark brown coloration, compared to the lighter, yellowish colour with dark spots of V. tenamaztlei sp. n.; the vesicle on males in V. tenamaztlei sp. n. is long and slender (L/ W 2.21), whereas in V. monticola it is short and globose (L/ W 1.5); finally, the hemispermatophore in V. tenamaztlei sp. n. has a relatively long lamella and an apical crest medially, whereas in V. monticola the hemispermatophore has a relatively short lamella and the apical crest is marginal rather than medial. Vaejovis montanus Graham and Bryson, 2010 , from Chihuahua, superficially resembles V. tenamaztlei sp. n., but differs from this species by the following characters: white patch on the fifth mesosomal segment present in V. montanus , absent in V. tenamaztlei sp. n.; pectinal tooth counts lower in male V. montanus (11–13) than male V. tenamaztlei sp. n. (16–17); finally, the hemispermatophore in V. montanus ( Graham & Bryson, 2010: Figs. 16–17) has hooks that are nearly absent and lamella that are more slender at the base compared to V. tenamaztlei sp. n.

Description of holotype male (Figs. 2 – 3, 6 – 9, 11 – 14)

Prosoma (Fig. 6): Carapace yellow with underlying fusco-piceus pattern; surface shagreened, with few granules. Frontal margin smooth, almost straight, with three setae on each side. Three pairs of lateral ocelli, posterior pair markedly reduced in size.

Mesosoma: Tergites yellow, with underlying fusco-piceus coloration; surface of tergites I–VI smooth medially, with few rounded granules, becoming more granulose laterally on post-tergites. Tergite VII shagreened; lateral and median lateral carinae formed by a single line of granules. Sternites III–VII smooth, with pale yellow coloration, with a dark line on lateral margins. Sternite VII with 5 pairs of setae, including one pair on posterior margin. Pectinal tooth count 16–16.

PLATE 1. Habitus of Vaejovis tenamaztlei sp. n. 2 – 3 Holotype male, dorsal and ventral views. 4 – 5 paratype female, dorsal and ventral views. Scale bar 1 cm.

PLATE 2. Structures of taxonomical importance in Vaejovis tenamaztlei sp. n. 6—Carapace of holotype male, dorsal view; 7—femur of holotype, dorsal view; 8—patella of holotype, external view; 9—chela of holotype, external view; 10—chela of paratype female, external view; 11— holotype metasomal segment V and vesicle, showing the oval concavity of the vesicle (arrow). Scale bar 1 mm. White circles highlight the trichobothria.

Metasoma: Yellowish, becoming darker distally on segments IV and V. Dorsal lateral carinae on I–IV composed by a single line of granules, well-differentiated from each other, with distal granule slightly bigger. Lateral median carinae on I strong, composed by a single line of granules, well-differentiated from each other; on II – IV composed by a single line of pointed granules, directed posteriorly. Lateral inframedian carinae on I strong, composed by a single row of granules; on II–III weak, present only on posterior fifth of each segment, composed by a short line of no more than seven granules; on IV absent. Ventral lateral carinae on I moderately strong, composed by a single line of granules; on II–IV slightly weaker, almost smooth, composed by a line of short, rounded granules. Ventral submedian carinae on I weak, with unaligned short granules; on II–IV strong, composed by a single line of rounded granules. Segment V wider than deep; dorsal lateral carinae weak, composed by several rows of small, rounded granules; lateral median carinae present only on anterior half of segment, strong anteriorly, becoming weaker distally; ventral lateral carinae weak, composed by a line of rounded granules; ventral median carina strong, composed by an irregular row of rounded granules. Setal counts as follows: segments I–IV: dorsal lateral 3/3/3/3-4; lateral supramedian 2/3/3/3; lateral inframedian 1/0/0/0; ventral lateral 0/1/1-0/2; ventral submedian 0/0/0-1/0-1; segment V 3 /2/4/4.

Telson: Longer than wide; coloration pale yellow. Dorsal face noticeably concave basally; centrally with a conspicuous, concave, oval spot (Fig. 11). Ventral face smooth, with few scattered setae, each on a darker insertion socket. Laterobasal aculear serrations absent.

Pedipalp (Figs. 7–10): Yellow, infuscated along margins, along carinae and around setal and trichobothrial insertions; orthobothriotaxia “C”.

PLATE 3. Hemispermatophores. Vaejovis tenamaztlei sp. n. 12 – 13, ental and mesal views; 14, detail of lobe on capsular region. Vaejovis dugesi Pocock, 1902 . 16 – 17, ental and mesal views; 15, detail of lobe on capsular region. Abbreviations: ac: apical crest; h: hooks. Scale bar 1 mm.

Femur (Fig. 7): Considerably wider than deep (W/L 0.34). Dorsal prolateral carina strong, composed of a line of large rounded granules. Dorsal retrolateral carina strong, composed of an irregular line of large rounded granules. Ventral prolateral carina strong, composed of a line of large rounded granules and some additional granules off-line. Prolateral ventrosubmendian carina weak to vestigial, composed of some small dispersed granules.

