Diplocentrus rectimanus Pocock, 1898

Santibäñez-López, Carlos E., Francke, Oscar F. & Prendini, Lorenzo, 2013, Systematics of the keyserlingii group of Diplocentrus Peters, 1861 (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae), with descriptions of three new species from Oaxaca, Mexico, American Museum Novitates 2013 (3777), pp. 1-48 : 30-41

Diplocentrus rectimanus Pocock, 1898

Figures 1E , 6A ; tables 1, 2

Diplocentrus rectimanus Pocock, 1898: 390 , 391; Francke, 1977: 150, 179–185, 190, 194, 198, figs. 6, 15, 21, 45–50; Sissom, 1991: 156; Sissom and Walker, 1992: 130; Sissom, 1994: 257, 262–264, figs. 18, 19, 28, 30; Kovařík, 1998: 131; Beutelspacher and Trujillo-Olvera, 1999: 8; Beutelspacher, 2000: 33; Sissom and Fet, 2000: 342; Armas and Martín-Frías, 2003: 74; Francke and Ponce-Saavedra, 2005: 52; Santibáñez-López and Francke, 2008: 59.

Diplocentrus keyserlingi: Kraepelin, 1899: 102 (part); Pocock, 1902: 4, fig. 4a–c; Herrera, 1917: 270; 1921: 159, figs. 30–33 (part); Hoffmann, 1931: 312, 313 (part); Pelaez, 1962: 72 (part).

Diplocentrus moritzi Stahnke, 1981: 44 , figs. 3, 4 (synonymized by Sissom, 1991: 156).

TYPE MATERIAL: MEXICO: OAXACA: Holotype ♂, paratype ♂ [ Diplocentrus moritzi ] ( ZMB 3248 ) [not examined] . DISTRITO DE ETLA: Municipio de San Felipe Tejalapam : Holotype ♂ ( BMNH) , Jalapa del Valle [17°06.274′N 96°50.357′W], 1640 m [not examined] .

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: MEXICO: OAXACA: Oaxaca , 19.vi.1947, B. Malkin, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) . DISTRITO CENTRO: Municipio de Oaxaca de Juárez: Ejido Guadalupe Victoria , 17°04.006′N 96°43.20′W, 1700 m, 12.vii.2009, J. Cruz, 1 ♂ ( CNAN) . Municipio de Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán: Monte Albán , [17°02.639′N 96°46.048′W], 30.i.1940, 1 ♂, 3 ♀ ( CNAN) . Municipio de Soledad Etla: San Gabriel , 7 km N [17°13.65′N 96°44.697′W], 2125 m, 22.vii.2002, O. Francke, E. González and J. Ponce, SW facing slopes with oaks, in burrows in open ground, 2 ♂, 3 ♀ ( AMCC [ LP 2032 ]), 1 ♂, 2 ♀ ( CNAN) ; San Miguel Etla, 9.3 km N (road to las Guacamayas ), 17°13.438′N 96°44.301′W, 2196 m, 15.xi.2005, O. Francke, M. Córdova, A. Jaimes, G. Montiel, and C. Santibáñez, 5 ♀ ( AMNH), 1 ♀, 2 juv. ( AMCC [ LP 6540 ]) ; San Miguel Etla , 9

km N, 17°13.486′N 96°44.315′W, 2197 m, 26.iii.2010, O. Francke, J. Cruz, C. Santibáñez, and A. Valdez, pine forest, under rocks, daytime rock rolling, 1 ♂, 1 ♀ ( CNAN) , 1 ♀ [leg] ( AMCC [ LP 11036 ]) . DISTRITO DE TLACOLULA: Municipio de Santiago Matatlán : San Pablo Guila, 16°48.1′N 96°26.4′W, E. Luna, 1 ♂ ( CALA) . Municipio de San Lorenzo Albarradas : Cerro Guirone, N slope [16°54.383′N 96°16.567′W], 7200–7500 ft, 12.vi.1970, M. R. Bogert, 1 ♀ ( AMNH) ; Mitla , 4.5 km E, 17°15.642′N 96°32.427′W, 23.vii.2002, J. Ponce, in burrow under stone, 1 ♀ ( AMCC [ LP 2030 ]) .

