Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 4596 No. 1: 3 May 2019
Type: Monograph
Published: 2019-05-03
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4596.1.1
Page range: 1–100
Abstract views: 141
PDF downloaded: 4

Taxonomic revision of the “mexicanus” group of the genus Vaejovis C. L. Koch, 1836 (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae)

Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad #3000 C.P. 04510, México.
Colección Nacional de Arácnidos, Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, UNAM. Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Distrito Federal, México.
group characterization species diagnoses new species dichotomous keys Myriapoda

Abstract

Within the scorpion genus Vaejovis C.L. Koch, the “mexicanus” group is composed of species distributed in the mountains of México. This group presents taxonomic problems, because its characterization and the species included in the group have varied through the years. In the present work, we redefine this group based on several morphological characters, and we differentiate it from the other two species groups within the genus: “vorhiesi” and “nit dulus+nigrescens”. Additionally, five new species are described: Vaejovis ceboruco sp. nov., Vaejovis nanchititla sp. nov., Vaejovis santibagnezi sp. nov., Vaejovis talpa sp. nov. and Vaejovis tapalpa sp. nov; the males of three species are described for the first time (V. dugesi, V. nigrofemoratus and V. tesselatus); and the updated diagnosis for all species is included. Keys for the identification of males and females of the 30 species included in this group are given. Lastly, notes on the natural history and distribution of some species are provided, with maps of known distribution for all the species.

References

  1. Álvarez-Padilla, F. & Hormiga, G. (2008) A protocol for digesting internal soft tissues and mounting spiders for scanning electron microscopy. Journal of Arachnology, 35 (3), 538–542.
    https://doi.org/10.1636/Sh06-55.1

    Ayrey, R.F. (2012) A New Vaejovis from the Mogollon Highlands of Northern Arizona (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Euscorpius, 148, 1–13.

    Ayrey, R.F. (2013a) Reproduction and Birth in the “Vorhiesi” group of the Genus Vaejovis (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Part I. Clutch Size. Euscorpius, 166, 1–15.

    Ayrey, R.F. (2013b) A New Species of Vaejovis from the Mogollon Rim of Northern Arizona (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Euscorpius, 176, 1–13.

    Ayrey, R.F. & Soleglad, M.E. (2011) A new species of Vaejovis from Prescott, Arizona (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Euscorpius, 114, 1–15.

    Ayrey, R.F. & Webber, M.M. (2013) A new Vaejovis C. L. Koch, 1837, the second known vorhiesi group species from the Santa Catalina Mountains of Arizona (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae). Zookeys, 270, 21–35.
    https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.270.4500

    Byalynitskii-Birulya, A.A. [Birula, A.A.] (1917) Faune de la Russie et des pays limitrophes fondee principalement sur les collections du Musée Zoologique de l'Académie des Sciences de Russie. Arachnides (Arachnoidea). Petrograd, 1 (1), 1–227. [English translation: Byalynitskii-Birulya AA. (1965) Fauna of Russia and Adjacent Countries. Arachnoidea. Vol. I. Scorpions. Jerusalem: Israel Program for Scientific Translations, XIX, 1–154.]

    Beutelspacher B., C.R. (2000) Catálogo de los Alacranes de Mexico. Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacan, 175 pp.

    Bücherl, W. (1964) Distribução geográfica dos Aracnóides peçonhentos temíveis. Memórias do Instituto de Butantan, 31, 55–66.

    Bücherl, W. (1971) Classification, biology and venom extraction of scorpions. In: Bücherl, W. & Buckley, E. (Eds.), Venomous animals and their venoms. Venomous invertebrates Vol. 3. New York Academic Press, New York, pp. 317–348.

    Bryson Junior, R.W., Riddle, B., Graham, M.R., Smith, B.T. & Prendini, L. (2013) As Old as the Hills: Montane Scorpions in southwestern North America reveal ancient associations between biotic Diversification and landscape history. PLoS ONE, 8 (1), 1–11.
    https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0052822

    Contreras-Félix, G.A. & Francke, O.F. (2014) Description of a new Vaejovis from Michoacán, Mexico (Arachnida: Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad, 85, 24–30.
    https://doi.org/10.7550/rmb.37437

    Contreras-Félix, G.A., Francke, O.F. & Bryson Jr., R.W. (2015) A new species of the “mexicanus” group of the genus Vaejovis C. L. Koch, 1836 from the Mexican state of Aguascalientes (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Zootaxa, 3936 (1), 131–140.
    https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3936.1.8

    Díaz Nájera, A. (1964) Alacranes de la República Mexicana. Identificación de ejemplares capturados en 235 localidades. Revista del Instituto de Salubridad y Enfermedades Tropicales, México, 24, 15–30.

