Vaejovis rossmani 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 : 63-66

Vaejovis rossmani Sissom, 1989

Figures 4 , 35d , 36d , 37d , 38d , 39d , 40d , 41d , 44

Vaejovis rossmani Sissom, 1989: 144 –147, Figs: 37–45, 76–77.

Vaejovis rossmani: Kovarík, 1998: 148 ; Beutelspacher, 2000: 108, 143, 147, 154, map 71; Sissom, 2000: 543; González- Santillán & Sissom, 2004: 11; Sissom & Hendrixson, 2005: 34, 41; Soleglad & Fet, 2005: 7; Soleglad & Fet, 2008: 30, 77, 100; McWest, 2009: 20, 34, 41, 78, 102, 122, Figs: 261–265; Sissom & Reddell, 2009: 19, 31.

Type material. Holotype male. MEXICO: Tamaulipas, Rancho Nuevo . 10 April 1982. Col.: P. Sprouse ( AMNH). Examined.

Paratypes: MEXICO: Nuevo Leon, Puerto la Cieneguillas, 8 mi S Pablillo. V-22-1973. Col. : E. Rossman. 6 ♀ ( FSCA) . MEXICO: Nuevo Leon, 8.6 mi S Pablillo at Puerto Cieneguillas. VII-19-1975. Cols. : E. A. Liner et al. 2 ♂, 4 ♀ ( FSCA) . MEXICO: Tamaulipas, Conrado Castillo (Surface). III / IV-1 978. Col. : D. Pate. 2 ♀ ( FSCA) . MEXICO: Tamaulipas, Conrado Castillo. III / IV-1978. Cols.: A. Grubbs, E. Edinger, P. Sprouse and T. Treacy. 1 ♀ ( FSCA) . MEXICO: Tamaulipas, Conrado Castillo (Surface). IV-13-1980. Cols. : J. Atkins and P. Sprouse. 1 J# ( FSCA) . MEXICO: Tamaulipas, Cueva de la Boca, 0.5 km N Conrado Castillo. IV-6-1982. Col. : P. Sprouse 3 ♂ ( TMM) and 3 ♂ ( WDS) . MEXICO: Tamaulipas, Cueva del Oyamel, Conrado Castillo . III-19-1978. Cols. : A. Grubbs, D. Pate, M. Cassey and C. Green. 1 ♂ ( FSCA) . MEXICO: Tamaulipas, Surface above Sumidero Oyamel, 38 road mi SW El Barretal. XI-23-1977. Col. : D. Pate. 1 ♀ ( FSCA) . MEXICO: Tamaulipas, Mesas Juárez (Surface). V-28-1980. Col. : P. Sprouse. 3 ♀ ( WDS) . MEXICO: Tamaulipas, Rancho Nuevo (Surface). III-15-1 982. Cols. : P. Sprouse and T. Treacy. 1 ♂, 17 ♀ ( WDS) . 2 ♂, 12 ♀, same data as Holotype ( AMNH) ; examined. MEXICO: Tamaulipas, 5 Km N Rancho Nuevo. IV-20-1981. Col. : T. Treacy. 2 ♀ ( TMM) . MEXICO: Tamaulipas, 1 km N Rancho Nuevo. III-1982. Cols. : P. Sprouse and T. Treacy. 1 ♀ ( TMM) . MEXICO: Tamaulipas, Revilla Ridge, Purificación Área ( Surface ). III-19-1981. Col. : T. Treacy. 2 ♀ ( TMM) . MEXICO: Tamaulipas, Revilla (Surface). VI-2-1980. Col. : P. Sprouse. 8 ♀ ( TMM) . MEXICO: Tamaulipas, Revilla (surface). IV-16/17 -1980- Cols.: P. Sprouse, R. Romer and T. Treacy. 2 ♂, 13 ♀, 1 J# ( FSCA) . Not examined .