DIAGNOSIS: The following character combination, updated from Francke (1977), is diagnostic for D. rectimanus . Total length (adult), 45–69 mm. Base coloration (adult) dark reddish (fig. 1E). Carapace anteromedian notch shallow, V-shaped. Pedipalp femur, dorsal surface sparsely granular. Pedipalp patella, dorsomedian carina moderately developed, crenulate (♂); dorsoexternal and externomedian carinae weakly developed to obsolete, smooth (♂); ventromedian carina obsolete (♂, ♀). Pedipalp chela manus, dorsal surface reticulate (♂) or granular (♀); digital carina strongly developed, smooth to slightly crenulate (♂); fingers straight to gently curved (fig. 6A). Legs I–IV telotarsi, counts of spiniform macrosetae in pro- and retroventral rows, 5/5:5/5:6/6:6/6 (variation in table 2). Pectinal tooth count, 9–12, mode = 10 (♂) or 8–9, mode = 8 (♀) (variation in table 1).

Diplocentrus rectimanus resembles D. mitlae and D. sagittipalpus , n. sp., in adult size and coloration but can be distinguished as follows. The pedipalp chela dorsal surface is reticulate (♂) or granular (♀) in D. rectimanus but smooth (♂, ♀) in D. mitlae , and the counts of spiniform macrosetae on the telotarsi of legs III and IV are higher (6/6) in D. rectimanus than in D. mitlae (5/5). The base coloration is brown to pale brown in D. rectimanus but reddish to ferruginous in D. sagittipalpus , n. sp., and the pedipalp patella dorsoexternal carina is obsolete in D. rectimanus but moderately developed and crenulate to weakly granular in D. sagittipalpus , n. sp.

REMARKS: Pocock (1898, 1902) listed the type locality as “Jalapa,” but there is more than one locality in Mexico by that name. Hoffmann (1931) assumed that the type locality was Jalapa, Veracruz. However, Francke (1977) concluded that the type locality is probably Jalapa del Valle (16 km W of Oaxaca City), based on the collection of conspecific specimens from several localities in the central valleys of Oaxaca, in the vicinity of this locality.

DISTRIBUTION: Diplocentrus rectimanus is known only from the central valleys and adjacent mountains of Oaxaca in the following municipalities: Oaxaca de Juárez, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, San Felipe Tejalapam, Santiago Tenango , San Lorenzo Albarradas, San Bartolo Soyaltepec, San Pablo Villa de Mitla, and Soledad Etla (fig. 3B).

ECOLOGY: This species was collected from burrows under rocks, ca. 20 cm long and with many turns due to the presence of small stones in the soil matrix, in an area where the dominant vegetation was pine-oak forest. Centruroides nigrovariatus was collected in sympatry. The habitat and habitus of D. rectimanus are consistent with the pelophilous ecomorphotype ( Prendini, 2001).

Diplocentrus sagittipalpus , n. sp.

Figures 7C , 8C , 9C , 10C , 11C , 16 , 17 ; tables 1–3

TYPE MATERIAL: MEXICO: OAXACA: DISTRITO DE IXTLÁN DE JUÁREZ: Municipio de Santa María Jaltianguis: Holotype ♂ ( CNAN-T0676 ), 9 ♂, 1 ♀ paratypes ( CNAN-T0677 ), 5 ♂ paratypes ( AMNH), Campamento las Flores , 17°21.036′N 96°31.829′W, 2309 m, 16.vi.2007, C. Santibáñez and A. Valdez; paratype ♀ ( CNAN), paratype ♀ [leg] ( AMCC [ LP 10975 ]), Campamento las Flores, 17°21.0564′N 96°31.8732′W, 2320 m, 22.iv.2010, A. Valdez, C. Santibáñez, J. Cruz, and D. Barrales, pine-oak forest, on the ground, UV light detection. Municipio de Santa Catarina Ixtepeji : 2 ♀, 6 juv. paratypes ( AMCC [ LP 2029 ]), 7 juv. paratypes ( CNAN), Highway 175, S of Ixtlán, 17°15.642′N 96°32.427′W, 2075 m, 21.vii.2002, L. Prendini, E. González, O. Francke, and J. Ponce, in burrows under stones; paratype ♀ ( CNAN), 1 juv. paratype ( AMCC [ LP 11466 ]), Ixtepeji, 8.4 km del Punto, 17°16.059′N 96°35.275′W, 4.vii.2008, O. Francke, A. Quijano, and C. Santibáñez.

