Vaejovis glabrimanus, Sissom, W. David & Hendrixson, Brent E., 2005

Sissom, W. David & Hendrixson, Brent E., 2005, A new species of Vaejovis (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae) from Coahuila and Nuevo León, and a key to the vaejovid species from northeastern and north­central México, Zootaxa 1088, pp. 33-43 : 35-39

Vaejovis glabrimanus , new species

( Figs. 1–12 )

Type data.— Adult male holotype taken from 4.9 mi N La Ascension, Nuevo Léon, México (24°19' N, 99°54' W) on 18 July 1972 by E.A. Liner, R.M. Johnson, and A.H. Chaney; deposited in the Florida State Collection of Arthropods, Gainesville, Florida. Paratype male taken from 10.8 mi S, 0.1 mi E Arteaga at Los Pinos, Coahuila, México (25°17' N, 100°50' W) on 17 July 1975 by E.A. Liner et al.; also deposited in the Florida State Collection of Arthropods.

Diagnosis.— In possessing a setose metasoma and essentially acarinate pedipalp chelae, Vaejovis glabrimanus sp. nov. is most similar to V. coahuilae and V. globosus . It may be distinguished from V. coahuilae by (1) the presence of six, rather than five, subrows of denticles on the cutting margin of the pedipalp chela fixed finger; (2) the absence of an elaborate dusky pattern on the carapace, dorsum, metasoma, and appendages; (3) the lack of carinae on sternite VII (in V. coahuilae , granular lateral carinae are present); and (4) larger body size, with adult males reaching approximately 40–42 mm in length (adult males of V. coahuilae are rarely about 35 mm in length). It may be distinguished from V. globosus by (1) the presence of six, rather than five, subrows of denticles on the pedipalp chela fixed finger; (2) the presence of prominent scalloping in the chela fingers in the male; (3) the absence of dusky markings on the dorsum and metasoma; (4) more swollen pedipalp chelae in the male (chela length/width ratios: V. glabrimanus , 2.94–3.06; V. globosus , 3.29–3.79); and (5) its larger body size (males of V. globosus range only to about 25–30 mm).

In body size and coloration, the new species is also superficially similar to V. russelli Williams. As is typical of the punctipalpi group, males of V. russelli have distinctly carinate, often granular pedipalp chelae and fewer metasomal setae (e.g., segment V in V. russelli typically has only 4–7 setae on the metasomal dorsolateral and ventrolateral carinae, whereas V. globosus has 7–10 on the dorsolaterals and 10 on the ventrolaterals). Additional characters for the punctipalpi group are provided by Williams ( 1971 b, 1980).

