Vaejovis mexicanus C. L. Koch 1836
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 mexicanus

description: Vaejovis mexicanus C. L. Koch, 1836
Figures 4, 13k, 14j, 15k, 16k, 17k, 18k, 19k, 29
Vaejovis mexicanus C. L. Koch, 1836: 51, pl. XCI, Fig: 206.
Parabroteas montezuma Penther, 1913: 244 –245, Fig: 5–7.
Vejovis mexicanus mexicanus: Hoffmann, 1931: 394 –396, Fig: 39; Hoffmann, 1938: 318; Gertsch, 1958: 6; Díaz Najera, 1964: 20, 23, 24, 25; Stahnke, 1974: 113, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 136, 137, 138; Díaz Najera, 1975: 7, 22, 25; Sissom, 2000: 541 –542; Soleglad & Fet, 2003: 8; Soleglad & Fet, 2005: 2; McWest, 2009: 20, 34, 75, 102, Figs. 245–249 Parabroteas montezuma: Birula, 1917: 139 –140; Werner, 1934: 287.
Pentheria montezuma: Kovarík, 1998: 128.
Vaejovis mexicanus C. L. Koch, 1836: Gertsch, 1958: 5 –6; Gertsch & Soleglad, 1966: 3; Sissom, 1990: 47, 49: Fet et al., 2006: 5, 7, 11; Graham & Fet, 2006: 11; Francke & González-Santillán, 2006 (2007): 557; Fet & Soleglad, 2007: 251 –161, Figs. 1–7; Soleglad & Fet, 2008: 5, 13, 28, 46, 51, 77, 99, 100; Fig: 14, 39; Sissom & Reddell: 2009: 31; Teruel & Rein, 2009: 1, 2, Fig: 1, 2; Graham & Bryson, 2010: 286; Santibáñez-López & Francke, 2010: 556; Ayrey & Soleglad, 2011: 1, 2; Graham et al., 2012: 281, 285, 286; Gurrola et al., 2012.
Type material. Neotype of V. mexicanus and lectotype of Parabroteas montezuma adult female. MEXICO: México City. II-6-1883 (leg. Bilimek), permanently deposited in NMW. Not examined.
Paralectotypes two females, same locality and label information. Lectotype and paralectotype designation labels for P. montezuma were placed in original vial by M. E. Soleglad in July 1976; published by Soleglad & Fet (2008). Not examined.
Other specimens examined. Vaejovis mexicanus: MEXICO: Ciudad de Mexico, Coyoacán. VII-2013. Col.: H. Karazawa. 6 ♂, 5 ♀ (CNAN-SC3633). MEXICO: Ciudad de Mexico, Coyoacan, Ciudad Universitaria. X-10- 2005. Without collector data. 1 ♂ (CNAN-SC1325). MEXICO: Ciudad de Mexico, Xochimilco. IV-15-1992. Col.: P. Guzmán. 1 ♂, 4 ♀ (CNAN–SC1336). MEXICO: Morelos, La Pera, Huitzilac (N 19.03°, W 99.23°; elev. 2560 m.) III-14-2 0 0 4. Col.: M. Córdova. 1 ♂, 3 ♀ (CNAN-SC-0257). MEXICO: Estado de Mexico, Malinalco, Road to San Simón el Alto. (N 18.98954°, W 99.49039, elev. 2169 m.). IV-25-2012. Cols.: O. Francke, D. Barrales, and J. Mendoza. 6 ♂, 6 ♀ (CNAN-SC3193).
Diagnosis. Adult size 50 to 60 mm long (Fig: 29-a, b). Carapace (Fig: 13-k), shorter than metasomal segment V (Carapace L/MS-V 0.89±0.1 [0.93±0.07]; subequal to femur length (Carapace L/Femur L 1.02±0.07 [1.08±0.05]); anterior margin of carapace slightly concave, may present a small median notch. Mesosomal tergite VII with a pair of well-developed granular carinae. Pectinal teeth 18–19 [16–17]; sternite V on males usually with a conspicuous bright semi-oval whitish patch on posterior margin; sternite VII presents a pair of granulose paramedial carinae and 10 to 14 setae. Metasomal segment I subquadrate in dorsal view (MSI L/ W 0.82 ±0.08 [0.75±0.05]); intercarinal spaces on segments I–IV smooth, with some scattered granules. In males segment V as wide as deep, in females wider than deep (MS-V W/D 1.03±0.1 [1.19±0.05]). Vesicle (Fig: 14-k) rounded (L/ W 1.6 ±0.1 [1.6±0.1]), broad (W/D 1.36± 0.15 [1.22±0.1]), ventrally with two lighter median longitudinal bands; an oval whitish vesicular gland dorsally easily distinguished on males. Pedipalp femur (Fig: 15-k) more than three times longer than wide (L/ W 3.39 ±0.1 [3.2±0.2]); patella (Fig: 16-k) approximately three times longer than wide (L/ W 2.98 ±0.2 [2.98±0.1]), wider than deep (W/D 1.24± 0.03[1.22±0.09]); chela (Fig: 17, 18-k) globose (CM L/ W 1.91 ±0.09 [1.89±0.05]), with the dorsal prosubmedian, dorsal internal and ventral median carinae granulose; other carinae smooth. Pedipalp chela fingers dentate margins on males straight, without basal scalloping.
Hemispermatophore (Fig: 19-k): Lamelliform (TL 3.3; LL 1.7; LW 0.5 mm); lamella simple, presents a pair of hooks located basally, pointed and slightly bent at the top.
Full morphometric variation is given in tables 13 and 14. Setae variation is given in tables 9–12.
Distribution. This species can be found on the Mexican states of Mexico and northern parts of Morelos, and Ciudad de Mexico (formerly known as the Distrito Federal) (Figure 4).
Natural history. This species is commonly found under rocks or fallen logs, and can be found in pine forest or slightly drier environments as deciduous oak forest. It is fairly commonly found inside houses in Mexico City, especially during the rainy season. Some females have litters of as many as 45 newborn and can be found with them on their backs in the months of June and July.
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 44-45, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4596.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/2659091