Vaejovis tesselatus Hendrixson and Sissom, 2001

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 : 83-86

Vaejovis tesselatus Hendrixson and Sissom, 2001

Figures 4 , 35m , 36m , 3 hm, 38m, 39m, 40l, 41m, 53

Vaejovis tesselatus Hendrixson & Sissom, 2001: 220 –223, Figs: 9–16.

Vaejovis tesselatus: Graham & Fet, 2006: 10 ; Soleglad & Fet, 2008: 77, 100. Type material. Holotype female. MEXICO: San Luis Potosi, Highway 57 in Villa Hidalgo. III-12-1 977. Col.: R. W. Mitchell (AMNH). Examined.

Paratype: 1 ♀, same data as holotype ( CAS). Not examined *.

*Note: After searching the collection at CAS, the paratype of this species could not be found. Morphometric variation in this species is taken from the original publication and the other specimens examined.

Other specimens examined. Vaejovis tesselatus : MEXICO: San Luis Potosi, Km. 227 Ciudad Valles–San Luis Potosí highway (N 22.08846°, W 100.65623°, elev. 2344 m.). V-13-2010. Cols.: O. Francke, C. Santibáñez, J. Cruz and A. Valdez. 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( CNAN-SC3146 ) .

Diagnosis. Adults 25 to 28 mm. long (Fig: 53-a, b). Carapace (Fig: 35-m) shorter than metasomal segment V and femur on males, equal to and longer, respectively, on females (Carapace L/MS-V 0.88 [0.97±0.03]; Carapace L/Femur L 0.96 [1.22±0.06]); anterior margin of carapace slightly concave. Mesosomal tergite VII with two pairs of well-developed carinae, present on three fifths of segment and not reaching posterior margin. Pectinal tooth count 14–14 [13–14]; sternite V without a whitish patch on posterior margin; sternite VII with one pair of weak carinae, not reaching posterior margin, and 10 [10–15 (10)] setae. Metasomal segment I slightly wider than long, subquadrate in dorsal view (MSI L/ W 0.83 [0.75±0.1]); intercarinal spaces on I–IV smooth; segment V with lateral faces straight and parallel (MS-V L/ W 2.17 [2.19±0.2]; W/D 1.14 [1.17±0.05). Vesicle (Fig: 36-m) slightly globose (L/ W 1.65 [1.91±0.1]; W/ D 1.33 [1.23±0.2]); dorsal surface with a vesicular gland on posterior half, and slightly concave. Pedipalp femur (Fig: 37-m) and patella (Fig: 38-m), on males more than three times longer than wide, on females about three times (Femur L/ W 3.55 [3.09±0.1]; Patella L/ W 3.18 [2.94±0.06]); patella wider than deep (W/ D 1.37 [1.4±0.03]) with dorsointernal carinae composed of pointed granules well separated from each other; dorsoexternal carina vestigial, smooth, underlined with pigment. Chela (Fig: 39, 40-m) manus slender (CM L/W 2 [2.11±0.1]; W/D 1 [0.95±0.05]); fixed finger slightly longer than manus on males, shorter on females (CM/FF 1.2 [0.9±0.02]); chela with dorsal marginal, dorsal internal and internomedian carinae granular, other carinae on manus obsolete, underlined with pigment. Pedipalp chela fingers dentate margins straight.

Hemispermatophore (ig: 41-m): Lamelliform (TL 3.9; LL 1.8; LW 0.6 mm); lamella slightly wider basally, at level of the hooks.

Description adult male. Prosoma (Fig: 35-m): pale brown with underlying fusco-piceous pattern. Anterior margin of carapace slightly concave; granular, with some smooth spaces over pale brown coloration.

Mesosoma: tergites I–VI pale yellowish with a fusco-piceous variegated pattern; segment VII pale brown with fusco-piceous pattern. Tergites I–VI smooth, with scattered granules on posterior margin. Segment VII shagreened to minutely granular; median and lateral carinae strong, composed of a single line of granules, present on middle half segment and not reaching posterior margin. Sternites III–VI pale brown, smooth; sternite V without a whitish patch along posterior margin; sternite VII pale brown medially to dark brown at the sides; surface smooth, becoming granular over darker coloration; lateral carinae weak to vestigial, composed of a row of small aggregated granules; with 10 setae. Pectinal tooth count 14–14.