Description.— The following description is based on the holotype male; some meristic and morphometric characters of the paratype male are provided in parentheses. Coloration. Base color light yellow­brown, almost immaculate. Tergites with paired vestigial dusky patches along posterior margin. Metasomal segments with carinae yelloworange. Telson yellowish; aculeus dark reddish­brown. Pedipalps: femur and tibia yellow, lighter than body; chela manus yellow, fingers orange­red with underlying dusky pigment; denticles of dentate margin dark brown. Legs pale yellow with some faint dusky markings; tarsi yellowish. Venter: coxosternal region yellowish; pectines yellowish­white; sternites light yellow. Prosoma. Carapace approximately as long as wide. Anterior margin essentially straight, with six conspicuous setae; median notch faint, shallow. Entire carapacial surface densely granular. Mesosoma. Tergites I–IV: Median carina on I–II faint, on II–VI weak, smooth to granular; lateral carinae present posteriorly on II–VI, weak, granular. Tergite VII: Median carina weak, smooth, present on anterior one­third; submedian and lateral carinae strong, granulose. Pectinal tooth count (l/r) 15/? (17/17). Sternites III–VI smooth, moderately setose. Sternite VII acarinate. Metasoma ( Fig. 1 ). Segment I slightly wider than long, II–III slightly longer than wide, V 2.37 (2.40) times longer than wide. Segments I–IV: Dorsolateral carinae on I–III strong, serrate; on IV strong, crenulate; terminal denticles on I–III distinctly enlarged, spiniform. Lateral supramedian carinae on I–III strong, irregularly serrate; on IV moderate, irregularly serrate; terminal denticles distinctly enlarged, spiniform on I–III. Lateral inframedian carinae on I complete, strong, irregularly serrate; on II present only on posterior third, crenulate to serrate; on III represented by only three or four medium­sized granules; on IV absent. Ventrolateral carinae on I moderate, irregularly crenulate; on II–IV moderate to strong, crenulate. Ventral submedian carinae on I–III weak, smooth; on IV weak, smooth anteriorly, serrate posteriorly. Intercarinal spaces mostly smooth, lustrous. Segment V: Dorsolateral carinae moderate, granular on anterior half of segment. Lateromedian carinae present on anterior third, weak, granular. Ventrolateral and ventromedian carinae moderate, crenulate. Intercarinal spaces mostly smooth, lustrous. Metasomal I–IV carinal setation (l/r): dorsolaterals, 0/0:2/2:2/2:4/4; lateral supramedians, 1/1:3/3:3/3:4/4; lateral inframedians, 2/2:0/0:0/0:0/0; ventrolaterals, 2/3:4/4:4/4:4/4; ventral submedians, 3/3:3/ 3:4/3:4/5 (segment III with unpaired seta offset medially from carina; segment IV with left seta of pair 2 offset medially from carina). Setation of metasomal segment V: dorsolaterals, 7/7; lateromedians, 4/5; ventrolaterals, 10/10. Telson ( Fig. 1 ). Dorsal surface flattened, smooth; ventral surface almost smooth, without a subaculear tubercle; aculeus much shorter than vesicle. Pedipalps. Orthobothriotaxic, Type C ( Vachon 1974). Femur ( Fig. 2 ) tetracarinate. Dorsointernal, dorsoexternal, and ventrointernal carinae strong, granulose. Ventroexternal carina moderate, with irregularly spaced, large rounded granules. Internal face with large conical granules; dorsal face shagreened. Ratio of femur length/width, 2.55 (2.52). Patella ( Fig. 3 ) tetracarinate. Dorsointernal carina strong, granulose. Ventrointernal carina moderate, granulose. Dorsoexternal carina weak to moderate, smooth. Ventroexternal carina weak, smooth. Internal face with moderate basal tubercle and longitudinal series of 6–7 large granules. Surfaces smooth. Ratio of patella length/width, 2.47 (2.41). Chela ( Figs. 4–7 ): carinae of palm ( Figs. 4–5 ) obsolete or at most, vestigial and smooth. Dentate margin of fixed finger ( Fig. 6 ) with primary row of denticles divided into six subrows by five larger granules; six inner accessory granules of which all but distal­most paired with larger granule in primary row; trichobothrium it slightly basal to sixth inner accessory granule. Dentate margin of movable finger on right pedipalp chela ( Fig. 7 ) with primary denticle row broken up into six subrows by five enlarged granules; apical row consisting of one small granule; seven inner accessory granules, of which distal granule not paired with larger granule in primary row; basal inner accessory granule distinctly basal to corresponding granule in primary row. Dentate margin of movable finger on left pedipalp chela anomalous, with primary row broken into four subrows by three enlarged granules; distalmost subrows fused; only three inner accessory granules. Slight recess indicated on both fingers such that a distinct gap is visible proximally when the fingers are closed ( Fig. 5 ). Ratio of chela length/width 2.94 (3.06); of movable finger length/chela width 1.60 (1.64); of fixed finger length/carapace length ratio 0.56 (0.53). Legs. Tarsomere I on legs I–II with one retrolateral and two ventrolateral rows of spinules; ventral rows complete, interrupted at irregular intervals by large, dark, stiff setae. Retrolateral row present on distal one­half, interrupted by one or two spines. Tarsomere I spinule rows rudimentary on legs III–IV, but with stiff setae present. Tarsomere II on all legs with single ventromedian row of spinules, procurved basally, terminating distally between with 2–3 pairs of medium­sized spines ( Fig. 8 ). Hemispermatophore ( Figs. 9–12 ). Hemispermatophore with broad flange on ectal edge of distal lamina ( Figs. 9, 11 ); capsular region as in Fig. 10 ; "sperm plug" of capsular region with 14 spines ( Fig. 12 ).