ADDITIONAL MATERIAL: MEXICO: OAXACA: DISTRITO DE IXTLÁN DE JUÁREZ: Municipio de Santa Catarina Ixtepeji : El Cumbre, on ridge E Cerro San Felipe, road to Ixtlán de Juárez [17°14.336′N 96°29.486′W], 8000–9000 ft, 28.ix.1961, C.M. and M. R . Bogert, 1 ♂ ( AMNH); El Punto, road to Ixtlán de Juárez [17°12.779′N 96°35.176′W], 19.viii.1961, C.M. and M. R . Bogert, 4 ♂ ( AMNH); El Punto, 1–5 mi. NE, road to Ixtlán de Juárez [17°12.779′N 96°35.176′W], 7500 ft, 3.ix.1961, Miller and Bogert, 1 ♂ ( AMNH); Ixtlán de Juárez , 2 mi. E [17°19.929′N 96°29.486′W], 7600 ft, 20.vii.1963, G. Sludder, 1 ♂ ( AMNH) .

ETYMOLOGY: The specific epithet describes the arrow-shaped pedipalp, characteristic of this species.

DIAGNOSIS: The following character combination is diagnostic for D. sagittipalpus , n. sp. Total length (adult), 45–55 mm. Base coloration (adult) reddish brown to dark brown. Carapace, anteromedian notch moderately deep, V-shaped, and granular (fig. 7C). Pedipalp femur, dorsal surface finely and sparsely granular (fig. 9C). Patella dorsomedian and dorsoexternal carinae moderately developed, crenulate to weakly granular (♂); externomedian carina weakly to moderately developed, smooth to slightly crenulate (♂; fig. 11C); ventromedian carina weakly developed, granular (♂, ♀). Pedipalp chela, dorsal surface granular-reticulate (♂) or granular (♀); digital carina strongly developed, smooth (♂; fig. 16A) or granular (♀; fig. 16B); fingers straight (♂). Legs I–IV telotarsi, counts of spiniform macrosetae in pro- and retroventral rows, 5/5:5/5:6/6:6/6 (variation in table 1). Pectinal tooth count, 9–12, mode = 10 (♂) or 8–9, mode = 8 (♀) (variation in table 2).

Diplocentrus sagittipalpus , n. sp., resembles D. kraepelini , n. sp., and D. rectimanus in size and coloration but can be distinguished as follows. The pedipalp patella dorsoexternal carina is moderately developed, crenulate to weakly granular in D. sagittipalpus , n. sp., but weakly developed and smooth in D. kraepelini , n. sp., and D. rectimanus . The pedipalp chela manus (♀), dorsal surface is reticulate and the digital carina granular in D. sagittipalpus , n. sp., whereas the dorsal surface and digital carina are smooth in D. kraepelini , n. sp. The pedipalp chela fingers are curved in D. kraepelini , n. sp., but straight in D. sagittipalpus , n. sp. The base coloration (adult) is reddish to ferruginous, with the pedipalps and carapace similar in coloration, in D. sagittipalpus , n. sp., but brown to pale brown, with the pedipalps paler than the carapace, in D. rectimanus . The pedipalp patella dorsal external carina (♂) is moderately developed and crenulate to weakly granular in D. sagittipalpus , n. sp., but obsolete in D. rectimanus . The pedipalp chela fingers (♂) are straight in D. sagittipalpus , n. sp., but gently curved in D. rectimanus . The distal lamella of the hemispermatophore is broad in D. sagittipalpus , n. sp., and in D. rectimanus (see Sissom, 1994: fig. 18), whereas it is slender with a curved tip in D. kraepelini , n. sp.

DESCRIPTION: Based on holotype ♂ and paratype ♂ (fig. 17A, B) with differences in paratype ♀ (fig. 17C, D) noted. Measurements in table 3.

