A new Vaejovis C.L. Koch, 1836, the second known vorhiesi group species from the Santa Catalina Mountains of Arizona (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae)

Abstract A new species of the vorhiesi group of Vaejovis C.L. Koch, 1836, Vaejovis brysoni sp. n., is described from the Santa Catalina Mountains in southern Arizona. Vaejovis deboerae Ayrey also inhabits this mountain range, making this the first documented case of two vorhiesi group species distributed on the same mountain. When compared to all other vorhiesi group species, Vaejovis brysoni sp. n. is distinct based on several combinations of morphological characters and morphometric ratios.


introduction
For over 50 years, only four species of montane scorpions in the specious genus Vaejovis were known from the topographically complex states of Arizona, New Mexico and Sonora. That number has more than doubled over the past six years, with a total of 13 species now known (see Graham et al. 2012), all belonging to the Vaejovis vorhiesi group (Soleglad and Fet 2008). All 13 species have allopatric distributions in Arizona (Sissom et al. 2012), and no records of co-occurrence have been documented. Interestingly, however, several species are distributed across overlapping ecological communities. For example, Vaejovis jonesi Stahnke (1940) inhabits rocky juniper woodlands on the Colorado Plateau, and Vaejovis lapidicola Stahnke (1940) is distributed across pine-oak woodlands along the southern edge of the Colorado Plateau. These ecological communities overlap across the rim of the Mogollon Plateau, yet to date V. jonesi and V. lapidicola have not been found syntopically. Vaejovis deboerae Ayrey (2009) was recently described from the high pine-oak forests of the Santa Catalina Mountains in southern Arizona. The type series was collected at an elevation of 2142 m. Other records suggest that V. deboerae may range as high as 2800 m and as low as 1520 m (Sissom et al. 2012). This vertical distribution encompasses a gradient of ecological communities, ranging from cold pine forest on the high peaks of the Santa Catalina to drier juniper desert scrub in the lower canyons. Recent collecting in the Santa Catalina along the transition zone between desert grassland and pine-oak forest revealed a distinct second species of V. vorhiesi group scorpion. Here we describe this new species, which represents the first record of two vorhiesi group species inhabiting the same mountain range.
Material -In addition to the type material listed below for the new species, the following additional specimens were examined: Diagnosis. Relatively small-bodied scorpion from the Seven Cataracts Overlook area of the Santa Catalina Mountains, southern Arizona (total body length of the female holotype is 27.50 mm). Color is light to medium brown, light brown to yellow on the legs, with underlying dark mottling on carapace and mesosoma. Metasoma is light brown with darker carinae.
Significant characters that distinguish V. brysoni sp. n. from other known species in the vorhiesi group are described below.
Vaejovis jonesi, V. lapidicola, V. paysonensis, V. crumpi, and V. bigelowi all possess 7 inner denticles (ID) on the chela movable finger, not 6 as in V. brysoni sp. n.. The new species can be distinguished from V. halli by having significantly larger metasomal segment L/W ratios on I, II, and V (Table 1). Vaejovis brysoni can be distinguished from V. bandido by having larger metasomal segment I L/W ratios in addition to larger fixed finger L/chela L ratios. Vaejovis brysoni sp. n. can be distinguished from V. deboerae by having a smaller and less-developed subaculear tubercle. Vaejovis brysoni sp. n. also have shorter total body lengths and shorter carapace lengths. In addition, V. deboerae have larger telson vesicle L/W ratios. However, V. brysoni sp. n. have larger metasomal segment I L/W ratios and larger fixed finger L/chela L ratios. Vaejovis brysoni sp. n. also have fewer pectinal teeth than V. deboerae. Vaejovis brysoni sp. n. can be distinguished from V. vorhiesi by having larger metasomal segments L/W ratios on I, II, and III. However, V. vorhiesi have larger chela L/W ratios. Vaejovis brysoni sp. n. also have table 1. Morphometrics (mm) of female V. brysoni sp.n. versus other Vaejovis vorhiesi group species. Data on pectinal teeth with * from (Hughes 2011) and ** from (Sissom et al. 2012). Bold numbers are those which have no overlap with V. brysoni sp. n.

