New Species of Scorpion Discovered in Turkey

Scientists have discovered and described a new species of scorpion, Euscorpius lycius, coming from the area of ancient Lycia, nowadays the regions of the Muğla and Antalya Provinces in Southwestern Turkey. With the new discovery, the scorpions from this genus found in the country go up to a total of five known species. The study was published in the open-access journal ZooKeys and featured on the cover of the August 8, 2013 print issue. Euscorpius is a genus of scorpions, commonly called small wood-scorpions. As their name suggests, these scorpions don't impress with a large size, the biggest representative being ony approximately 5 cm long. The group is widespread in North Africa and across Europe. Euscorpius scorpions are relatively harmless, with poison that has effects similar to a mosquito bite. The new species is named after the historical region of Ancient Lycia, which is referenced in Egyptian and Ancient Greek myths. Like the mystical history of the region, the new species is rather secretive and can be found mainly in pine forests at night hidden away in pine forests, crawling on rocks or sitting on stone garden walls. All localities where the species was found were humid and cool, with calcareous stones covered with moss. The new scorpion is a relatively small representative, reaching a size ranging between two and two-and-a-half centimeters. The color of the adult representatives is pale, between brown and reddish, with pedipalps, or claws, usually darker than the rest of the body. "A total of 26 specimens belonging to the new species were collected from Antalya and Muğla Province, in the south-west of Turkey." explains Dr. Ersen Yağmur, the lead author of the study.