Coloration: Carapace reddish brown to orange (♂) or dark reddish (♀); moderately infuscate throughout, uniformly so around median ocelli, variegated elsewhere. Coxosternum pale orange. Pedipalps orange to pale brown, patella slightly infuscate, chela reddish orange to pale brown (♂) or dark reddish (♀), carinae darker. Legs brown to reddish brown, uniformly and faintly infuscate. Mesosoma pale orange to brown (♂) or dark brown to brown (♀); tergites moderately (♂) to densely (♀) infuscate; sternites pale yellow to orange. Metasoma light orange to reddish brown. Telson pale orange to brown, uniformly infuscate.

Carapace: Anterior margin moderately setose; anteromedian notch moderately deep, V-shaped (fig. 7C). Frontal lobes and interocular surface moderately to densely granular; surfaces around median ocular tubercle shagreened; other surfaces uniformly finely granular. Three pairs of subequal lateral ocelli.

Pedipalps: Orthobothriotaxic, type C. Femur height greater than width (fig. 10C); dorsal intercarinal surface moderately convex, finely and sparsely granular; external intercarinal surface smooth; ventral intercarinal surface flat, shagreened; internal intercarinal surface coarsely and densely granular; dorsointernal carina strongly developed, comprising several spiniform granules; dorsoexternal carina weakly developed, comprising few spiniform granules; ventroexternal carina obsolete; ventrointernal carina moderately developed, comprising large spiniform granules. Patella, dorsal and external intercarinal surfaces slightly granular-reticulate (fig. 11C); ventral intercarinal surface granular between ventrointernal and ventromedian carinae, smooth to slightly reticulate between ventromedian and ventroexternal carinae (♂) or entirely smooth (♀); internal intercarinal surface finely and sparsely granular; proximal tubercle strongly developed, comprising three large granules; dorsointernal carina obsolete; dorsomedian carina moderately developed, slightly granular to crenulate; dorsoexternal carina moderately developed, slightly granular to crenulate (♂) or obsolete to weakly developed, smooth (♀); externomedian and ventroexternal carinae weakly to moderately developed, smooth to slightly crenulate; ventromedian carina weakly developed, granular (♂) or obsolete to weakly developed, smooth (♀); ventrointernal carina weakly to moderately developed, granular. Chela manus, slender (♂) or rounded (♀), height greater than width, densely (♂) or sparsely (♀) setose; dorsal intercarinal surface granular-reticulate (♂) or granular (♀); external intercarinal surface granular (fig. 16B); dorsal marginal carina moderately developed, coarsely granular (♂), often with large subspiniform granules (♀); digital carina strongly developed, crenulate (♂) or moderately developed, granular (♀); dorsal secondary carina weakly to moderately developed, crenulate (♂) or granular (♀); external secondary carina weakly developed, smooth to crenulate (♂) or weakly to moderately developed, granular (♀); ventroexternal carina weakly to moderately developed, crenulate; ventromedian carina obsolete to weakly developed, crenulate, directed toward midpoint of movable finger articulation; ventrointernal carina obsolete to weakly developed, smooth to slightly crenulate; internoventral, internomedian and internodorsal carinae weakly developed, smooth to slightly granular; internal surface with shallow longitudinal depression where chela rests against patella. Chela fixed finger straight (♂) or curved (♀); length equal to (♂) or less than (♀) femur length and patella length; dorsal surface smooth and densely setose proximally; external surface flat; internal surface flat to shallowly concave.

Legs: Legs I–IV femora and tibiae, prolateral surfaces shagreened; telotarsi, counts of spiniform macrosetae in pro- and retroventral rows (dextral/sinistral), 5/5 5/5:5/5 5/5:5/6 5/6:6/6 6/6.

Pectines: Tooth count: 10–11 (♂; fig. 8C); 8–9 (♀).

Mesosoma: Tergites I –VI, smooth, VII granular (♂) or coarsely granular (♀). Sternites smooth; VII, dorsosubmedian carinae obsolete to weakly developed, smooth in anterior half of segment, dorsolateral carinae weakly to moderately developed, smooth, extending three quarters of segment length.