Measurements of Male Holotype (mm): Total L, 40.85; carapace L, 5.00; mesosoma L, 10.50; metasoma L, 19.10; telson L, 6.25. Metasomal segments: I L/W/D, 2.55/2.70/2.15; II L/W/D, 3.05/2.65/2.15; III L/W/D, 3.25/2.65/2.15; IV L/W/D, 4.10/2.55/2.05; V L/W/ D, 6.15/2.60/1.90. Telson: vesicle L/W/D, 4.45/2.45/2.10; aculeus L, 1.80. Pedipalps: femur L/W, 3.70/1.45; patella L/W, 4.20/1.70; chela L/W/D, 7.05/2.40/2.45; fixed finger L, 2.80; movable finger L, 3.85.

Measurements of Male Paratype (mm): Total L, 42.00 (estimated, due to broken aculeus); carapace L, 5.20; mesosoma L, 11.00; metasoma L, 19.65; telson L, ??. Metasomal segments: I L/W/D, 2.60/3.00/2.30; II L/W/D, 3.10/2.80/2.30; III L/W/D, 3.30/2.70/2.30; IV L/W/D, 4.30/2.60/2.20; V L/W/D, 6.35/2.65/2.05. Telson: vesicle L/W/ D, 4.60/2.55/2.10; aculeus L,?. Pedipalps: femur L/W, 3.65/1.45; patella L/W, 4.10/1.70; chela L/W/D, 7.20/2.35/2.45; fixed finger L, 2.75; movable finger L, 3.85.

Var ia t io n. The paratype male did not differ significantly from the holotype in any of the above­mentioned characters. The setation of the carinae of metasomal segments I–IV (l/r) in the paratype is as follows: dorsolaterals, 2/2:2/2:4/4:5/5; lateral supramedians, 1/ 2:3/4:4/4:4/4; lateral inframedians, 3/2:1/2:1/1:1/1; ventrolaterals, 3/3:4/4:4/4:4/4; ventral submedians, 3/3:4/3:4/3:5/5 (segments II and III each with unpaired seta slightly offset from the ventral submedian carinae; segment IV with setal pairs 2 and 4 slightly offset medially from the ventral submedian carinae). For metasomal segment V (l/r), the setation of the paratype is: dorsolaterals, 9/10; lateromedians, 4/5; ventrolaterals, 10/10.

Distribution.— Known only from the two localities in southern Nuevo Léon and Coahuila, México.

Etymology.— The specific epithet is Latin for "smooth hand" and refers to the lack of distinct carinae on the pedipalp chelae.

Figures

FIGURES 1 – 12. External morphology of Vaejovis glabrimanus sp. nov. 1, metasomal segments III – V and telson, lateral aspect; 2, pedipalp femur, dorsal aspect; 3, pedipalp patella, dorsal aspect; 4, pedipalp chela, dorsal aspect; 5, pedipalp chela, external aspect; 6, pedipalp chela fixed finger, showing dentition and trichobothrial pattern; 7, pedipalp chela movable finger, showing dentition; 8, tarsomere II on right leg III, ventral aspect, showing arrangement of spinules; 9, morphology of hemispermatophore, dorsal aspect; 10, structure of hemispermatophore capsular area (ventral aspect); 11, ectal view of laminar flange; 12, barbed end of " sperm plug ".