Vaejovis grayae Ayrey, 2014

Ayrey, Richard F., 2014, A new species of Vaejovis from chaparral habitat near Yarnell, Arizona (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae), Euscorpius 188, pp. 1-13 : 3-7

Vaejovis grayae Ayrey , sp. nov.

( Figs. 1–11; Tables 1 & 2) http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:BC971

302-239A-4D36-AB43-627960CFF463

Diagnosis. Small (25.25 mm) scorpions. Color is medium brown, lighter on the legs, with underlying mottling on carapace, mesosoma and metasoma, telson orange (see Figure 1). Pedipalp movable finger has with 7 ID denticles and fixed finger has 6. Carapace of female is shorter than the fifth metasomal segment. Carapace of male is elongated. Mean pectinal tooth count for females 11.125 [n=16], males 12.50 [n=12]. Small, spinoid subaculear tubercle. Ventral surface of tarsomere II with single median row of spinules terminating distally with one spinule pair.

Type material. Holotype female, Yarnell , Yavapai County, Arizona, USA, 16 June 2012 ( R.F. AYREY) specimen #621, deposited in USNM . Paratype male, same locality, 16 June 2012 ( R.F. AYREY) specimen #622, deposited in USNM . Paratype female, same locality, 16 June 2012 ( R.F. AYREY) specimen #623 ( RFA) . Paratype male, same locality, 16 June 2012 ( R.F. AYREY) specimen #625 ( RFA) .

Etymology. This species is named in honor of Alice Gray who worked at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and inspired the author to become a charter member of the American Arachnological Society.

Distribution. Known only from the type locality Yarnell, Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. See map in Figure 13.

Description. Based on holotype female, unless otherwise noted.

Color. Color is medium brown, lighter on the legs, telson orange. Faint underlying mottling on carapace and mesosoma.

Carapace ( Fig. 2). Anterior margin of carapace moderately emarginated. Carapace finely granular.

Three lateral eyes on each side. Median furrow moderate and traverses entire length of carapace. Ratio of median eyes location from anterior edge/carapace length 0.32; carapace length/width at median eyes 1.33. Carapace of female is shorter than metasomal segment V.

Mesosoma. Tergites finely granular with vestigial median carina on Tergites I–VI. Tergite VII with weak median carina on anterior half and strong dorsal lateral and lateral supramedian granular carinae. Sternites III– VI finely granular and without carinae. Sternite VII with granular ventral lateral carinae on middle half. Presternites smooth. Spiracles ovoid with median side rotated 35 degrees from posterior sternite margin. Sternites with variable number of microsetae.

Sternum ( Figs. 4, 7). Sternum is type 2.

Genital Operculum ( Figs. 4, 7). Sclerites separated on posterior one-fifth.

Pectines ( Figs. 4, 7). Pectinal tooth count 11/11 for holotype female and 12/12 for paratype male. All pectinal teeth have exterodistal angling with large sensorial area. Middle lamellae 7/7. Fulcra are present. Each fulcra with 1–3 central setae.

Metasoma ( Figs. 5, 6). Carapace of female is shorter than the fifth metasomal segment. Ratio of segment I length/width 0.67; of segment II length/width 0.90; of segment III length/width 1.03; of segment IV length/ width 1.40; of segment V length/width 2.15. Segments I–IV: dorsolateral carinae strong and granular with distal denticle of I–IV enlarged and spinoid. Lateral supramedian carinae I–IV strong and granular with enlarged spinoid distal denticle. Lateral inframedian carinae moderately granular on segment I, posterior 4/5 of II and III, and weak on 2/5 of IV. Ventrolateral carinae I weak and granular; on II–III moderate, granular; on IV strong, granular. Ventral submedian carinae weak on segment I, weak to moderate on II, moderate, granular on III and IV. Dorsal and lateral intercarinal spaces very finely granular. Segment I-IV ventral submedian setae 3/3. Segment V: Dorsolateral carinae moderate, distally crenulate, basally granular. Lateromedian carinae weak and granular on basal 3/5, obsolete on distal 2/5. Ventrolateral and ventromedian carinae strong. Intercarinal spaces finely granular. Segment V ventrolateral setae 4/4.

Telson ( Figs. 5, 6). Smooth with 4 pairs of large setae on the ventral surface, 3 large setae along both lateral edges of the vesicle and numerous smaller setae. Small, spinoid subaculear tubercle present.

Chelicerae. Dorsal edge of movable cheliceral finger with two subdistal (sd) denticles. Ventral edge is smooth, with well-developed serrula on distal half.

Pedipalps. Pedipalp ratios: chela length/width 4.53; femur length/width 3.35; patella length/width 3.24; fixed finger length/carapace length 0.78.

Chela ( Fig. 8, 9). Carinae weak. Fixed finger median (MD) denticles aligned and divided into 6 subrows by 5 outer (OD) denticles and 6 ID denticles. Movable finger with 6 subrows, 5 OD denticles and usually 7 ID denticles (Soleglad & Sissom, 2001). Trichobothria Type C, orthobothriotaxic ( Fig. 13). Series ib–it located at fixed finger base, Dt positioned proximally of palm mid-point, and patellar v 3 positioned distal of et 3.