Gertschius Graham et Soleglad, 2007

Soleglad, Michael E. & Fet, Victor, 2008, Contributions to scorpion systematics. III. Subfamilies Smeringurinae and Syntropinae (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae), Euscorpius 71 (71), pp. 1-115 : 85-86

Genus Gertschius Graham et Soleglad, 2007

Type Species. Gertschius crassicorpus Graham et

Soleglad, 20 07. References: Gertschius : Graham & Soleglad, 2007: 1–12, figs.

1–13. Composition. This genus includes two species:

G. agilis (Sissom et Stockwell, 1991) G. crassicorpus Graham et Soleglad, 2007

Distribution. Mexico (Sonora), USA (Arizona, New Mexico).

This small genus (see map in Fig. 202 ) has a disjunct distribution, G. agilis being found in the extreme southern continuous areas of Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Sonora. G. crassicorpus , based on type locality, is found in southern coastal Sonora (see discussion below of “ Vaejovis ” pequeno ).

Diagnosis. Modification to basal pectinal teeth of female marginalized, missing sensorial area reduced to one or two teeth, not particularly swollen or elongated and showing some distal angling; outer denticles (OD) not serrated, all observable the entire length of both chelal fingers; distal denticle not overly elongated or hook-like, “whitish patch” minimal or absent altogether; inner accessory denticles (IAD) absent; subaculear spinoid tooth not present; ventromedian (VM) carinae of metasomal segments I–II obsolete.

Taxonomic history. Graham & Soleglad (2007) established the genus Gertschius describing one new species and moving another ( G. agilis ) from Serradigitus . The genus was placed in tribe Stahnkeini .

Discussion. Gertschius was characterized by Graham & Soleglad (2007) as a “primitive taxon of tribe Stahnkeini .” By “primitive” the authors were referring to the less expressed modification of the basal pectinal teeth in the female where the loss of sensilla is limited to one or two teeth, some distal angling still present, and there is no swollenness and/or elongation as seen in many species in core genera of this tribe, Serradigitus and Stahnkeus . Similarly, the serration of the chelal finger denticles in Gertschius is limited to the median row, the outer denticles (OD) are not serrated and readily visible the entire finger length. At the same time, in Serradigitus and Stahnkeus OD are highly serrated and are indistinguishable from the MD denticles medially and proximally on the finger. Finally, the distal denticle of each chelal finger in Gertschius is not overly elongated with a “whitish” patch, this condition either expressed only slightly or absent altogether. Geographically, the range of Gertschius (southern Arizona and Sonora, Mexico) is somewhat removed from the bulk of species found in California and throughout Baja California (see map in Fig. 202 ).

Figures

Figure 202: General distribution of scorpion subfamily Syntropinae (tribe Stahnkeini) in North America with the ranges of genera Stahnkeus, Serradigitus, Gertschius, and Wernerius delineated.