A new species of alkali-sink Paruroctonus Werner, 1934 (Scorpiones, Vaejovidae) from California’s San Joaquin Valley

Abstract

Herein a new species of Paruroctonus Werner, 1934 is described from alkali-sink habitats in the San Joaquin Desert of central California, Paruroctonus tularesp. nov. It can be differentiated from other Paruroctonus by a combination of morphological features including scalloped pedipalp fingers in males, specific setal counts and morphometric ratios, and specific patterns of fuscous pigmentation. It also inhabits a unique distribution allopatric with all other Paruroctonus species except P. variabilis Hjelle, 1982. Photographs of a large series of live P. tularesp. nov. from across their range and detailed images of several morphological features are provided, their distribution is modeled, a haplotype network is presented, and details about their habitat, ecology, and conservation are discussed.