23 September, 2014

A new species of Euscorpiops from a cave system in Vietnam


Wilson Lourenco and Dinh-Sac Pham have recently published an article describing a new species of Euscorpiops Vachon, 1980 (Euscorpiidae) from the Dakrong Nature Reserve cave system in Vietnam. This new scorpion taxon is the second species of the subfamily Scorpiopinae to be discovered in a cave system and may be yet another endemic element in the fauna of this country. The new species shows some cave adaptions, but are not a true troglobitic scorpion.

Euscorpiops dakrong Lourenco & Pham, 2014

Abstract:
Euscorpiops dakrong sp. n., belonging to the family Euscorpiidae Laurie, is described on the basis of one male and one female collected in the Dakrong Nature Reserve cave system, Dakrong District, Quang Tri Province, Vietnam. The new species presents most features exhibited by scorpions of the genus Euscorpiops, but it is characterized by a slender body and elongated pedipalps. This new scorpion taxon represents the second species of Scorpiopinae discovered in a cave system and may be yet another endemic element in the fauna of Vietnam. Some taxonomic propositions on the generic position of Scorpiops oligotrichus Fage, 1933 are also suggested.

Reference:
Lourenco WR, Pham D-S. A second species of Euscorpiops Vachon from caves in Vietnam (Scorpiones, Euscorpiidae, Scorpiopinae). Comptes Rendus Biologie. 2014;337:535-44. [Subscription required for full text]

Thanks to professor Lourenco for sending me his paper!

Family Euscorpiidae

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