Metasoma: Metasomal segments I–V, dorsal intercarinal surfaces moderately to weakly granular anteriorly on segments I–III, weakly granular to smooth on IV and V; lateral intercarinal surfaces moderately to weakly granular on I–III, moderately granular or granular-reticulate on IV and V; ventral intercarinal surfaces smooth to shagreened on I–IV, sparsely granular on V. Segments I–IV, dorsolateral carinae obsolete to weakly developed, granular (♂) or weakly granular (♀); lateral supramedian carinae weakly to moderately developed, granular on I–III, weakly developed, granular on IV; lateral inframedian carinae weakly to moderately developed, granular to slightly crenulate on I–III, weakly developed, granular on IV; ventrolateral carinae strongly developed, granular to crenulate on I–III, weakly to moderately developed, granular to crenulate on IV; ventrosubmedian carinae strongly developed, granular to crenulate on I–III, weakly to moderately developed, slightly granular to crenulate on IV. Segment V length:pedipalp femur length ratio, 1.28 (♂), 1.11 (♀); dorsolateral carinae weakly developed, slightly granular to smooth; lateral median carinae obsolete to weakly developed, smooth; ventrolateral carinae moderately developed, granular, with few subspiniform granules contiguous with transverse carina; ventromedian carina strongly developed, granular, with subspiniform granules; ventral transverse carina comprising four large subspiniform granules; anal arch semicircular; anal subterminal carina moderately developed, comprising 12 granules; anal terminal carina obsolete, weakly granular.

Telson: Telson , width:length ratio, 0.54 (♂), 0.78 (♀). Vesicle, lateral surfaces shagreened. Subaculear tubercle stout, subconical. Aculeus length twice that of subaculear tubercle, strongly curved.

Hemispermatophore: Lamelliform, weakly sclerotized (fig. 9C); total length, 7.5 mm; distal lamella, length, 3.9 mm; capsular region, width, 1.6 mm; median lobe narrow, margin crenulate.

DISTRIBUTION: Diplocentrus sagittipalpus , n. sp., is known from six localities in the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca (fig. 3A).

ECOLOGY: This species was collected with UV light detection at night on short grass plains in a deforested area surrounded by pine-oak forest. No burrows were observed. An undescribed species of Vaejovis was collected in sympatry. The habitat and habitus of D. sagittipalpus , n. sp., are consistent with the pelophilous ecomorphotype ( Prendini, 2001).

Diplocentrus sissomi , n. sp.

Figures 1B, F , 7D , 8D , 9D , 10D , 11D , 18 , 19 ; tables 1–3

TYPE MATERIAL: MEXICO: OAXACA: DISTRITO DE MIAHUATLÁN: Municipio de San Cristóbal Amatlán: Holotype ♂ ( CNAN-T0678 ), 3 ♂, 8 ♀, 3 juv. paratypes ( CNAN-T0679 ), 3 ♂, 7 ♀, 2 subad. ♀, 5 juv. paratypes ( AMNH), 1 ♀, 22 juv. paratypes ( AMCC [ LP 6531 ]), 1 ♀, 18 juv. paratypes ( AMCC [ LP 6538 ]), 1 ♀, 12 juv. paratypes ( AMCC [ LP 6539 ]), 1 ♀, 2 juv. paratypes ( AMCC [ LP 6541 ]), San Lorenzo Mixtepec, 1 km N, 16°17.493′N 96°20.910′W, 2120 m, 23.vi.2006, O. Francke, G. Villegas, H. Montaño, A. Valdez, and C. Santibáñez. Municipio de San Juan Mixtepec : San Juan Mixtepec, 16°16.6′N 96°17.95′W, April, 2002, E. Aldasoro, 2 ♂ paratypes ( CALA).

ETYMOLOGY: This species is dedicated to W. David Sissom, West Texas A&M University, in recognition of his contributions to the systematics of Diplocentrus .