Patella (Fig. 8): Dorsal prolateral carina strong, composed of a line of big rounded granules. Dorsal prolateral carina strong, composed of a line of big rounded granules, well differentiated from each other. Dorsal retrolateral carina weak, almost smooth, composed by a row of rounded, flattened granules. Retrolateral median carina vestigial to absent, present only as low cuticular ridge with some small, scattered granules. Ventral prolateral carina composed of an irregular row of big rounded granules. Ventral median carina composed only by few granules distally. Ventral retrolateral carina weak, smooth, composed by an irregular elevation of cuticle.

Chela (Figs. 9, 10): Chela rounded (L/W 2 ± 0.09) [2 ± 0.1], as deep as wide (W/D 1) [1]. Trichobothria it and ib at base of fixed finger. Chela manus with prolateral median-ventrosubmendian carina feebly granular; dorsal retrosubmedian, dorsal median, dorsal prosubmedian, ventral prolateral, ventral prosubmedian, and ventral retrolateral carinae smooth, differentiated only as cuticular ridges; other carina vestigial or absent. Dentate margin of fixed finger divided into six denticular subrows, with six enlarged outer denticles and six inner denticles; dentate margin of movable finger divided into six subrows, with five enlarged outer denticles and seven inner denticles.

Legs: Yellow, with fuscosity on all segments. Femora I–IV with one row of pointed tubercles ventrally. Telotarsi ventrally with one row of setae medially on each leg; telotarsal distal spinules X/4:4/4:6/6:4/4; pi/ri counts 1/0:2/1:2/2:2/2.

Hemispermatophore (Fig. 12 – 14): Lamelliform. Lamina wider at the base, with an apical crest medially. Laminar hooks with three rounded ridges. Capsular lobe present, well-sclerotized and may present some faint, small granules.

Variation. There is variation on the concave structure on the dorsal face of the telson in V. tenamaztlei sp. n. due to sexual dimorphism and age; on adult males it is very conspicuous, whereas on juveniles and females this structure is weak, almost absent (Fig. 11). Females have metasomal segment V usually longer than carapace [MSV L/C L 1.02], whereas males have segment V shorter than the carapace (MSV L/C L 0.85). Females also present a vesicle less than two times as long as wide [L/ W 1.92], whereas on males the vesicle is over twice longer than wide (L/ W 2.21). Females are bigger in size than the males, and the pedipalp chela carinae are less strongly developed than on males. In addition, the genital operculum on females is separated on posterior one-third, whereas on males are fully connected. Variation in pectinal tooth counts as follows: are males 7 combs with 16 teeth, 1 comb with 17 teeth; in females 10 combs with 13 teeth, 4 combs with 14 teeth. Variation in setal counts of the metasomal segments is shown in Table 2 , and in telotarsal setae is shown in Table 3 .

Etymology. The species epithet tenamaztlei is a patronym honoring Francisco Tenamaztle, an influential leader of the Caxcan people that inhabited parts of Jalisco, Zacatecas, and Aguascalientes.

Habitat. Vaejovis tenamaztlei sp. n. was found in winter during the dry season, as well as in the summer during the rainy season. Specimens were found underneath rocks in oak forest during the day. Specimens from Los Alisos were found along the base of a rock wall, which followed the crest of a hill ( Figure 18 ). The vaejovid scorpion Mesomexovis punctatus (Karsch, 1879) was also found in abundance underneath those rocks.

Natural history. Among the specimens collected during July, three females had broods on their back, and the counts of newborns were 14, 18 and 22, respectively; the young were positioned randomly on the mother’s back.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Type locality of Vaejovis tenamaztlei sp. n. and closely related species in the “ mexicanus ” group of Vaejovis C. L. Koch, 1836 from the Mexican highlands.

FIGURE 18. Habitat at the paratype locality for Vaejovis tenamaztlei sp. n. Los Alisos, Sierra del Laurel, Aguascalientes.

Tables

TABLE 1. Measurements (in mm) from selected specimens in the type series of Vaejovis tenamaztlei sp. n. from Aguascalientes, Mexico (L = length, W = width, D = depth).

