Vaejovidae Thorell, 1876

Prendini, Lorenzo, Ehrenthal, Valentin L. & Loria, Stephanie F., 2021, Systematics Of The Relictual Asian Scorpion Family Pseudochactidae Gromov, 1998, With A Review Of Cavernicolous, Troglobitic, And Troglomorphic Scorpions, Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 2021 (453), pp. 1-153 : 133-135

Family Vaejovidae Thorell, 1876

Franckeus minckleyi (Williams, 1968) : MEX- ICO. Habitat: inside cave, 20 m from entrance on exposed wall; known from surface. Previous assessments: possibly a troglophile (Sissom and Reddell, 2009). Current assessment: epigean: accidental. Citations: Sissom and Reddell (2009).

Graemeloweus iviei (Gertsch and Soleglad, 1972) : UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Habitat: in cave entrances and under rocks and ground detritus outside caves. Previous assessments: troglophile (Gertsch and Soleglad, 1972; Reddell, 1981); probably a troglophile (Sissom and Reddell, 2009). Current assessment: epigean, hypogean: trogloxene (subtroglophile) or accidental. Citations: Gertsch and Soleglad (1972); Reddell (1981); Sissom and Reddell (2009).

Pseudouroctonus apacheanus (Gertsch and Soleglad, 1972) : MEXICO, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Habitat: surface and cave habitats. Previous assessments: common on surface near entrance to caves, but none were detected with UV light or by any other means in the caves (Cokedolpher and Polyak, 2004); might be considered troglophilic, probably a troglophile (Sissom and Reddell, 2009). Current assessment: epigean, hypogean: trogloxene (subtroglophile) or accidental. Citations: Gertsch and Soleglad (1972); Cokendolpher and Polyak (2004); Sissom and Reddell (2009); Rossi (2018a). Remarks: A genus of dubious validity, Ruberhieronymus Rossi, 2018 , was erected to accommodate this species, which is retained in Pseudouroctonus Stahnke, 1974 , in the present contribution.

Pseudouroctonus reddelli Gertsch and Soleglad, 1972 : MEXICO, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Habitat: inside and outside cave habitats. Previous assessments: troglophile (Reddell, 1965a, 1965b, 1981, 1988a; Barr and Reddell, 1967; Veni, 1988; Francke and Savary, 2006; Cokendolpher and Reddell, 2009; Bryson et al., 2014); common troglophile (Mitchell and Reddell, 1971; Reddell and Cokendolpher, 2001); common troglophile, holotype found in first room of cave in darkness about 50 feet from entrance outside cave (Gertsch and Soleglad, 1972); troglophilic (Reddell, 1994; Brown, 1997); troglophile, seasonally abundant in some caves and reproduces in caves (Sissom and Reddell, 2009); exploits both epigean (surface) and hypogean (subterranean) habitats (Bryson et al., 2014); troglomorphic (Ayrey and Soleglad, 2015). Current assessment: epigean, hypogean: trogloxene (subtroglophile). Citations: Reddell (1965a, 1965b, 1981, 1988a, 1988b 1994); Barr and Reddell (1967); Mitchell and Reddell (1971); Gertsch and Soleglad (1972); Stahnke (1974); Veni (1988); Brown (1997); Reddell and Cokendolpher (2001); Francke and Savary (2006); Soleglad and Fet (2006); Cokendolpher and Reddell (2009); Sissom and Reddell (2009); Bryson et al. (2014); Ayrey and Soleglad (2015).

Pseudouroctonus savvasi Francke, 2009 : MEX- ICO. Habitat: inside cave. Troglomorphies: median ocelli slightly reduced; pigmentation and sclerotization reduced; pedipalps, legs and metasoma attenuate. Previous assessments: troglophile (Francke, 2009b); troglophile, no troglomorphic adaptations (Sissom and Reddell, 2009); especies conocidas solo de cuevas, pero probablemente no restringidas a los hábitats subterráneos (Palacios-Vargas and Reddell, 2013). Current assessment: hypogean: troglophile (eutroglophile). Citations: Francke (2009b); Sissom and Reddell (2009); Palacios-Vargas and Reddell (2013).

Pseudouroctonus sprousei Francke and Savary, 2006 : MEXICO. Habitat: inside cave. Troglomorphies: median and lateral ocelli reduced; pedipalps, legs and metasoma attenuate; telson vesicle enlarged. Previous assessments: troglobite (Francke and Savary, 2006; Volschenk and Prendini, 2008; Bryson et al., 2014); has slightly reduced eyes and pigmentation and is more attenuated than closest relative, P. reddelli (Sissom and Reddell, 2009) ; troglobio (Palacios-Vargas and Reddell, 2013); troglobitic/troglomorphic (Ayrey and Soleglad, 2015). Current assessment: hypogean: troglophile (eutroglophile). Citations: Francke and Savary (2006); Volschenk and Prendini (2008); Francke (2009b); Sissom and Reddell (2009); Palacios-Vargas and Reddell (2013); Bryson et al. (2014); Ayrey and Soleglad (2015).