DIAGNOSIS: The following character combination is diagnostic for D. sissomi , n. sp. Total length (adult), 47–60 mm. Base coloration (adult) red to reddish orange (fig. 1B, F). Carapace anteromedian notch shallow, V-shaped; frontal lobes and interocular surface moderately granular (fig. 7D). Pedipalp femur, dorsal surface sparsely granular (fig. 9D). Pedipalp patella, dorsomedian carina moderately developed, smooth (♂); dorsoexternal carina moderately developed, crenulate (♂); externomedian carina weakly to moderately developed, smooth to weakly crenulate (♂; fig. 11D); ventromedian carina weakly developed, smooth to weakly granular (♂, ♀). Pedipalp chela, dorsal surface reticulate (♂) or smooth (♀); digital carina strongly developed (♂) or weakly developed (♀), smooth; fingers straight (♂; fig. 18A) or curved (♀; fig. 18B). Legs I–IV telotarsi, counts of spiniform macrosetae in pro- and retroventral rows, 5/5:5/6:6/6:6/6 (variation in table 1). Pectinal tooth count, 8–10, mode = 10 (♂) or 6–10, mode = 8 (♀) (variation in table 2).

Diplocentrus sissomi , n. sp., resembles D. kraepelini , n. sp., D. rectimanus , and D. sagittipalpus , n. sp., in adult coloration, and the counts of pectinal teeth and telotarsal spiniform macrosetae, but differs from these species as follows. The carapace anteromedian notch is shallow and V-shaped in D. sissomi , n. sp., but moderately deep and U-shaped in D. kraepelini , n. sp. The counts of spiniform macrosetae on the telotarsi of legs I and II are higher (5/5:5/6) in D. sissomi , n. sp., than in D. kraepelini , n. sp. (4/5:5/5). The pedipalp patella dorsoexternal carina is moderately developed and crenulate in D. sissomi , n. sp., but weakly developed to obsolete and smooth in D. kraepelini , n. sp., and D. rectimanus . The pedipalp chela fixed finger is moderately curved (♂) and the chela manus digital carina smooth (♀) in D. sissomi , n. sp., whereas the fixed finger is straight (♂) and the digital carina granular (♀) in D. rectimanus and D. sagittipalpus , n. sp. The distal lamella of the hemispermatophore is slender in D. sissomi , n. sp., and D. kraepelini , n. sp., but broad in D. rectimanus and D. sagittipalpus . The total length: hemispermatophore length ratio is 5.51 in D. sissomi , n. sp. (paratype), 6.94 in D. sagittipalpus , n. sp. (paratype), and 7.67 in D. kraepelini , n. sp. (paratype).

DESCRIPTION: Based on holotype ♂ and paratype ♂ (fig. 19A, B) with differences in paratype ♀ (fig. 19C, D) noted. Measurements in table 3.

Coloration: Carapace brown (♂) or pale brown (♀); moderately infuscate throughout, uniformly so around median ocelli, variegated elsewhere. Coxosternum cream to pale orange. Pedipalps brown to reddish brown, carinae darker; patella faintly infuscate; chela, carinae, and fingers infuscate. Legs pale brown to yellow, uniformly infuscate. Mesosoma orange (♂) or pale orange (♀); tergites moderately (♂) to densely (♀) infuscate; sternites orange to pale orange. Metasoma pale brown. Telson brownish orange, uniformly infuscate.

Carapace: Anterior margin moderately setose; anteromedian notch moderately deep, V-shaped (fig. 7D). Frontal lobes and interocular surface moderately granular; other surfaces shagreened. Three pairs of subequal lateral ocelli.