Metasoma: Coloration pale brown, with a fusco-piceous pattern becoming darker posteriorly on each segment; intercarinal spaces smooth. Dorsal lateral carinae on I–III strong, composed of a row of granules, ending with a larger, darker granule at posterior margin; on IV weak, composed of a row of inconspicuous granules, ending with a larger granule at posterior margin. Lateral median carinae on I–III strong, composed of a row of rounded granules; on IV weak, composed of a row of inconspicuous granules. Lateral inframedian carinae on I strong, composed of a row of rounded granules; on II–III weak, composed of a row of granules and only present on posterior third; on IV absent. Ventral lateral carinae on I–IV strong, composed of a row of rounded granules. Ventral submedian carinae on I weak, composed of a row of inconspicuous granules; on II–IV strong, composed of a single row of rounded granules. Segment V wider than deep; dorsal lateral carinae weak, composed of some inconspicuous granules, may present some granules at anterior margin and never at posterior part; lateral median carinae weak to vestigial, formed by a cuticular ridge, present only on anterior half; ventral lateral carinae strong, composed of a row of rounded granules; ventral median carina strong, composed by a single row of pointed granules. Setae counts over carinae of metasomal segments I–IV as follows: dorsal lateral 0-0/0-0/1-1/2-2; lateral median 1-1/1-1/2-2/3-3; lateral inframedian 2-1/1-1/1-1/1-1; ventral lateral 3-3/4-4/4-4/5-5; ventral submedian 3-3/ 4-4/4-4/5-5. Segment V: dorsal lateral 3-3; lateral median 4-4; ventral lateral 6-6 and ventral median 6-6.

Telson (Fig: 36-m): Vesicle slightly rounded (V L/W: 1.62) and slightly broad (V W/D: 1.33). Coloration pale yellow to pale brown; with two whitish median longitudinal bands ventrally, ventral surface smooth. Dorsal surface smooth and flat, with a whitish vesicular gland on posterior half, slightly concave.

Pedipalp: Coloration pale brown to dark brown dorsally, pale yellowish ventrally. Orthobothriotaxia type “C”. Femur (Fig: 37-m): longer than wide. Dorsal retrolateral carina weak, composed of a row of granules becoming inconspicuous distally; dorsal prolateral carina strong, composed of a row of large pointed granules; ventral retrolateral carina weak to vestigial, composed of some flattened granules disposed in line; ventral prolateral carina strong, composed of a row of large, pointed granules. Dorsal face flat; ventral face slightly concave; surfaces on dorsal and external faces smooth; internal face minutely granular with some large pointed granules interspersed; ventral face granular on basal half, shagreened distally. Patella (Fig: 38-m): Dorsal retrolateral carina weak, composed of a row of flattened granules; dorsal prolateral carina strong, a row of large rounded granules; prolateral median carina strong, composed of a row of pointed granules well differentiated from each other; retrolateral median carina weak to vestigial, formed by an aggregation of small granules; ventral retrosubmedian carina weak, composed of a row of flattened, rounded granules; ventral median carina vestigial, only represented on basal margin by some scattered granules; ventral prolateral carina weak, formed by a row of inconspicuous granules. Chela (Fig: 39-m): Prolateral median, dorsal internal, dorsal prosubmedian and ventral retrolateral carinae feebly granular; retrolateral median, dorsal retrolateral and dorsal median carinae composed of a smooth ridge; all carinae differentiated in coloration from rest of manus. Movable finger dentate margin straight, but on fixed finger weakly scalloped.

Legs: base color pale yellow with large portions of segments darkly infuscated. Basitarsus I with two subrows of spinules divided by three pairs of asymmetrical macrosetae; II with two subrows of spinules divided by three pairs of symmetrical macrosetae; III with two subrows of spinules divided by four pairs of asymmetrical macrosetae; IV with three subrows of spinules divided by four pairs of symmetrical macrosetae Telotarsi I–IV with a single row of spinules ventrally, with two distal spinules on I–IV (right/left side): 2/2:2/2:2/2:2/2; pi / ri setae count: 2/1:2/2:3/3:3/3.

Hemispermatophore (Fig: 41-m): Lamelliform (TL 3.9; LL 1.8; LW 0.6 mm); lamella slightly wider basally, at level of the hooks; apical portion of lamella bent 180°; hooks basal, pointed, and slightly bent at tip. Capsular ental median lobe present, well sclerotized.

Variation ( Table 8 ): Males present stronger (granulated) carinae on the pedipalp chela; also a weaker differentiation of these on coloration. Pedipalp chela fixed finger is shorter in males; scalloped in males, straight in females. Pectinal combs 14-14 [13–14] teeth. Full morphometric variation is given in tables 13 and 14. Setae variation is given in tables 9–12.

Distribution. Mexico: San Luis Potosí, its known distribution is the type locality and another nearby locality ( Figure 4 ).

Natural history. This species occurs in xeric environments, and has been collected during daytime under rocks.

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.