Uroctonites sequoia (Gertsch and Soleglad, 1972) : UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Habitat: inside cave, under rocks. Troglomorphies: median ocelli reduced; lateral ocelli reduced (two pairs; third pair obsolete). Previous assessments: troglophile (Gertsch and Soleglad, 1972; Reddell, 1981; Francke and Savary, 2006; Elliott et al., 2017); no adaptations for cave existence and is at best a troglophile (Sissom and Reddell, 2009). Current assessment: hypogean: troglophile (eutroglophile). Citations: Gertsch and Soleglad (1972); Reddell (1981); Francke and Savary (2006); Sissom and Reddell (2009); Elliott et al. (2017).

Uroctonus grahami Gertsch and Soleglad, 1972 : UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Habitat : inside cave, 8 foot depth in back end of main entrance; deep soil recesses. Troglomorphies: median ocelli reduced; pigmentation and sclerotization reduced; pedipalps and legs attenuate. Previous assessments: cave adapted/endogean? (Gertsch and Soleglad, 1972); probably a troglobite (Reddell, 1981); endogean (Sissom, 1986); true troglobite (Francke and Savary, 2006); troglobite (Volschenk and Prendini, 2008; Elliott et al., 2017); probable troglobite (Sissom and Reddell, 2009). Current assessment: endogean, hypogean: troglobite. Citations: Gertsch and Soleglad (1972); Reddell (1981); Sissom (1986); Francke and Savary (2006); Volschenk and Prendini (2008); Sissom and Reddell (2009); Elliott et al. (2017).

Vaejovis davidi Soleglad and Fet, 2005 : MEX- ICO. Habitat: inside cave. Troglomorphies: pedipalps, legs, and metasoma attenuate. Previous assessments: troglophile (Reddell, 1981; Francke and Savary, 2006); not exhibiting noticeable cave adaptedness (Soleglad and Fet, 2005); probably not a troglobite (Volschenk and Prendini, 2008); possibly a troglobite (Sissom and Reddell, 2009); troglobio (Palacios-Vargas and Reddell, 2013). Current assessment: hypogean: troglophile (eutroglophile). Citations: Soleglad (1975); Reddell (1981); Soleglad and Fet (2005); Francke and Savary (2006); Volschenk and Prendini (2008); Sissom and Reddell (2009); Palacios-Vargas and Reddell (2013).

Vaejovis gracilis Gertsch and Soleglad, 1972 : MEXICO. Habitat: inside cave. Troglomorphies: median and lateral ocelli reduced; pigmentation and sclerotization reduced; pedipalps, legs, and metasoma attenuate. Previous assessments: cave adaptations but exact status uncertain (Gertsch and Soleglad, 1972); [holotype] is cave adapted due in part to its pale coloration, weak sclerotization, and slender appendages … additional specimens were also collected in caves but do not exhibit cave adaptation (Soleglad, 1975); troglobite (Reddell, 1981; Armas, 1994; Volschenk and Prendini, 2008); troglobie (Lourenço and Francke, 1985); troglophile; in initial stages of regressive evolution (Sissom, 1986); true troglobite (Francke and Savary, 2006); troglobio (Palacios-Vargas and Reddell, 2013). Current assessment: hypogean: troglophile (eutroglophile). Citations: Gertsch and Soleglad (1972); Reddell (1973, 1981); Soleglad (1975); Lourenço and Francke (1985); Sissom (1986); Armas (1994); Palacios-Vargas (1994); Sissom and González-Santillán (2004); Soleglad and Fet (2005); Francke and Savary (2006); Volschenk and Prendini (2008); Sissom and Reddell (2009); Palacios-Vargas and Reddell (2013).

Vaejovis mitchelli Sissom, 1991 : MEXICO. Habitat: inside cave; surface. Previous assessments: possible troglophile (Sissom and Reddell, 2009). Current assessment: epigean: accidental. Citations: Sissom (1991); Sissom and Reddell (2009).

Vaejovis norteno Sissom and González-Santillán, 2004 : MEXICO. Habitat: inside cave. Troglomorphies: telson vesicle slightly enlarged. Previous assessments: does not exhibit any significant troglobitic adaptations, and should be regarded as troglophilic (Sissom and González- Santillán, 2004); troglophile (Francke and Savary, 2006; Sissom and Reddell, 2009). Current assessment: hypogean: troglophile (eutroglophile). Citations: Sissom and González-Santillán (2004); Soleglad and Fet (2005); Francke and Savary (2006); Sissom and Reddell (2009).

Vaejovis rossmani Sissom, 1989 : MEXICO. Habitat: inside cave; surface. Previous assessments: troglophile (Sissom and Reddell, 2009). Current assessment: epigean, hypogean: trogloxene (subtroglophile) or accidental. Citations: Sissom and Reddell (2009).

Vaejovis sprousei Sissom, 1990 : MEXICO. Habitat: inside cave; surface. Previous assessments: probable troglophile (Sissom and Reddell, 2009). Current assessment: epigean, hypogean: trogloxene (subtroglophile) or accidental. Citations: González Santillán et al. (2004); Sissom and Reddell (2009).