Pedipalps: Orthobothriotaxic, type C. Femur height greater than width (fig. 10D); dorsal intercarinal surface shallowly convex, sparsely granular; external intercarinal surface finely and sparsely granular; ventral intercarinal surface flat, shagreened; internal intercarinal surface coarsely and densely granular; dorsointernal carina strongly developed, granular; dorsoexternal carina moderately developed, granular proximally, crenulate distally; ventroexternal carina weakly developed, granular; ventrointernal carina strongly developed, granular. Patella, dorsal and external intercarinal surfaces weakly to moderately reticulate (fig. 11D); ventral intercarinal surface smooth to slighly reticulate along ventroexternal carina; internal intercarinal surface moderately granular; proximal tubercle moderately developed, bifurcate; dorsointernal carina weakly developed to obsolete; dorsomedian carina moderately developed, smooth; dorsoexternal carina moderately developed, crenulate (♂) or obsolete (♀); externomedian carina weakly to moderately developed, smooth to slightly crenulate (♂) or obsolete (♀); ventroexternal carina moderately developed, crenulate; ventromedian carina weakly to moderately developed, smooth to slightly granular; ventrointernal carina strongly developed, comprising large granules. Chela manus slender, height subequal to width (♂) or rounded, height greater than width (♀), densely (♂) or sparsely (♀) setose; dorsal intercarinal surface markedly reticulate (♂) or smooth (♀); external intercarinal surface slightly reticulate (♂) or smooth to slightly shagreened (♀; fig. 18A); dorsal marginal carina weakly to moderately developed, granular; digital carina strongly developed (♂) or weakly developed (♀), smooth; dorsal secondary carina weakly to moderately developed, smooth to slightly crenulate (♂) or obsolete (♀; fig. 18B); external secondary carina moderately developed, crenulate (♂) or obsolete (♀); ventroexternal and ventromedian carinae strongly developed, crenulate; ventromedian carina directed toward midpoint of movable finger articulation; ventrointernal carina strongly developed, granular; internoventral, internomedian, and internodorsal carinae moderately developed, granular; internal surface with shallow longitudinal depression where chela rests against patella. Chela fixed finger moderately curved; length less than femur length and patella length; dorsal surface smooth and densely setose proximally; external surface flat; internal surface shallowly concave.

Legs: Legs I–IV femora and tibiae, prolateral surfaces shagreened; telotarsi, counts of spiniform macrosetae in pro- and retroventral rows (dextral/sinistral), 5/5 5/5:5/6 5/6:6/6 6/6:6/6 6/6.

Pectines: Tooth count: 10–10 (♂; fig. 8D); 8–9 (♀).

Mesosoma: Tergites I –VI, pretergites smooth, posttergites granular, VII granular. Sternites smooth; VII, dorsosubmedian and dorsolateral carinae obsolete anteriorly, more strongly developed and crenulate posteriorly.

Metasoma: Metasomal segments I–V, dorsal and lateral intercarinal surfaces shagreened; ventral intercarinal surfaces smooth on I and II, shagreened on IV and V. Segments I–IV, dorsolateral carinae obsolete to weakly developed, granular on I, weakly developed, granular on II, weakly to moderately developed, granular on III and IV; lateral supramedian carinae strongly developed, granular to crenulate on I, strongly developed, granular on II–IV; lateral inframedian carinae moderately developed, slightly serrate to crenulate on I, crenulate on II, slightly crenulate to granular on III and IV; ventrolateral carinae moderately developed, serrate to crenulate (♂) or granular to slightly crenulate (♀) on I and II, strongly developed, crenulate (♂) or moderately developed, granular to slighty crenulate (♀) on III, moderately developed, granular on IV; ventrosubmedian carinae moderately developed, crenulate (♂) or granular to slightly crenulate (♀) on I–III, weakly developed, granular to slightly crenulate on IV. Segment V length:pedipalp femur length ratio, 1.40 (♂), 1.25 (♀); dorsolateral carinae moderately developed, granular to slightly serrate; lateral inframedian carinae moderately developed, granular; ventromedian carina strongly developed, granular, with subspiniform granules; ventral transverse carina moderately developed, incomplete, comprising four large, subspiniform granules; anal arch semicircular; anal subterminal carina moderately developed, comprising 11 granules; anal terminal carina moderately developed, granular.

Telson: Telson , width:length ratio, 0.5 (♂), 0.69 (♀). Vesicle, lateral surfaces shagreened; ventral surface granular anteriorly. Subaculear tubercle stout, subconical. Aculeus, 1.5 length of subaculear tubercle, strongly curved.

Hemispermatophore: Lamelliform, weakly sclerotized (fig. 9D); total length, 8.5 mm; distal lamella, length, 4.6 mm; capsular region, width, 1.7 mm; median lobe narrow, margin crenulate.

DISTRIBUTION: Diplocentrus sissomi , n. sp., is known only from the type locality in the San Cristóbal Amatlán municipality of Oaxaca (fig. 3B).