    Díaz Nájera, A. (1975) Listas y datos de distribución geográfica de los alacranes de México (Scorpionida). Revista del Instituto de Salubridad y Enfermedades Tropicales, México, 35, 1–36.

    Ewing, H.E. (1928) The scorpions of the western part of the United States; with notes on those occurring in northern Mexico. Proceedings of the U. S. National Museum, 73 (9), 1–24.

    Fet, V. & Soleglad, M.E. (2007) Synonymy of Parabroteas montezuma Penther, 1913 and designation of neotype for Vaejovis mexicanus C. L. Koch, 1836 (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Boletín de la Sociedad Entomológica Aragonesa, 41, 251–263.

    Fet, V., Soleglad, M.E. & Brewer, M.S. (2006) Laterobasal Aculear Serrations (LAS) in scorpion Family Vaejovidae (Scorpiones: Chactoidea). Euscorpius, 45, 1–14.

    Francke, O.F. & González-Santillán, E. (2006) A new species belonging to the Vaejovis punctipalpi group (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae) from Southern Mexico. Journal of Arachnology, 34 (3), 586–591.
    https://doi.org/10.1636/05-39.1

    Gertsch, W.J. (1958) Results of the Puritan-American Museum expedition to Western Mexico. 4. The scorpions. American Museum Novitates, 1903, 1–20.

    Gertsch, W.J. & Soleglad, M.E. (1966) The Scorpions of the Vejovis boreus group (Subgenus Paruroctonus) in North America (Scorpionida: Vejovidae). American Museum Novitates, 2278, 1–54.

    Gertsch, W.J. & Soleglad, M.E. (1972) Studies of North American scorpions of the genera Uroctonus and Vejovis. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 148, 549–608.

    González-Santillán, E. & Prendini, L. (2013) Redefinition and generic revision of the North American Vaejovid subfamily Syntropinae Kraepelin, 1905, with description of six genera. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 382, 1–72.
    https://doi.org/10.1206/830.1

    González-Santillán, E. & Prendini, L. (2014) Phylogeny of the North American vaejovid scorpion subfamily Syntropinae Kraepelin, 1905, based on morphology, mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. Cladistics, 31 (4), 1–65.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/cla.12091

    González Santillán, E., Sissom, W.D. & Pérez, T.M. (2004) Description of the male of Vaejovis sprousei Sissom, 1990 (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Texas Memorial Museum, Speleological Monographs, 6, 9–12.

    Graham, M.R. & Fet, V. (2006) Serrula in retrospect: a Historical look at Scorpion Literature (Scorpiones: Orthosterni). Euscorpius, 48, 1–19.

    Graham, M.R. & Bryson Junior, R.W. (2010) Vaejovis montanus (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae), a new species from the Sierra Madre Occidental of México. Journal of Arachnology, 38, 285–293.
    https://doi.org/10.1636/Ha09-90.1

    Graham, M.R., Ayrey, R.F. & Bryson Junior, R.W. (2012) Multivariate methods support the distinction of a new highland Vaejovis (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae) from the Sierra de los Ajos, Mexico. Journal of Arachnology, 40 (2), 281–290.
    https://doi.org/10.1636/Ha11-78.1

    Gurrola, G.B., Hernández-López, R.A., Rodríguez de la Vega, R.C., Vargas, Z., Batista, C.V., Salas-Castillo, S.P., Panyi, G., Del Rio-Portillas, F. & Possani, L.D. (2012) Structure, function and chemical synthesis of Vaejovis mexicanus peptide 24: a novel potent blocker of K v1.3 potassium channels of human lymphocytes. Biochemistry, 51 (19), 4049–4061.
    https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/bi300060n

    Hendrixson, B.E. & Sissom, W.D. (2001) Descriptions of two new species of Vaejovis C. L. Koch, 1836 from Mexico, with a redescription of Vaejovis pusillus Pocock, 1898 (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). In: Fet, V. & Selden, P.A. (Eds.), Scorpions 2001. In Memoriam Gary A. Polis. British Arachnological Society, Burnham Beeches, Bucks, pp. 215–223.

    Hoffmann, C.C. (1931) Monografías para la entomología médica de México. Monografía Num. 2, Los escorpiones de México. Primera parte: Diplocentridae, Chactidae, Vejovidae. Anales del Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 2 (4), 291–408.

    Hoffmann, C.C. (1938) Nuevas consideraciones acerca de los alacranes de México. Anales del Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 9, 318–337.

    Hughes, G.B. (2011) Morphological analysis of montane scorpions of the genus Vaejovis (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae) in Arizona, with description of a new species. Journal of Arachnology, 39, 420–438.
    https://doi.org/10.1636/Ha11-07.1

    Jarvis, L.R., Sissom, W.D. & Henson, R.N. (2005) Description of the male of Vaejovis chisos Sissom (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae), with comments on morphometric and meristic variation in the species. Entomological News, 115, 207–212.