Other specimens examined. Vaejovis rossmani : MEXICO: Nuevo Leon, 10 Km. E from La Zorra, Sierra de Apanaco , General Zaragoza (N 23.928611° W 99.963611°, elev. 2564 m.). VIII-17.2006. Cols: O. Francke, D. Sissom, G. Casper, T. Anthon, V. Totti, H. Montaño, C. Santibáñez and A. Ballesteros. 1 ♂, 4 ♀ ( CNAN-SC3161 ) . MEXICO: Nuevo Leon, La Escondida, Zaragoza (N 24.1037999°, W 99.9229891°, elev. 1520 m.) VIII-15-2002. Col.: G. Hoese. 3 ♀ ( CNAN-SC3253 ) . MEXICO: Nuevo Leon, San Antonio Peña Nevada, Zaragoza (N 23.82808°, W 99.88392°, elev. 2694 m). VIII-9-2001 Col. M. Belmares. 1 ♂ ( UANL) . MEXICO: Nuevo Leon, San Antonio Peña Nevada, Zaragoza (N 23.83556°, W 99.86556°). VIII-9-2001 Col. M. Belmares. 1 ♀ ( UANL) . MEXICO: Nuevo Leon, San Antonio Peña Nevada, Zaragoza (N 23.82889°, W 99.9325°, elev. 2692 m). VIII-9-2001 Col. M. Belmares. 1 ♀ ( UANL) . MEXICO: Nuevo Leon, San Antonio Peña Nevada, Zaragoza (N 23.82889°, W 99.9325°, elev. 2692 m). VIII-9-2001 Col. M. Belmares. 1 ♀ ( UANL) . MEXICO: Nuevo Leon, San Antonio Peña Nevada, Zaragoza (N 23.83389°, W 99.86278°, elev. 2719 m). IX-1.2000 Col. M. Belmares. 1 ♂ ( UANL) . MEXICO: Nuevo Leon, San Antonio Peña Nevada, Zaragoza (N 23.83111°, W 99.86861°, elev. 2737 m). IV-28.2001. Col. M. Belmares. 1 ♂ ( UANL) . MEXICO: Nuevo Leon, San Antonio Peña Nevada, Zaragoza (N 23.83389°, W 99.865°, elev. 2694 m). IV-28-2001 Col. M. Belmares. 1 ♀ ( UANL) .

Diagnosis. Adult size 17 to 26 mm long (Fig: 44-a, b). Carapace (Fig: 35-d) as long as metasomal segment V (Carapace L/MS-V 1±0.01 [0.99±0.1]) and longer than femur (Carapace L/Femur L 1.26±0.02 [1.25±0.05]); anterior margin of carapace moderately concave. Mesosomal tergite VII with two pairs of carinae. Pectinal teeth 13–13 [12–13]; sternite V without white patch along posterior margin; sternite VII with one pair of vestigial paramedian carinae, and 10 [12] setae. Metasomal segment I subquadrate in dorsal view on males but conspicuously rectangular on females (MSI L/ W 0.75 ±0.01 [0.68±0.06]); intercarinal spaces on segments I–IV smooth; segment V feebly granular (MS-V L/ W 2.12 ±0.12 [1.88±0.18]; W/D 1.08±0.5 [1.28±0.12]). Vesicle (Fig: 36-d) slender, twice longer than wide (L/ W 2.08 ±0.1 [1.98±0.04]) and broad (W/D 1.33±0.08 [1.3±0.1]), ventral surface smooth; dorsal surface darker in coloration than rest of segment, with a medium size vesicular gland on males. Pedipalp femur (Fig: 37-d) three times longer than wide (L/W 3±0.01 [2.96±0.04]); patella (Fig: 38-d) never three times as long as wide (L/ W 2.73 ±0.13 [2.71±0.11]), with external carina smooth, slightly granulose distally; dorsointernal carina well-developed, serrated, composed by a single row of equally sized granules. Chela (Fig: 39, 40-d) slender (CM L/ W 1.98 ±0.03 [2.52±0.1]; W/D 0.96±0.1 [0.94±0.06]), with dorsal prosubmedian, dorsal internal and prolateral median carinae feebly granular, other carinae smooth, only darker coloration present on their respective positions. Pedipalp chela fingers dentate margins straight, without scalloping.

