Vaejovis talpa, A & Oscar, 2019

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 : 75-78

Vaejovis talpa sp. n.

Figures 4 , 35j , 36j , 3 hj, 38j, 39j, 40i, 41j, 50

Type material. Holotype male. MEXICO: Jalisco, Talpa de Allende, ca. 24 Km. along gravel road from Puerto Vallarta to Talpa de Allende (N 20.360783°, W 105.1335°, elev. 1863 m). VII-2 - 2005. Cols.: R. Mercurio and E. González. ( CNAN-T0832 ).

Paratypes: same data as holotype 1♂, 1♀ ( AMNH) ; 1 ♀ ( CNAN-T0834 ) . MEXICO: Jalisco, Talpa de Allende, Cerro de la Tetilla (N 20.365646°, W 104.99385°, elev. 2427 m). VII-22-2012. Cols.: O. Francke, D. Barrales, G. Contreras and A. Valdez. 1 ♂ ( CNAN-T0833 ) , MEXICO: Jalisco, Talpa de Allende, Ejido Toledo y Yerbabuena (N 20.37728°, W 104.98120°, elev. 2238 m). VII-21-2012. Cols.: O. Francke, D. Barrales, G. Contreras and A. Valdez. 1 ♀ ( AMNH)

Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the municipality where this species is naturally distributed, and it is used as a noun in apposition.

Diagnosis. Vaejovis talpa sp. n. (Fig: 50-a, d) is a medium to small-sized scorpion within the mexicanus group, with an adult total length of 20.8 mm in holotype (range in adults from 17.7–21.9 mm). Carapace (Fig: 35-j) shorter than metasomal segment V (Carapace L/SMV: 0.92 (± 0.02) [1.05 ± 0.05]); but longer than pedipalp femur (Carapace L/Femur L: 1.16 (± 0.04) [1.24 ± 0.01]); anterior margin of carapace concave, with a wide “U” shaped notch medially, almost bilobate. Mesosomal tergite VII with one pair of lateral carinae, well-developed, from middle of segment to posterior margin, composed of a single row of rounded granules. Pectinal tooth counts: 10–12 [10–11]; sternite V with an evident whitish spot at posterior margin; sternite VII with a pair of weak to faint lateral carinae and 10 [12] setae. Metasomal segment I rectangular in dorsal view (MSI L/ W 0.64 ± 0.06 [0.62 ± 0.5]); intercarinal spaces smooth; segment V twice longer than wide, on males, an almost as wide as deep (MS-V L/W: 2.03 ±0.3 [1.78 ± 0.12]; W/D: 1.06 ±0.01 [1.13 ± 0.01]); lateral median carinae weak, not differentiated in coloration from rest of segment, becoming blurry on middle of segment and absent on distal third. Vesicle (Fig: 36- j) rounded and wider than deep (L/W: 1.79 ± 0.12 [1.69 ± 0.13]; W/D: 1.38 ±0.02 [1.47 ± 0.03]); dorsal face flat and smooth, distally with a rounded vesicular gland (about 1/3 length of vesicle). Pedipalp femur (Fig: 37-j) and patella (Fig: 38-j) less than three times longer than wide (Femur L/W: 2.95 ±0.25 [2.67 ± 0.15]; Patella L/W: 2.8 ±0.1 [2.71 ± 0.18]; retrolateral median carina only differentiated in coloration; prolateral median carina weak, composed of a line of rounded granules well separated from each other. Chela globose (Fig: 39, 40-j) (CM L/W: 1.73 ±0.08 [1.68 ± 0.07]; W/D: 1.07 ±0.07 [1.04 ± 0.05]); prolateral median, ventral prolateral and ventral median carinae weak, with several rows of granules, not well differentiated. Pedipalp chela fingers dentate margins straight, without scalloping.

Hemispermatophore ( Figs. 41-j ): Lamelliform (TL: 3.6 mm; LL: 2 mm, LW: 0.6 mm); lamella slightly curved, not as wide as capsule and with a large apical crest; hook short, basal, with one small pointed denticle, and a notch. Capsule entally with a small, sclerotized median lobe.