ECOLOGY: This species was collected during daytime, under logs and in burrows, ca. 30–40 cm long by 20–25 cm deep, and often curved due to the presence of small stones in the soil matrix (fig. 1B, F), in an area where the dominant vegetation was mixed pine-oak forest. Vaejovis oaxaca was collected in sympatry. The habitat and habitus of D. sissomi , n. sp., are consistent with the pelophilous ecomorphotype ( Prendini, 2001).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Diplocentrus keyserlingii group, microhabitat and representative species. A. Diplocentrus hoffmanni Francke, 1977, burrow entrance. B. Diplocentrus sissomi, n. sp., female with brood in burrow under stone. C. D. hoffmanni, ♂. D. Diplocentrus mitlae Francke, 1977, ♂. E. Diplocentrus rectimanus Pocock, 1898, ♂. F. D. sissomi, n. sp., ♀.

FIGURE 6. Diplocentrus keyserlingii group, dextral pedipalp chela, dorsoexternal aspect. A. Diplocentrus rectimanus Pocock, 1898, ♂ (AMNH). B. Diplocentrus tenango Santibáñez-López and Francke, 2008, holotype ♂ (CNAN-T0273). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 7. Diplocentrus keyserlingii group, carapace, dorsal aspect. A. Diplocentrus formosus Armas and Martín-Frías, 2003, ♂ (CNAN). B. Diplocentrus kraepelini, n. sp., paratype ♂ (AMNH). C. Diplocentrus sagittipalpus, n. sp., paratype ♂ (AMNH). D. Diplocentrus sissomi, n. sp., paratype ♂ (AMNH). Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 8. Diplocentrus keyserlingii group, sternum, genital operculum, and pectines, ventral aspect. A. Diplocentrus formosus Armas and Martín-Frías, 2003, ♂ (CNAN). B. Diplocentrus kraepelini, n. sp., paratype ♂ (AMNH). C. Diplocentrus sagittipalpus, n. sp., paratype ♂ (AMNH). D. Diplocentrus sissomi, n. sp., paratype ♂ (AMNH). Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 9. Diplocentrus keyserlingii group, sinistral hemispermatophore, dorsal aspect. A. Diplocentrus formosus Armas and Martín-Frías, 2003, ♂ (CNAN). B. Diplocentrus kraepelini, n. sp., paratype ♂ (AMNH). C. Diplocentrus sagittipalpus, n. sp., paratype ♂ (AMNH).D. Diplocentrus sissomi, n. sp., paratype ♂ (AMNH). Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 10. Diplocentrus keyserlingii group, dextral pedipalp femur, dorsal aspect. A. Diplocentrus formosus Armas and Martín-Frías, 2003, ♂ (CNAN). B. Diplocentrus kraepelini, n. sp., paratype ♂ (AMNH). C. Diplocentrus sagittipalpus, n. sp., paratype ♂ (AMNH). D. Diplocentrus sissomi, n. sp., paratype ♂ (AMNH). Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 11. Diplocentrus keyserlingii group, dextral pedipalp patella, external aspect. A. Diplocentrus formosus Armas and Martín-Frías, 2003, ♂ (CNAN). B. Diplocentrus kraepelini, n. sp., paratype ♂ (AMNH). C. Diplocentrus sagittipalpus, n. sp., paratype ♂ (AMNH). D. Diplocentrus sissomi, n. sp., paratype ♂ (AMNH). Scale bars = 1 mm.

FIGURE 16. Diplocentrus sagittipalpus, n. sp., dextral pedipalp chela, dorsoexternal aspect. A. Paratype ♂ (AMNH). B. Paratype ♀ (AMNH). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 17. Diplocentrus sagittipalpus, n. sp., habitus, dorsal (A, C) and ventral (B, D) aspect. A, B. Paratype ♂ (AMNH). C, D. Paratype ♀ (AMNH). Scale bars = 10 mm.

FIGURE 18. Diplocentrus sissomi, n. sp., dextral pedipalp chela, dorsoexternal aspect. A. Paratype ♂ (AMNH). B. Paratype ♀ (AMNH). Scale bar = 1 mm.

FIGURE 19. Diplocentrus sissomi, n. sp., habitus, dorsal (A, C) and ventral (B, D) aspect. A, B. Paratype ♂ (AMNH). C, D. Paratype ♀ (AMNH). Scale bars = 10 mm.