Euscorpius

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Euscorpius
Euscorpius italicus

Euscorpius italicus

Systematics
Sub-stem : Jawbearers (Chelicerata)
Class : Arachnids (arachnida)
Order : Scorpions (Scorpiones)
Family : Euscorpiidae
Genre : Euscorpius
Scientific name
Euscorpius
Thorell , 1876

Euscorpius is the only genus of scorpions (Scorpiones) thatis largely restricted to Europe,with 17 recognized species in 2010. All species of the genus are largely harmless to humans.

features

The species of the genus Euscorpius are relatively small and reach body lengths of less than 30 mm to 50 mm. Of the three other previously undisputed provided to the family euscorpiidae genres Plesiochactas , Megacormus and Troglocormus differs Euscorpius by just a set tooth-like structures and paired bumps on the inside of the finger of Palpenhand. In addition, in Euscorpius the ventral edge of the movable finger of the chelicerae is smooth and the middle keel on the underside of the metasoma (tail) is barely developed or absent.

distribution and habitat

Euscorpius is the only genus of scorpions that is largely restricted to Europe. Of the 17 currently recognized species, 13 occur only in Europe, three other species inhabit parts of Europe as well as North Africa, two species ( E. italicus and E. mingrelicus ) also live in the Middle East. By E. italicus also deposits in are Iraq known whether these deposits are of natural origin, is still unclear. In Europe, the genus is largely restricted to the south. However, a total of 5 species also reach Central Europe with Switzerland and Austria, one species ( E. flavicaudis ) is established as a neozoon in England , Brazil and Uruguay .

The species of the genus inhabit cool temperate to semi-arid landscapes. Like most scorpions, the Euscorpius species also colonize stony or rocky habitats, where they can be found during the day under stones lying on the ground or under dead wood. Some culture followers such as E. flavicaudis and E. italicus are also often found on old stone walls or house walls made of natural stone.

Systematics

17 types of fet are currently recognized:

Since most of the Euscorpius populations on the Balkan Peninsula have hardly been studied so far, Fet assumes that the number of species is actually significantly higher, between 22 and 24. With Euscorpius lycius , another species was described in November 2013 that occurs in southwestern Turkey.

Poison

Euscorpius' stings are largely harmless to humans. According to Braunwalder, the small species such as E. alpha or E. germanus can only penetrate the human skin in a few places with their sting, but larger species such as E. flavicaudis or E. italicus can do this relatively easily. The effect of the stings is comparable to that of bee or wasp stings .

swell

Individual evidence

  1. ^ ME Braunwalder: Scorpiones (Arachnida). Fauna Helvetica 13, Neuchatel 2005, ISBN 2-88414-025-5 : p. 18
  2. ↑ R. Stockmann & E. Ythier: Scorpions of the World. NAP Editions 2010: p. 195
  3. ^ A b c V. Fet: Scorpions of Europe. Acta Zool. Bulg. 62 (1), 2010: pp. 3-12
  4. ↑ R. Stockmann & E. Ythier: Scorpions of the World. NAP Editions 2010: pp. 528-529
  5. ^ Yağmur EA et al. 2013. A new species of Euscorpius Thorell, 1876 (Scorpiones, Euscorpiidae) from south western Turkey. ZooKeys 348: 29-45; doi: 10.3897 / zookeys.348.5943
  6. ^ ME Braunwalder: Scorpiones (Arachnida). Fauna Helvetica 13, Neuchatel 2005, ISBN 2-88414-025-5 : pp. 99-100

literature

  • V. Fet: Scorpions of Europe. Acta Zool. Bulg. 62 (1), 2010: pp. 3-12
  • R. Stockmann & E. Ythier: Scorpions of the World. NAP Editions 2010, ISBN 978-2-913688-11-7

Web links

Commons : Euscorpius  - collection of images, videos and audio files