    Koch, C.L. (1836) Die Arachniden. Nürnberg: C. H. Zeh'sche Buchhandlung, 3 (1–5), 17–104.

    Kovarík, F. (1998) Stiri. (Scorpions). Jilhava, Madagaskar, pp. 175.

    Kraepelin, K. (1899) Scorpiones und Pedipalpi. Das Tierreich. Herausgegeben von der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft. Vol. 8. R. Friedländer und Sohn, Berlin, 265 pp.

    Loria, S.F. & Prendini, L. (2014) Homology of the Lateral Eyes of Scorpiones: A Six-Ocellus Model. PlosONE, 9 (12), 1–30.
    https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0112913

    McWest, K. (2009) Tarsal spinules and setae of vaejovid scorpions (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Zootaxa, 2001, 1–126.

    Miranda-López, E.P., Ponce-Saavedra, J. & Francke, O.F. (2010) Vaejovis pusillus Pocock (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Ciencia Nicolaita, 52, 56–62.

    Miranda-López, E.P., Ponce-Saavedra, J. & Francke, O.F. (2012) Una especie nueva de Vaejovis (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae) del centro de México. Revista Mexicana de Biodiversidad, 83, 966–975.

    Mondragón. D. & Ruiz, G.I.C. (2009) Presence of Vaejovis franckei in the epiphytic bromeliads in three temperate forest types. Journal of Arachnology, 37 (3), 371–372.
    https://doi.org/10.1636/P08-85.1

    Penther, A. (1913) Beitrag zur Kenntnis Amerikanischer Skorpione. Annalen des Kaiserlich-Königlichen Naturhistorischen Hofmuseums in Wien, 27, 239–252.

    Pocock, R.I. (1898) The scorpions of the genus Vaejovis contained in the collection of the British Museum. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, Series 7, 1 (5), 394–400.
    https://doi.org/10.1080/00222939808677990

    Pocock, R.I. (1902) Arachnida, Scorpiones, Pedipalpi and Solifugae. Biologia Centrali-Americana. Taylor & Francis, London, 71 pp.

    Prendini, L. (2003) Revision of the genus Lisposoma Lawrence, 1928 (Scorpiones: Bothriuridae). Insect Systematics and Evolution, 34, 241–264.
    https://doi.org/10.1163/187631203788964764

    Prendini, L. & Wheeler, W. (2005) Scorpion higher phylogeny and classification, taxonomic anarchy, and standards for peer review in online publishing. Cladistics, 21, 446–494.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1096-0031.2005.00073.x

    Rein, J.O. (2017) The Scorpion Files. Norwegian University of Science and Technology, online at http://www.ub.ntnu.no/ scorpion-files/ (accessed 13August 2018)

    Santibañez-López, C.E. & Francke, O.F. (2010) New and poorly known species of the mexicanus group of the genus Vaejovis (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae) from Oaxaca, Mexico. Journal of Arachnology, 38, 555–571.
    https://doi.org/10.1636/Ha09-64.1

    Santibáñez-López, C.E., Francke, O.F., Ureta, C. & Possani, L.D. (2016) Scorpions from Mexico: From Species diversity to Venom complexity. Toxins, 8, 2.
    https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins8010002

    Santibáñez-López, C.E. & Sissom, W.D. (2010) A new species of the Vaejovis eusthenura group in Oaxaca, Mexico (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Zootaxa, 2493, 49–58.

    Sharma, P.P., Fernández, R., Esposito, L.A., González-Santillán, E. & Monod, L. (2015) Phylogenomic resolution of scorpions revels multilevel discordance with morphological phylogenetic signal. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 282, 2–10.
    https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2014.2953

    Sissom, W.D. (1989) Systematic studies on Vaejovis granulatus Pocock and Vaejovis pusillus Pocock, with descriptions of six new related species (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae). Revue Arachnologique, 8 (9), 131–157.

    Sissom, W.D. (1990) Systematics of Vaejovis dugesi Pocock, with descriptions of two new related species (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae). Southwestern Naturalist, 35 (1), 47–53.
    https://doi.org/10.2307/3671984

    Sissom, W.D. (1991) Systematic studies on the nitidulus group of the genus Vaejovis, with descriptions of seven new species (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae). Journal of Arachnology, 19, 4–28.

    Sissom, W.D. (2000) Family Vaejovidae. In: Fet, V., Sissom, W.D., Lowe, G. & Braunwalder, M., Catalog of the scorpions of the world (1758–1997). New York Entomological Society, New York, pp. 503–553.

