Paravaejovis Williams, 1980

Soleglad, Michael E. & Fet, Victor, 2008, Contributions to scorpion systematics. III. Subfamilies Smeringurinae and Syntropinae (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae), Euscorpius 71 (71), pp. 1-115 : 84

Genus Paravaejovis Williams, 1980

Type Species. Vaejovis pumilis Williams , 19 70 [=

Paravaejovis pumilis (Williams, 1970) ].

References:

Paravaejovis : Williams, 1980: 29–30, figs. 32A–D;

Haradon, 1 984b: 319; Sissom, 1990a: 110, 114;

Stockwell, 1992: 409, 416, figs. 62–63; Kovařík,

1998: 143; Beutelspacher, 2000: 56, 63, 151;

Sissom, 2000: 504–505; Soleglad & Fet, 2003b:

88.

Composition. This monotypic genus includes the single species, P. pumilis (Williams, 1970) .

Distribution. Mexico (endemic of Baja California Sur); see tribe.

Diagnosis. Same as for tribe.

Taxonomic History. The genus Paravaejovis was established by Williams (1980: 29–30) for a single, very unique little scorpion species originally described as Vejovis pumilis also by Williams (1970c: 297–302).

Discussion. Along with P. pumilis, Williams (1970b) also described another smeringurine species from Baja California Sur, Paruroctonus pseudopumilis , which was then assigned to his “pumilis ” group of Vaejovis . Later, this species was placed in the “borregoensis ” microgroup of Paruroctonus by Haradon (1984 b). Haradon (1984 b), in his discussion of the “borregoensis ” microgroup, states: “… carapace, metasoma, pectines, pedipalps and legs, and sexual dimorphism shown by Paravaejovis , indicate to me that this taxon is most closely related, if not subordinate, to the borregoensis group …”. In his discussion, Haradon (1984 b) questioned the importance of neobothriotaxy exhibited in Paravaejovis because it was not exclusively found in this genus in Vaejovidae . This is indeed true, but the examples provided by Haradon (1984 b), involving a single accessory trichobothrium, are, in our opinion, different in their evolutionary and taxonomic significance from the major neobothriotaxy found in Paravaejovis . Also in agreement with Haradon’s (1984 b) observation on sexual dimorphism, we point out in the section on the pectines (see above), the major difference in pectinal tooth counts between the genders in Paravaejovis , which is also found in three other species of the “borregoensis ” microgroup of Paruroctonus . And if the only character differentiating Paravaejovis from the other Smeringurine species were neobothriotaxy, then we would agree with Haradon (1984 b), since it clearly is autapomorphic. However, several other characters unique to Paravaejovis clearly separate it from tribe Smeringurini , including all its genera, among them the “borregoensis ” microgroup of Paruroctonus . Fet et al. (2006c) presented a comprehensive analysis of the constellation array in Smeringurinae , showing that Paravaejovis exhibited three sensilla whereas Smeringurini have two (see our Figures 198–201). Fet et al. (2006c) also suggested that constellation array sensilla are being lost in Smeringurinae since it exhibits the smallest number known in Vaejovidae (and in scorpions in general). This would imply that two sensilla condition seen in Smeringurini is derived from three as seen in Paravaejovini , the number three being a synapomorphy for the subfamily Smeringurinae , since in the other subfamilies, there are usually a larger number of sensilla ( Fet et al., 2006a, in progress). As stated in the diagnosis, Paravaejovis is quite distinct from the other smeringurines with the unusual placement of the d and e trichobothria of the pedipalp femur, distal placement of chelal trichobothrium Dt, and the hemispermatophore, whose lamellar hook is well defined by a conspicuous basal constriction, placed well above the ventral trough, and the toothed condition of the mating plug barb (after Stockwell, 1989).

The geographic range of Paravaejovini is largely separated from that of its sister tribe Smeringurini , except for two isolated Paruroctonus species in the Vizcaino Desert, P. pseudopumilis and P. surensis (members of the “borregoensis ” microgroup), whose range abuts the north edge of Paravaejovis range. Their geographic proximity to endemic Paravaejovis , combined with similar trends in pectinal tooth gender ratios (see above in “Pectines” section), might deserve further investigation.