V. brysoni Ratio Comparisons
Vaejovis spp. Color of the holotype is light to medium brown, light brown to yellow on the legs, with underlying dark mottling on carapace and mesosoma. Metasoma is light brown with darker carinae. Metasomal segments are slightly wider than the vesicle. Small spinoid subaculear tubercle is present (Fig. 1). The pedipalp fixed finger has 5 to 6 ID denticles and movable finger has 6 ID denticles. Carapace: Anterior margin of the carapace is slightly emarginated, the posterior margin is straight. The carapace is moderately granular, with three lateral eyes present on each side. The median furrow is moderate and traverses the entire length of the carapace. The ratio of the location of the median eyes on the carapace (anterior edge/ dorsolateral carinae are strong and granular to slightly dentate, with the distal denticle of I-IV enlarged and spinoid. Lateral supramedian carinae I-IV are strong and crenulate, with enlarged spinoid distal denticle. Lateral inframedian carinae are moderately granular on posterior 4/5 of segment I, 4/5 of II, 1/2 of III, and nearly obsolete on segment IV. Ventrolateral carinae on segment I, II, and III are moderate and granular; on IV moderate, granular and slightly serrate. Ventral submedian carinae are weak on segment I, weak to moderate on II, moderate, granular to slightly serrate on III and   IV. The dorsal and lateral intercarinal spaces are very finely granular. Segment I-IV: ventral submedian setae count is 3/3. Segment V: dorsolateral carinae are moderate and slightly serrate on anterior 1/3. Lateromedian carinae are weak to moderate and granular on basal 3/5, and obsolete on distal 2/5. Ventrolateral and ventromedian carinae are strong and crenate to serrate. Intercarinal spaces are finely granular. Ventrolateral setae count 4/4. Telson: Smooth with four pairs of large setae on the ventral surface, three large setae are along both lateral edges of the vesicle with numerous smaller setae. A small spinoid subaculear tubercle is present. Chelicerae: The dorsal edge of movable cheliceral finger with two subdistal (sd) denticles. Ventral edge is smooth, with well developed serrula on distal half. Pedipalps: Trichobothrial pattern type C (Vachon 1974) (Fig. 12). Trichobothria ib and it near base of fixed finger. Pedipalp ratios: chela length/width 4.00; femur length/width 2.69; patella length/width 2.59; fixed finger length/carapace length 0.68. Chela: Carinae are moderate. Fixed and movable finger median denticles (MD) are aligned and divided into 6 subrows by 5 outer denticles (OD) and usually 6 ID denticles. Femur: Dorsal internal and external are moderate and granular; ventral internal granular to crenulate; ventral external are slightly serrate; dorsal and ventral surfaces are covered with fine granules; external surface is smooth. Patella: Internal surface are covered with very strong dentate to serrate granules on the DPSc carina. Dorsal external and internal are moderate and granular. Ventral internal carinae are strong and granular. External surface is rounded with scattered granulation; dorsal and ventral surfaces are covered with minute granules. Legs: Ventral surface of tarsomere II with single median row of spinules terminating distally with one spinule pair.

brysoni (8) bandido
Variability. Variability of fixed finger ID denticle count was found. For V. brysoni sp. n., fixed finger ID denticle counts ranged from 5 (n=3) to 6 (n=5). Variation also existed for female V. brysoni sp. n. in the number of pectinal teeth 11/11 (n=2), 11/12 (n=3), 12/11 (n=1), 12/12 (n=2) with a mean of 11.5 for females, and 13/14 for the paratype male (n=1). In addition, there was variation in the number of middle lamellae 5/5 (n=1), 6/6 (n=5), 7/6 (n=1), 7/7 (n=1) and for the paratype male 8/9 (n=1). The right hemispermatophore was extracted from the paratype male. The right hemispermatophore is 3.10 mm in total length, and its lamina is 1.20 mm in length and 0.39 mm in width. The hemispermatophore is lightly sclerotized near the dorsal trough, and possesses a subtle distal crest on the inner distal aspect of the lamina. The lamellar hook is strong and widely bifurcated, and emanates from the dorsal trough. A medium, defined truncal flexure is visible on the external aspect of the trunk/lamina juncture. The male paratype also posseses an area of reduced pigmentation (white patch) on the posterior ¼ of the third sternal plate. (Graham and Bryson 2010).
The type specimens were found at night using a UV flashlight alongside the Catalina Highway. This area lies within open oak woodland and the transition zone from drier desert grassland to pine-oak woodland (Whittaker and Niering 1965). Several Pseudouroctonus apacheanus (Gertsch & Soleglad, 1972) and Centruroides sculpturatus Ewing, 1928 were also observed. In August of 2012, three captive female V. brysoni were observed with first instar juveniles (Fig. 3). The mean juvenile count was 23.67. The 1 st instar orientation on the mother's back was non-random, as is seen with many other species of Vaejovis (Hjelle 1974). They were facing anteriorly with the prosoma down and the metasoma raised over the prosoma of the juvenile immediately posterior to them. Localities are divided into those species exhibiting seven inner denticles (ID) on the chelal movable finger (white rectangles with black numbering) and those with primarily six ID denticles (black rectangles with white numbering). Seven IDs: 1 V. jonesi 2 V. lapidicola 3 V. paysonensis 4 V. crumpi and 5 V. bigelowi. Six IDs: 6 V. vorhiesi 7 V. cashi 8 V. feti 9 V. deboerae 10 V. electrum 11 V. tenuipalpus 12 V. halli and 13 V. brysoni sp. n.