Vaejovis talpa sp. n. is most similar to V. monticola , but differs from it as follows: intercarinal spaces on metasoma are shagreened, whereas on V. monticola they are granulated; the metasomal carinae are composed of a single row of well differentiated granules, whereas on V. monticola the granules are randomly arranged; finally, the hemispermatophore of V. monticola has a short and broad lamella (L/W= 1.76), whereas in V. talpa sp. n. it is long and slender (L/W= 3.6). Another species which is geographically close is V. dugesi and it differs from this species as follows: V. dugesi is at least two times the adult size of V. talpa sp. n.; the ventral submedian carinae on metasomal segment I on V. talpa are granulated, whereas on V. dugesi they are smooth; the fixed finger is as long or longer than the chela manus in V. dugesi whereas in V. talpa sp. n. it is shorter than the manus. The pectinal tooth count in V. talpa sp. n. is 10–12 (N= 2, mode= 12) in males, and in females it is 10–11 (N= 2, mode= 10); in V. dugesi males have 13–13 (N= 4, mode= 13), females have 11–12 (N= 19, mode= 12) and in V. monticola males have 13–15 (N= 4, mode= 15) females have 10–13 (N= 4, mode= 12) teeth.

Description holotype male: Prosoma (Fig: 35-j): Pale brown to dark brown with underlying fusco-piceous pattern; anterior margin of carapace concave, with a wide “U” shaped notch medially and almost bilobate. Surface granulated above the black pattern and smooth on the pale-brown areas.

Mesosoma: Tergites pale brown with underlying fusco-piceous pattern; tergites I–VI with surface smooth over the pale brown coloration and sparsely granulated on darker regions, becoming more granulated on posterior halves. Tergite VII shagreened on anterior third, becoming sparsely granulated on posterior two thirds; paramedian carina well developed, from middle of segment to posterior margin, composed of a single row of rounded granules; lateral carinae well developed on posterior third, composed of a single row of rounded granules. Sternites III–VI pale yellowish, with a blurry, spotted black pattern; sternite V with an evident whitish spot on posterior margin. Sternite VII smooth with one pair of weak to faint lateral carinae; pale yellowish, but lateral margins are distinctly darker; with 12 setae. Pectinal tooth count: 11–12.

Metasoma: Coloration brown to pale brown with underlying fusco-piceous pattern stronger ventrally. Dorsal lateral carinae on I–IV, strong, not differentiated in colour from rest of segment; composed of a single row of rounded granules, ending with a conspicuously larger granule distally. Lateral median carinae on I–IV strong, well developed, composed of single rows of granules well differentiated from each other; on I–III ending with a slightly larger granule distally. Lateral inframedian carinae on I strong, well differentiated and composed of a single row of granules; on II strong, absent on anterior quarter of the segment; on III weak, composed by a few granules on posterior quarter of the segment; on IV absent. Ventral lateral carinae on I–IV strong, composed of a single row of rounded granules. Ventral submedian carinae on I weak, not well developed, composed of an inconspicuous line of flattened granules; on II–IV strong, dark and composed of a single row of rounded granules, becoming more pointed posteriorly. Segment V as long as or longer than pedipalp patella and femur. Dorsal lateral carinae strong, not differentiated in coloration, composed of pointed granules, slightly separated from each other; lateral median carinae weak, not differentiated in coloration from rest of segment, becoming blurry on middle of segment and absent on distal third; ventral lateral carinae strong, not differentiated in coloration from rest of segment, composed of a single row of backward-pointing granules; ventral median carina strong, not differentiated in coloration from rest of segment, composed of a single row of serrated granules, pointing backwards, not reaching posterior margin of segment. Setae counts over carinae of metasomal segments I–IV as follows: dorsal lateral 0-0/0-1/1-1/2-2; lateral median 0-0/1-1/2-2/3-3; lateral inframedian 2-2/3-3/2-2/0-0; ventral lateral 2-2/2-2/3-3/3-3; ventral submedian 3-3/3-3/4-4/4-4. Segment V: Dorsal lateral 5-5; lateral median 4-3; ventral lateral 6-6 and ventral median 5-6.