	Holotype ♂	Paratype ♂	Paratype ♂	Paratype ♀	Paratype ♀	Paratype ♀
Total L	22.1	21.1	19.4	21.5	25	26.6
Carapace L/W	2.9/1.5	2.3/1.6	2.6/1.4	2.8/1.6	3.4/1.9	3.6/1.9
Mesosoma L	6.5	6.7	5.8	7.6	8.6	9.2
MS I length	1.2	1.3	1.2	1.2	1.4	1.4
MS II length	1.4	1.5	1.3	1.4	1.6	1.7
MS III length	1.6	1.6	1.4	1.5	1.7	1.9
MS IV length	1.9	2.0	1.8	1.8	2.1	2.3
MS V length	3.1	3.2	2.9	2.7	3.4	3.5
Metasoma length	9.2	9.6	8.6	8.6	10.2	10.8
Vesicle L/W/D	2.6/1.2/0.9	2.5/1.2/0.9	2.4/1/0.8	2.5/1.3/1	2.8/1.5/1.1	3/1.5/1.1
Femur L/W/D	2.3/0.8/0.6	2.4/0.8/0.6	2.2/0.8/0.6	2.4/0.9/0.6	2.7/1/0.7	2.9/1/0.8
Patella L/W/D	2.7/0.9/0.8	2.9/1/0.8	2.5/0.9/0.7	2.7/1/0.8	3/1.1/0.8	3.5/1.2/1
Chela L/W/D	2.4/1.2/1.2	2.5/1.2/1.3	2.3/1.2/1.2	2.3/1.2/1.3	2.6/1.3/1.3	2.9/1.4/1.4
Movable finger L	2.2	2.5	2.3	2.6	3	2.5
Fixed finger L	1.9	2.0	1.8	1.9	2.4	3
Pectinal teeth	16 – 16	16 – 16	16 – 16	13 – 14	13 – 14	14 – 14

TABLE 2. Variation in the metasomal setae counts in adult specimens of Vaejovis tenamaztlei sp. n. from Aguascalientes, Mexico.

V. tenamaztlei Holotype ♂	Dorsal lateral 0/0/0-1/0-1/3	Lateral median 0/1/0-1/2/2	Lateral inframedian Ventral lateral (absent on segment V) 1/0/0/0 2/3/3/3/4	Ventral submedian/ median (on segment V) 3/3/3/4-3/2
Paratype ♂	0/0/0-1/1/3	0/1/1/2/2-1	1/0/0/0 2/3/3/3/4	3/3/3/4/2
Paratype ♂	0/0/0-1/1/3	0/0/1/2/2	1/0/1/0 2/3/3/3/4	3/3/3/4/1
♂	0/0/0/1/3-4	0/1/1/2/3	1/0/0/0 3/3/3/3/5	3/3/3/4/4
Paratype ♀ Paratype ♀ ♀	0/0/1/2-1/3 0/0/1/2/3 0/0/0/1/3	0-1/1/1/2/2 0/1/2/2/3-2 0/1/1/2/2	1/0/0/0 2/3/3/3/6 2-1/0/0/0 2/3/3/3/4 1/0/0/0 2/3/3/3/4	3/3/3/4/3-4 3/3/3/4/4 3/4/3/4/2
♀ ♀ ♀	0/0/0/1/3 0/0/0-1/1/3 0/0/1/1/3	0/1/1/2/2 0/1/1/2/2 0/1/1/2/2	1/0/0/0 2/3/3/3/4 1/0/0/0 2/2/3/3/4 1/0/0/0 2/3/3/3/3	3/3-4/3/4/3 3/3/3/4/3 3/3/3/4/3

TABLE 3. Variation in the setal counts on each segment of the legs on selected specimens of Vaejovis tenamaztlei sp. n. from Aguascalientes, Mexico. DTS = distal telotarsal spinules (successive legs are separated by a colon (:), and a slash (/) is used to separate the counts on the left / right side; X = missing or damaged segment); pi / ri T = prointernal and retrointernal setae of telotarsus; pi / ri B = prointernal and retrointernal setae of basitarsus (successive legs are separated by a colon (:), and a slash (/) is used to separate the counts on the prointernal (pi) and retrointernal (ri) portion of the telotarsus and basitarsus from each leg (e. g., I pi / ri: II pi / ri: III pi / ri: IV pi / ri); X = missing or damaged segment).

Specimens Holotype ♂	Setae on legs DTS x/4:4/4:6/6/:4/4	pi/ri T x/x:2/1:2/2:2/2	pi/ri B x/x:3/3:4/4:4/4
Paratype ♂ Paratype ♂ ♂	4/4:4/4:6/4:4/4 X/4:2/4:2/4:2/4 4/4:4/4:4/6:4/4	1/0:2/1:2/1:2/1 x/x:1/1:2/1:2/2 1/0:2/1:2/1:2/2	3/3:3/3:4/4:4/4 x/x:3/3:4/4.4/4 3/3:3/3:3/3:4/4
Paratype ♀ Paratype ♀ ♀	4/4:6/4:6/4:5/4 4/4:4/4:6/6:6/6 4/6:6/4:4/4:4/4	1/1:2/1:2/2:2/2 1/1:2/1:2/2:2/1 1/0:2/1:2/1:2/1	3/3:3/3:3/3:4/4 3/3:3/3:3/3:4/4 3/3:3/3:4/4:4/4
♀ ♀ ♀	4/4:4/4:X/4:4/4 4/4:4/4:4/X:4/4 6/6:4/6:4/4:4/4	1/0:1/1:2/1:2/2 1/0:2/1:2/1:2/2 1/0:2/2:2/1:2/1	3/3:3/3:4/4:4/4 3/3:3/3:4/4:4/4 3/3:4/4:4/4:4/5