Paruroctonus arenicola Haradon 1984

Paruroctonus arenicola ►Haradon 1984a: 212, fig. 11, 15-16, 21-22, 25-30, 37, 39; Kovarík, 1998: 144; Sissom, 2000:509.

type(s) :  Paruroctonus arenicola Haradon - Holotype male (adult) from U.S.A., Nevada, Nye County, Amargosa Desert, 0.8 miles N California and Nevada border, along State Rt. 29, 12 August 1974 (R. M. Haradon, W. E. Savary). Depository: California Academy of Sciences (CAS), Type No. 15055.

original description:
Paruroctonus arenicola Haradon, 1984a: 212, fig. 11, 15-16, 21-22, 25-30, 37, 39:

Description of male holotype (allotype). - Measurements: Table 3. Coloration: uniformly pale yellow, except pedipalp fingers pale orange. Carapace: anterior margin slightly convex; surface coarsely (moderately) granular. Tergites: granular, especially posteriorly (lightly granular, somewhat glossy); weak median carina on II-VI; five granular carinae on VII. Sternites: III-VI finely granular (essentially smooth); VII finely granular, with two weak carinae. Metasomal carinae: dorsals and dorsolaterals I-IV well developed, serrate, dorsolaterals V granular; ventrolaterals I-III smooth with one to three posterior crenulations, IV crenulate to weakly serrate posterior I/3, V dentate; ventrals I-III weakly developed, smooth, IV crenulate posterior 1/3, V dentate. Metasomal setae: well developed, long; dorsals 1,3,3,3-4; dorsolaterals 0-1,2,3,3-4; laterals 1-2,0,0-1,0,3; ventrolaterals 2,3,3-4,5,10-11 ; ventrals 3,3-4,4,5. Telson: essentially smooth; 12 pairs of long setae on lateral and ventral surfaces. Pectines: extend to near distal margin of trochanter IV (to about 1/3 length of trochanter IV). Chelicerae: three to four weakly to moderately developed denticles, mainly unpigmented, on inferior border of fixed digit; four to five denticles or crenulations on inferior border of movable digit. Humerus: all carinae well developed, granular; intercarinal surfaces finely granular. Brachium: all carinae well developed, granular; intercarinal surfaces freely granular. Chela: eight major carinae moderately to coarsely (lightly to moderately) granular; intercarinai surfaces very freely granular; primary denticles on fixed fingers 3,4-5,5-4,7,8-9,16-14, movable fingers 4-3,6,7,7-8,11,9-8; fight movable finger anomalous with one primary dentiole preceding first enlarged denticle. Basitarsi I-III: weakly (moderately) compressed laterally; superior setae 6,9-8,8, with one to three extraneous setae. Telotarsal setae I-IV: proinferiors 1,2,2,2; premedials 2 ,2,2,1; prosuperiors 2,3,2-3,3; retrosuperiors 3,4,4,3, with distal in series reduced on II-IlI; retromedials 2 ,2,2,2; retroinferiors 1,1-2,2,3; retroinferior terminals 2,2,2,2. Ungues I -IV: about 3/5 as long as telotarsus.

subsequent accounts:

distribution: NORTH AMERICA. UNITED STATES (sand dunes, Amargosa Desert in Nevada, and eastern Mojave Desert in California.).  View Map

published records:  Paratypes of Paruroctonus arenicola arenicola: UNITED STATES: NEVADA: Nye County - Amargosa Desert, 0.8 mi. N California-Nevada border, along State Rt. 29, 12 August 1974 (R. M. Haradon, W. E. Savary),  28 males, 10 females (includes allotype) (CAS). Paratypes of Paruroctonus arenicola nudipes:  UNITED STATES: CALIFORNIA: San Bernardino County - 1.6 mi. S Kelso, along Kelbaker Rd., 27 May 1973 (R. M. Haradon, J. L. Marks), 21 males, 30 females (includes allotype) (CAS); 1.6 mi. S Kelso, along Kelbaker Rd., 26 May 1973 (R. M. Haradon, J. L. Marks), 30 males, 35 females (CAS); Kelso Sand Dunes, 9 April 1977 (no other data), 3 males, 1 female (CAS); Kelso Dunes, 6mi. S Kelso on Cima Rd., 5 April 1977 (M. Swoveland, W. Savary), 1 male, 5 females (CAS).

notes:  Haradon (1984b) reported the variation  as follows: "Light orange coloration in the pedipalp fingers was lacking in juveniles and immatures. Carapace anterior margin varied from essentially straight to moderately convex, but was usually slightly convex. Pectinal tooth counts are presented in Table 1. Metasomal seta counts for the ventrolaterals were usually 2,3,3,5,10-12, ventrals usually 3,4,4,5." He diagnosed Paruroctonus arenicola as "A species in the baergi group of nominate subgenus Paruroctonus differentiated by: telotarsus III with three or four retrosuperior setae (if four, most distal one is shorter than others), and two long retromedial setae (Fig. 11); basitarsus III with eight to 11 (usually nine to 10) superior setae in essentially single file, mrs seta stout and about 2/3 as long as superior setae (Figs. 27-28) or may be absent (Figs. 29-30); humeral macrosetae include three inframedials on proximal 3/5 of internal surface (Fig. 15), four medials on distal 3/5 of external surface (Fig. 16); pedipalpal internal macrosetae include four on palm, three on movable finger, and two on fixed finger (Fig. 37). He noted that the name 'arenicola' refers to the sandy habitat in which this species lives, and recognized two subspecies, Paruroctonus arenicola arenicola  and Paruroctonus arenicola nudipes, distinguished by the presence or absence of the mrs seta on basitarsus III, and by differences in the numbers of dorsal metasomal setae.