Telson (Fig: 36-j): Vesicle rounded (L/W: 1.6) and slightly wider than deep (W/D: 1.3). Pale brown to yellowish-brown, with two pale, submedian longitudinal bands ventrally. Ventral face with sparse setae and some sparse, flattened granules. Dorsal face flat, smooth, without setae or granules and a small, rounded, whitish vesicular gland (about 1/3 length of vesicle), located on distal portion of vesicle.

Pedipalp: Pale brown to yellowish, with underlying fusco piceous pattern. Orthobothriotaxia type “C”. Femur (Fig: 37-j): wider than deep. Dorsal retrolateral carina strong, composed of large rounded granules, clearly separated from each other; dorsal prolateral carina strong, slightly darker than rest of segment, composed of a single row of large, rounded granules; ventral retrolateral carina vestigial, composed by some scattered granules arranged in line along segment; ventral prolateral carina strong composed of line of rounded granules. Dorsal face flat, shagreened to sparsely granular; ventral face concave, pale brown, shagreened to slightly granular basally. Patella (Fig: 38-j): dorsal retrolateral carina weak, slightly differentiated in coloration, composed of large flattened granules; dorsal prolateral carina strong, slightly differentiated in coloration from rest of patella and composed of a single row of flattened granules; prolateral median carina weak, composed of a line of rounded granules well separated from each other; ventral retrosubmedian carina weak, slightly differentiated in coloration, composed of a single row of flattened granules; ventral median carina weak to vestigial, present only basally, composed by a few pale, rounded granules; ventral prolateral carina weak, smooth, composed of a line of flattened granules not clearly differentiated from each other. Chela (Fig: 39-j): Dorsal retrolateral, dorsal median and retrolateral median carinae conspicuous, composed of an elevation of the cuticle and some flattened granules; dorsal prosubmedian and dorsal internal carinae with an elevation of the cuticle and several rows of small granules; prolateral median, ventral prolateral and ventral median carinae weak, with several rows of granules, not well differentiated. Pedipalp chela fingers dentate margins straight.

Legs: Coloration pale brown to brownish, with underlying fusco piceous pattern. Basitarsi I–II with two subrows of spinules divided by three pairs of larger asymmetrical larger setae; basitarsi III–IV with two subrows of spinules divided by four pairs of larger asymmetrical setae. Telotarsi I–IV with a single row of spinules ventrally, with two distal spinules on each leg. (Right/left side): 2/x:2/2:2/2:2/2; pi / ri setae count: 2/2:2/2:3/2:3/3

Hemispermatophore (Fig: 41-j): Lamelliform (TL: 3.6 mm; LL: 2 mm, LW: 0.6 mm); lamella slightly curved, not as wide as capsule and with a large apical crest; hook short, basal, with one small pointed denticle, and a notch. Capsule with a small, sclerotized median lobe entally; no sclerotized hemi-mating plug.

Measurements: Table 6 . Full morphometric variation is given in table 13 and 14. Variation: V. talpa sp. n. shows sexual dimorphism: the males are slightly darker than females; the chela on males is wider (L/W= 1.73) than on females (L/W= 1.69), with more developed carinae (more granulose) on males; females are bigger than males; males present a whitish coloration on posterior margin of mesosomal sternite V and a dorsal vesicular gland. Pectinal tooth count variation as follows: Males—1 comb with 10, 2 combs with 11, and 3 combs with 12 teeth; Females—3 combs with 10 teeth and 1 comb with 11teeth. Setae variation is given in tables 9–12.

Distribution. This species is only known from the type locality and two localities nearby, within the Sierra del Cuale, Jalisco ( Figure 4 ).

Natural history. All the known specimens of V. talpa sp. n. were collected in a pine forest, during the day, under rocks and fallen tree trunks.

Figures

FIGURE 3. a—Hemispermathophore of V. vorhiesi, included in the “vorhiesi” group, showing the sclerotized mating plug. b—Vesicle, dorsal view (V. crumpi), showing the Lateral Aculear Serrations at the base of the sting. c—Hemispermathophore of V. kochi, included on the “Franckeus+nigrescens” group, showing the sclerotized mating plug. d—Vesicle, dorsal view (V. kochi), showing the Lateral Aculear Serrations at the base of the sting.

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 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.