Family Vaejovidae
Genus Paravaejovis
Genus Paruroctonus
Genus Pseudouroctonus
Genus Serradigitus
Genus Smeringurus
Genus Syntropis
Genus Uroctonites
Genus Uroctonus
Genus Vaejovis
Genus Vejovoidus



Diversity
Endemism
Taxonomy
Phylogeny
Biogeography

Genus Pseudouroctonus Stahnke 1974 
 

 Synonymy:

Pseudouroctonus Stahnke, 1974: 119, 132, fig. 7E, 9A-B; type species Vaejovis reddelli Gertsch & Soleglad, 1972 [=Pseudouroctonus reddelli (Gertsch & Soleglad, 1972)].

REFERENCES:

Vaejovis (part): Williams, 1980: 48-55 (part), 74-79 (V. minimus group); Sissom, 1990a: 109, 111, 114; Williams & Savary, 1991: 284 (V. minimus group).

Uroctonus (part): Sissom, 1990a: 109, 111, 114.

Pseudouroctonus: Sissom, 1990a: 114; Stockwell, 1992: 409-410, 416, 419 Kovarík, 1998: 144; Sissom, 2000:514-515; Soleglad & Fet, 2003a: 15,  28, 31, 33, 36, 58, 67, 86, 103, 140, 142, 145, 163, 164, figs. 66, 79, 80, 111, D-3, Tabs. 3, 4, 9.

Description: 

Prosoma. –  Anterior carapacial margin with shallow to deep rounded anterior median indentation.

Mesosoma. – Pectinal tooth counts 8-19 in males, 7-16 in females. All female pectinal teeth similar in size and shape, and with sensorial areas.

Metasoma. –  Dorsal carinae of segments I-IV with angular termination, distalmost denticle variable in size.  Ventral submedian carinae of segments I-IV paired, crenulate to serrate (smooth on I in P. reddelli).  Segment V with ventromedian carina linear (i.e., not bifurcated distally).

Chelicerae. –  Ventral margin of the cheliceral movable finger smooth, with crenulations, or with denticles; fixed finger with (P. cazieri, P. reddelli) or without ventral denticles.  Serrula well developed distoventrally on movable finger.

Pedipalps. –  Patella:  Inner face with basal tubercles moderately developed; inner longitudinal carina vestigial, represented by only one or two small granules.  Chelal carinae:  Ventromedian carina absent, producing flattened ventral chelal face (except in P. reddelli and P. minimus).  Carinae well developed and granular, except in a few species (e.g., females of V. minimus).  Chela dentition: Terminal denticles not prominent, conically shaped.  Chela fixed finger with primary denticle row divided into five to six subrows of denticles, these are flanked by six inner accessory denticles.  Chela movable finger with primary denticle row divided into six or seven subrows of denticles, these flanked by six to seven inner accessory denticles.  Denticles of primary denticles row subconical, rounded.

Trichobothrial Pattern.  Patella with two ventral trichobothria along ventroexternal carina (the third ventral trichobothrium is positioned on the external face).  Four or five V trichobothria on chela manus.  Chelal trichobothrium ib situated at distal end of palm near the level of the articular membrane or on extreme base of fixed finger. Chela finger trichobothrium est about equidistant between et and esb.

Legs. –  Basitarsi and telotarsi without setal combs.  Telotarsi ventrally with a median row of small spinules that are flanked distally by a pair of slightly larger spinules.  Ventromedian spinule row flanked laterally by setae.

Hemispermatophore. – Mating plug present, ental process with smooth margin.  Lamellar hook two-pronged, elevated from base of distal lamina.

Included species. – P. minimus (Kraepelin, 1911) with three subspecies, P. m. minimus (Kraepelin, 1911), P. m. castaneus (Gertsch & Soleglad, 1972), P. m. thompsoni (Gertsch & Soleglad, 1972); P. andreas (Gertsch & Soleglad, 1972); P. angelenus (Gertsch & Soleglad, 1972); P. apacheanus (Gertsch & Soleglad, 1972); P. bogerti (Gertsch & Soleglad, 1972); P. cazieri (Gertsch & Soleglad, 1972); P. chicano (Gertsch & Soleglad, 1972); P. glimmei (Hjelle, 1972); P. iviei (Gertsch & Soleglad, 1972); P. lindsayi (Gertsch & Soleglad, 1972); P. reddelli (Gertsch & Soleglad, 1972); P. rufulus (Gertsch & Soleglad, 1972); P. williamsi (Gertsch & Soleglad, 1972).

Similar taxa. – See Uroctonus Thorell, Uroctonites Williams & Savary, and Vaejovis C. L. Koch (mexicanus group).

Remarks. - As originally construed (Stahnke 1974), this genus was monotypic. Sissom (1990) questioned its validity, but it was accepted and expanded by Stockwell (1992) to include most of the formerly Vaejovis minimus group species, and presently comprises 13 species (one with 3 subspecies).  Williams & Savary (1991) commented on the phylogenetic relationships of the uroctonoids and illustrated hemispermatophores for several species of Pseudouroctonus.

Owing to the uncertainty in our understanding of vaejovid phylogeny, further investigation is warranted to clarify relationships of these species, the monophyly of which remains untested. There is no key for this genus in its current state. Workers must resort to the key to Uroctonus of Gertsch & Soleglad (1972) for distinguishing some of its component species. Pseudouroctonus reddelli, from south central Texas, is a common inhabitant of caves. It also occurs in epigean habitats, and may be found under rocks among litter on wooded slopes. The other species assigned here occur under rocks and fallen logs or in crevices in boulders and outcrops on rocky slopes (lower and higher elevations), often under fairly mesic conditions.

Literature Cited: