Vaejovis pusillus, Pocock, 1902

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 : 60-63

Vaejovis pusillus, Pocock, 1902

Figures 4 , 35c , 36c , 37c , 38c , 39c , 40c , 41c , 43

Vaejovis pusillus Pocock, 1902: 10 , pl. II, Fig: 5, 5a–c. Vejovis pusillus: Kraepelin, 1899: 184 , 185; Hoffmann, 1931: 392; Stahnke, 1974: 135; Bücherl, 1971: 328; Gertsch & Soleglad, 1972: 598.

Vaejovis pusillus: Sissom, 1989 a: 136 –138, Fig: 11–19 (part); Kovarík, 1998: 148 (part); Beutelspacher, 2000: 106, 140, 154, map: 88 (part); Sissom, 2000: 543; Hendrixson & Sissom, 2001: 215 –217; Graham & Fet, 2006: 9; Fet & Soleglad, 2007: 260; Soleglad & Fet, 2008: 77, 100; Miranda-Lopez et al., 2010: 57 –60; Santibáñez-López & Francke, 2010: 559, 566.

Type material. Lectotype female (designated by Sissom, 1989). MEXICO: Guerrero, Omiltemi. No date. H. H Smith ( BMNH). Not examined.

Paralectotypes: 1 female and 1 male, from the same locality as the lectotype ( BMHM). Not examined .

Other specimens examined. Vaejovis pusillus : MEXICO: Guerrero, Chilpancingo , 2 km. E of Omiltemi (N 17.55447°, W 99.65427°, elev. 2013 m.). VII-23-2009. Cols.: O. Francke, C. Santibáñez, H. Montaño, T. Palafox, C. Quijano and A. Valdez. 6 ♂ ( CNAN-SC3565 ) . MEXICO: Guerrero, Chilpancingo, Omiltemi (N 17.55464°, W 99.68538°, elev. 2623 m.). VII-23-2009. Cols.: O. Francke, H. Montaño, C. Santibáñez, C. Quijano, T. Palafox and A. Valdez. 1 ♂, 3 ♀ ( CNAN-SC3464 ) .

Diagnosis. Adults 17 to 20 mm long (Fig: 43-a, b). Carapace (Fig: 35-c) shorter than metasomal segment V (Carapace L/MS-V 0.95±0.05 [0.96±0.06]), longer than femur (Carapace L/Femur L 1.27±0.06 [1.28±0.03]); anterior margin straight. Mesosomal tergite VII with a pair of well-developed, granular carinae, beginning on middle of segment and not reaching posterior margin. Pectinal combs 11–12 [12–12] teeth; sternite V on males with a conspicuous bright semi-oval whitish patch on posterior margin; sternite VII with a pair of vestigial paramedian carinae, almost absent, and 8–12 (10) [10] setae. Metasomal segment I wider than long, rectangular in dorsal view (MSI L/ W 0.65 ±0.5 [0.47±0.1]); intercarinal spaces on segments I–IV smooth with some scattered granules, on segment V becoming moderately granular. Segment V less than twice as long as wide (MS-V L/ W 1.91 ±0.8 [1.94±0.16]; W/D 1.16±0.04 [1.21±0.01]). Vesicle (Fig: 36-c) thin (L/ W 1.95 ±0.07 [1.76± 0.05]; W/D 1.32±0.06 [1.3±0.1]); ventral surface irregular due to some scattered, flattened granules; dorsal face on males with a small whitish vesicular gland, usually flanked by a black spot. Pedipalp femur (Fig: 37-c) slightly over three times longer than wide (L/ W 3.22 ±0.2 [3±0.1]); patella (Fig: 38-c) not quite three times as long as wide (L/ W 2.74 ±0.2 [2.68 ± 0.25]) dorsointernal carinae strong, composed of a row of granules. Chela (Fig: 39, 40-c) moderately swollen (CM L/ W 1.91 ±0.15 [2±0.1]; W/D 0.99±0.12 [0.94±0.09]) with dorsal marginal carina slightly granular, other carinae smooth and pigmented. Pedipalp chela fingers dentate margin straight, without scalloping.

Hemispermatophore (Fig: 41-c): Lamelliform (TL 2.5; LL 1.4; LW 0.4 mm); lamella simple, without a distal crest; hook present basally, lobe-shaped, accessory hook vestigial, almost absent; lamella narrows basally at level of hooks. Capsular ental median lobe present, weakly sclerotized.

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

Distribution. Mexico: Guerrero, Omiltemi. This species is only known from the type locality; other published distribution records apparently apply to closely related, undescribed species ( Figure 4 ).

Natural history. This species inhabits the pine forest of the type locality above 2000 m, and during the daytime could be found with difficulty under rocks and fallen logs; greater success was obtained at night with black lights, searching the road cuts along an unpaved road where there was some leaf litter accumulation.

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