Vaejovis smithi , Pocock 1902
Creators: name: A, Contreras-Félix Gerardo
name: Oscar, Francke B.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Arachnida
Scorpiones
Vaejovidae
Vaejovis
Vaejovis smithi

description: Vaejovis smithi Pocock, 1902
Figures 4, 35h, 36h, 37h, 38h, 39h, 40h, 41h, 48
Vaejovis mexicanus smithi Pocock, 1902: 9.
Vaejovis mexicanus smithi Ewing, 1928: 12; Díaz Najera, 1975: 7, 27; Kovarík, 1998: 147; Beutelspacher, 2000: 95, 140, 142, 153, map 73; Sissom, 2000: 542; McWest, 2009: 20, 76, 78, 102, Figs: 250–254.
Vejovis mexicanus smithi: Hoffmann, 1931: 396 –398, Fig: 40; Hoffmann, 1938: 318; Gertsch, 1958: 6.
Vaejovis smithi: Fet & Soleglad, 2007: 251, 260; McWest, 2009: 20, 76, 78, 102, Figs: 250–254. Soleglad & Fet, 2008: 46, 77, 100.
Type material. Neotype Female, (designated by Fet & Soleglad, 2007). MEXICO: Morelos, Cuernavaca (elev. 1730 m.) (BMNH). Not examined.
Other specimens examined. Vaejovis smithi: MEXICO: Morelos, San Juan Tlacontenco, Tepoztlán (N 19.020833°, W 99.086111°, elev. 2441 m.). X-7-2003. Cols.: M. Córdova and A. Jaimes. 13 ♀ (CNAN-SC2359). MEXICO: Morelos, Nepopualco, Totolapán (N 18.993611°, W 98.937222°, elev. 1975 m.) II- 2-2004. Cols.: M. Córdova and A. Jaimes. 2 ♂, 8 ♀ (CNAN-SC2355). MEXICO: Morelos, Cerro El Tepeito, Huitzilac (N 19.024722°, W 99.281111°, elev. 2481 m.) III-30-2004. Cols.: M. Córdova and A. Burgos. 6 ♀ (CNAN-SC2354). MEXICO: Morelos, Tepoztlán. V-23-1946. Without collector data. 5 ♀ (CNAN-SC2358). MEXICO: Morelos, Tepoztlán. III-12/17 -2007. Col.: W. López. 3 ♂, 11 ♀ (CNAN-SC3204). MEXICO: Morelos, Tepoztlán. X-2012. Col.: W. López. 4 ♀ (CNAN-SC3205). MEXICO: Morelos, Cueva del Diablo, Tepoztlán (N 18.99528°, W 99.06012°, elev. 1947 m.). VII-29-2009. Cols.: O. Francke, T. López, C. Santibáñez, C. Quijano and A. Valdez. 5 ♂, 9 ♀ (CNAN-SC03165).
Diagnosis. Adults 28 to 50 mm long (Fig: 48-a, b). Carapace (Fig: 35-h) shorter than metasomal segment V (Carapace L/MS-V 0.81±0.03 [0.95±0.05]), longer than femur (Carapace L/Femur L 1.05±0.1 [1.06±0.06]); anterior margin of the carapace concave, with a “U” shaped median notch. Mesosomal tergite VII bearing one pair of lateral carinae; intercarinal space conspicuously granulose. Pectinal teeth 20–22 [20–21]; sternite V with a whitish semi-triangular patch along posterior margin; sternite VII with one pair of feebly granular carinae, and 12 setae. Metasomal segment I slightly wider than long, subquadrate in dorsal view (MSI L/ W 0.84 ±0.08 [0.85±0.1]), with ventrolateral carinae weak; intercarinal spaces on segments I–IV smooth, may present some scattered granules; segment V twice longer than wide (MS-V L/ W 2.26 ±0.2 [1.98± 0.2]; W/D 1.2±0.08 [1.25± 0.07]). Vesicle (Fig: 36-h) slender (L/ W 1.85 ±0.15 [1.64± 0.1]) and thin (W/D 1.25±0.11 [1.24±0.08]), with ventral surface smooth; on males a conspicuous whitish vesicular gland posterodorsally. Pedipalp femur (Fig: 37-h) and patella (Fig: 38-h) over three times longer than wide (Femur L/ W 3.53 ±0.5 [3.34± 0.3]; Patella L/ W 3.24 ±0.2 [3.13±0.15]); patella wider than deep (W/D 1.25±0.03 [1.31±0.1]); external carina granular, divided by trichobothria; dorsointernal carina present on anterior two thirds of segment, appearing serrated and continuous. Chela (Fig: 39, 40-h) almost twice longer than wide (CM L/ W 1.87 ±0.16 [2.01±0.1]; W/D 0.96±0.06 [0.96±0.1]); fixed finger slightly longer than chela manus (CM L/FF 1.14±0.1 [0.87±0.15]); dorsal median, dorsal prosubmedian, dorsal internal, prolateral median and ventral retrolateral carinae present, feebly granular. Pedipalp chela fingers dentate margins straight, without scalloping.
Hemispermatophore (Fig: 41-h): Lamelliform (TL 4; LL 2.2; LW 0.6 mm.); lamella simple, without distal crest; lamina constricted basally at level of hooks; a pair of hooks located basally, lobe-shaped.
Full morphometric variation is given in tables 13 and 14. Setae variation is given in tables 9–12.
Distribution. México: Morelos (Figure 4).
Natural history. This species inhabits in mixed pine–oak forest; it also can be found living in cities such as Tepoztlán. Because of its dark coloration, it is easily spotted under rocks or fallen logs.
description: Published as part of A, Contreras-Félix Gerardo & Oscar, Francke B., 2019, Taxonomic revision of the " mexicanus " group of the genus Vaejovis C. L. Koch, 1836 (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae), pp. 1-100 in Zootaxa 4596 (1) on pages 72-73, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4596.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2659091