Paruroctonus surensis Williams & Haradon 1980

Paruroctonus surensis Williams & Haradon in Williams, 1980: 33, 41, 45, fig. 41, 47, tbls. 1, 2, 5;; Haradon, 1984b: 336, fig. 32, 33, 40, 41; Kovarík, 1998: 144; Beutelspacher, 2000: 69, 137, 152, map 40; Sissom, 2000:513.

type(s):  Paruroctonus surensis Williams & Haradon: Holotype male (adult) from México, Baja California Sur, 12 km SE Guerrero Negro, 18 August 1974 (R. M. Haradon, V. F. Lee, W. E. Savary). Depository: CAS (Type No. 12249).

Original description:
Williams and Haradon in Williams (1980):

"Diagnosis. Pale yellow base color with pigmented interocular space on carapace. Pectine teeth 17-19 in males, 8-9 in females. Pedipalp fingers short, fixed finger shorter than palm, with 6 and 7 interior supernumerary granules on fixed and movable fingers, respectively. Similar to P. borregoensis and P. pseudopumilis. Differs from P. borregoensis as follows: denticles absent (not with 1 or 2) on ventral margin of fixed cheliceral finger; interocular dusky pigmentation on carapace; proximal digital scalloping on chela of male reduced (does not form distinct gap when closed); chela less stout, ratio of palm length to width greater than 1.50 (not 1.45 or less). Differs from P. pseudopumilis as follows: 7 (not 6) interior supernumerary granules on movable pedipalp finger; attains slightly larger adult size; metasomal setae on males greatly reduced (not long and conspicuous).
Description of Holotype. Male. Extensive light dusky markings in interocular area of carapace; pedipalp fingers orange-yellow, darker than palms; cuticle otherwise pale yellow. Carapace surface moderately granular; anterior margin essentially straight, protrudes slightly medially. Terga lightly granular, mainly posteriorly on each tergum. Ventrolateral metasomal keels I=III crenulate posteriorly, IV crenulate entirely, V serrate; ventromedian keels I=III weakly developed and smooth, IV posteriorly crenulate, V crenulate to serrate; setae short, fine, inconspicuous; ventromedian setae 3, 3, 4,5 pairs on segments I-IV. respectively. Telson elongate, moderately tubercular on ventral and ventrolateral surfaces; slight subaculear tubercule. Surface of pedipalp chela very finely granular, dorsal and marginal keels moderately developed and lightly granular; fingers weakly scalloped proximally, form very slight space when chela closed; 6 supernumerary granules on fixed fingers and 7 on movable fingers.
Description of Allotype.—Female. Similar to holotype but differs as follows: carapace, terga, and pedipalps smooth and glossy. Metasomal setae long and conspicuous; ventrolateral keels I-III smooth, ventromedian keels I obsolete to smooth, II—III smooth, IV crenulate posteriorly. Telson surface smooth. Pedipalp-palm keels obsolete to weakly developed, smooth to lightly granular; dentate margins of fingers essentially even, unscalloped. Variation within Paratypes.—Similar to holotype and allotype except as follows: ventral counts of metasomal setae in segments I—IV more commonly 3, 4, 4, 5.  Pectine teeth 17-19 in males, 8-9 in females."

Subsequent accounts: Haradon 1984b  "Diagnosis.-A species in the borregoensis group of subgenus Paruroctonus differentiated by combination of: telotarsus III with four retrosuperior setae (distal in series may be slightly smaller than others); basitarsus III with eight (6 + 2) superior setae (Figs. 32-33), mrs seta on basitarsus III set very close to superior setae, all metasomal setae I-IV extremely short, inconspicuous in adult male; pectinal teeth in female 9; pedipalp fingers of adult male moderately scalloped (Fig. 40)."

distribution: NORTH AMERICA. México (Baja California Sur): Northwestern Vizcaino Desert. View Map

published records:  México: BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR: Paruroctonus surensis allotype and two topoparatypes, 12 km SE Guerrero Negro,  8—VIII— 1974 (R. M. Haradon, V. F. Lee, W. E. Savary); paratype (female): same locality, 18—VII— 1974; 7.8 mi. SW Guerrero Negro, 8 August 1974 (R. M. Haradon, V. F. Lee, W. E. Savary), 3 males, 1 female (CAS), 7.8 mi. SW Guerrero Negro, 18 July 1974 (R. M. Haradon, V. F. Lee, W. E. Savary), 1 female (CAS).

notes:  Haradon 1984b: "Comparisons: Table 2. Differs further from P. pseudopumilis and P. ventosus in having sixth and seventh supernumerary denticles on fixed and movable fingers respectively moderately developed, distinct. Differs further from P. ventosus in having superoterminal seta on tolotarsi I-IV long, well developed; two to three (usually two) external medial macrosetae on distal 3/5 of humerus; proximal enlarged denticle on movable finger about twice as long as adjacent primary denticles." Williams and Haradon in Williams (1980): "Found only on surface of sand dune communities at night by ultraviolet detection."