    Sissom, W.D. (2011) A New Species of the Genus Vaejovis from Southwestern New Mexico (Arachnida: Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Southwestern Entomologist, 36 (1), 85–90.
    https://doi.org/10.3958/059.036.0108

    Sissom, W.D. & Francke, O.F. (1985) Redescriptions of Some Poorly Known Species of the nitidulus Group of the Genus Vaejovis (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae). Journal of Arachnology, 13 (2), 243–266.

    Sissom, W.D. & Reddell, J.R. (2009) Cave scorpions of Mexico and the United States. Texas Memorial Museum Speleological Monographs, 7, 19–32.

    Sissom, W.D., Graham, M.R., Donaldson, T.G. & Bryson, R.W. (2016) Two new Vaejovis C.L. Koch, 1836 from highlands of the Sierra Madre Occidental, Durango, Mexico (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae). Insecta Mundi, 0477, 1–14.

    Sissom, W.D., Hughes, G.B., Bryson Junior, R.W. & Prendini, L. (2012) The vorhiesi group of Vaejovis C. L. Koch, 1836 (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae), in Arizona, with description of a new species from the Hualapai Mountains. American Museum Novitates, 3742, 1–19.
    https://doi.org/10.1206/3742.2

    Soleglad, M.E. (1973a) Scorpions of the Mexicanus group of the genus Vejovis. Wasmann Journal of Biology, 31 (2), 351–372.

    Soleglad, M.E. (1973b) A redescription of the scorpion Vejovis flavus. Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 49 (2), 165–170.

    Soleglad, M.E. & Fet, V. (2005) A new scorpion genus (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae) from Mexico. Euscorpius, 24, 1–13.

    Soleglad, M.E & Fet, V. (2006) Contributions to Scorpion Systematics. II. Stahnkeini, a New Tribe in Scorpion Family Vaejovidae (Scorpiones: Chactoidea). Euscorpius, 40, 1–10.

    Soleglad, M.E & Fet, V. (2008) Contributions to Scorpion Systematics. III. Subfamilies Smeringurinae and Syntropinae (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Euscorpius, 71, 1–115.

    Stahnke, H.L. (1940) The scorpions of Arizona. Iowa State College Journal of Science, 15 (1), 101–103.

    Stahnke, H.L. (1970) Scorpion nomenclature and mensuration. Entomological News, 81, 297–316.

    Stahnke, H.L. (1974) Revision and keys to the higher categories of Vejovidae (Scorpionida). Journal of Arachnology, 1, 107–141.

    Stockwell, S.A. (1992) Systematic Observations on North American Scorpionida with a Key and Checklist of the Families and Genera. Journal of Medical Entomology, 29 (3), 407–422.
    https://doi.org/10.1093/jmedent/29.3.407

    Teruel, R. & Rein, J.O. (2009) On the Finding of Vaejovis mexicanus C. L. Koch, 1836 and other scorpions in Norway (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae, Euscorpiidae, Hemiscorpiidae). The Scorpion Files—Occasional Papers, 2, 1–3.

    Vachon, M. (1952) Étude sur les Scorpions. Institut Pasteur d’Algérie. Alger, 482 pp.

    Vachon, M. (1974) Étude des caractères utilisés pour classer les familles et les genres de Scorpions (Arachnides). 1. La trichobothriotaxie en Arachnologie, Sigles trichobothriaux et types de trichobothriotaxie chez les Scorpions. Bulletin du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 3, (140 [Zoology 104]), 857–958.

    Volschenk, E.S. (2005) A new technique for examining surface morphosculpture of scorpions. Journal of Arachnology, 33 (3), 820–825.
    https://doi.org/10.1636/S03-047.1

    Werner, F. (1934) Scorpiones, Pedipalpi. In: Bronns H.G., Klassen und Ordnungen des Tierreichs. 5. IV. 8. Lief. 1–2 (Scorpiones). Akademische Verlaggesellschaft, Leipzig, pp. 1–316.

    Williams, S.C. (1971) A redescription of the scorpion Vaejovis crassimanus Pocock (Scorpionida: Vejovidae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 47 (1), 44–47.

    Williams, S.C. (1980) Scorpions of Baja California, Mexico, and Adjacent Islands. Occasional Papers of the California Academy of Science, 123, 1–127.

    Williams, S.C. & Savary, W.E. (1991) Uroctonites, a new genus of scorpion from western North America (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae). Pan-Pacific Entomologist, 67 (4), 272–187.

    Zárate-Gálvez, K. & Francke, O.F. (2009a) A new Vaejovis (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae) from Chiapas, México. Zootaxa, 2313, 61–68.

    Zárate-Gálvez, K. & Francke, O.F. (2009b) Nueva especie de Vaejovis (Scorpiones: Vaejovidae) de Chiapas, México. Revista Ibérica de Aracnología, 17, 21–28.