Hemispermatophore (Fig: 41-d): Lamelliform (TL 4.5, LL 2.5; LW 0.7 mm), lamellar crest present from middle part to tip, wider at the level of the hooks; hooks present basally, pointed. Capsular mesal median lobe present, with dentate margin.

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

Distribution. Mexico: Nuevo León and Tamaulipas. This species appears to have a considerably wider distribution than other members of the “ mexicanus ” group; further studies of the different populations are needed to confirm their taxonomic status ( Figure 4 ).

Natural history. This species inhabits in pine-oak mixed forest. Adult males have been found from March through September, mainly during the rainy season.

Figures

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

FIGURE 35. Comparison in shapes on carapace in species within “mexicanus” group: a—V. nigrofemoratus; b—V. prendinii; c—V. pusillus; d—V. rossmani; e—V. santibagnezi sp. nov.; f—V. setosus; g—V. sierrae; h—V. smithi; i—V. sprousei; j—V. talpa sp. nov.; k—V. tapalpa sp. nov.; l—V. tenamaztlei; m—V. tesselatus; n—V. trespicos; o—V. zapoteca. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 36. 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. nigrofemoratus; b—V. prendinii; c—V. pusillus; d—V. rossmani; e—V. santibagnezi sp. nov.; f—V. setosus; g—V. sierrae; h—V. smithi; i—V. sprousei; j—V. talpa sp. nov.; k—V. tapalpa sp. nov.; l—V. tenamaztlei; m—V. tesselatus; n—V. trespicos; o—V. zapoteca.

FIGURE 37. Comparison in shapes and trichobothrial patterns in the pedipalp femur, in species within “mexicanus” group: a—V. nigrofemoratus; b—V. prendinii; c—V. pusillus; d—V. rossmani; e—V. santibagnezi sp. nov.; f—V. setosus; g—V. sierrae; h—V. smithi; i—V. sprousei; j—V. talpa sp. nov.; k—V. tapalpa sp. nov.; l—V. tenamaztlei; m—V. tesselatus; n—V. trespicos; o—V. zapoteca. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 38. Comparison in shapes and trichobothrial patterns in the pedipalp patella, in species within “mexicanus” group: a—V. nigrofemoratus; b—V. prendinii; c—V. pusillus; d—V. rossmani; e—V. santibagnezi sp. nov.; f—V. setosus; g—V. sierrae; h—V. smithi; i—V. sprousei; j—V. talpa sp. nov.; k—V. tapalpa sp. nov.; l—V. tenamaztlei; m—V. tesselatus; n—V. trespicos; o—V. zapoteca. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 39. Comparison in shapes and trichobothrial patterns in the pedipalp chela of males in species within “mexicanus” group: a—V. nigrofemoratus; b—V. prendinii; c—V. pusillus; d—V. rossmani; e—V. santibagnezi sp. nov.; f—V. setosus; g—V. sierrae; h—V. smithi; i—V. sprousei; j—V. talpa sp. nov.; k—V. tapalpa sp. nov.; l—V. tenamaztlei; m—V. tesselatus; n—V. trespicos; o—V. zapoteca. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 40. Comparison in the different shapes and trichobothrial patterns in the pedipalp chela of females, that selected species within “mexicanus” group present a—V. nigrofemoratus; b—V. prendinii; c—V. pusillus; d—V. rossmani; e—V. santibagnezi sp. nov.; f—V. setosus; g—V. sierrae; h—V. smithi; i—V. talpa sp. nov; j—V. tapalpa sp. nov; k—V. tenamaztlei; l—V. tesselatus; m—V. trespicos; n—V. zapoteca. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 41. Comparison on the shapes in the hemispermatophore in species within “mexicanus” group: a—V. nigrofemoratus; b—V. prendinii; c—V. pusillus; d—V. rossmani; e—V. santibagnezi sp. nov.; f—V. setosus; g—V. sierrae; h—V. smithi; i—V. sprousei; j—V. talpa sp. nov.; k—V. tapalpa sp. nov.; l—V. tenamaztlei; m—V. tesselatus; n—V. trespicos; o—V. zapoteca. Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 44. Habitus of Vaejovis rossmani (♂): a—dorsal view; b—ventral view. Scale bar = 1 cm.